Puppies, Fish&Critters - Aquarium Maintenance

Basic Care / Rabbits / African Pygmy Hedgehogs / Degus / Ferrets / Sugar Gliders

Sugar Glider Care

Sugar glider feeding

They can eat a wide variety of stuff including: fruits, vegetables, protein, and breads and cereals. Their diet should consist of 20% - 30% fruits (some sources say only 5%), 40% vegetables (they tend not to like bananas and citrus fruits can cause diarrhea, canned fruits have too much sugar, frozen vegetables are ok), 25% to 50% protein (such as monkey chow, tofu, cooked turkey or chicken, hardboiled eggs, baby chicks or mice, and insects), and 15% breads and cereals (not too sugary or high in fat). Gliders are high-energy creatures and need lots of carbohydrates which breads and cereals can provide. You can occasionally give them them small pieces of wheat bread, shredded wheat squares (the kind with the raisin in the middle) or other HEALTHY cereals. Experimenting with new foods, and rotating favorites keep gliders from losing interest.

There are times when gliders may like one thing one day and not the next, and vice versa, so don't think they don't like something just because they didn't eat it the one time you offered it. Avoid the pits in fruits, Do NOT feed the pits or seeds of apples, cherry, peaches etc.. You can use fresh or frozen, but do NOT used canned.

Diet We recommend per glider

Vitamins are very important..
Rep-Cal HERPTIVITE
Rep-Cal Calcium Suppliment non-phosphorus with Vit. D3

1. 1 Tablespoon of fruits: apples, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, cantalope,

2. 1 Tablespoon of veggies: (Ive found that they do like frozen veggies just as much as fresh and it makes feeding a little easier) Corn(should not be fed everyday but is one of their favourites), carrots, peas, lettuce, celery, asparagus, green beans,

3. Insects or other protein source: low-fat high nutrition cat food,

4. During the spring / summer months Approx 1 tbsp of mixed food this would include: raisins, pecans, pistachios, peanuts, sunflower seeds, dried banannas, tortilla, dry bread, unsalted crackers, cheerios, and whatever else that seems natural.

And small amounts of yogurt or cheese every now and then.

AND/OR

1 Tablespoon of the BML basic mix during cooler months (I don't recommend feeding BML when it is warm because it can attract flies)

Bourbon's Modified Leadbeater's Diet Plan (BML)

Ingredients

- 1/2 cup Honey. Most store bought honey is fine to use unless it is honeycomb, raw or unfiltered. Do not use these.

- 1 Egg (boiled or scrambled - I hard boil mine). The shell is OPTIONAL. If your blender does NOT break the shell down into miniscule pieces, do not use it. I break the egg down before putting it into the blender.

- 1/4 cup of Apple Juice Just use the good ole apple juice that you and I would drink - not frozen, not baby juice, just regular bottled apple juice.

Blend well, Turn off blender, add the next group of ingredients.

- 1 4oz bottle PREMIXED Gerber juice with yogurt (Mixed Fruit or Banana) Both have yogurt mixed in, the fluid is creamy colored For those who cannot find this, you may substitute 2 oz of plain yogurt and 2 oz of mixed fruit juice

- 1 Teaspoon of Rep-Cal HERPTIVITE vitamin supplement Blue label on a white plastic container, DO NOT SUBSTITUTE this supplement.

Blend well again, Turn off Blender , add next group of ingredients.

- 2 teaspoons Rep-Cal Calcium Suppliment non-phosphorus with Vit. D3 in it Pink label on a white plastic container

- 2 2 1/2 oz jar of Stage 1 or 2 Heinz, Gerber or Beechnut Chicken baby food. The chicken will say either Chicken with Chicken Gravy or Chicken with Chicken Broth. Either is acceptable

- 1/4 cup Wheat Germ

- 1/2 cup dry baby cereal - Heinz or Gerber (Mixed or Oatmeal - I use rice with fruit bits)

Blend well , turn off blender, It should be the pour into tupperware bowl, or ice cube trays and FREEZE, 1 cube in ice cube tray is approx. 2 tablespoons. It will freeze to the consistancy of ice cream. This will feed 1 glider for approximately 1 month.

Bourbon's Notes
Do NOT mix the fruits and veggies in before freezing.
There are several ways to feed the BML plan. The one thing that is consistant, is that, it is designed to be fed with fruits, veggies, and insects.

If I "ICE" the BML mix with applesauce or another fruit, I will reduce the amounts on the side. By icing you take about 1/2 teaspoon of applesauce and spread it across the top of the BML mix, take the edge of a spoon and cut ridges into the BML mix. Motts has snackpack flavored applesauce.

Any changes in this recipe, other than noted, and the gliders may not like it.

As for insects , the insects should always be part of their diet, depending on what you feed, and what size. I feed 3-4 Large (jumbo) mealies per day (not superworms) small 8-10, medium 5-7, Large or jumbo 3-4, superworms 1-2. Some of the most popular insects are: Mealworms, crickets, moths, june bugs. Do NOT feed roaches, or any insects found on the floor or on the ground, which could have come in contact with pesticides, either from your place, or someone else's. My gliders do not like to have their mealies in the BML mix. I offer 4 to 5 mealworms or crickets each morning. I may also offer them a few in the evening or offer them moths, june bugs or Man'o'wars. If it is a bug... Look out... If it moves, try it. In the summer the fav is man'o wars or skeeter eaters.. whichever people call them they look like giant mesquitos, moths and june bugs. Caution : DO NOT feed fireflys/lightening bugs.

