Sugar Glider Community Calendar

Please click here to see larger view
Articles
More coming soon!!
Today's Birthdays
B1u3sky, StellaLuna
Member Spotlight
Hutch
Hutch
Belleville, IL
Posts: 1,482
Joined: November 2015
Show All Member Profiles 
Last 10 Posts
Gliders of the Round Table 10
by Feather. 03/27/24 07:04 PM
Logging in Problem
by Feather. 03/26/24 06:07 PM
Cloaca swollen?
by Hutch. 03/16/24 11:51 PM
Wheels, Toys, Toy supplies, pouches and more.
by Ladymagyver. 03/07/24 11:16 PM
Gliders of the Round Table 9
by Hutch. 03/07/24 10:52 PM
Stewie:" It's MY Mouse!"
by Hutch. 03/04/24 12:12 AM
2024 Sugar Glider Calendar and Cafe Press Store
by theresaw. 02/29/24 08:55 PM
Custom Cage Liners Machine Wash & Dry
by gr8pots. 02/27/24 04:23 PM
Google+

Facebook
Join Us On Facebook
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Diet Discussion #123655
07/24/06 03:14 PM
07/24/06 03:14 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



I would like to start a discussion on the topic of feeding varied diets vs. feeding the same diet each day. I'm not talking about varying the veggies and fruits, etc. I actually mean the idea of switching off between proven diets... for example Darcy's on one day and BML on the next. Maybe even going on a 3 day rotation between 3 proven diets.

I've read how most people think it is a bad idea. I've never done it myself but here are my thoughts on it. American Gliders don't live as long as they should. There are so many arguments about which diet is the best and which ones might actually contain contents that may harm the glider, i.e. too much vitamins, the wrong type of calicum, etc.

I am not a glider nutritionist but I am a biologist with a lot of experience in nutrition. In the wild, most animals eat a very varied diet. You probably wouldn't cach most animals eating the same thing every single day. I know I couldn't do it.

It seems intuitive to me that it might be good for the little guys to have a variation of their staple diet. This way they will have a better chance of getting the correct nutrients (if one diet doesn't have enough of a particular vitamin/nutrient perhaps the other one will) and they will have a better chance of not loading up on too much of the wrong nutrients/vitamins (if one diet is too high in something and may cause liver failure, perhaps the other diet will have a lower amount of that substance and will allow even it out.)

I would like this to be an open forum. Please everyone, put in your two cents on this. Variation may be the key to longevity, at least until we do narrow down the correct dietary and betabolic needs of gliders. Even once we've narrowed their needs down we will have to take into account that every glider is different and diet variation may be a good way to cover all the bases for nutritional needs.

Just my thoughts. Let's hear everyone else. Also, please, no bashing of anyone's ideas posted or of any particular diet. I would like this to be a place where everyone can give positive insite into this topic.

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: Lindsay] #123656
07/24/06 04:08 PM
07/24/06 04:08 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,224
North Fort Worth - TX
jacknsally Offline
Glider Addict
jacknsally  Offline
Glider Addict

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,224
North Fort Worth - TX
I think it's a great idea for discussion. I don't have much input but this-

when my Sally was ill- it was suggested that I switch from Pricilla's to BML because of the orange juice- so I did for Sally for a little bit. Well seeing I had both diets mixed up -I offered BML to my other gliders out of curiousity. They all like it as well. Me personally I prefer Pricilla's-

Since they liked it- I offer them BML once a week instead of Pricilla's. I thought they'd like a little variety.

I see BML as their Eating out for the week. So your not alone in your thinking.


Ñancy
~Always on my mind & in my heart Jack, Sally & Serenity~


Mobmilli's Boutique
Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123657
07/24/06 05:41 PM
07/24/06 05:41 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,749
80 acres of paradise in KS
Dancing Offline
Glideritis Anonymous
Dancing  Offline
Glideritis Anonymous

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 22,749
80 acres of paradise in KS
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
American Gliders don't live as long as they should

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

This statement really caught my eye. Wild gliders live on average 5-7 years but captive gliders can live 15+ years. I have one that is over 10 years old and quite a few that are over 7 years. So, this raises the question to me of where did you get the information that they don't live as long as they should?

