In Reply to: Re: Fat female glider posted by Heather on October 11, 1999 at 06:30:21:

I have already cut down her food, so there is none left over at night. I have cut out the mealworms because they were getting them nightly and are high in fat. Now she won't eat them when I offer them.
So how long do you think it will take her to slim down?

Thanks killerbee

: Well, I can't answer your question about how it might affect pregnancy, but I can offer a little bit of advice that might help as to putting her on a diet. First of all, it is very important that she lose weight if she's overweight, because gliders CANNOT tolerate fat-- it's very very bad for their health. So regardless of breeding problems, you've got to slim her down. Some of the meat you're feeding her may be part of the problem. If you're going to feed that kind of meat, you should probably just reduce it to something like very lean baked chicken, without the skin, and only probably once a week or so. I would recommend that you switch her to mealworms or crickets. The wet dog food is probably especially fattening, and I wouldn't advise feeding that at all. Also, you would most likely be better off feeding some kind of meat (mealworms?) 3 or so times a week, WITH the usual fruits and veggies. Now the biggest part of the problem is probably not WHAT she's eating, but HOW MUCH of it! Is all the food gone when you go to remove the bowls? If it is, gradually reduce the amounts that you're feeding (not by TOO much-- just use your judgement and be reasonable), and over time you should see an improvement. If there's food left in the morning, you should start reducing the amount of food every night until there isn't anything left anymore. Then take it down just a little bit more, and that should work for you.

: Good luck!
: I hope this helps... and I hope your girl has babies! :) :) :)

: : Hi everyone!

: : Long time reader, first time I have ever posted. I recently aquired an adult female glider. She is considerable fatter than her mate. I wanted to know if this would cause any problems with her getting pregnant? I have heard two different things on this, some say it will, while others say it wont.

: : If so, how do I go about putting her on a diet.

: : Now she is being feed. Fruits..mango, kiwi, apple, grapes, banana's, plums, peaches and pears.Yogurt and applesause. Then they get vegs, a little corn, mostly peas, carrots, mixed greens, sometimes sweet potatoes and regualr potato. Then they get a night of meat. Chicken brest, turkey, baby veal, lamb, and sometimes prime cuts dog food.
: : They have rep cal along with wheat germ sprinkled added to the fruit and also in their libby's nector which they get every 3 days. I also keep brisky's and some dry puppy chow, and a monkey biscuit in their cage at all times, which they eat very little of.

: : Any suggestions to getting her slimer, she is basically on a pretty fat free diet.

: : Thanks

: : KillerBee

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