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Protein & The Darcy Diet: #49368
06/22/05 06:31 AM
06/22/05 06:31 AM

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Man-oh-man, everytime I think I've finally got a handle on these little guys, I read something here that scares the bejesus out of me! I really thought I was doing great with their diet, but now I'm not so sure. So..with that said, I'll post the basic diet I'm feeding them and see what the real experts have to say.

I've had my two fuzzy little friends for about two months now and right after I got them I switched them to the basic Darcy diet. After reading some of the diet posts here, however, I'm really concerned that they're not getting a good balance or the right variety! Here is a snapshot of their diets:

Everyday they get:

1 tblspn per glider of the Darcy diet Ensure(Vanilla) + Calcium mix (They love this stuff!!!)

1 tblspn total of yogurt (with cultures!)

Every day they get some combination of the following: (Here is where I think I'm in trouble!)

Watermelon - no seeds (cut/diced)
Canelope (cut/diced)
Mushmelon (cut/diced)
green peppers (limited!)
cucumbers (cut/diced)
red seedless grapes (2-4 per day)
Frozen green beans (Man, do they love these!)
Frozen Spinach (small amounts, 2-3 times per week)
Pineapple (small amount, once per week)

I also keep these brown, chewy pellet-thingys in their cage at all times that I got when I bought my little critters. (The breeder who sold me the suggies told me they would cover 100% of their protein needs and they do seem to love them, but now I'm worried!)

I've tried boiled chicken, meal worms, and scrambled egg but neither of them will eat any of those. Now, I'm really worried they're not getting a healthy amount of protein.

What should I do differently? I just read about the, umm, "reverse phosphorous ratio"(?) in fruit and now I'm worried about that too!! Where is a RELIABLE place to read about this stuff and properly educate myself? Also:

1. Is my diet off? How badly?
2. Are my fruit/veggie choices smart and healthy?
3. Do my fruit/veggie choices offer enough variety?
4. How can I get more protein in these little guys?

You guys are, quite simply, FANTASTIC about helping newbies out and I know you'll help me once again! I just want my little guys to be happy and healthy and I'm really worried my ignorance will inadvertently harm them <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worried2.gif" alt="" /> They are very active and healthy looking with beautiful, shiny coats, but I need to know if I can do better!

Disturbingly, I find my thoughts on these little fuzzballs more and more every day! I believe it's called: Glideritis!

Thanks all... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" />

Last edited by Sugar_Mama; 06/22/05 09:42 PM.
Re: Protein & The Darcy Diet: [Re: ] #49369
06/22/05 10:28 AM
06/22/05 10:28 AM

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Usually with any diet that you use the best advise is to say whatever diet you choose to use stick to the recipe like white on rice. Personal modifications often throw off the ratios that have been purposely set up with the items listed in the recipe.
If you want more info on Darcy's diet then I would recommend contacting Sarharanfox here on GC as she is the originator of the diet.
It doesn't look to me like you are doing too badly with the diet though. What is the brown chewy pellet things you feed? It may help to take that out altogether so that they will eat the other protein sources.

Re: Protein & The Darcy Diet: [Re: ] #49370
06/22/05 09:24 PM
06/22/05 09:24 PM

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I don't know what they are exactly. The breeder just told me that they would cover all of my gliders' protein needs. I'm going to make a trip back out to his place and talk to him about it.

Thanks,

Re: Protein & The Darcy Diet: [Re: ] #49371
06/22/05 11:57 PM
06/22/05 11:57 PM

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</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
1 tblspn per glider of the Darcy diet Ensure(Vanilla) + Calcium mix (They love this stuff!!!)

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

What type of Ensure are you using? Donna has recommended only using regular Ensure (no high cal or high pro) as the other varieties contain too much sodium. Also, what type of calcium are you using? I would personally recommend using JurrassiCal as it stays suspended in the Ensure whereas other types tend to sink to the bottom, thus making the amount of calcium your glider consumes suspect.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
1 tblspn total of yogurt (with cultures!)

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

Yogurt is great; however, I wouldn't feed it everyday. You have to remember that while it has good bacteria, it is still a dairy product & gliders are lactose intolerant. I would limit to 2-3 times per week at the same serving size.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Mushmelon (cut/diced)

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
What is Mushmelon? - Sorry for my ignorance! LOL

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
green peppers (limited!)
red seedless grapes (2-4 per day)
Frozen green beans (Man, do they love these!)
Frozen Spinach (small amounts, 2-3 times per week)
Pineapple (small amount, once per week)

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

These are the areas to watch:

Green Peppers: Bell peppers are more heavily contaminated with neurotoxic insecticides than all other crops analyzed. A judgement call for glider parents, sounds risky to me.