As for switching diets...there are a few problems I see right off the bat.

One, with my gliders, when I do offer to much variety, they get picky and will go without dinner one night in hopes of something they like more the next night. This throws off their nutritional intake drastically.

Two...switching diets can have negative effects on their digestive system causing diarreah. Like my dogs, if I go off what they are adjusted to, it can very bad side effects. (Give my dogs a can of food instead of their normal dry and watch out!)

Three, unless you are very well educated on the different diets and their nutritional components, I can see disaster in the making. For example, the BML diet. It was formulated to provide certain nutrients in certain levels and combos so that when fed with fruits and vegies, it all balances out. This sounds simple enough but if all the vegies and fruits you are feeding are calcium poor, you throw off the ratios that was intended. By mixing around diets, you could have the same effect.

While I see the "ideal" behind the theory of gliders benefiting more from a rotated diet, I see way to many pitfalls as well. I think that for a new glider owner to start in on mixing around diets, not knowing how the diets work and what is really in each one, it could really cause harm to the gliders.

[:"blue"]I think this could be a very good topic for discussion but I am going to ask everyone to play nice. We all know how heated diet topics can get and when that happens, no one benefits from it. Let's keep this all nice and friendly so we can keep it open. Thanks! [/]


620-704-9109
Judge not until you have walked in their shoes and lived their lives. What you see online is only part of the story.

I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance


The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears.
Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123658
07/24/06 07:20 PM
07/24/06 07:20 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



I feel like I haven't researched diets enough to put my two cents in on that, but in regards to captive gliders possibly living longer in other countries than the US (I had heard this is true but again I don't know from experience), I have wondered myself if that is due to the way we treat produce in the U.S. compared to other nations instead of difference in the diet regimen itself.

(side note: Dancing, I know what you said is true that captive gliders tend to live longer than wild gliders, and I'm sure this is largely because captivity protects them from predation and parasites. I would be curious to see if captive gliders in the U.S. lived shorter than captive gliders in other countries though...any studies done on that?)

Here is some food for thought: When my good friend Sara studied abroad in Europe for a semester, she remarked to me that she had to buy new vegetables and fruits every 2-3 days because they would go bad because they just didn't put preservatives and other chemical modifications in the produce there like we do in the U.S. Everything was very fresh and organically grown with very limited pesticide use. I have talked to other scientists/students from other countries and I know that in the U.S. we chemically treat and modify the produce here moreso than in quite a few other countries, and I have often wondered what impact that has on our health and on the health of our pets.

I would be really interested in any studies done on chemical food additives to produce in the U.S. and any evidence on its impact on humans and critters alike.

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123659
07/24/06 07:26 PM
07/24/06 07:26 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Thank you for your posts and personal experiences. The more knowledge we share about our gliders the better for us all to make good decisions regarding them.

As far as where I got the info on glider age it was from another thread on this website. The discussion I read was on the topic of how US gliders have shorter lifespans than those in captivity in Australia. As for wild gliders, the shortened lifespan is likely due to predation and not diet.

I'll see if I can find the original thread and post it here.

I do want to note again, that food rotation with gliders isn't something I do, nor is it something I would recommend without more research. It is my hope that this forum will get people to think about what we feed our pets and the nutritional and life expectancy changes that are the outcome. It may be the case that this type of brainstorming may lead to research that will be beneficial to our little lovies in the future. Perhaps we have already "perfected" glider nutrition, but perhaps not. If it is the case that we haven't then the lack of variation may be cause for harm to our little ones.

