Sugar glider diet?

Question

I adopted an adult female glider about a month ago. Every night, I dutifully chop of an array of fruits and veggies, hand-feed her mealworms, and add crickets and a peanut or two to the fruit. She also has some Sugar glider science diet that she won't touch, and I put a small bowl of mango pulp in her cage.

Problem is, she ALWAYS goes for the peanuts first, sometimes eats a cricket or two crickets, and doesn't touch the fruit (peaches, apples, mangoes, honeydew, strawberries and grapes in little bite-size pieces). Occasionally I'll throw in a small piece of carrot, a kernel of corn and a lima bean. She'll lick at the mango pulp a little (it's a new addition), won't touch the science diet pellets, and if I let her, she'll eat 25 or 30 mealworms (which I don't let her anymore!). I don't think she knows how a glider is supposed to eat!

What can I do to get her to expand her diet? I know too much

I live in FL, which is one of the few states in which it is legal to own a sugar glider without an exotic pet license. The only thing you can't do is breed them for money. I've done my homework.

Answer 1

I feed the BML diet as well http://www.sugargliderinfo.com/NutritionAndDiets/leadbeat.html - sugar gliders are like kids and will fill up on their favorite foods first and then not be hungry. The diet you are feeding right now lacks some basic minerals that gliders need - these minerals are included in the BML diet and also there is a strict fruit and veggie list to follow - melons are great since they have a high water content, and NO lima beans or tofu or soy or onions... I don't know the details but have been told many times these can be harmful if enough is eaten.

There is another diet called the Suncoast diet - http://www.sugar-gliders.com/sugar-glider-diet.htm I used to feed that and they loved every bite.

Answer 2

Ok well, first off, the peanuts are a bad idea. Nuts in general contain a lot of fat and if the gliders get too much fat they develop something akin to cataracts. The grapes also should be ditched because there have been several sudden deaths that the breeder I got mine from has attributed to them. Corn also has too much starch for her. As for the other food, Zookeeper's secret is the only dry food I have ever gotten mine to eat and they love it. Watermelons and cantaloupes are big ones as well. Don't worry about the little girl eating the crickets, they're good for her. For more information about it all, and for professional advice check out this website. I hope all turns out well :) https://www.sugar-gliders.com/

Answer 3

I feed the BML diet to my sugar gliders. I make up a double batch and freeze it into ice cube trays. I then pop out two cubes each night. I feed this in conjection with frozen mixed veggies and fresh fruits. My gliders love melon- that suprises me that your girl doesn't! I have also offered microwaved scrambled eggs, lean unseasoned chicken breast, mashed bananas, mashed sweet potatos, soymilk, tofu and other in season fruits.

I would completely get rid of the science diet pellets (do you mean dog food?) , the peanuts(high in fat), and the limit the mealies(high in fat). My girls get mealies once a week. I'll pick up a dozen and put them in a bowl with shredded carrots or apples. My girls pig out!! Sugar gliders are sap suckers and do better with food they can lap up or mushier fruits and veggies.

Answer 4

It is illegal to keep most Australian native animals as pets. Please visit a native wildlife refuge and seek their opinion on how best to care for the Sugar Glider.