this is a little different then jodys topic. i want to know if anyone knows of a good kibbel/pellet to feed to your gliders. something they can eat at there own pace. that can be there main source of food. a kibbel with a vitamin/calcium supplement to sprinkle on the fruits and vegi's every day or every other day. i am not looking for judgement please:) please comment!

also if i use the glider complete from exotic nutrition is it food they can eat at there own pace? if i feed this, do i need to give them any other food or fresh fruits and vegi's every day and supplement it??

thanks!

www.thepetglider.com/sugar-glider-nutrition/view-all-products.html
This is what I use as far as Vitamin Mix ad dry staple food. I sprinkle 1/8th of a teaspoon in each bowl of my gliders mixed food and I leave the cereal and monkey biscuits out 24/7 so they always have something in their cage.

Pellets should never be fed as a main part of the diet. They need to be on a good staple like BML/HPW/LGRS with fresh and fruits nightly. Most of the time when people use pellet food its more as a "midnight" snack for them if they wake up in the day hungry, or if you know you're going to be a little bit late for dinner that night. Also, it is best to not "sprinkle" vitamins on food as it's easy to give them too much which is just as dangerous as them not getting enough.
That being said... I know Exotic Nutrition has a pellet food that some people offer. I personally don't offer pellets unless I know I'm going to be more than an hour late on getting them dinner, and even then they don't typically touch it... unless it's to throw it out of the cage in protest.

I offer high quality kibble as an occasional protein source, alongside a variety of fruits/veg and suppliments. No pellet or kibble should be used as a main meal, and with all of them you still need to provide the fresh fruit/veg and suppliments.
If you're looking into kibble i'd suggest Evo or Orijen brands. I feed 5 or 6 pieces of kibble per glider per night along with their main meal, mine don't have anything left in the cage during the day.

Much like Helen I offer 10-12 pellets (For 2 gliders) just as an alternative if they wanted that instead of the fresh food items they get nightly. It usually takes them 2 days to go through those. My belief is that a glider on a healthy diet will never choose the pellets over their meals anyway - which is why pellets make a terrible 'Staple' diet for them. They just don't get everything they need through kibble/pellets alone.
Ultimately, you can feed your babies what you like... but if you're asking here because you care about what is best for your little guys - then you're going to get the honest answer to that - whether it is one you wanted to hear or not. No one here is going to tell you it is okay to offer pellets/kibble as their main food and then supplement with fruits on the side, because that is not true, and we would be doing your gliders a disservice by saying so.

I'm gonna basically regurgitate what I told Jody on her thread.

The link could help you decipher the food labels so you can make a wiser choice, but like everyone else mentioned, a pellet should not be used as the staple. Research wild gliders, you will find they are referred to as "sap suckers" and you will learn how they eat... they suck the liquids from their foods then spit out what they don't digest. When I learned that, that is when I decided the crap PP was feeding me was wrong! How can a glider suck the juice out of a dry pellet? Their teeth are made to shear their food...the jaw moves side to side, not up and down to crush like a dog or cat. So they shear the food, move it around sucking the liquids out then spitting out the rest. Just something to think about.

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Jody, I hate to say it but you may want to look at SunCoasts Wholesome Balance..... www.sugar-gliders.com/wholesome-balance.htm


I say that because your question has me questioning the "pellet" I put in my gliders' cage on occassion. I know we don't have a lot of info. on gliders but I basically did a search on "what to look for in quality animal food" and I found a good site that explains how to read those confusing labels. It's a dog site but I figure it doesn't matter cuz the concept of the label is the same....
www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=betterproduc...

Read the part under Protein.... very enlightening.

After you read that, the EN & the SunCoast diets will have a whole different look to them. (The below is not the entire nutrient list)

SunCoast: Ingredients: Chicken Meal made from Human Grade Chickens, whole grain brown rice flour, whole grain barley flour, flaxseed oil, dried whole egg, oat groats, fish meal, flax meal, calcium carbonate, blood meal, animal plasma, dried kelp, Vitamin E supplement, salt, potassium chloride, Vitamin A acetate, D-activated animal sterol (source of Vitamin D3), DL-alpha tocopheryl acetate (source of Vitamin E), menadione sodium bisulphate complex (source of Vitamin K), Vitamin B12 supplement, ......