Bonding with A Sugar Glider

You just got home with your new glider and you really want to get him or her out and cuddle but one look at you and they're crabbing their head off. This is completely normal as the glider has no idea who you are and what you smell like. Bonding is a slow process but very worth it.

First we recommend putting the glider in its pouch and placing it in its cage and new environment and leaving it alone for two days, this includes not washing the pouch it was purchased with. when you first bring the glider home place a tshirt or an article of clothing you have warn (and not washed) in the cage to introduce your scent to the glider, this is because the change of owner and environment is very stressful on a glider, it is best to place this piece of clothing in with him right away. He will get used to this smell and be comfortable with it in his pouch or nesting box. This will help him feel more comfortable with you because what he has found to be safe and secure smells just like you! On the third day take your glider out and place him into a bonding pouch that you can wear on you all day with him sleeping in it. This will help him get used to your lifestyle and again, he is safe in that pouch but with you. While he is asleep in the bonding pouch get him used to your hands, try to gently place your hand under him and hold it there for as long as you want, for hours if you'd like. Once he is comfortable with that, after a few days try to open the pouch and pet him, do not push the bonding process as it will be stressful at first and you want your glider to be completely comfortable with you.

When he is awake give him some licky treats, if he crabs or lunges don't pull your hand away (you don't want him to train you), he will probably get some of the licky treat on his nose and then he'll lick it off your finger. He may nip after the licky treat is gone, but do not be alarmed, they are sap suckers by nature and do this to see if anymore of that tasty treat is going to come out. Repeat this step as often as you like; just make sure it's a healthy treat! When you get home feed your glider and let him eat, when he is done eating give him some time to go potty and then take him out and take him into the tent or a glider proofed room (whichever you have decided on). Have some toys (feathers, balls with bells or noise makers in them, barrel of monkeys, strings of beads, etc.) and play with your glider. Let him chase the feather, crawl all over you, whatever it takes, try to keep his interest in you. All of these small steps are part of the bonding process. Your glider is getting to know and trust you while slowly becoming used to this new person in its life.

Biting: A Problem You May Encounter

Your new glider bites and you want him to stop. What can you do? You have to take the bite. If you pull your hand away and let him know that it bothers you, he is winning and he is training you. You need to give your glider licky treats and get him used to your fingers, when he nips hold still, don't scream, pull your hand away, or jump three feet into the air. Your glider will cut down on his biting and nipping if he knows that it is not doing him any good, it's not causing you to put him away and leave him alone. Whatever you do, do not wear gloves when you handle your glider. The gloves do nothing for the bonding process and frightens him even more, if nothing else, causing him to bite continually. Try not to grab your glider, if he doesn't feel like he is being contained or in danger he probably will not bite as often.

By following these steps you will be reworded in many ways:

A glider that you can hold and share, that will stay with you and you don't have to worry about it running away, that is happy to see you, and will stay in your pocket and live up to the name of the "pocket pet".

A glider that is completely bonded will curl up and sleep in your hand

It is a long process and for some gliders it may take a lot longer to become bonded, but with the right qualities in an owner, it is possible to get any glider to bond. It doesn't matter if the glider is 8 weeks or 5 years old, all of them will show love to their owners once they learn to trust you. Some gliders are being given a second or third chance and their hearts have been shattered, it will take longer for that glider to trust you because their best friend didn't want them anymore or couldn't keep them anymore and they don't want to trust again only to have that trust broken.

Remember that Sugar Gliders can build a very strong bond with their owners and they are a lifetime commitment of 10-15 years. Think about everything involved before getting a Sugar Glider. They have feelings and when they are bonded to somebody who gets rid of them it gets harder and harder for another person to bond with them, the gliders often become difficult and unwanted.

Cage Bedding/Litter Rules

The question is often asked... "What should I put in the bottom of my glider's cage?" Keep in mind when choosing a type of litter how your gliders are housed... Will they be in contact with the cage litter? Can they reach it? Will they chew on it? Will it get in their food?

1. Do NOT use pine or cedar shavings, the oils produced by cedar causes respiratory problems in small animals.

2. DO NOT use Chlorophyll litter, the fumes produced by this can make gliders very sick or even kill a glider. It can be worse than cedar shavings see number 1.

3. Newspaper CAN be used. You can call the local newspaper carrier to find out what type of dyes they use in their ink. Do not use newspaper that has colored ink on it. If they use a dye other than vegetable dye, I wouldn't use that newspaper to line my cages.

4. CareFresh CAN be used. It's a bedding made from wood pulp fiber, contains no inks/dyes, & is flushable.

5. Aspen shavings CAN be used; they do not contain the oils like cedar and pine.

6. Paper towels CAN be used.

7. Do NOT use cat litter. It releases gasses that are not good for your glider. Also if they were to be able to grab some and eat it, it could be very dangerous.

8. Puppy training pads CAN be used. A lot of people have recently been using these with a lot of success.

9. Eucalyptus bedding is NOT recommended. Some types of eucalyptus can be toxic to gliders and without knowing the exact source of the eucalyptus used has potential dangers. Also not knowing what chemicals are used on the eucalyptus before, during, after shipping to the US can be unsafe.

10. Try to avoid corn-cob bedding, although is non toxic this bedding is more prone to bacterial growth and also there is a slight risk of aflatoxins. There have been a few cases where small animals such as rats and hamsters have choked on these small hard pieces. Or just put this bedding on a tray where the gliders don't have access to it.