In Reply to: Re: sad sad sugarglider posted by Rich on December 24, 1999 at 05:11:25:

: For the last while "Cleo" hasn't come out of her nest
: : and is very irritable. I've also ben reading about how active sugargliders are, and she isn't active at all,
: : or not that i'm aware of.

Since gliders are basically nocturnal it could be that you just have not been with her while she is at her most active state.

: : The people that he got it from had been feeding her cat food. IS THIS WRONG?

I have heard that the University of Michigan did a study on feeding cat food to gliders. Now I do not know what kind was fed or in what amounts but I have to disagree here. I heard that it caused intestinal blockages in gliders. I discussed this with my vet and they told me that not only could it cause intestinal blockages but that it could also cause renal difficulty and renal failure in gliders. Renal being kidney for those of you who are unfamiliar with the terminology. So I said why risk it. My vet advised against it and so I take their advise. Cat food is made for cats. You can get food that is specifically formulated for the sugar glider.

: : I have been thinking that it's possibly something to do with her diet. Then I was wondering
: : if it was because she was lonely. Is it true that sugargliders should be in pairs?

Sugar gliders can get depressed and die of lonliness and depression. They get lonely, then depressed, then they stop eating or drinking and suffer from hypoglycemia first then dehydration. It can happen rather suddenly. If your glider gets at the least two hours of attention per day it should do well. I have known several families that only had one glider and the glider thrived under the attention and socialition that it received. Many other gliders become even more loving and affectionate when introduced to a companion of the same species. They do not necessarily need a mate to be happy if they are getting the socialization that they need but it sure does help to make most of them happier.

: : If there are any other suggestions as to why "Cleo" sleeps her life away, could you let me know.

Most gliders are nocturnal. When they are young they will take short naps at night and longer naps during the day. As they mature they will sleep for longer periods in the day time and take fewer and shorter naps at night.

: : thanks
: It is ok jill to feed cat food toher as long as you dont feed the cheap stuff. Try to hang a bottle of honey outside of her nest to get her to come out. It drives ours wild.

I believe that this would be too much honey. Honey should be offered as a treat and hanging a bottle of it and letting them have all that they want of it may throw off their nutritional balance.

: One thing we learned is not to feed seeds or peanuts etc. to them. they hold no nutrition that they need.

My glider love peanuts and sunflower kernals as treats but you really have to watch the fat content. I give my gliders a peanut perhaps once a month and four or five of the sunflower kernals when I am giving them as treats. Keep in mind that treats should be 10% of the total diet or less.

We had one that developed white bone disease.(i think thats what they call it)we got him to get better, but he still cant do what he used to. But thank god our baby is ok.
: Hope this helps

So glad to hear that your glider recovered from the white bone disease. Good news is always welcome when it comes to these little ones.

Follow Ups:

• Re: sad sad sugarglider Donna Pearlman 10:14:29 12/24/99 (0)