GliderCENTRAL

protien

Posted By: Anonymous

protien - 03/16/06 05:21 AM

I understand that if gliders do not get enuf protien they will eat each other. IS ther anyother food besides meat eggs mealworms and crickets and grasshoppers to feed gliders to get some good protien?? like peanut butter or nuts or summin?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: protien - 03/16/06 06:34 AM

If you feed BML, it has its protien components already blended in it (however it does require that you use egg), and you don't need to deal with an extra protien source.

Other protien sources include bee pollen,yogurt, and some even use catfood soaked in juice (but some here are against catfood feeding), but you should consult the Diet's Link at the top left of the page under GC LINKS and choose one that best suits your preferences. Research is the key!

The problem with some of the alterior protein sources like nuts and beans is that though they may provide protien, it's the absorbability that remains the issue. Principles of bioavailability indicate that the form of a nutrient (and in this case, the exact amino acids making up the protien in the food) affects how well the nutrient is absorbed and used by the animal, and at this point we know with certainty that chicken/meats, egg, insects, and pollen make great protien sources for the gliders, but it's still rather questionable how effective things like beans and nuts are as exclusive protien sources for the gliders. We currently don't know the essential amino acids specific to gliders, so it's hard to determine such things on a biochemical/nutritional level.

Mikey <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Charlie H

Re: protien - 03/16/06 11:53 AM

There is a product on the market now that is very high in protein. It is Wombaroo HPS. The main source of protein is soy and whey. There is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of this product as part of a gliders diet but some swear by it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" />

Keep in mind that too much protein in a diet can be as harmful as too little. Protein will block the utilization of some other minerals like calcium. It is best to try and stay within the range of the tried and tested diets. When you start experimenting with a gliders diet by adding a little of this and a little of that you can really cause your glider harm.
Charlie H
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: protien - 03/17/06 02:06 AM

if you are giving a combination of all those items i am sure they are getting plenty of protein. I think sometimes we hear one persons story and panic and fail to realize there are thousands of others who are ok. I would go read the diets again and see what amounts of protein they give and try to stay around that level because it seems to be what works for the gliders. I think deciding on what diet to use is the hardest part of getting a new glider. Best wishes on your decision <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: protien - 03/17/06 03:22 PM

If they don`t get enough protein, they will EAT each other???? I have never heard of this before <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" /> I know that the parents may cannabalize their joeys if something isn`t right with them but I never heard of them eating each other due to the lack of protein. Can this actually happen?
Posted By: myprideandjoys

Re: protien - 03/22/06 09:24 AM

I give mine pinky mice for protien.
Posted By: Dancing

Re: protien - 03/22/06 09:47 AM

I've never heard of an actual case of one glider eating another because of lack of protien. I don't believe that joeys are canabalized due to lack of protien either. Lack of protien may cause mom to not produce enough milk and the joey may become weak or die and they will dispose of the body (as nature would have them do to protect their nest from preditors).

Pinky mice and even fuzzies (slightly older baby mice) are both a good source of protien and also calcium.
Posted By: Charlie H

Re: protein - 03/22/06 11:36 AM

A lot of the confusion about protein comes from the wording some people use. It can be very deceptive. The actual glider diet is around 16 to 18 percent protein. I have my doubts that most even attain that amount. But when you see recommendations for higher amounts look at the wording carefully. One example is a recommendation for a 50% protein source. The key word is "protein source". Another term the pet food manufacturers like to use is "crude protein". This is also very deceptive. When the crude protein is broken down to actual usable protein it will be much lower than the amount that is indicated on the packages. Crude protein listed as 40% in some foods if broken down it sometimes will result in only around 14% protein. This is just a very simple explanation of some of the terms used when referring to protein in glider diets. Overall it is much more complicated.
Charlie H
© 2024 GliderCENTRAL