Leadbeaters Diet

The Original Leadbeaters Nectar Mix recipe was developed by the Taronga Zoo in Australia as part of a diet to feed captive Leadbeater's Possums and other display marsupials. You can see the original recipe archived on Ruth's original site here.

The correct way to speak about this is Leadbeaters Nectar Mix as a part of the Taronga Zoo Diet, both of which are detailed below for simplicity.

Original Leadbeaters Mix

 Warm Water: 450ml
 Honey: 450ml
 Shelled boiled eggs: 3
 High-Protein baby cereal: 75g
 Sustagen (Vitamin supplement): 3 teaspoons

Method: Add warm water to container, slowly add the honey and mix in. Blend eggs (no shells) until mushy. Add 1/2 honey/water mix to the blended eggs, blend. Add the remainder of honey/water mix, blend. Add sustagen and half the baby cereal, blend. Add the remaining baby cereal Blend for 1.5 minutes to make mixture lump free.

Keep the unused portion refrigerated.

Scaled Mix

The following recipe is slightly modified and scaled for smaller quantity.

 150 ml warm water
 150 ml honey
 1 egg (boiled, no shell)
 25 grams high protein baby cereal
 1 Teaspoon Vionate vitamin powder

Taronga Diet Feeding Instructions

For two gliders, feed the following daily:

    2 teaspoon Leadbeaters mixture (recipe above)
    3 grams apple
    3 grams banana/corn
    1.5 grams dog kibble
    1 teaspoon Fly pupae
    3 grams grapes / kiwi fruit
    10 grams hard boiled egg
    4 grams orange with skin
    2 grams pear
    2 grams papaya
    3 grams sweet potato

On Wednesdays: feed day old chick when available and large mealworms.

Additional Information:

The Vionate powder can be substituted with Sustagen or Ensure.
The high protein baby cereal may not be available in the U.S. and can be substituted with half of the amount of High Protein Wombaroo Supplement.
For people who believe grapes are not healthy for sugar gliders, the grapes can be substituted with blueberries.
DO NOT feed the pits or seeds of apples, cherries, peaches, etc.
Use fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables - NOT canned.
Young joeys may eat more Leadbeaters mixture and less of the other ingredients. This is ok. You should continue to offer them every night.

Last Edited March 21, 2012

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