SUGAR GLIDER CARE GUIDE
DIET FOR SUGAR GLIDERS
There are several theories on what to feed sugar gliders daily, but most experts agree that a FRESH DIET is essential. This should consist of a variety of fruits, vegetables, and protein sources (see recipe at the end). We recommend The Pet Glider Exotic Fresh Diet as the main food source, topped with The Pet Glider Vitamins (which include minerals, calcium, bee pollen, acacia gum, fresh ground milk thistle, and probiotics). Avoid feeding any food that contains preservatives, sugar, or artificial color additives. In the wild, sugar gliders consume a low-fat diet and get plenty of exercise by gliding through the rainforest. In captivity, they can easily become overweight and develop health problems if not fed a balanced and healthy diet.
Sugar gliders are very active and have high metabolisms, so it’s important to always have a staple food available in their cage. Along with their fresh diet, we recommend offering healthy treats and mealworms occasionally. Always make sure they have fresh water available at all times.
Staples
Cereal: The premium cereal we recommend at The Pet Glider is high in protein and low in fat, containing human-grade chicken. A standard serving is one teaspoon per glider.
Monkey Biscuits: We recommend Mazuri Growth and Repro Biscuits, which contain 25% protein. These biscuits also serve as a dental guard, helping keep your sugar glider’s teeth clean and healthy. We suggest offering ½ to 1 biscuit per glider. Both cereal and monkey biscuits are available at The Pet Glider store. Always keep these staples available in your glider’s cage and replace the food daily. Store your Brunch in an airtight container in the freezer for up to a year, or at room temperature for up to six months.
Fresh Water
Provide fresh, filtered water daily. We recommend using filtered water and never letting the water bottle run dry. Clean water bottles every week to prevent bacteria growth. We do not recommend Gliderade, as it is high in sugar and contains an unspecified amount of vitamins. We use water bottles, not bowls, for our gliders because bowls can cause drowning or bacterial growth. Glass water bottles are highly preferred.
Mealworms
Mealworms are a sugar glider’s favorite treat! They are a high-protein snack that can be given daily—about 7-8 large mealworms per glider. Mealworms are a great bonding tool and are fun for hand-feeding your pet.
Treats
Occasional treats that sugar gliders enjoy include yogurt drops, dried cherry drops, dried mango chunks, dried mealworms, and dried crickets. Fresh fruit such as watermelon, oranges, and sweet potatoes will also delight your sugar gliders. Keep in mind that these treats should not make up their main diet and should be given sparingly.
Vitamins
It is essential to sprinkle The Pet Glider Vitamins with calcium on your sugar glider’s food every day. These vitamins are specifically formulated for sugar gliders, with a calcium to phosphorus ratio of at least 4:1. Do not use reptile vitamins for your small mammal! Our vitamins are sold by breeders around the world in 30, 90, 180, and 360-day supplies. Bulk quantities are available for breeders and small businesses.
The sugar glider diet, which is rich in fruits and vegetables, tends to have a higher phosphorus-to-calcium ratio. This imbalance can lead to brittle bones, which are prone to fractures. Calcium deficiency can make your glider sick, and can eventually cause hind leg or full paralysis, and even death. If you notice shaking or trembling (especially when not scared), or if your glider struggles to climb or hold on to a perch, contact an exotic animal vet immediately. Always store your multi-vitamins with calcium powder in the refrigerator, but do not freeze as this may affect the probiotics.
Our vitamins include a multi-vitamin and multi-mineral formula, along with calcium, amino acids, freshly ground bee pollen for immune support, milk thistle for liver health, high-grade probiotics for nutrient absorption, acacia gum powder (rich in calcium), 100% whey protein isolate, and coconut nectar (a low glycemic index nutrient). These vitamins also contain natural vitamin K, organic kelp, and spirulina.
