Sugar Glider Community Calendar

Please click here to see larger view
Articles
More coming soon!!
Today's Birthdays
B1u3sky, StellaLuna
Member Spotlight
Feather
Feather
Wisconsin
Posts: 13,979
Joined: January 2008
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
The Ensure Diet #62247
10/12/05 01:41 AM
10/12/05 01:41 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Can anyone please tell me what this is? How long has it been successful for you and exactly what portions are given? Did you always use this diet or switch from something else to it? Thank-you!!

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62248
10/12/05 06:50 AM
10/12/05 06:50 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Well, I've been getting asked about my version of the ensure diet quite frequently lately. There are several different ways to feed the ensure diet. I personally prefer to keep calcium to phosphorus ratios naturally high, so I don't add any extra calcium to the ensure, but instead, I choose higher calcium fruits and veggies.

First things first... I personally prefer to feed my gliders the WalMart brand of ensure. It's slightly cheaper and it taste so much better. Even the gliders prefer it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I usually switch between strawberry and vanilla. After I finish a case of one, I buy the other.

**I only feed vanilla to gliders with young joeys. Joeys don't seem to like strawberry ensure much at first.

I also have a little fruit mix that I feed that helps balance out calcium to phosphorus ratios.
It consist of:

1-50 oz jar unsweetened apple sauce
1-20 oz can of pineapple in it's own juices/unsweetened (pureed)
1-12 oz container of orange juice concentrate with extra calcium
1-32 oz bottle Gatorate (I prefer to use the mango flavor)

Here is what I feed on a daily basis PER GLIDER:

1 tablespoon ensure
1 tablespoon applesauce/pineapple/orange juice/gatoraid mix
1 tablespoon other fruits and veggies
1 protein source

The other fruits and veggies I feed depends on what I have on hand. Since I have a bearded dragon, I often use the same fruits and veggies for him as I do the gliders. This includes, but is not limited to: various types of squash, kale, various sprouts, raspberries, blackberries, carrots, grapes, kiwi, mango, papaya, etc. I try to stick with fruits that have a higher calcium to phosphorus ratio so that I don't need to supplement.

Right now, I'm feeding mealworms and crickets for protein (something else my beardie has to share with the gliders, lol). I plan on switching my gliders over to powdered egg whites soon though.

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62249
10/12/05 06:58 AM
10/12/05 06:58 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Oh, I forgot to mention... I have been feeding my gliders this diet for a little over a year now. In that time, my females have started producing some of the fattest babies I've ever seen and Smegal, my little wonder glider, has pretty much stopped having seizures (7 months and counting!). I have had 0 diet related heathy problems and the only 2 rejected joeys I had were from a female with a pouch infection.

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62250
10/12/05 07:58 AM
10/12/05 07:58 AM
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,788
Cleveland, Ohio
sugarglidersuz Offline
Glideritis Anonymous
sugarglidersuz  Offline
Glideritis Anonymous

Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,788
Cleveland, Ohio
[:"green"]Leyna,
Thanks for the information. It sounds very good.


Suz Enyedy
:bb: Carina & Coobah
Allira & Gizmo :grey:
:grey: Picasso, Trinity Joy & Luna
:rbridge: DaisyMae; Darwin; Mareki; Mambo; Pika; Cricky; Reggie & Bobo, Pepe & Bittah


Suz' Sugar Gliders
Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62251
10/12/05 08:18 AM
10/12/05 08:18 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



I feed Leyna's version of the diet exclusively. I purchased my Joeys from her and they were healthy, strong, happy and perfect. I discovered that the 'brand name' Ensure wasn't as popular as the Wal-Mart Brand Leyna had suggested initially. They are thriving. I asked about adding vitamins or supplements but judging from the tremendous success she has with all of her gliders and her breeding successes, I am not going to change a thing. My Babies are positively thriving on it and I have no reason to change a thing.

Thanks Grandma Leyna! The boys are doing fantastic.

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62252
10/12/05 10:05 AM
10/12/05 10:05 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Higher calcium to phosporus ratio? How does one know about this or figure it out? Also, do you gutload the mealies and crickets - what do you use and how many do you give? Is there a difference in the gliders smell that you know of (compared to them on other diets?) and last but not least - do you serve the fruits and veggies pureed or just finely chopped?

Thanks so much for sharing this!!

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62253
10/12/05 04:11 PM
10/12/05 04:11 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



There are many sites out there that list calcium to phosphorus ratios. If you go to the diets link here on GC, there are links to several sites with CA:PH ratios.

Gut loading crickets and mealies is more or less just feeding them good healthy food, which is good to do anyways because it makes them live longer and reproduce <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Compaired to every other diet I've tried, this diet has improved their smell the most. I currently have 13 gliders in my glider room and it doesn't really smell much different than it did when I just had 1 or 2 pairs.

How you serve the fruit is up to you. Some of the stuff I feed, I puree and freeze, others I feed fresh. It usually depends on how much of it I have and how long it last in the frig...

