Sugar gliders do best on a balanced mix of nutritionally complete kibble, a nectar or sap-style mixture, and small portions of insects, fresh vegetables, and a little fruit, along with a calcium-based multivitamin. Because their wild diet is mostly tree sap, nectar, and insects, a fruit-heavy or treat-heavy diet can cause serious problems over time.
The Basic Daily Diet
Many exotic-animal vets suggest feeding roughly 15–20% of your glider’s body weight each day, split into thirds:
- One third kibble: a nutritionally balanced, glider-specific pellet. Keep some available at all times.
- One third nectar or sap-style mix: a commercial glider nectar or a vet-approved mixture.
- One third “extras”: a small number of insects, fresh vegetables, a little fruit, and a calcium-based multivitamin.
Gliders are tiny, so portions are small. Weigh your glider regularly and adjust with your vet’s guidance.
Insects and Protein
Insects are a natural part of a glider’s diet. Offer a small number every other day, such as crickets or properly prepared mealworms. Mealworms are high in fat, so treat them as an occasional extra rather than a staple. Our guide to whether sugar gliders can eat mealworms covers the details.
Fruits and Vegetables
Gliders love sweet foods, so offer only a small portion of fruit daily and make vegetables the larger share of the produce. Wash everything well, and choose organic when you can, since gliders are sensitive to pesticides and preservatives.
Some produce is high in oxalates, which can interfere with calcium absorption. Vets commonly advise limiting or skipping items such as spinach, carrots, beets, lettuce, collard greens, pears, figs, and berries like raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries. Raw corn is very sweet, so keep it occasional. For ideas, see our list of fruits and vegetables sugar gliders can eat.
Why Calcium Matters
Gliders are prone to low calcium and the bone disease that follows when their diet is unbalanced. Insects and many fruits are naturally low in calcium and high in phosphorus, which is why a calcium-based multivitamin and a balanced kibble are important. Ask your vet which supplement and schedule suit your glider.
Foods to Avoid
- Chocolate, candy, and sugary snacks: unsafe and bad for teeth.
- Dairy, including yogurt treats: linked to dental disease and obesity.
- Canned fruit: too much sodium and preservatives.
- Produce treated with pesticides.
- High-fat extras like nuts and nut butters: fine only as a very rare treat, if at all.
- Anything fried, salted, or processed.
Water and Feeding Routine
Gliders are nocturnal, so offer fresh food in the evening and remove uneaten fresh items by morning. Provide clean water 24 hours a day in a dish or a sipper bottle, and make sure your glider actually knows how to use the bottle. Wash bowls and bottles daily.
Treats
Treats should be a small fraction of the diet. Browse our notes on sugar glider treats for healthier choices.
If Your Glider Stops Eating
A glider that refuses food, loses weight, or seems weak needs a vet quickly, because small animals decline fast. See why a sugar glider might not be eating for common causes.
Bottom Line
Feed a glider-specific kibble, a nectar or sap-style mix, a few insects every other day, and small portions of low-oxalate vegetables and fruit, plus a calcium multivitamin. Skip chocolate, dairy, and sugary foods, and keep fresh water available at all times.
This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Sugar gliders have specialized needs, so talk with an exotic-animal vet about your pet’s diet and supplements.
