What Do Pet Sugar Gliders Eat?
Wild sugar gliders eat insects, honey, and tree sap in their natural habitat. For pet sugar gliders, they require a balanced diet consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables and protein from various sources. Sugar glider pellets, which are available at pet stores, will also be necessary for your pet sugar glider to get extra nutrition. It’s crucial to remember that diets high in calcium and oxalates can cause bladder stones in small animals like sugar gliders. Feeding them low-calcium, low-oxalate greens like arugula, butter lettuce, dill, or radicchio is advised by experts.
Most common foods that pet sugar gliders eat include:
• Specialised commercial foods for sugar gliders
• Cooked chicken
• Boiled eggs
• Grapes
• Grapefruit
• Apples
• Food pellets
• Sweet corn
• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes
It’s important to remember that these animals don’t consume a lot of food. Sugar gliders weigh around 3-5 ounces, so they only need to eat about 15-20% of their weight each day. You could also give your sugar glider some mealworms or corn as an occasional treat. Insects, fruits, and commercial foods will make up the most of your pet sugar glider’s diet. During feeding, insects must be gut-loaded with a nutritionally-rich diet before being fed to your pet sugar glider.
Sugar gliders require special care, so it’s important to consult veterinarians and specialists when caring for these exotic pets.
What Insects Can Pet Sugar Gliders Eat?
Mealworms, fungus, caterpillars, weevils, moths, beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets are a few insects that pet sugar gliders can consume. These insects provide the small marsupial with a good source of protein.
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet Sugar Glider
These are the foods you should avoid feeding your pet sugar glider:
• Fruit with pits or seeds
• Foods treated with pesticides
• Candy
• Soda
• Raw meats or eggs
• Tea
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Dairy
• Carrots
• Berries ( raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries)
• Canned fruit
• Cat food (limited quantities can be fed if necessary)
• Nuts and seeds (can be fed as an occasional treat)
• Crickets raised on corn mash
• Outdoor insects
Despite the fact that sugar gliders seem to be omnivores capable of eating almost everything, many owners lose their pet sugar gliders each year as a result of feeding them the wrong food. The consumption of some foods is outright toxic to them, and others may cause them to suffer serious side effects. Aside from foods high in oxalates, such as spinach, kale, chard, and collard greens, which can be harmful over time, some foods can cause health issues immediately. Make sure these foods are put away and out of reach so your pet sugar glider does not accidentally consume them if you let it roam free. A veterinarian should be consulted immediately if your pet sugar glider does consume these foods.
When to Feed Your Pet Sugar Glider
As sugar gliders are nocturnal, experts recommend feeding them in the evening so they can maintain their natural rhythms and feel more at ease. Small portions of treats like corn and mealworms may be served in the afternoon. Due to the sugar gliders’ messy eating habits, it’s advised to put food in a dish, shoebox, or tray to contain the mess and make cleanup easier.
Once your pet sugar glider has finished eating, immediately remove any remnants of food from the cage. Leftover food will rot and cause the cage to become dirty. Your pet sugar glider might even get accustomed to rotten food and make it as their preference.
How Much Water Do Pet Sugar Gliders Need?
You need to provide your pet sugar glider easy access to fresh, filtered water at all times to keep it healthy.
What to Do If Pet Sugar Glider Is Not Eating
It is often a sign of illness if your pet sugar glider loses its appetite. They are prone to low blood sugar and can easily become lethargic or weak. It’s important to see a veterinarian if your pet sugar glider stops eating, or is eating less than usual.
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