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Exotic Animal Formulary5

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Table 7-10

Dietary Components for Sugar Gliders in Captivity. 3

Common

presentations

Daily

consumption

Pelleted kibble

Fresh fruits and

vegetables

Supplement

Treats a

Bottled or

filtered water

Blossoms and

branches

Obesity, malnutrition, and osteodystrophy often caused by nutritional

inconsistencies of homemade diets and excessive sweet and fatty items

15%-20% of body weight

Nutritionally-balanced, commercial sugar glider kibble (Glide-R-Chow

[www.sugarbears.com], NutriMax [www.vetspride.com]), VitaSmart

Sugar Glider Formula & Vita Prima Sunscription Exotics Sugar

Glider Formula (www.vitakraftsunseed.com)

Apples, apricots, bananas, berries, corn, grapes, green beans, kiwifruit,

mangos, melons, oranges, papaya, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, and

watermelon

Calcium-based multivitamin supplement formulated specifically for sugar

gliders (Glide-A-Mins [www.sugarbears.com], VitaMax

[www.vetspride.com])

Must be strictly controlled; applesauce, yogurt, and limited invertebrates

such as mealworms, grasshoppers, moths, fly pupae, and crickets

Refresh drip water bottle daily; introduction of weighted container such

as small ashtray may also be necessary for young joeys

Eucalyptus, Banksia, Leptospermum, Grevillea, Acacia, Melaleuca, Callistemum,

and Hakea

a

Sugar gliders will preferentially eat sweet/fatty items to excess and to the exclusion of more nutritious

foods, so they should not be presented with too wide a selection of foods.

Table 7-11

Suggested Sugar Glider Diets. 3,11

Diet 1 3

75%: Nutritionally balanced, commercial sugar glider kibble: 1-2 oz (28-56 g)/day/animal;

available free choice in cage at all times (Glide-R-Chow [www.sugarbears.com],

NutriMax [www.vetspride.com])

25%: Fresh fruits and vegetables: approximately of an apple, or the equivalent in mixed

fruits/vegetables per animal per day; introduce each evening and remove leftovers in

morning; apples, apricots, bananas, berries, corn, grapes, green beans, kiwifruit, mangos,

melons, oranges, paw paw (papaya), peas, sweet potatoes, squash, and watermelon

Calcium-based multivitamin supplement: Sprinkle lightly on fruits/vegetables every

other day; can also be mixed into applesauce or fruit baby food and hand-fed daily to

promote bonding (Glide-A-Mins [www.sugarbears.com], VitaMax

[www.vetspride.com])

Treats: Not to exceed 5% of daily diet; introduce gradually and individually, checking for

629

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