Red Seedless Grapes: There have been "unproven" accusations of glider deaths from renal kidney failure beleived to be caused by exposure to tannins and iron found in grapes and other like fruits (blueberries, for example) For glider parents, it's another judgement call.

Green Beans: Green beans are a major source of carcinogenic fungicides, neurotoxins, and endocrine disruptors. They provide only modest amounts of nutrients anyway so unless we can find organically grown greens beans, better to omit them from your glider diet.

Spinach: While nutritious, is a calcium inhibitor and should be fed in very small quantities if at all.

Pineapple: Is Yummy! But is a citrus & that should not be forgotten. If fed regularly, it can cause loose stools. Loose stools lead to dehydration. Dehydration can be fatal. Treats and constipation control only please!

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
I also keep these brown, chewy pellet-thingys in their cage at all times that I got when I bought my little critters. (The breeder who sold me the suggies told me they would cover 100% of their protein needs and they do seem to love them, but now I'm worried!)

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

Hmmm, I have to wonder what these little pellets are. Likely they are Zookeeper's Secret or Mazuri Insectivore Fare - these are the only "chewy" glider pellets that I am aware of. Of course it is never safe to assume! I would contact your breeder & find out exactly what they are. If it is one of the 2 I mentioned, then yes, they will fit your glider's protien needs. If not, I dunno! However; you are free to change up your protien if you wish. Say feed the pellets 2 nights and mealies the other nights or something along those lines - you can mix it up. Donna has suggested all kinds of different protien sources, so don't feel as though you are locked into the pellets just because that it what your breeder gave you.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
I've tried boiled chicken, meal worms, and scrambled egg but neither of them will eat any of those. Now, I'm really worried they're not getting a healthy amount of protein.

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

While gliders do need protein, you really don't need to stress about it a ton unless you've got a pregnant glider. And even so, you said they eat yogurt, so right there you've got a protein source!

Hope I've helped some! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Re: Protein & The Darcy Diet: [Re: ] #49372
06/23/05 02:22 AM
06/23/05 02:22 AM

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Gina,

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to this! I knew posting a diet question was risky because of all the differing opinions, but I like the facts you included.

Ok, now I'll try to answer your questions:

1. I only use the Ensure that was recommended: Vanilla or Mixed Berry flavor (no chocolate flavor!) and no high-pro or high-cal.

2. Calcium supplement. I use calcium citrate tablets with no added Vitamin D. I do have trouble crushing it to fine powder and getting it to mix right though. Where can I get the "Jurassical" and what is the exact kind I need?

3. Yogurt. There is a *LOT* of conflicting info on this one!! AngieH shared with me that her gliders get it everyday and she has also been really, really great about helping me out. They love it so much and now I feel like I'm stuck in the middle! I just want to do the right thing....<sigh>.

4. Mushmelon. I meant the, umm, 'green' cantelope. That's what I always heard it called. (Honeydew, maybe?)

5. Green Peppers. These I can live without, so I won't give them anymore.

6. Red grapes. Man, they really love these. Again, I feel stuck in the middle...

7. Green Beans. This definitely saddens me. You're the first and only person who has told me these are harmful and my babies REALLY love them. I only started giving them because they were listed on ALL of the "Safe Veggies" lists. Where can I find more info about their carcinogenic properties? Does the GC community know about this? I haven't seen green beans listed as "bad" anywhere else and maybe you should share that with everyone.

8. Spinach. They only get this 1-2 days per week in small doses. They seem to really, really like green, leafy veggies so I bought frozen spinach and they seem to really like it.

9. Pineapple. I know about the citrus fruit/diahhrea thing so they only get this about once every week or two.

I feel so helpless!! So many things I thought were great for them aren't!! How can I ever hope to keep these little guys healthy if 'green beans' are dangerous!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/question.gif" alt="" /> What other things on all these "safe" foods lists are actually bad!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/question.gif" alt="" /> Why can't more of the experienced glider people actually agree about more of this stuff!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/question.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/question.gif" alt="" />

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

Big, big, BIG <sigh>....

