Even though the vet gave my boiz an A on their report card, residualvisuals noticed a little staining while we were under the bright lights.

First, I'd like to say that if you're like me, you try to keep the lights low for your babies. Once in a while they need a brighter light so you can see them a little better

Second, I've started sprinkling a little repcal on their food. I was wondering if there is another way to increase their calcium? Can I add some (and how much) to the suggie soup? My boiz just don't seem to like high calcium foods. I've even tried blending other things with the papaya, and they barely touch it.

Any and all advice will be appreciated and considered.

How long have they been on the suggie soup? How long have you had them? Staining can take a long time to go away.

I can't comment on the calcium, cause I don't know anything about it, or the diet, and don't want to give you wrong info.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by fox0r</i>
<br />How long have they been on the suggie soup? How long have you had them? Staining can take a long time to go away.

I can't comment on the calcium, cause I don't know anything about it, or the diet, and don't want to give you wrong info.
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They've been on the suggie soup since we got them. We got them almost 6 months ago from PPP. They had no staining when we got them...it's all my fault

Hrm. I've heard nothing but praise from that diet. Do you have pics of them in good lighting we could see?

No, I don't. The staining is very light on the head, just a small spot.

And they are males? Is it yellowish staining? It might be from their scent glands.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by fox0r</i>
<br />And they are males? Is it yellowish staining? It might be from their scent glands.
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It's so light, it's hard to say. That thought did cross my mind, but I thought if they were neutered, they couldn't do that.

Staining can also occur when pouches are not changed often enough. Other causes are one glider marking the other frequently - even neutered males will mark their cage and cage mates.

What type of wheel do you have? Gliders using Wodent wheels also get pretty stained.

Are you offering a wide variety of fruits and vegetables? A limited variety of fruits and vegetables may result in an imbalance of vitamins and minerals that can also affect the glider's color.

Sprinkling RepCal Calcium on their food is not necessary if the diet already contains an appropriate amount of calcium. It is very easy to give too much calcium by sprinkling because you have no control over the amount added.

When calcium is added to a glider's diet in the recipe the amount added is divided evenly in each serving of the diet. If the recipe calls for 1 tsp calcium powder and makes 60 glider servings - each serving contains 1/60 tsp - which would be a lot less than you would get "sprinkling" the powder directly on the food.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Candy</i>
<br />Staining can also occur when pouches are not changed often enough. Other causes are one glider marking the other frequently - even neutered males will mark their cage and cage mates.

What type of wheel do you have? Gliders using Wodent wheels also get pretty stained.

Are you offering a wide variety of fruits and vegetables? A limited variety of fruits and vegetables may result in an imbalance of vitamins and minerals that can also affect the glider's color.

Sprinkling RepCal Calcium on their food is not necessary if the diet already contains an appropriate amount of calcium. It is very easy to give too much calcium by sprinkling because you have no control over the amount added.

When calcium is added to a glider's diet in the recipe the amount added is divided evenly in each serving of the diet. If the recipe calls for 1 tsp calcium powder and makes 60 glider servings - each serving contains 1/60 tsp - which would be a lot less than you would get "sprinkling" the powder directly on the food.
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Maybe it's from the Wodent, and he stain just hasn't gone away yet? That was recently removed when I read about a glider getting a tail injury.

Hopefully, that's it, because I really do try to give them a balanced diet of sugie soup, fresh fruits, veggies and a protein every single day. I have to admit, I'm very concerned about them not eating the papaya.

What kind of papaya did you get? I have heard that a lot of gliders don't like regular papaya but go crazy over papaya maridol (sp?) the big one. I know my super picky girls like it alot

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by KritterCare</i>
<br />What kind of papaya did you get? I have heard that a lot of gliders don't like regular papaya but go crazy over papaya maridol (sp?) the big one. I know my super picky girls like it alot
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Short ones, fat ones, big ones, tall ones....seriously, every papaya I've seen in the market, I've tried.

Papaya

Try getting these ones, if you haven't already tried, I have yet to hear of gliders not liking it, even if they don't like regular papaya.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by KritterCare</i>
<br />Papaya

Try getting these ones, if you haven't already tried, I have yet to hear of gliders not liking it, even if they don't like regular papaya.
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I know I have tried something that looks like that, but I didn't pay attention to the name. I'll double check that next time. Even though I know they don't eat them, I continue to buy them, hoping that one day they'll give in. Can I squeeze a little citrus on them? Maybe some oj?

I have also tried blending them with mango. It's like they know, and they're saying "can't fool me, neener neener".

You could try blending with some berries, that's how I get my girls to eat their veggies. Or you could try blending up the papaya and pouring it over their staple/fruits veggies that they do like. Give them no choice!

Our boys are on that diet and have had pretty heavy staining for a while. It was there before the diet. I told Ed and he said it could be too much iron or too little protein. Maybe if you look at your f/v or ask him, you can figure out which one it is. I'm pretty sure ours is from lack of extra protein. We are feeding a lot of protein now. Best to consult Ed or Gail about the diet and questions.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Omis n Kais g-ma</i>
<br />Our boys are on that diet and have had pretty heavy staining for a while. It was there before the diet. I told Ed and he said it could be too much iron or too little protein. Maybe if you look at your f/v or ask him, you can figure out which one it is. I'm pretty sure ours is from lack of extra protein. We are feeding a lot of protein now. Best to consult Ed or Gail about the diet and questions.
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Thank you, and thank all who chimed in . I will beat this!

<--neener neener

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by KritterCare</i>
<br /> Or you could try blending up the papaya and pouring it over their staple/fruits veggies that they do like. Give them no choice!
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I haven't tried that one.

Make sure you allow the papaya to fully ripen before you cut it - a solid green papaya is not ripe and will be somewhat bitter. They are sweeter when the skin has turned yellow.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Candy</i>
<br />Make sure you allow the papaya to fully ripen before you cut it - a solid green papaya is not ripe and will be somewhat bitter. They are sweeter when the skin has turned yellow.


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I do, and they have no flavor. NONEZIPNADA. I don't think we get good papaya in MD. Of course, I haven't driven to Annapolis in a while. They may have good papaya at World Market...I think that's what it's called.

So Candy, they stink when they are ripe?