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62254
10/12/05 05:06 PM
10/12/05 05:06 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Leyna,I`m just a bit confused about the canned pineapple. I never give my gliders any canned fruits because I learned they are not good for gliders. Is the pineapple different? I`m not doubting you by no means but I`m just trying to understand this stuff <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" />

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62255
10/12/05 07:05 PM
10/12/05 07:05 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Canned pineapple, specifically Dole, is extremely healthy. There are no added sugars or preservatives and Dole cans are lined with a protective coating that prevents heavy metals from seeping into the fruit/it's juice. Pineapple is actually one of the only truely healthy canned foods.

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62256
10/12/05 08:44 PM
10/12/05 08:44 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



wow, that`s great to know! I`ll have to stock up on some of that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62257
10/12/05 11:19 PM
10/12/05 11:19 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Leyna.... I was thinking of doing the same thing giving the gliders the powered egg whites. It is a great alternative to the worms and crickets when one has picky eaters. The BML does not seem to do well with my little ones. Since I changed over to Ensure a few months ago by advice from Sheila, they are all doing much better and lick the bowl clean every night. But back to the powered egg whites, how much do you think per glider, and sprinkled on the food and fruit ? or maybe mixed in the Ensure ?. Whats your thoughts.

Bill (KicksNJ)

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62258
10/13/05 05:07 AM
10/13/05 05:07 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Well, the stuff I was looking at, 1 tablespoon equals 1 whole egg white. So, about a teaspoon would be a serving of egg whites. I was just doing to sprinkle it over my gliders food. I already sprinkle puppy milk replacer over the food of my females that are prego/nursing and they are really good about eating it all up <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62259
10/14/05 11:04 AM
10/14/05 11:04 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



This is the first I have heard of this diet I may have to try it thanks for posting it

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62260
10/14/05 11:07 AM
10/14/05 11:07 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



where do you get powdered eggwhites?

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62261
10/14/05 11:17 AM
10/14/05 11:17 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



From what I understand the powdered eggwhites are in the baking section of the grocery store. I checked one here and they didn't have it so my search continues. I thought of maybe trying a healthfood store? If all else fails, Leyna is going to be selling them on her website once she is up and running. I'm not sure of the ETA of that though. Good Luck.

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62262
10/14/05 01:00 PM
10/14/05 01:00 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Leyna- I have some questions for you since I've been doing a lot of contemplating on diets lately...

When you buy a case of Ensure- how long does that last you approximately?

As for the fruit mix you have- do you think it would be ok/better to use fresh pineapple rather than canned? I only ask because I love fresh pineapple & haven't found a canned yet that I like- so it's really for me that I'm asking this <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Hmmm... what else, what else.... oh! Is that 1 tablespoon EACH of fruits & veggies or 1 tbsp combined?

Ok - I think that's it... You're diet sounds really interesting & I'm intrigued!

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62263
10/14/05 03:09 PM
10/14/05 03:09 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Okay, well, first things first. 1 can of ensure has 16 servings (tablespoons) in it. That means that:
1 case will last 1 glider 96 days
1 pair 48 days
2 pairs 24 days
3 pairs, 16 days
4 pairs, 12 days
5 pairs, about 9-10 days
and, for me, with 13 gliders, a case last about a week.

I personally prefer the canned pineapple because it's cheaper, already messured, and easier to come by. If you want to use fresh, I don't see a problem with it though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The pineapple is in there for the enzimes and electolytes it offers. Fresh and canned both have these <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

1 feed my gliders 3 tablespoons total of food each a night. 1 tablespoon of ensure, 1 tablespoon of my fruit mix, and 1 tablespoon of fruits/veggies. Since I have a bearded dragon, I have a shredded fruit/veggie mix on hand at all times.

**For fat gliders, I don't offer the extra table spoon of fruits/veggies until their weight is undercontrol. The fruit mix and ensure offer all of the basic nutrients that the gliders need and the extra fruits/veggies are just treats in a sence. Once my gliders weight balance out, I start adding the extra fruits/veggies back in until I find a balance between how much they eat and how much they weigh.

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62264
10/14/05 03:12 PM
10/14/05 03:12 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Thanks!!

I'm definetely going to consider this diet... it's something I've been thinking about for a while- not necessarily only the ensure but also PML and a few others.

*And of couse I will ask a qualified vet first <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />*

lol Thanks for the breakdown on how long it will last for different amounts of gliders!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif" alt="" />

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62265
10/15/05 06:53 PM
10/15/05 06:53 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Zotix... Here is the place I ordered my powdered egg whites

http://www.store.honeyvillegrain.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=2

Just go to the bottom of the page and you will see the sizes they sell.

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62266
10/16/05 12:57 AM
10/16/05 12:57 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Leyna, I have a few questions for you about this diet. First of all, do you by any chance know the Ca:P ratio on this diet?
How much protein should you offer? Or is protein not necessary but offered as a treat?
I assume that you use the juice from the pineapple, is this correct?
And last question....I couldn`t find applesauce in a 50 oz jar but in 48 oz jars. I got 2 jars of 23 oz=46 oz. Is it really important that I make up for the extra 2-4 oz? I`m thinking the answer is "yes" but I wanted to double check because I`d hate to waste almost a whole bottle of applesauce by making up the difference, I don`t really eat applesauce lol. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" />

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62267
10/16/05 08:15 AM
10/16/05 08:15 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



People, I just checked somethings out and the information that I was given by the companies about the CA:PH ratios of the foods in the fruit might be WRONG. Please, do not feed that mix until I get this checked out. It's looking like the person gave me the information backwards, which totally screws up my ratios. I'm not a happy camper right now...

