The BML diet (short for Bourbon’s Modified Leadbeater’s) is a homemade, nectar-style mix for sugar gliders, usually made from honey, egg, baby cereal and a vitamin or calcium supplement. It is meant to be one part of the diet, not the whole thing. Recipes vary by keeper, so have your vet look over yours.
What BML is
BML is a modified version of the older Leadbeater’s mix. It was designed to be higher in protein and better balanced in calcium than the original recipe. Keepers make it in batches, freeze it in ice cube trays and thaw a cube or two at feeding time.
Typical ingredients
- Warm water and honey
- Hard-boiled egg, blended smooth
- High-protein baby cereal
- A calcium and vitamin supplement
Exact amounts differ between recipes. Copy a recipe from a vet or a reputable glider rescue instead of mixing by eye, and do not add extra honey.
Where it fits in the diet
Think of BML as the nectar third of a sugar glider’s diet. The rest should include a glider-specific kibble and fresh vegetables, a little fruit and a few insects. See A Healthy Sugar Glider Diet for the full picture.
Safety and storage
- Cooked egg and honey spoil. Keep thawed mix refrigerated and use it within a few days.
- Serve small portions in the evening and discard leftovers by morning.
- Never feed raw egg.
- Wash the dish and any ice cube trays well.
Common problems
Because the mix is sweet, gliders may fill up on it and ignore their kibble and vegetables. Offer less if that happens. Too much sugar leads to obesity and dental disease. Also remember that no homemade mix is a complete diet by itself: calcium is still the key. Compare it with the original Leadbeater’s mix and the TPG diet.
Bottom Line
BML is a popular and useful nectar mix when it is made from a trusted recipe and balanced with kibble, produce, insects and calcium. If your glider is lethargic, wobbly or dragging its legs, call an exotic-pet vet right away.
This article is general information, not veterinary advice.