One thing I wanted to address was the topic of how the introduction of new foods can cause digestional distress. I have found that the introduction of a new food must be done gradually. For example, with my cats, the introduction of raw meat had to be done slowly or they would become sick. Once they've become used to the addition of fresh meat to their diet I've put them on a rotation of fresh meat once a week. As long as I've stuck to this rotation and not let them go without raw meat for too long they've actually benefitted from the variation. They are healthier and have much shinier coats.

Dancing, I completely agree with you regarding how, sometimes, variation may lead a pet to go on hunger strikes until it gets what it wants. On the other hand, if I may play devil's advocate, might it also not be the case that those hunger strikes are telling you that your glider may be having a bad reaction to a particular food you are feeding? An animal may eat what you feed it even if it causes upset stomachs if there isn't anything else to eat. If you now introdue some foods that it don't cause any problems, it seems to me that it might shun what is incompatable with its system.

One thing I would dearly like clarified for me is something that I've seen often posted in threads. It involves the idea of how switching diets leads to incomplete nutrition. It makes no sense to me, for example, how feeding BML with its correct fruit/veggie combo one day and then Darcy's plus appropriate combo the next day makes the BML any less complete. BML will still be BML and Darcy's will be Darcy's. The only problem I see is if people are not careful with keeping the diet plans complete. I can see how feeing diets and combo's willy nilly will lead to problems but not how a complete diet one day and another complete diet the next makes incompletion overall.

[:"blue"] AGAIN, I would like to state, that I do not mix diets nor do I advocate it at this time. I ask these questions and state my opinions as a matter of discussion only. [/]

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: Lindsay] #123660
07/24/06 11:28 PM
07/24/06 11:28 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



I believe that by switching diets around it doesn't make one "incomplete" so much as it throws off the ratios the diets have. BML, for instance, was designed to be fed alone, and Darcy's was designed to be fed alone and I have to think that when the two are alternated, it would destory the carefully planned out ratios (such as Ca:P).

As for gliders in other countries living longer... I think it's Marz you should talk to (sorry if I got the wrong name!). Marz advocates a diet used by the ______ Sanctuary that has been a huge success over there. I believe that this diet offers more varity than BML or Darcy's by rotating food stuffs (like protein sources) similar to the Suncoast diet. But at the same time, it is a complete diet by itself and there's no great amount of switching (meaning there's always a constant).

I'm gunna go try and find the posts about that diet!

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123661
07/24/06 11:35 PM
07/24/06 11:35 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Here's the diet Marz uses that I mentioned... I was wrong, there isn't as much "switching"/variation as I had remembered... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ohwell.gif" alt="" />

another point, there's a member here from the UK, Moorie, (or at least she was a member) who had very healthy gliders and fed them a diet that most of us Americans would frown upon as being unhealthy (it involved a bit of cat food, but not a lot). I'm not sure the ages of her gliders, but just another thought on foreign glider diets.

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123662
07/25/06 12:08 AM
07/25/06 12:08 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,224
North Fort Worth - TX
jacknsally Offline
Glider Addict
jacknsally  Offline
Glider Addict

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,224
North Fort Worth - TX
No one actually feeds a exact proven named diet- they feed what they think is that diet. No one can replicate a receipe to the exact ratios that a diet was intended for.

BML calls for 1Tbl spoon of fruits & veggies each- it does not tell you exactly what fruits or veggies to use- so if you don't use the exact fruits & veggies as the creator your throwing off the ratios- making it not the exact proven diet. We all know not all foods provide the exact nutritional value.

Pricilla's is the same way- when I say I feed pricilla's- I feed the basic setup of the diet- there's no way to feed it exactly as the creator.

I think it is frowned upon and not seen as a benefit of a complete diet source because- whose to say they are actually getting complete balanced ratios. What darcy's supplies- throws off the ratios of BML- there's no consitancy in the amounts given(instead of 7 days of BML- they are getting 3-4).

IMHO- I don't think anyone can consistantly provide the exact ratios each and every day completely. There's too much flucuation in amounts & you'd have to be exact in measurements down to the size & amount of everything.


