How to Feed Sugar Glider Babies
Sugar gliders are small, nocturnal marsupials with a sweet tooth, who need to be fed properly from infanthood to prevent them from developing diseases later in life. They require a varied diet that needs to be prepared and fed to them in very specific ways, and as babies, they require a precise mix to make sure they are getting all of the necessary nutrients to help them grow.
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Puppy's milk replacement
- Chicken with apple babyfood
- Whole milk vanilla yogurt with live cultures
- 1/2 cup apple juice
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 boiled eggs with shells still on
- 1/2 cup dry baby cereal flakes
- 1/4 cup wheat germ
- 1-1/4 cup Rep-Cal (phosphorous-free calcium supplement)
- 1 tsp. Herptivite vitamin supplement
- Blender
- Ice cube trays
- Medicine dropper
Instructions
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Feeding a Baby Sugar Glider
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According to SugarGlider.com, infant sugar glider pets need a homemade baby formula, An example consists of puppy milk replacement (which can be purchased at pet food supply stores), chicken with apple baby food, whole-milk-fat vanilla yogurt with live active cultures, Leadbeater's mix and rice with banana baby cereal moistened with diluted apple juice.
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Leadbeaters mix is a homemade concoction consisting of ½ cup apple juice, ½ cup honey, 2 boiled eggs with the shells still on, ½ cup dry baby cereal flakes, ¼ cup wheat germ, 1 ¼ tsp. Rep-Cal (a calcium supplement with no phosphorus), and 1 tsp. of Herptivite vitamin supplement.
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The Leadbeaters mix can be thrown in a blender and pureed until it is free of lumps. It can then be mixed with the other parts of the homemade baby formula. The baby formula is then frozen and becomes like the consistency of ice cream. The formula can be frozen in ice cube trays, making it easy to give out single servings to your sugar glider.
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First, attempt to get the baby into a comfortable position in your hand. The formula should be warmed up to body temperature and a medicine dropper can be used to place the food in the baby's mouth. Pet owners can also drop a bit of the formula on their hand and allow the sugar glider to lap it up. Very young gliders (2 weeks and younger) must be fed on average four to six times a day, but it is important to note that a glider that does not want to eat should not be forced to. They may need to be with their mother a bit longer.
It is important to rub a baby glider's belly with a warm cloth, which will encourage him to defecate after eating. He will eventually learn to do this on his own.As the baby sugar glider grows, try adding small amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables to his diet, as well as small bits of cooked chicken or turkey. Protein and fresh produce will become increasingly important to the sugar glider's diet.
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References
- Photo Credit blender with milk cocktail image by Nikolay Okhitin from Fotolia.com
