I'm having some protein issues with our babies, and I was wondering if anyone else had/has similar problems.

Buzz and Jessie are 13 weeks old.

Protein likes: chicken; eggs; yogurt (yoplait but only sometimes); steamed clams (tried it once out of frustration); shrimp (tried it once)

Protein dislikes: Live mealworms, crickets, grasshoppers, silkworms; canned mealworms, crickets, grasshoppers, silkworms; freeze dried crickets, mealworms; turkey; chicken baby food; chobani; plain yogurt; vanilla yogurt; all-natural yogurt; greek yogurt; live pinkies; defrosted pinkies; turkey baby food; drained lean hamburger

I'm getting quite frustrated. I tried pureeing their protein with papaya (their favorite), and the buggers wouldn't eat it. I even put insect guts on their noses to see if that would help, and it didn't.

They licked the clams clean, and I couldn't even find pieces of the shrimp.

Edit: The vet said if they like shrimp to try drained tuna. The buggers devoured it!

I don't think they know they're sugar gliders!

I find almost anything I cook into an egg, like an omelette, they'll eat. Try mixing things together even if it seems really gross to you. They'll eat some crazy concoctions!

I tried mixing egg and apples in an omelet. They didn't eat any of it. I don't have a problem with eggs. I'm just worried that chicken and chicken eggs aren't enough variety, but I don't know what else to give them.

If it's any consolation My male glider Clark (big poppa of 2 joeys) wouldn't touch ameal worm...I have had him since March...and NOTHING....till this week. Now he is grabbing them and eatting them all up. So maybe keep trying and give it more time.

In the mean time give scambled eggs

Do not offer the shrimp too often- it is very high in phosphorus. OK as a treat but I would not offer it as their protein for a full feeding too often.

Are they eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables with the protein?

Mine love deer and go nuts over chicken on the bone.

Are you trying to find additional protein sources to use with LGRS or are you using your own type of diet? Most of the diet mixes, aside from LGRS, are designed to provide adequate protein, fat, etc. from the staple and become balanced with the addition of fruit/veggies.

petluv, yes, I'm trying to find additional protein sources for the LGRS. Candy, I give them one to two tablespoons of fresh f/v every night. Last night, for example, they ate 25 g LGRS, 25 g chicken, and 15 g sweet potato. Every other night or every 2nd night they have either papaya or bok choy. I also have a veggie relish and fruit compote frozen for nights when we're going to be out.

I do not plan on giving them shrimp very often. I was just frustrated in finding something they will eat. I may try deer meat. I think we have some in the freezer.

Try ground turkey. Mine love chicken on the bone and I give them turkey as well, but oddly enough the ground turkey drives them nuts! I use my magic bullet and toss in all kinds of veggies and mince them nice and tiny then make a meatloaf out of it. Mine have a veggie aversion but in this, they eat a great majority of them cuz they are so tiny they can't pick them out.

It's not attractive but they love it. I put it on a bed of greens...just in case they get a wild hair and decide to nibble on them.

Don't give up on the live mealies....joeys usually take awhile to get the hang of them. 13wks. is still pretty young.

Mine too love shrimp and when I feed it I make sure I give something high in Calcium to go along with it. Oddly they wouldn't touch tuna.

Im sooo glad you asked this, because my boys are piiiiicky! & they hate anything with protein except meal worms -.- They'd argue otherwise, but they are NOT getting enough meal worms to cover the protein part of their diet each night.

They HATE egg, won't eat shrimp, can't stand turkey, ham, or beef. OCCASIONALLY they'll eat HALF a 1st foods size chicken baby food..between the 2 of them!

I live in Oklahoma..I can't exactly get *fresh* fish or seafood. I can get canned tuna..maybe some frozen salmon every now & then.

My boys did love a sirloin piece I "grilled" in the frying pan once. I guess you could try it if you get that desperate, but I'm sure they can't have a lot of it..??

Ok, I've had some picky buggers and I also feed LGRS- so here is my 2 cents hehe.... Try a plop of some cottage cheese! Mine don't like it, but I know Ed feeds his gliders at LGRS some once or twice a week. If they like any kind of yogurt, I'd go with Greek yogurt as opposed to Yoplait or anything else because it's higher in protein. JazzNZoeysMom mentioned ground turkey-> drives mine crazy, too. Kyro mentioned an omelet- I've made a few omelets for my fuzzers containing whatever veggies I had in the house, tossed in with the egg (Ed also says using just about any kind of cheese in an omelet is OK as well- I used Mozzarella).

Right or wrong, I give an extra source of protein MOST nights, but there are some nights I offer the protein and no LGRS, and some nights the LGRS and no extra protein source. And there are the special occasions when those little furballs are being particularly picky about their food and I mix it ALL in ONE bowl together! And I mean EVERYTHING! Get a fork, and smush the frozen LGRS into the extra protein source (egg, burger, whatever), puree/dice/whatever the fruit into there->all of it mushed together. This way, "I" know if they are eating, they are eating what they NEED, not what they decide to pick and choose about.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe mealies contain much protein. They are more of a treat rather than something for nutritional value. I don't know about crickets on that one, though.

Bottom line-> don't fret! If you know what they like, feed it to them. Give them something new from time to time, because like children, one day they will like it but the next it will be a big fat NO. My leu Penelope is about the age of yours and she hasn't had a mealy yet, and she will not TOUCH a freeze dried cricket. Actually, I have yet to find a treat of any sort that little girl will eat... but that's besides the point. Just know you are doing the best you can, mix it up so food doesn't get boring for them, and everything will be fine. The most important thing to remember with sugar glider diet is: all things in moderation! Variety and Moderation. You're doing great! :)

The magic wand for mine seems to be honey or that "fruit buddy" stuff. Throw some of that on top and they'll eat anything.

My babies all of the sudden stopped eating every thing except their meal worms. Its been a couple days they have barely touched any yogurt, fruit, vegtables, they will eat some honey. They aren't dehydrated and they are acting normal and extremely friendly.

I would say if they are this bad about protein and you have tried for months, then maybe a diet change is in order? Mine were like that when they were little and I had them on the ensure diet, had to swtich to modified hpw.

I mixed the Insecteater Diet from Exotic Nutrition with their HPW and the went nuts for it. Now I feed them the insecteater diet every two days and I don't have to mix it at all. It's always gone the next day. If you try this make sure you don't over feed them. I do 1/2 a teaspoon per glider and remember don't feed everyday.