Message:
Subject: Diet Info. from Zoo Vet.
Posted by T.J. on January 28, 1999 at 19:29:08:
I talked with the Zoo Vet. on Monday and this is what he told me.
He said that when he went to the Veterinarians Association Conference in 1998 one of the subjects was Sugar Gliders.There were a few different Diets for Gliders in the conference book that he showed me.He said that he would make me a copy of the entire Chapter on Gliders and mail it to me, I have not received it yet. I did glance at some of the diets and the leadbeaters mix was in there. They also had the Tarango Zoo Diet in there. I seen the Chicago Zoo Diet, but I didn't get a good look at it, I was trying to listen to the Vet. and read at the same time. One of the Diets said that the leadbeaters mix was 50% of their diet. I also showed him the list of what I have been feeding, He said that it looked like I was on the right track. He asked me if I was Gut Loading the crickets before I feed them to Marco, I said that I wasn't. He said that they weren't doing him anygood at all without being Gut Loaded a few days prior to feeding. I also asked him about the Commercial Diets on the market, and I gave him the list of Ingredients on several different ones. He said that the commercial diets haven't been out long enough to really know the long term effect. He said that it would take years of feeding a particular diet to really know if it was a complete and nutritionally sound diet. He said that he thought variety was the best way to go right now. He said that the commercial diets might have everything that they need, but only time would tell.I ask him if feeding pinky mice was necessary and he said no, as long as they are getting protein and calcium from another source that it wasn't necessary. I also asked him about Supplements. I took the Glider Booster and Rep-Cal with me. He said that the Glider Booster had everything that they need and he didn't see any need to give him the Rep-Cal w/D3 as long as I am feeding one of the diets in the conference book and giving him the Gut Loaded crickets. I asked him about some of the signs of a calcium deficient glider and he said Tremors and loss of appetite are two of the major signs. I also asked him about too much calcium and he said that it would be hard to give them too much.He said that their body will regulate the calcium. He said they could get really constipated from too much, but thats about it. He said he has never seen a case of too much calcium. He also asked me if Marco was getting any sunlight, and I told him no. He said beleive it or not they do get sunlight in the wild and if there is any way possible try to get him into some sunlight just a little, It doesn't have to be for very long. When I get the List of diets in the mail I will post them.