EN Glider Complete:
Ingredients:
SOYBEAN MEAL, BLOOD MEAL, GROUND ROASTED SOYBEANS,
DRIED APPLE, DRIED PAPAYA, DRIED PEARS, GOLDEN RASINS,
DRIED PINEAPPLE, DRIED PEACHES, DRIED APRICOTS,
DRIED BLUEBERRIES, HONEY, PURE BEE POLLEN, CANE MOLASSES,
CORN GULTEN MEAL, CALCIUM CARBONATE,

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Just to clarify a bit... I use Priscillas Diet as their Nightly Staple Mix of fruits, veggies, protein and vitamins. I was talking about the dry pellets as I leave about 10-12 pieces in 24/7 as an extra source if they happen to get hungry inbetween feeding times and if they happen to finish their mealies (7-8 each per daytime) which almost always happends.

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Originally posted by nolaglider

if they happen to finish their mealies (7-8 each per daytime)

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Mealies are quite high in fat, I wouldn't feed them daily, maybe a few times a week at most.

I feed mealies daily.

Each glider gets 5 a day. I feel strongly that gliders need insects of some sort daily. Mine get mealworms, crickets, superworms, or dubia roaches every night.

Every night as in EVERY night? Not just when you buy them in? Ohh, I always thought they were really high in fat, despite obviously being great for protein.

Mine aren't too keen so they only get dried mealies every so often. I stand corrected then lol. Feed away! :)

I feed Erebus dubias every night he goes crazy for them. Ive never given pellet food but he loves his LGRS and most fruits hes very picky on veggies still though.

thanks everyone! is the sugar glider food starter package from exotic nutrition a good choice too feed nightly with fruits and vegis on the side??? how many chunks/peices of fruits and vegi's is the right amount to feed nightly?

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Originally posted by tiffsuggie

thanks everyone! is the sugar glider food starter package from exotic nutrition a good choice too feed nightly with fruits and vegis on the side??? how many chunks/peices of fruits and vegi's is the right amount to feed nightly?

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Pellets should be fed sparingly - a few pieces a night along side a nectar/staple(BML, HPW, LGRS Suggie Soup, etc.) and fruit/veggies. Pellets are not a substitute for a staple/nectar substitute...

for the "sugar glider food starter package" from exotic nutrition it says to feed a frozen cube of the HPW over two tablespoons of the premium pellet or glider complete nightly (for 2 gliders)offered with fruits and vegi's. if you use the glider complete under the HPW cube you dont have to give fruits and vegi's cause it already has them in the pellet..

Packaged in resealable heavy-duty pouches. Calcium /Phosphorus Ratio of 2/1

MIXING INSTRUCTIONS: Measure 1 cup bottled water with 1/2 cup INSTANT-HPW powder. Blend for 1 minute, then feed, store refrigerated or freeze into cubes. Fresh fruits and vegetables can also be offered along with the INSTANT-HPW and Pellet Diet. When feeding GLIDER COMPLETE ... it is not necessary to add fruits & vegetables, since this food already contains dried fruits.

Yes, the HPW part of that diet is fine, IMO...but if you refer to the link I provided you above you may change your mind about the pellets.

Some people are more picky about what they feed....I'm not saying that as a critizism, it's just a fact. If the pellets you choose to feed don't have any type of real protein as their main ing. & that's fine with you, then I'm sure these are as good a choice as many.

how many chunks/peices of fruits and vegi's is the right amount to feed nightly?? if i dont give them the pellets than what would i serve the HPW over??? how much would i give for two gliders??

The Instant HPW is a 2:1 Ca:P ratio, nothing else is needed....just read the package as for serving size...just omit the pellets.

The standard is 1tbsp. of fruit & 1tbsp. of veggies but it all depends on your gliders. If you have 2 gliders and you offer 2tbsp. of fruit and they devour it, then add some more....you want to give them enough that there is just a bit left so you know they arent' going hungry.

thanks jazz!but the instant HPW says to feed over pellets so how much hpw would i give for 2 gliders without the pellets? if i dont use the pellets as instructed would i put the HPW over the fruits and vegi's?

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Originally posted by tiffsuggie

thanks jazz!but the instant HPW says to feed over pellets so how much hpw would i give for 2 gliders without the pellets? if i dont use the pellets as instructed would i put the HPW over the fruits and vegi's?

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It specifically states how much to feed of the Instant HPW in the instructions on the EN website...(see below) You don't have to pour the IHPW over anything...it can be fed alone. If your gliders won't eat their f/v then yes, pouring their HPW over the top may intice them to eat it. I won't push the issue...you're new and I understand you feel you need the pellets,...that's fine, use them. Just remember down the road as you learn more about their diet that pellets aren't necessary.

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When mixed with water and not freezing, simply pour 2 Tablespoons of the liquid INSTANT-HPW over 1 Tablespoon of either Premium Sugar Glider Diet or Glider Complete (per Sugar Glider) and serve. After mixing with water, it can be stored refrigerated for up to 1 week, mix well before each feeding if storing this way.