Ñancy
~Always on my mind & in my heart Jack, Sally & Serenity~


Mobmilli's Boutique
Re: Diet Discussion [Re: Lindsay] #123663
07/25/06 03:01 AM
07/25/06 03:01 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



If your glider gets sick how can you decide if it's diet related if you keep swapping their diet. By keeping them on one diet it narrows down any thing lacking if a sickness occurs.

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: beans1977] #123664
07/25/06 08:53 AM
07/25/06 08:53 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,659
Wallis Texas
Charlie H Offline
Glider Slave
Charlie H  Offline
Glider Slave

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,659
Wallis Texas
You can find a statement by someone to support almost any position you choose. As to the statement that captive gliders in Australia live longer than captive gliders in the US one must consider the source.

As for all the hype about organic and inorganic foods and talk of all the food stuff in the US shortening our lives one should take a look at the life expectancy in various countries.

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/factbook/countrycompare/le/1a.html

Anyone who has studied animal's diets will tell you not to constantly change an animal's diet. Just read the labels on dog food, cat food, or livestock feed. Almost all of them will warn you to change the diet slowly over several days. Choose a healthy diet for your gliders and stick with it. When you start trying to alter diets you are only asking for problems.
Charlie H


Rescue & Rehabilation
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/glidertree/
[]glidertree@toast.net[/]
Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123665
07/25/06 10:19 AM
07/25/06 10:19 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />


another point, there's a member here from the UK, Moorie, (or at least she was a member) who had very healthy gliders and fed them a diet that most of us Americans would frown upon as being unhealthy (it involved a bit of cat food, but not a lot). I'm not sure the ages of her gliders, but just another thought on foreign glider diets.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Well hello there <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />, I've not been on this site for a looooong time, mainly because of the attitude toward the diet I choose for my gliders. But yes, I use a small amount of cat food - probably about 18 small biccies a week because I alternate the protein source.

I don't know about the nutritional implications in swapping diets every three days, but I know my gliders always dive on their food bowl to see what there is today!

I'd just like to say at this point I do NOT wish to get into a discussion on the why's and wherefores of cat food (the main reason I've not been on here for 6 months or so), I've put an awful lot of time and effort into my gliders diet and I know it's a good one. My joey's at 3 months are as large as their parents so I'm happy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumb.gif" alt="" />

My oldest glider is 6 years, but I have a friend who has used Iams every day for more than a decade and he has gliders over 10 years old!

Last edited by moorie999; 07/25/06 10:20 AM.
Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ozzi] #123666
07/25/06 04:16 PM
07/25/06 04:16 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
As for all the hype about organic and inorganic foods and talk of all the food stuff in the US shortening our lives one should take a look at the life expectancy in various countries.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Just wanted to clarify that I wasn't implying in my post that I think that chemicals used on food DEFINITELY is responsible for the possible difference in life expectancy. I'm just saying that I know foods are treated differently in different countries and it *may be a factor* for an animal as small as a sugar glider, and I think it would be worth checking into if somebody had the time and resources (for the good of gliders and other produce-eating pets).

I don't think that you can compare life expectancies of people in the US to life expectancies of people in other countries and say that it rules out the influence of chemicals used on food if we live longer in the U.S., because factors like availability of health care, living conditions, affluence, etc. also play a huge role in determining life expectancy. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" />

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123667
07/25/06 09:01 PM
07/25/06 09:01 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,830
USA
SugarBlossoms Offline
Serious Glideritis
SugarBlossoms  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,830
USA
I haven't begun to read everything here yet but wanted to say that I feed my gliders the Original Leadbeater's diet. They get the Leadbeaters, fruit, veggies, yogurt, licky, acacia gum, bee pollen. On the weekends I make the Leadbeaters and give them my special glider chef attention. They get either scrambled eggs or boiled chicken, tropical fruits, veggies other than the weekly norm, cobbler or pudding (baby foods), nectar and whatever else I may come up with. I also give 2 tsps of the ZooKeeper's for snacking. They get a yogurt drop midday (everyday) and mealies about 3 times a week.

