How to Feed Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders, the common name for Petaurus breviceps, a species of small, gliding marsupial native to Australia and New Zeland, are extremely interesting pets. They are still fairly uncommon and considered exotic, but with a bit of research and investigation, they can make wonderful companions. Sugar glider diets are still a topic of debate, as they are such new pets. They are omnivores, enjoying a variety of insects, fruits and vegetables in the wild. However, this diet is difficult to replicate in captivity, and must be adapted carefully to ensure healthy gliders.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Supply an appropriate cage, because if your glider is not comfortable in it’s cage, it will not want to eat. A good minimum cage size is 24”L x 24”W x 36”H, made of wire spaced no more than ½” apart. Large rat and fetter cages work well for sugar gliders. Be sure that your cage has a good number of toys, exercise areas and a pouch or two for your glider to hide out in. A glider which is happy with it’s living arrangement will be comfortable and content enough to eat regularly, which is vital to good health.

2. Be sure your glider always has fresh water available, as they will drink a lot and need to stay hydrated.

3. Make Leadbeater's Mix. One of the most popular, and well-balanced staples in many sugar glider diets is the Leadbeater’s Mix, a mixture of 150 ml warm water, 150 ml honey, 1 boiled egg, 25 grams of baby cereal and 1 tsp. vitamin supplement. Blend all of the ingredients until smooth, and store the mixture in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

4. Feed your glider a balanced diet. Feed him a combination of Leadbeater’s Mix and other available foods, such as insects, fruits and vegetables. Your glider should consume approximately ¼ to ½ cup of food a day, depending on age, size and activity level. If you choose to feed pellets which are commercially available, you can supplement with a variety of chopped fruits and vegetables to keep your glider happy and interested. If you choose to personalize your glider’s meal, then be sure to balance your glider’s food intake. A couple of tablespoons of the Leadbeater’s Mix, along with fruits and veggies and a few live insects a day is a very acceptable diet for your glider. Assure that your glider is eating a wide variety of fruits and veggies and not just picking out one or two types of food to avoid an overly-picky eater.

5. Watch calcium intake. Gliders are prone to calcium issues in captivity, and this needs to be carefully monitored. The best way to deal with calcium issues is to supplement the insects that you are feeding your glider. There are commercially sold insect calcium supplements that you can feed to crickets, for example, that will help counteract calcium problems when fed to your glider.

6. Do not overfeed fruits, nectar or sweet foods, as gliders are omnivores and need a variety of proteins and vegetables as well. Obesity is a common sugar glider issue. Assuming that sugar gliders eat mainly sugar simply because of their name is untrue. Gliders actually need only a small amount of sugar in their diet, and overfeeding sweets can lead to an overweight glider, as well as one who develops poor eating habits.

7. Play with your pet. Sugar gliders in captivity are less active than gliders in the wild, and need to be handled and allowed to exercise often to avoid fear of humans and ensure they get enough stimulation to combat boredom. Gliders love to cuddle, climb and jump and once adapted to humans will happily sit on your shoulder, in your pocket or play in your hair. Two or three hours of playtime for your glider every day is enough to provide adequate stimulation for your sugar glider and stave off boredom and help keep it happy and healthy.

Tips & Warnings

• Sugar gliders are nocturnal, and eat best at dawn or dusk. Make sure to remove uneaten food after a few hours to avoid issues with unwanted pests and fruit flies.
• Do not allow your sugar glider to roam free. They are delicate and need supervision to avoid injury.
• Never feed your glider more than it will eat within an hour or two. Leaving food out any longer subjects your glider’s cage to insects, and certain foods can mold or spoil if left out.