Geez...I feel like I'm going backwards instead of forwards. Thanks again for all the info and help, Monster.

Re: Protein & The Darcy Diet: [Re: ] #49373
06/23/05 10:10 AM
06/23/05 10:10 AM

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</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
2. Calcium supplement. I use calcium citrate tablets with no added Vitamin D. I do have trouble crushing it to fine powder and getting it to mix right though. Where can I get the "Jurassical" and what is the exact kind I need?

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

You can get JurrassiCal lots of places - I used to buy mine from Petsmart. It comes in powdered or liquid form, either is sufficient. Either way, the serving is 3/8 teaspoon per bottle Ensure.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
3. Yogurt. There is a *LOT* of conflicting info on this one!! AngieH shared with me that her gliders get it everyday and she has also been really, really great about helping me out. They love it so much and now I feel like I'm stuck in the middle! I just want to do the right thing....<sigh>.

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

diets are a hard subject, but you are doing the right thing by researching. The best thing you can do is learn as much as possible & make your own call.

[qoute]4. Mushmelon. I meant the, umm, 'green' cantelope. That's what I always heard it called. (Honeydew, maybe?)

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

LOLOL - ok, gotcha! Honeydew is perfectly fine! Mine love it!

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
6. Red grapes. Man, they really love these. Again, I feel stuck in the middle...

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

If you would like some more info to help you make up your mind, I know our very own BMXgirl (Hope) has done her own personal research on the topic & posted findings several times here on GC - A simple search might help you out.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
7. Green Beans. This definitely saddens me. You're the first and only person who has told me these are harmful and my babies REALLY love them. I only started giving them because they were listed on ALL of the "Safe Veggies" lists. Where can I find more info about their carcinogenic properties? Does the GC community know about this? I haven't seen green beans listed as "bad" anywhere else and maybe you should share that with everyone.

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

I got this info from a website that Pockets posted in the very thread you were inquiring about in your PM to me. Go back to that thread & look at what Pockets posted - there's a lot of good info there!

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
I feel so helpless!! So many things I thought were great for them aren't!! How can I ever hope to keep these little guys healthy if 'green beans' are dangerous!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/question.gif" alt="" /> What other things on all these "safe" foods lists are actually bad!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/question.gif" alt="" /> Why can't more of the experienced glider people actually agree about more of this stuff!? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/question.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/question.gif" alt="" />

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

One of the things I don't think this community will ever agree upon is diets, the best you can do is, like I said before, research as much as possible and make the best choices you can for your babies.

Re: Protein & The Darcy Diet: [Re: ] #49374
06/23/05 10:18 AM
06/23/05 10:18 AM

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OMG! I'm in panic mode now. I haven't got my babies yet - 3.5 weeks to go and I've been reading and compiling lists (so many lists) of foods and stuff and yesterday I made a daily meal plan. On my list I rotated all the safe fruits and veggies so they wouldn't get the same one for about a month, but now I'm scared. I had green beans on my list - is this the same as snap ones? I also had red grapes on my list too. Is this only red, I added green also. I figure since I don't have them yet I can plan accordingly and not get them to like anything that they shouldn't have. Nevertheless, I'm still scared. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worried2.gif" alt="" />
Yep, if only I watched my diet this closely, I wouldn't have all the problems I currently have.

Re: Protein & The Darcy Diet: [Re: ] #49375
06/23/05 12:40 PM
06/23/05 12:40 PM

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Just want to touch on one subject here. Gliders are not lactose intolerant. This was believed when gliders were much newer as pets in the US. It has since been disproved. They probably are more along the lines of the way people are. Most can handle dairy just fine but you will have the occasional person/glider who is allergic or intolerant.

Re: Protein & The Darcy Diet: [Re: ] #49376
06/25/05 08:21 AM
06/25/05 08:21 AM

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Thank you Monster and everyone! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer all my questions!!

I know from reading numerous threads here that very few people agree when it comes to diets, but what I was looking for when I posted my concerns was serious omissions or glaring errors that I might be responsible for.

I do feel a lot better now because I've learned some very good info and I don't seem to be screwing up TOO awfully bad!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelclap.gif" alt="" />

Thanks to everyone for answering my questions and supporting me! If the rest of the world cared about themselves and each other the way people do here, the world would be a much better place! This is by far the best glider site on the web and one of the best websites I've ever found PERIOD. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumb.gif" alt="" />


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