I'm not feeding 2 different diets persay, but it gives them a break from ho hum meals and I like to give them special things that are good for them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />


Keeper of Handprints on my Heart, You left your Footprints on my soul.
My precious loves that left to quickly, Peanut, Katie
Isabella, Kiwi, Bonnie and Monroe.

Spread your wings and glide free of pain,
Until the day I see you again.

God speed my precious angels. I love you. Mama.
Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123668
07/25/06 10:26 PM
07/25/06 10:26 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" /> Bourbon has gone back to the basics and is changing the BML site to specify which veggies and which fruits to feed with it.
Glad to see you're still around Moorie - I always enjoyed your posts!

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123669
07/26/06 05:03 AM
07/26/06 05:03 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Thanks Melanie - that's very kind of you <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

What concerns me about rigid diets are the amount of vitamins and calcium being piled into the gliders. I don't give my lot calcium every night because I take care with the ratio's in the rest of the diet, but with the Leadbeaters and the modifications (I'm NOT bashing) it's impossible to avoid because it's already mixed in. I fully believe in giving them a supplement break which is one of the reasons I don't use the proven diets, I like to be in control of what goes in and so far I'm very proud of the results <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I think variety is a good thing, I don't agree that gliders don't like change, I think keep it interesting (I have primates too and that is especially important for them!), how miserable would you become if you ate the exact same thing every night, it may seem insignificant but it's not, at the end of the day it's important the glider receives adequate nutrition and variety, remember in different fruits/veggies there are different vits and minerals and in differing amounts. Also if you have a miserable glider the body suffers too - I know when I'm to expect an attack from depression because I get cold sores in the corners of my mouth - depression attacks the immune system. Keep it interesting and keep them a little happier <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

As for the statement "American gliders don't live as long as they should" it's a very sweeping statement, I'd be very interested in where that came from. There are alot of Animal Right's groups that claim captive animals not only suffer needlessly but they don't live to the age they would in the wild. They say that because they want to stop us keeping animals, especially the exotic species which includes suggies. I think as Dancing pointed out the fact that captive gliders can live 10+ years longer than they do in the wild means they are living as long as they should (if you see what I mean!).

As well as pesticides, I think we also need to be looking at husbandry. The human immune system has been weakened by all the anti bac cleaning products, the bacteria just builds up a resistence as the body's immune system weakens. Another important aspect in increasing the longevity of any animal.

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ozzi] #123670
07/26/06 09:13 AM
07/26/06 09:13 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Good points Moorie.. and why I am looking into other things about diet myself and starting to research.. but for now.. to help them recover from an obvious issue with their former diet lacking in SOMETHING our babies are on BML, though I am wary of continuing it for that reason- in order to keep things balanced on it I have to feed things I would otherwise avoid and which our babies in the one cage aren't eating much of at all- like corn, peas and green beans... and they seemed much happier withthe variety and rotation of fruits and veggies they were getting before.. then again that is teh cage where if I fed the same thing as far as fruits and veggies for more then 3/4 nights they would stop eating it and they have proven me right again.. sad but true... I keep putting the same things in per bourbon- I agreed to stick to it strictly for 2 weeks, which means Sat at the SGGA is the 2 week mark.. and they are all gaining weight, but... I am going to start reading and researching and calculating amounts and portions and working with the vet.. I want our babies healthy, but I also don't know that this is the best option for me and our lifestyle in the long run... I do know that I felt more comfortable with the former diet I had them on for our lifestyle, but it didn't work out to be the best thing for their health sadly... even though 4 of them where on it from the breeder when they came home.

