Ok ya'll, I have been sending emails for a couple months now to different australian zoos and exotic
vets to find out different
diets that they feed down there. Just to compare, because obviously we do not have some of the same things here as they do. Anyway, without much luck I finally heard back from one who sent me a copy of the
diet that they feed at the Healesville Sanctuary. I was rather surprised to see the menu and thought I would share with you all and get your feedback. I am NOT promoting this
diet plan in anyway, just wanting to share. First I will post the first email I received from him. The article he is discussing it the one that can be found here,
http://www.petswithhands.com/Diet.htmFrom: ZVD&L
>To: 'Peggy Brewer'
>Subject: RE: Sugar glider questions Please help
>Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2004 14:13:01 +1100
>
>Hello Peggy,
>
>I have done a bit of a scan through the article that you have sent and also
>spoken to our keepers up at another of our sites called 'Healesville
>Sanctuary' (it is actually mentioned in the article). This is our
Australian
>native animal site and they have had Sugar Gliders for many years. They
also
>have wild ones living naturally in the grounds.
>
>I have asked a keeper at Healesville to photocopy the pages from their
diet>book so they can send them to me and I shall place them into a file and
>email them to you.
>
>In the mean time, from what the keeper told me, there is no vitamin D
>supplement in the mix. There are a few ingredients that are obtained from
>our local vegetation, which may be hard to substitute at first glance,
>however I think that from reading through the article, and assessing what I
>send to you, you should be able to come up with a good
diet.
>
>When I receive the information from the keeper at Healesville I shall pass
>it on to you.
>
>Regards, Scott
Several weeks went by and I sent another email asking him for the
diet plan. this is the email he sent back.
Hello Peggy,
Thankyou for the reminder. The
diet sheet is sitting on my desk.
There are a few terms in the
diet that may be specific to the Australian
context so I have asked the
vets to fax me a copy of the breakdown of
contents which I shall pass on to you when it arrives ie nectar mix.
In the mean time here is the
diet. There may be enough information here.
For more information contact SMTP:HSKeepers@zoo.org.au and this will
connect you to the Healesville Sanctuary Keepers.
Good Luck
Scott
Now for the
diet plan he sent to me...
Healesville Sanctuary
diet Sheet
Species: Sugar Glider: Petaurus breviceps
Natural
diet: Insects, pollen, nectar, sap, lerps
AD LIB: Water
Daily
diet (per animal): 1 Dog chow/Eukanuba. (This is made by Iams (iams) which is a US company so you should be able to get a US equivalent. It is a veterinary grade dog chow
6g Fruit, chopped (1tablespoon / 15ml)
5ml Nectar Mix*
1g Fly Pupae (1/4 tea spoon 1-2ml)
5g Corn ( thin sliced into Ľ slices)
2g Sprouted Seed *
2 Mealworms
Supplement: 5 Pollen Grains - once per week
3 Sultanas - 3-4 times per week
2 Sunflower seeds – once per week
1g Pet Health food (small cube) – once per week (Eco pets dog food loaf – organic quality)
1 Almond – once per week
Insects 3-4 times per week (eg moths not meal worms)
Acacia, Eucalypt, Callistemon, Melaleuca and other like blossoms as available
I emailed him again with a few other questions and comments and will let you all know when and if I receive a response.