Sugar Glider Diet

What do they eat??

There is much controversy surrounding the issue of what is the best sugar glider diet. Most glider diets consist of several different types of food.; It is generally believed that sugar gliders need 25-50% protein, 50-75% carbohydrates, and very little fat in their diet. It is possible to provide an all-natural diet, a commercially prepared diet, or a combination of the two. Some say that a commercially prepared food is properly balanced and that anything other than the prepared sugar glider food is a treat. Others are firm in their belief that the less processed and more natural foods make up a better diet.

Almost every web site you check out and almost every person you talk to will have a different opinion about sugar glider diets. I know there are some very good diets out there and there are some diets that will doom a glider to an early death. I personally believe the BML diet is one of the best non-commercial diets and Happy Glider is the best commercial or prepared sugar glider food. What I believe is based on my own experience and research. I am constantly learning more about diet and nutrition and so my beliefs may change when new information becomes available. In some ways I think the debate sugar glider diets can be compared to the debate over whether to bottle or breast feed human babies. There are firm believers in both camps some of whom are set in their ways and will never change.

When you purchase a new sugar glider, I suggest you stick with the diet it is used to for at least the first couple of weeks. That way, the glider can adjust to the stress of a new environment and new owners without having to adjust to a new diet as well. If and when you decide to change diets, do so gradually over a period of several days. Whatever diet you choose to use, I strongly suggest that you follow it in its entirety. Do not use half of one diet and half of another diet because the nutritional balance will become distorted.

What is Happy Glider Food?

I am one of those in the middle ground who chooses to use a prepared food in addition to healthy treats such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and sources of natural protein. I feel that variety is good, but the more simple the better.

At Millermeade Farms we use a product called Happy Glider made by Pet-Pro Products in Middletown, Missouri. Happy Glider is available in Chicken, Peanut, Cherry, and Apple flavors. The flavors of the cereal can be alternated to add variety to the diet.

I do not advocate Happy Glider as a complete or sole diet for sugar gliders. We give our gliders small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables every day. We also give additional sources of protein to the gliders on a regular basis. The Happy Glider food makes up 2/3 to ¾ of the diet and the fruits, vegetables, and protein make up the other portion. Keep in mind that since the glider doesn’t eat a lot of the Happy Glider dry food, the portions of the other food should be fairly small.

For example, a large grape with 2 to 4 crickets plus 1/8 to ¼ cup of food would be enough for a pair one day. A single glider should eat a about a tablespoon to 1/8 cup of dry food a day plus the small amounts of fruit or protein.

The amount of fruit my gliders get is about the size of a grape. So a grape, a chunk of apple, orange, banana, carrot, sweet potato, mango, cantaloupe or a small leaf of spinach etc. would be a daily fruit or vegetable portion. I would strongly encourage variation in the type of fruits and vegetables. You can experiment with freezing unused portions of the fruit and veggies to use at a later time.

You can also alternate fruit and vegetable days with protein days if that is more convenient for you. The main sources of additional protein that I use are crickets and yogurt on occasion. I prefer to buy crickets by the thousands and freeze them so that they last longer and are more convenient to give to the sugar gliders. I give my gliders two crickets each a day or you could give them several at a time if you alternate days that you give them crickets. When I give my gliders yogurt, I usually stir about a tablespoon in with their food because it is less messy than giving it to them separately.

I have had such a success using Pet-Pro Products that I have become a sales representative for them. Their line of Happy Glider Food and treats can not be matched. If you have any questions about Pet-Pro Products feel free to call me at 419-485-3690 or you can contact the company directly at 1-877-977-8310.If you use my account number: G2119D, you will receive a 10% discount on your order.;I sell the food at the shows and directly with the purchase of a sugar glider, but I do not ship the food. Pet-Pro Products sells to individuals and will ship directly to your home.

*Happy Glider is the only prepared sugar glider diet that I have had positive results with and so it is the only diet that I feel comfortable recommending to new glider owners. There may be other diets that are equally acceptable, but I can not answer questions regarding their nutritional value and adequacy.

What is the BML diet?

The BML (Bourban’s Modified Leadbeaters) Diet is one of the most common sugar glider diets available. If you choose to use this diet, you should follow all of the diet recommendations. I believe it is an excellent diet, and I strongly recommend it as a fresh alternative to the Happy Glider Diet.

http://www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/leadbeat.html

What is Brisky's Accu Feed Sugar Glider Diet?

Brisky’s sugar glider diet is a processed diet in pellet form. I have talked to several people that have had very positive results with this diet. Mr. Dick Brisky (owner of the company) manages a large sugar glider colony and uses the Accu Feed as the glider’s sole diet. His gliders do very well on his product. However, I personally did not have very good results with the product. I have talked to many people whose sugar gliders would not eat the food and other gliders had foul stools while on the Brisky food.; Again, I have talked to some people who would swear by the food but I personally believe that Happy Glider is a much healthier and safer processed food than Brisky’s Accu Feed.

What are good sources of protein?

The following list of protein sources has been compiled from several different resources. Some of the protein options I have tried, others I choose to avoid.

yogurt crickets hard boiled egg with shell scrambled egg with shell small or pinky mice 1-3 day old chick superworms canned Mackeral cooked chicken

Are some fruits and vegetables healthier than others? Yes.

• Iceberg lettuce has very little if any nutritional value other than a source of fiber.
• Apples have a lot of water and aren't as nutritious as the darker fruits and vegetables.
• Corn has a lot of phosphorus which inhibits calcium absorption.

In general, stick with the dark green, dark orange and other colorful fruits and vegetables such as peas, spinach, sweet potatoes, blueberries, cherries, and carrots.; Bananas are the exception.; They do not have a lot of color, but they are very nutritious.

Is there anything I shouldn't feed my sugar glider?

I strongly suggest not feeding the following types of food:

• Chocolate – It causes a toxic chemical reaction in most animal
• Cheese – May cause intestinal stoppage or "binding" leading to constipation
• Fats – Not good for anyone. Too much fat in the diet can lead to fatty deposits in the eyes.
• Pure/Refined Sugars
• Fried Foods

*This information was taken from Bourbon’s web site at www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/dietc.html

Are peanuts a safe treat for my sugar glider?

Peanuts are high in fat and phosphorus and so they should only be given as treats.

There is some concern about the safety of peanuts as treats for sugar gliders because they can have traces of fungus on them containing alfatoxins. An average of 12 people die in the U.S. each year from eating peanuts contaminated with alfatoxins. Alfatoxins have also been found in dry dog and cat foods and in all nuts. It is not detectable as it is orderless, colorless, and it has no taste. Alfatoxins cause damage to the liver, which can ultimately lead to death.

There is a risk of sugar gliders dying from eating peanuts containing alfatoxins, but it is almost impossible to avoid all foods that "could" contain alfatoxins. I have not seen or heard about a necropsy report that directly related a sugar glider’s death to eating peanuts. Certainly, gliders are much more likely to be killed in an accident while outside of it’s cage than by eating an occasional peanut as a treat.