Amie

Amie

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ozzi] #123671
07/26/06 01:12 PM
07/26/06 01:12 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Here is the thread regarding longevity of US gliders. I apologize if my information was from a bad source. http://www.sugarglider.net/ubbthreads/sh...true#Post603340

At any rate, I still believe that glider nutrition is still in it's infantcy and I would like to encourage people to continue this discussion. I am encouraged to see so many good points made from both sides of the discussion.

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: Lindsay] #123672
07/26/06 01:17 PM
07/26/06 01:17 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



The post I got my information is near the bottom of the thread. </font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
i e mailed australia a vet i know there. his oldest glider lived to be 19 yrs. something is wrong in this country as most are not living even past 5.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: Lindsay] #123673
07/26/06 07:37 PM
07/26/06 07:37 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



The oldest glider i know of here belonged to Charlie and Mary and he was over 15 years when he past away.

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123674
07/27/06 07:22 AM
07/27/06 07:22 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,659
Wallis Texas
Charlie H Offline
Glider Slave
Charlie H  Offline
Glider Slave

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,659
Wallis Texas
It's interesting to note how many people state "I feed the original Leadbeater diet to my gliders." I seriously doubt they do strictly adhere to this particular diet. It is also rather amusing since the Leadbeater diet wasn't even originally designed to be fed to sugar gliders but instead is a diet designed for the Leadbeaters possum.
Charlie H


Rescue & Rehabilation
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/glidertree/
[]glidertree@toast.net[/]
Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123675
07/27/06 07:31 AM
07/27/06 07:31 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Thanks Foxfire - 19 years?! Wow!

It was indeed designed at Taronga Zoo for the Leadbeaters possum. If you look at the taronga zoo diet there's a HUGE difference in what you or I feed, here's a link http://www.skinhorse.net/gliders/syd_diet.html

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123676
07/28/06 03:15 PM
07/28/06 03:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,093
Lone Star
Pockets Offline
Glider Slave
Pockets  Offline
Glider Slave

Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,093
Lone Star
Charlie so happy you read a recent posting by myself!
Yourself, Ellen, B as well as many others had no clue about the original Leadbeaters mixture - there was no Mr Leadbeater who created the Leadbeater's mixture - Des Hackett did & it was created from a modified sugar glider mix!
Might I again suggest doing a little research about how similar Gymnobelideus leadbeateri actually is to our <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />'s.

There are very good reasons why Des's Leadbeater's mix is still being used successfully & has been for almost 40 years - just a tad bit longer than BML.
Maybe it's just me, but how can your comments about diet be taken with anything but a grain of salt - as they seem to based only on your opinion - not facts!


:grey: We will be known forever by the tracks we leave :grey:

Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ozzi] #123677
07/28/06 03:33 PM
07/28/06 03:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,093
Lone Star
Pockets Offline
Glider Slave
Pockets  Offline
Glider Slave

Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,093
Lone Star
Moorie - Marie
I have an article I think you would enjoy very much written recently by Robert Ness DVM & Rosie BoothBVSc - send your email addy to me at []tinytracks@austin.rr.com[/] & I will send it to you!

This article states that fruit based diets are harmful to <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />'s & also states -
Contrary to the nutritional needs observed in the wild, much of the information found in lay publications lists fruit & vegetables as a major portion of their captive diet & goes into why this is not a good practice.

Rosie Booth, Robert Ness, & Cathy Delaney advise a diet of -
50% Leadbeater's mix
50% Insectivore/Carnivore mixture
No more than 5% to 10% of other things & these other items are considered to be treats

(Personally I do not feed any insects, & do feed a bit of a varied menu - but I have done a lot of research into this)
Keep doing what your doing!

My girlfriend in Michigan kept her very ill <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" /> alive for 1 & 1/2 yrs & our vet team in Mich, accredited it to Hill's A/D perscription Feline/Canine diet.
In the above mentioned article Booth, Ness & Delaney all state catfood as a protein source - Not trying to start an argument here, just relaying this recent article.