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62268
10/16/05 02:45 PM
10/16/05 02:45 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Whooo!! I guess you're not happy!! Can you please let us know what to do as soon as you find out?? Is there anything in particular we should do in the meantime? YIKES!

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62269
10/16/05 09:06 PM
10/16/05 09:06 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Well, I calculated evrything up using the values on the USDA site and as long as you feed the fruit mix along with 2 of my other mixes (berry and mellon), I come out with a 1.2:1 CA:PH ratio, lol. If if feed it with a variety of fruits and veggies, the ratio might be slightly inverted, but it shouldn't be bad... I need to post all of my mixes and what not on my website, lol.

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62270
01/13/06 03:20 AM
01/13/06 03:20 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Leyna, would u please email your different mixes to me?? I would greatly appreciate it! []txshields2005@yahoo.com[/]
take care!

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62271
01/13/06 09:13 AM
01/13/06 09:13 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
If you guys are planning on formulating a glider diet you really need professional help. There is so much more to a glider diet than focusing on the C/P ratio. Quiet often people look only at these figures and do not take into consideration how other things in the overall diet effect them. Earlier you were discussing pineapple. There is a world of difference in the amount of sugar in fresh pineapple and canned. And even the canned will differ depending on whether it is canned with regular syrup or heavy syrup. The amount and type of protein in the diet has a direct effect on how the body utilizes calcium.

Can any one of you (without looking) actually tell me what type of calcium is in a bottle of Ensure? Or how this type of calcium differs from other types? Have you taken into consideration how much magnesium your diet has? And don't forget the oxalates.

I have mentioned just a few items to make you think. There are so many more that have a direct effect on a balanced diet. Just be very careful when experimenting with diets! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worried2.gif" alt="" />
Charlie H


Rescue & Rehabilation
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/glidertree/
[]glidertree@toast.net[/]
Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62272
01/13/06 10:16 AM
01/13/06 10:16 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Charlie, there is no sugar in the pineapple I use. I only used pineapple canned in it's own juices and the nutritional values of it are pretty much identical to fresh pineapple (I've checked).

Ensure had Calcium Phosphate in it. Calcium Phosphate is extreamly good for building and maintaining bones. It's best consumed with/during meals. And, it is used in most animal foods as a calcium source. The CA:PH ratio of ensure is 1.2:1.

It is not yet known how much magnesium gliders need in their diet. Ensure is an omnivor diet, so the nutritional values are balanced for animals that eat a variety, much like gliders do. I would never feed ensure to a plant or meat eating animal...

My diet isn't really an experiment, it's just a way of trying to reduce suplimentation in a diet that already exist. Since Ensure is already a dietary and vitamin suppliment, I don't like the idea of adding even more calcium, so I found a way to feed it that doesn't require as much suplimentation.

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62273
01/13/06 06:27 PM
01/13/06 06:27 PM
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
sounds like you are on the right track here. I would suggest adding some boiled chicken breast as a way of upping the protein a little more.

I can't really comment on the powdered egg whites. Never have looked into them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" /> Regular eggs are an excellent source of protein though.
Charlie H


Rescue & Rehabilation
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/glidertree/
[]glidertree@toast.net[/]
Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62274
01/13/06 07:29 PM
01/13/06 07:29 PM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Fascinating thread!! Great comments! I've seen Leyna's gliders, and WOW, are they pretty and have such lovely coats. Also, the joeys that 1angel bought were just the most loving, tamed, and healthy looking joeys!

When I had to pull AnnaBear from Reese, I used Ensure to get her started, and she loved it! I moved her to BML, though, because it's what I was feeding all of my other gliders. Thanks to Leyna, AnnaBear is a happy little "teenager." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Re: The Ensure Diet [Re: ] #62275
01/14/06 01:57 AM
01/14/06 01:57 AM

A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A



Thanks Charlie, I try to stay on top of things when it comes to my critters... In fact, my diet has worked so well that I'm acually using it (quite successfully) with my short tailed and mouse opossums <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I still haven't ordered any powdered egg whites. Right now, my gliders are just getting mealies and a bit of egg for protein every night. I would really like to get some powdered egg whites to try, but I can't find any in my local stores and to get a reasonable price for the stuff on-line, you have to buy a ton...


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 (), 371 guests, and 90 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)
849,552 TEXAS
679,069 OHIO
487,140 OKLAHOMA
432,142 UTAH
321,666 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: 0.041s Queries: 14 (0.007s) Memory: 1.4498 MB (Peak: 1.7922 MB) Zlib enabled. Server Time: 2024-03-28 11:29:06 UTC