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 Sugar Glider Nutrition
A healthy glider diet consists of about 75% protein, and 25% fruits and vegetables and about a 2:1 overall calcium to phosphorous ratio. Plenty of fresh, filtered water in a bottle that does not leak, should be available at all times. Wash the bottle regularly. Do not use unfiltered well water.
I enjoy offering my gliders a varied menu that stimulates their brains as well as their appetites. This is probably more complicated than a glider's diet needs to be however, and links to simpler diets that still provide a good nutritional base can be found at the bottom of the page. The critters listed in the menu below I raise myself so I can be sure that they are getting all nutritionally rich foods and being kept on appropriate bedding!
Nursing females and newly weaned baby gliders get a tablespoon of Wombaroo mixed with yogurt on their veggies and fruit each night to help give them a little extra nutrition for healthy growth and development.
Alchemy Glider Menu
Day 1
4 large mealworms. Raised by me and gut loaded with lots of healthy food and vitamins.
1/2 a tablespoon of fresh fruits and vegetables; washed, peeled and chopped into glider bite sized morsels than mixed together and sprinkled with The Pet Glider complete multivitamin and non-phosphorous Rep-Cal.
1 pea sized drop of Organic Coconut oil on a freshly cleaned rose petal or other non-treated edible flower. DON'T use any flower that might have been treated with any chemicals!
Zookeeper's Secret (aka Insectivore Fare), as much as they desire
Day 2
1 pinky sized African soft furred rat. I was introduced to these mouse sized critters by a breeder of expensive ball pythons that couldn't get them to eat regular mice. I humanely pre-kill pinkies.
1/2 a tablespoon of fresh fruits and vegetables; washed, peeled and chopped into glider bite sized morsels than mixed together and sprinkled with The Pet Glider complete multivitamin and non-phosphorous Rep-Cal.
1 pea sized drop of Acacia gum powder mixed with water or diluted, unsweetened juice. This is a food that the gliders often eat in the wild and many zoos rave about the results their getting from feeding it in their diets.
Orange flavored Monkey Biscuits, as much as they desire. Because these are tough to chew for gliders I buy the 100% baby fruit juice and soak them in it first. I vary flavors of juice, you can use whatever your gliders prefer.
Day 3
5 large waxworms. Raised by me and gut loaded with lots of healthy food and vitamins. These are smaller than the mealworms but they don't have that icky shell that gliders dislike. You have to watch out though feeding these is like feeding candy, gliders may like them TOO much, lol.
1/2 a tablespoon of fresh fruits and vegetables; washed, peeled and chopped into glider bite sized morsels than mixed together and sprinkled with The Pet Glider complete multivitamin and non-phosphorous Rep-Cal.
1 pea sized drop of fruit flavored yogurt on a freshly cleaned rose petal or other non-treated edible flower. DON'T use any flower that might have been treated with any chemicals!
Zookeeper's Secret (aka Insectivore Fare), as much as they desire.
Day 4
1 tablespoon of broiled poultry. I've used pheasant, chicken, duck, goose and turkey. Just about any bird that you would eat, they'll enjoy as well. My husband enjoys poultry night as much as the gliders because he knows he's getting the lion's share of the bird!
1/2 a tablespoon of fresh fruits and vegetables; washed, peeled and chopped into glider bite sized morsels than mixed together and sprinkled with The Pet Glider complete multivitamin and non-phosphorous Rep-Cal.
Fresh Gliderade in a clean glass drinking tube separate from their water bottle.
Exotic Nutrition's Eucalyptus Glider Diet with Papaya, as much as they desire (they'll pick out the fruit right away, lol). If you have a hard time getting your gliders to eat pellet foods try drizzling honey or yogurt over it to soften it up and make it more appealing.
Day 5
1 pinky sized African soft furred rat.
1/2 a tablespoon of fresh fruits and vegetables; washed, peeled and chopped into glider bite sized morsels than mixed together and sprinkled with The Pet Glider complete multivitamin and non-phosphorous Rep-Cal.
1 pea sized drop of Acacia gum powder mixed with water or diluted, unsweetened juice.
Zookeeper's Secret (aka Insectivore Fare), as much as they desire
Day 6
3 large crickets. Raised by me and gut loaded with lots of healthy food and vitamins.
1/2 a tablespoon of fresh fruits and vegetables; washed, peeled and chopped into glider bite sized morsels than mixed together and sprinkled with The Pet Glider complete multivitamin and non-phosphorous Rep-Cal.
1 drop of fruit flavored yogurt mixed with bruised, fresh mint leaves.
Exotic Nutrition's Glider Complete Diet as much as they desire (they'll pick out the fruit right away, lol). If you have a hard time getting your gliders to eat pellet foods try drizzling honey or yogurt over it to soften it up and make it more appealing.
Day 7
2 heaping teaspoons of Wombaroo high protein supplement mixed into 1/2 tablespoon of fruit flavored yogurt.
1/2 a tablespoon of fresh fruits and vegetables; washed, peeled and chopped into glider bite sized morsels than mixed together and sprinkled with The Pet Glider complete multivitamin and non-phosphorous Rep-Cal.
Fresh Gliderade in a clean glass drinking tube separate from their water bottle.
Exotic Nutrition's Bugs and Berries Diet, as much as they desire.
Wash, Rinse, Repeat..... I will often mix up the combinations of protein sources, enrichment items and staple foods so that they don't come to expect the same items every time. I'll also add different enrichment or treat items as I find them, and remove others as they go out of season (for example: rose petals or cactus fruit).
There are lots of ways that you can combine the protein sources, fruits, veggies, enrichment and staple foods so that the gliders never get bored and are always eager to see what their next meal is going to be.
Here's a link to other common Sugar Glider diets being used by breeders and owners right now.
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