The Best Sugar Glider Food

Sugar gliders became the focus of many exotic pet lovers a few years ago as the quest for small pets ramped up. While the sugar glider is a very small pet, they have large appetites. Calcium deficiency and obesity are the two greatest nutritional dangers for this small animal. Let's look at the best food for this exotic pet in more detail to ensure your sugar gliders grow up healthy and happy.

Sugar Glider Daily Diet
Protein is the most important part of the best sugar glider food and must make up 24% of the daily diet. The protein needs to come from various sources like meat, nuts, mealworms, crickets, eggs, tofu, rodents and dairy. Boil meat and remove bones and skin for best results.

Add calcium and multivitamin supplements to sugar glider food daily. Dust crickets or mealworms with calcium supplements. Add a multivitamin to the fruit and veggie mixture.

Chop fresh fruits and vegetables and mix together daily so the pet can't pick and choose which food to eat. Remove all fresh food after the sugar gliders finish eating to control mold and flies.

A basic pellet food specifically made for sugar gliders should be available at all times in the cage, and regular feedings of supplements (protein, fruits and vegetables) done once or twice per day.
Place food bowls in the upper parts of the cage and feed fresh food to the gliders either in the early morning or late evening for best results. As nocturnal animals, this is their most active time. Some owners choose to split the feedings to twice a day. See how your pet does and react accordingly.

Food Warnings for Sugar Gliders
Obesity is the leading cause of health and breeding problems in sugar gliders. Do not feed the pet a high fat or high sugar diet. Unlike their name would suggest, the sugar glider in captivity does not expend enough energy to burn off a high fat diet. Never feed a glider chocolate, candy or raw sugar.

Feed regular yogurt, not flavored, when adding dairy as a protein source. Flavored yogurt has too much sugar to be healthy. Add pieces of fresh fruit to the yogurt instead.

Choosing the best sugar glider food is one of the most important things a new owner must do. Sugar gliders must have a high protein, low fat, and varied diet daily to thrive as pets. It's important to learn how to feed these exotic pets before you decide to adopt them.

Source:
Personal ownership of sugar gliders
"Sugar Gliders: A complete pet owner's manual" by Caroline MacPherson