I as yourself find it very difficult to discuss diet on this board - but do like others to know the research & facts, especially from Australia, many in OZ have kept <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />'s sucessfully in captivity, long before we were born (lol) I have spoken with several <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/agree.gif" alt="" /> & yes they tend to outlive our captive <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />'s here in the USA & they do not even have one quarter of the health problems seen here - many die of plain old age.

As to the original question - I would stick to a leadbeater's mixture & stay close to feeding one diet plan varing the items a little bit but stay close to the same diet menu.

Last edited by Pockets; 07/28/06 03:45 PM.
Re: Diet Discussion [Re: ] #123678
07/28/06 04:01 PM
07/28/06 04:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,093
Lone Star
Pockets Offline
Glider Slave
Pockets  Offline
Glider Slave

Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,093
Lone Star
Hi

Agree & wish to add that by giving many of the antibiotics & other meds, our <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />'s will build up resistances & these can & will be problematic downline. There also seems to be a serious problem with mycotoxins/aflatoxins in the USA - I myself lost my 1st two <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/littleglider.gif" alt="" />'s to aflatoxins.

I have done a little bit of research into chemical food additives in the US & it is eye-opening to say the very least!

To add to 7Gliders comments,
Here are just a few more reasons why wild native glider's of all species face early deaths in Australia -
predation, competition from neighboring colonies, bushfires, clear felling & logging, lack of tree hollows, lack of tree regeneration & understory flora which all have limited lifespan, climatic conditions, forest fragmentation - which a large problem, also hear of a problem with gliders impaling themselves on barbed wire fencing & being left to die - same with their bats, & 1080 poison & other bait poisons.
The range of plant species & overall structure of the vegetation constantly changes - No forest enviroment remains the same forever!

Last edited by Pockets; 07/28/06 04:06 PM.
Re: Diet Discussion [Re: Devil_Bunny_Girl] #123679
07/31/06 06:13 AM
07/31/06 06:13 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Pockets - hi, I've emailed you. Is that not the original Leadbeaters mixture I posted a link to? - Sincere apologies if I've got mixed up (again!) - I'll get my coat lol!


Moderated by  Feather, KarenE, Ladymagyver 

Sugar Glider Help Page



Please click above to see how you can help!!

Moon
CURRENT MOON
Who's Online Now
0 registered members (), 382 guests, and 84 spiders.
Key: , , Owner, Admin
Newest Members
Mellefrl, klowvrrr, gracefulguardian, KiyokoTheDoll, Hazelneko
7324 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums132
Topics10,374
Posts159,160
posts in the last 24hrs0
Members7,324
Most Online2,693
Jan 2nd, 2020
Last 10 New Topics
Logging in Problem
by Anonymous. 03/24/24 11:43 AM
Gliders of the Round Table 10
by Hutch. 03/07/24 10:50 PM
Cloaca swollen?
by Mellefrl. 03/04/24 02:39 PM
2024 Sugar Glider Calendar and Cafe Press Store
by theresaw. 08/15/23 02:37 PM
Stewie:" It's MY Mouse!"
by Ladymagyver. 05/25/21 09:57 AM
Gliders of the Round Table 9
by Hutch. 02/12/19 11:35 PM
Custom Cage Liners Machine Wash & Dry
by gr8pots. 06/03/14 10:25 AM
Popular Topics(Views)
849,551 TEXAS
679,068 OHIO
487,134 OKLAHOMA
432,138 UTAH
321,663 NORTH CAROLINA
Supported Browser
This site was tested and is best viewed in Google Chrome & Mozilla FireFox



Firefox 3

Download your copy today!!!
Home Forums Links Sitemap Vets Breeders Sounds Contact Us Names Rules & Policies

GliderCENTRAL
©1998-2024
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software
(Release build 20180918)
Page Time: 0.058s Queries: 14 (0.008s) Memory: 1.4544 MB (Peak: 1.8001 MB) Zlib enabled. Server Time: 2024-03-28 09:34:46 UTC