The best sugar glider pellet diet is one that is as close to their natural diet as possible. In the wild, sugar gliders eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, but it is difficult to duplicate this diet in captivity. Pelted diets for sugar gliders are available, but many of these products do not contain the proper balance of nutrients. Fruits and sugar syrups are often recommended for feeding sugar gliders, but these are not balanced and can cause the animals to develop weak bones, tremors, seizures, and even death.
Contents
Dr David Brust is a sugar glider food & diet expert
Sugar gliders are small marsupials native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. However, they have recently become popular household pets in North America. Dr. David Brust, an expert on sugar gliders, has been practicing exotic animal medicine for 31 years. He is president of the Association of Sugar Glider Veterinarians (ASGV), which consists of nearly 2000 sugar glider veterinarians in 30 countries. He is also the author of the Sugar Glider the Complete Veterinary Care Guide, has contributed to a number of scientific articles, and has taught veterinary education courses.
To make the best sugar glider food and diet, begin by understanding sugar glider nutrition. Sugar gliders can live for eight to twelve years in captivity, so they do not require regular veterinary care. However, finding a veterinary clinic that specializes in sugar gliders is difficult, so you should expect to pay a price that’s much higher than that for a normal household animal.
Exotic Nutrition’s New World Primate diet is a highly nutritious concentrate
If you’re looking for a more complete food for your pet’s needs, try Exotic Nutrition’s New World Primate pellet diet. This highly nutritious concentrate is designed for New World monkeys, including marmosets and sugar gliders. It provides adequate protein and Vitamin D3 for your pet’s diet. Sugar gliders can also benefit from the New World Primate diet if you mix it with sugar glider pellet food. Both diets come in a convenient stick shape, making them easy to hold.
The sugar glider diet should contain three or four types of fruit. However, avoid feeding your pet rhubarb or other hard fruits, and do not feed them fruits with Asian flavoring. Additionally, do not feed them food with onions, garlic, or other ingredients with high levels of sulfur. Sugar gliders are accustomed to eating on an elevated platform, so offer them food on the platform for added security.
Avoiding foods high in phosphorus
If you are feeding a sugar glider pellet diet, you should avoid giving them treats. A high-calorie, sugar-loaded diet can cause obesity, and feeding them too many treats can make them picky eaters. Instead, provide plenty of nutritious food and avoid phosphorus-laden foods. But how do you know which foods are safe for your sugar glider? Read on for some guidelines.
When feeding your sugar gliders, keep in mind that they have different nutritional values. Carrots and corn are excellent for them when prepared properly. However, they have a high phosphorus content, and too much can increase their risk for disease. Try to avoid adding these two to your glider’s diet in small amounts. Fresh fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly before feeding them. Be sure to remove seeds and other objects that could irritate your glider.
Avoiding foods high in oxalates
Fruits and vegetables with high oxalates are best avoided for your sugar gliders’ diet. These foods can affect calcium absorption, resulting in calcium deficiency. Fruits and vegetables should be washed thoroughly before feeding your gliders, and a high-quality fruit and vegetable pellet diet should contain only 100% fruit and vegetable components. In addition, avoid foods with wax coatings and pesticides. In addition, avoid strawberries, as they are high in oxalates and may cause your sugar glider to develop urinary stones.
As sugar gliders have small mouths, they need small portions of food. They can be offered small treats that are mixed in with other foods. However, be sure not to overfeed your gliders, as they will get bored with their food very quickly. Also, avoid foods that contain oxalates, such as spinach, onions, and garlic. Sugar gliders should also avoid foods that contain oxalates.
Recipes for sugar glider food
Sugar gliders need a well-balanced diet with 75% protein. Commercial pellet foods prepared with veterinary guidance are ideal for sugar gliders, but you can also make your own food at home by blending different ingredients together. Apples and other fruits are ideal to start with. Try blending them with a small amount of Glide-R-Chow or Gravy. You can also mix in some vegetables and fruits.
To make your own sugar glider pellet food, prepare a mixture that contains different kinds of fruits, vegetables, and proteins. You can store the mixture in ice cube trays or freezer bags. Feeding your gliders from a frozen mixture is easy, and you don’t need to buy expensive pellets. Simply freeze a small amount of the mixture, and then serve it to your gliders when they need it.