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Types of Sugar glider foods: Fruits & Vegetables Fresh / Frozen / Dried - Fruits and vegetables should be a part of your Sugar gliders' diet. How much to offer is the question. You don't want your Sugar glider to fill-up on his/her favorite fruits, then shy away from the protein based sugar glider food. You have to limit the amount of fruits & veggies, and allow room for protein based sugar glider foods. Many of the pre-made diets available already contain some fruits & veggies, take that into consideration when feeding fruits and veggies along with a pre-made diet. Many pre-made diets contain everything your sugar glider needs, and it is not necessary to supplement extra fruits & veggies. When you do offer fruits & veggies, it is your choice to feed fresh, frozen, or dried. Many glider owners opt. to feed the dried fruits, since it is easier to feed, and the dried do not attract fruit flies, which always is a problem with fresh. It also consumes less time to offer dried, since you don't have to run to the market for fresh fruits, chop the fresh fruits (most times dried already come diced) or change out the leftovers. Dried fruits & veggies can be left in the cage until they are consumed, fresh will need to be changed out after 24 hours. Protein Based Foods Many of the dried and canned diets that are pre-made, such as Glider Complete, Premium Sugar Glider Diet, or canned Insect-Eater Diet, have sufficient protein contents. If you are offering these foods, it is not necessary to supplement with extra protein sources. Depending on the amount of the pre-made diets that you glider is consuming will be the determining factor as to how much more protein based foods you will need to offer. An example would be: A gliders' diet consists of 50% protein based, pre-made diet, along with fresh fruits and veggies, the glider will need another protein based sugar glider food to be added to the diet (since he is only getting 50% of the protein based foods. Where as, a gliders' diet that consists of 100% canned Insect-Eater Diet(protein based complete food) he will not need a protein supplement added to the diet. The Insect-Eater diet already contains all the protein necessary. Here are some examples of other protein based foods to offer your sugar glider if you do not feed one of the complete pre-made diets. Foods high in protein content - Dried insects such as Glider grubs, whole dried grasshoppers, dried waxworms, canned insects and live mealworms. Remember, when feeding live mealworms as a protein source, you should offer a calcium supplement, since the mealworms are high in phosphorous, and this will block some of the calcium absorption. Treats Healthy treats have several benefits for both pets and pet owners. Treats can lend variety to an otherwise monotonous diet and add behavioral enrichment for animals that spend their lives in a small, limited environment. Most importantly, treats form a connection between pets and pet owners, and can help in training your pet to come when called, and provide good exercise for teeth and jaws. Treats should consist of no more than 10-20 percent of your pets diet. Offer dried fruits, dried insects, live insects, or pre-made treats that are made from healthy ingredients. Vitamins & Supplements If you choose to feed your glider a 'home made' diet, rather than a pre-prepared food that already contains the necessary vitamins, minerals, protein, fat & fiber content, then it may be necessary to offer a multi-vitamin, and or calcium supplement. Most pre-made complete diets already contain the recommended vitamins and minerals necessary for growth and reproduction. Conclusion: Sugar glider owners have important choices to make for the proper care of their exotic pet, the amount of information that is available on feeding, housing, breeding etc. can be overwhelming. We like to keep it simple. Feed your Sugar glider a complete diet that has already been researched and prepared for your glider. Unless you are an animal nutritionist, that can determine the protein, fat, and fiber content of each piece of food that is offered, it is much easier, and healthier in the long run, if you offer a high quality proven Sugar glider food that is already prepared and ready to feed.
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