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thanks. i just want to make sure i am doing this right and they are getting the right amount of food, i dont want to be starveing or over feeding

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Originally posted by Helen88uk

Every night as in EVERY night? Not just when you buy them in? Ohh, I always thought they were really high in fat, despite obviously being great for protein.

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Yes every night. I have a mealworm ranch, and a dubia ranch. My gliders get insects every single night.

I feel it is extremely important to their psychological well-being.

I started cutting back on the amount of mealies I would leave every night (now just about 8-11 for each glider) because they started leaving a little more leftovers than usual. Now the leftovers are much less. I put more in during the daytime ours.

Val, where did you get the Dubias to start your ranch?

Resa

Although I'd never feed pellets as a "diet", I do feel good to have them here on hand (heaven forbid something happen - they will survive). I do keep them in the cage 24/7 up high on the side of the cage. Every now and again they go bonkers with them.

I assume that there must be something in the pellets that they need and aren't getting in their regular diet. Or, maybe it's just a good teeth cleaning they are getting with the hard food chew?

As far as what kind to get - I bought a large bag before I brought the gliders home, and have gotten different free samples in packages of toys and what-not's I've bought since. It seem that the taste isn't the 'big deal' for my gliders, it's the fact that there is something new in the cage. No matter what kind of pellet, I put a piece or 2 in the toys and hidden around the cage just like I do their other foraging treats. And because they had to go hunt for it and it's new - they will eat them all. Put a little container in there and they won't bother with it. So in choosing a pellet to keep on hand, I'd go by the %'s listed on the package and ingredient list.

I have been ordering exotic nutrition glider complete for approximately 3-4yrs now for my suggies daily dry/pellet food. Before that i ordered happy glider supreme & a few others from sugargliders-r-us. The last order i made with exotic nutrition came loaded with some kind of bug & started infesting my gliders cage. It took me a couple months, seeing my vet, then finally orkin to figure out where these bugs were coming from. I spoke to management at exotic nutrition & apparently because i didnt call him within 30days (how could i if i hadnt figured out where they were coming from at that point) of my order he is unwilling to work with me. So here i am looking for help on finding a good food for my 2 girls. FYI...i DO NOT feed ANY insects, they eat chicken & eggs for their protein

I get my pellets from pocket pets...they have two kinds...mine love them...I've had my babies for two months now and we are just now starting to introduce new food for them ...fruits and veggies... They love oyster crackers lol ....

My gliders like the Original High Protien Wombaroo (OHPW) diet. I put a few Glider Goodies 'pellets' in their cage occasionally as a treat. Mines wouldn't eat anything I got from Exotic Nutrition, especially those hard tube shaped pellets!

k so I went ahead & ordered from SUNCOAST. After reading alot of comments, it seemed like the best pellet/kibble choice. My gliders love it & I only need to put half a handful every other day. I found out a few things about EXOTIC NUTRITION & I am very upset I didn't figure things out sooner. Prior to figuring out where these bugs were coming from, I consulted with a bug expert. Here's part of my horror story with EXOTIC NUTRITION:

Expert: Walter Hintz
Subject: Tiny bugs crawling on my sugar gliders cage
Question: QUESTION: Please help! I'm panicking! I have sugar gliders & i cover their cage with a sheet, the past couple months i've been noticing these tiny bugs crawling on the sheet. I have to take a picture with my phone & zoom in to see them. I called the vet & vet says it doesnt sound like any kind of bug related to my pets. Please help me identify & if possible how do i get rid of them without harming my pets? Thank you
Image: bug_716

ANSWER: The photo does not help me in identifying the bug but the do not look like mites or lice.Unles they ar affecting the gliders just clean out the cage I believe your vet is the best judge here Shannon

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QUESTION: Thank you for trying to help. I did find out these are in the food i ordered from exotic nutrition. Spoke with management this morning, they are not willing to refund a 2yr supply. They tell me these are pantry bugs. This problem started immediately after i ordered this bag & i just figured out the source after i emailed you.
Answer: Hi again Shannon
Pantry pests are all small beetles.These could be small weevils. I have no doubt that these insects came with the food. However as long as you do not see any damage to your pets and the vet confirmed this I do not see a problem because sugar gliders will eat bugs. If they still bopther you you can go back to the company and insist on a refund.Tell them you will no longer shop there and you will pass the word to all your friends Just for the heck of it I searched the company web site and a 2 year supply was a large investment.
I do not know much about sugar gliders but if there is some kind op spray or powder for external parasites you might try it