TPG Diet Recipe
The Pet Glider Exotic Fresh Diet Recipe
The Pet Glider Exotic Fresh Diet consists of chicken, turkey or eggs, fresh and frozen vegetables and fruits, yogurt, calcium-fortified orange juice, oatmeal and apple sauce. Feed 1 ½ tablespoons per glider per day, served in the mid to late afternoon. The Pet Glider DOES NOT RECOMMEND the following: Red meats, chocolate of any kind, candy, bread, seeds or any food with high sugar content. We do not feed our gliders any type of nuts. An occasional non-seasoned raw almond would be okay, but our rule of thumb is NO NUTS. Any vegetable that is high in phosphorous is not good for gliders. Prevention is your safest bet, so use vitamins daily. We feel that ours are the best available.
This recipe is approximately enough for 2 gliders for 30 days. Note to the beginner chef and the seasoned cook: Nutritional variety is important for healthy, happy sugar gliders. We recommend that you try making several versions of this recipe (changing the fruits, veggies and protein for variety) at one time so you can feed your gliders a variety during the month. However, if time does not allow for this, be sure you change up your recipe monthly and give them a variety of healthy foods & giant mealworms!
INGREDIENTS
2 Cups / 16oz Fresh or Frozen Fruit (not canned). Oranges, papayas, tangerines, pineapples, mangos, cantaloupes, kiwi, peaches, watermelon, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and cherries. Choose 3-4 different types. If you peel a fruit before you eat it, then cut it in half for your sugar glider. DO NOT FEED RHUBARB.
2 Cups / 16oz Fresh or Frozen Vegetables (not canned). When using frozen vegetables, get plain mixes (no sauces or Asian flavoring). Chose at least 4 different types. Sweet potatoes, kale, collards, green beans, beets, peas, lima beans, carrots, jicama, bok choy, squash, red bell pepper and snow peas. Small amounts of corn, broccoli and cauliflower are okay but feed in moderation. DO NOT FEED GARLIC, LEEKS, OR ONIONS OF ANY KIND.
6 – 8oz Plain Whole Milk Yogurt
6 Tablespoons Calcium-fortified Orange Juice Concentrate
6 – 8 Tablespoons Uncooked Oatmeal
4 Cups / 32oz Unsweetened Applesauce (optional, may substitute extra veggies and fruit)
6 – 8oz Cooked Protein. You can use cooked chicken (boil/broil/roast), ground turkey (pan cook in coconut/MCT oil), or eggs (scrambled in coconut/MCT oil). We do not recommend using pork or beef due to high fat content.
1 – 2 Tablespoons Ground Flax Seed, Wheat Germ, or Ground Chia Seeds (optional but very beneficial form of fiber)
DIRECTIONS
Chop your fruits and vegetables into very small pieces. We recommend using a food processor. Remember the size of the animal you are preparing food for.
Always cook your protein – chicken, ground turkey, or scrambled eggs. (No seasonings).
In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together (save oatmeal for last). You want to make sure all ingredients have been incorporated and mixed thoroughly. You do not want a runny or super thick mix, but one that has the consistency of cake batter. Add more or less oatmeal depending on the consistency.
You will want to divide the mixture in smaller containers to freeze. Here are some recommendations: a) Fill ice trays with your mixture. After they have frozen, you can pop them out, put them in a freezer bag, then place the bag into a plastic freezer container and take out to thaw daily to feed your babies. b) Or you can divide your mixture into 10 smaller containers and freeze. Each container will last 2 gliders for 3 days. You do not want to divide your mixture into larger containers because the mixture needs to be fresh when you feed. You do not want the mixture to be in the refrigerator for longer than 2-3 days.
Sprinkle The Pet Glider multi-vitamin with calcium on top of the food you serve each day. Use 1/8th teaspoon of vitamins per sugar glider. Remember that your multi-vitamins with calcium powder should be kept in the refrigerator, never frozen. Stir your mixture after adding the vitamins to ensure even distribution.