I just read this article talking about how BML is actually really bad for gliders. It's the first site I've found that says it actually will harm the glider. It's very convincing.

http://www.glideruniversity.org/index/content/view/55/1/

Oh, people are going to come on here telling you that glider university was created for the sole purpose of bashing that diet, ect.

I'm not saying I like BML but I am saying glider university is not the best place to get information on some articles.

I've been to four vets with my glider but I've had two of them tell me not to feed BML or that they don't like it. One vet didn't like the reptile vitamins and th other vet was against the amount of sugar in it.

Ok, here info on GU! They are not acredited in ANY way. They are a group of I believe 3 girls who were blacklisted in the glider community (I now forget what for, it has been a LONG time!!) They decided they were going to make a site that bashed anything and anyone popular. They have even said Sheila of To and Fro gliders paints her gliders to get the colors she does. Most people that have had gliders any amount of time or who have done any researched knows that the site is a load of BS. I also do not feed BML, but started on her oringinal BML plan (it was MUCH different in the begining...thus the "back to basics BML" is just another version of the diet.) I do still recommened the diet to newbies as well as 4 others who dont have time to figure out ratios and such. (Suncoast, Pricilla, HPW, and Darcy's)

The BML concept certainly has its place and I dont think it needs to be bashed. I recall that it was actually created not as a diet or staple but as a way to feed or force feed sick sugars. I have myself been using something similar called Carnivore Care to force feed my possum back to health. I have found that healthy sugars do not need a mix of any kind, but it is ok to supplement by using one. I use one in my feeding rotation and will occasionally add in a pinch of calcium supplement to that mix when preparing.

With that said, we are now wondering if the BML heavy diet plan is causing pre-mature liver death. If there actually is any connection, it may simply be from over supplementing the animals. This is why I rarely supplement and generally use the food I feed to balance their diet.

Just a little onfo on BML: The original diet was MUCH different! No specific fruits or veggies, no suppliments, and less protein. It also had egg with shell. (I would guess for calcium) So, how would we definae a glider that has been on BML its whole life? Considering the diet has changed MANY times since it was first created!

I have not been on Glider University in almost a year but when I did read through it that one time, it did say that their conclusions are based on "people experienced with gliders" or something like that. I don't know if that's still there anywhere. Basically, I took that to mean the entire site is mostly based on their opinion.

A warning about that site...

I kept finding some info that was inconsistent on that site and I ended up writing the site asking the owner for references to the informati0on they have on there. She wrote me back and said that she could not provide me with that as it was confidential and that the people who provide various information wish to remain anonymous. Well obviously that's a bit strange for obvious reasons. Then I again wrote her questioning the validity of the site's information and she very unprofessionally replied by saying (from her email directly) "Why would you as a glider owner continue to read a site if you have such concerns about the information you have been reading. We are very experienced in all Sugar Glider areas, hence why we have started the Sugar Glider University to teach people so that they don't make mistakes that can be detrimental. Therefore, I am sorry you won't be taking the time to learn from us and hope that it doesn't prove fatal. If you are not willing to use our site I highly suggest doing more research on Sugar Gliders. Most people do this before they get any Gliders but hopefully you will take advantage of our site or some site and learn about the creatures you now own. Again, as for the information on our site, it is both valid and helpful and the contributers wish to remain anonymous."

WOW sorry so long but I just wanted to give you an example of this site's unprofessional ways. I don't think they should be able to make all the claims they do on that site without saying why and what their sources are that just "persons." After all, I myself could say that BML is bad, or good, and think of all these reasons that could support it...but without actually studying sugar gliders and their diet and talking to vets and people who have experience with Glider diets, you never can tell from what someone just says. My vet gave me a revised diet, it is a sort of combo between the BML diet and HPW diet, with a few minor changes made by my vet to ensure good nutrition all around the board.

Thanks for all the responses, I just got a glider a few weeks ago and I'm trying to come up with a good, balanced diet for him. So far he's been eating crickets, meal worms, Glider Grub pellets mixed in with a bit of Vita Glider from cageworks.com, apples, and papaya. I tried celery and carrots, but he won't eat them. What specifically do all of you feed your gliders? What vegetables will they eat? Have any of you tried the Premium Sugar Glider Diet pellets from sugar-glider-store.com? They are supposed to be 40% protein versus the Glider Grub that's only 22% protein and it's half the price.

Most of us here do not feed pellets.

Oh yes, Good Old Custom Cage Works...if anything, the Glider Grub should only be in the cage as something for them to snack on but the fact that he talks you into buying SO much makes me nervous about it's actual shelf life. I personally keep Zookeepers Secret in the cage as their staple and threw all the Glider Grub away. Other people use other things as well. They can eat lots of fruits and veggies. You should really feed 25% veggies, 25% fruits and 50% protein nightly. Mine LOVE the corn, peas, carrot and green been frozen mix from the store. I just thaw it before I give it to them. I do that every other night. In between, they also get squash, sweet potatoes, and other veggie combos that come in baby food jars. They also like spinach. Just try different things and you'll soon find what they love and what they turn their noses to...picky things. I also do mealworms every other night. For protein, you can also do broiled/baked chicken, ground beef, tofu, cooked egg, shrimp...no onion or garlic.

HPW is what they are on right now.. but they did just get off of ensure. I love them both. and the PML is great too. Of course fruits veg and mealies and now since I bake the chicken they love that too... I am going to bake some shrimp and see what happens..
sarah

I also got my first glider from Custom Cage Works. And he sold me a cage that was to small and a years supple of Glider Grub and Bug's N Berries. After finding this site - I threw it all in the trash.

I tried feeding my girls BML - but they absolutely would NOT eat it. They were losing weight and pretty much starving themselves. So a diet is only a good diet IF they will eat it.

I know feed HPW along with fruits, veggies and either baked chicken, scrambled or boiled eggs or boiled shrimp.

Diets are a very controversial subject - so Im sure you will get a ton of different responses.