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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Littlecityfish]
#1417814
10/12/18 03:35 PM
10/12/18 03:35 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,306 SW Missouri USA
Ladymagyver
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,306
SW Missouri USA
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With birds you have to cook anything with Oxalic acid (Kale, Spinach, Purslane, etc.) because it prevents them from actually absorbing any of the calcium from the plant. Do I have to do this with gliders too? No, gliders require the calcium. There is a calcium to phosphate ratio(2:1) that has been carefully thought through for gliders. Raw kale is very important not only for the calcium, but for other minerals too.
Dawn Be patient, and Trust your journey.... Grace Ruby Mom Dad Fiona, Dot and Stewie wish I could turn back time... Miss you
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Anonymous]
#1417816
10/12/18 04:15 PM
10/12/18 04:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,306 SW Missouri USA
Ladymagyver
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,306
SW Missouri USA
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This is a very good article about many of your questions. It is pretty long, but full of truthful facts about sugar gliders. It's not an article you should just "skim" through for the facts. It is designed to help you make responsible and thoughtful decisions where gliders are concerned. They are a unique creature that deserve a permanent responsible and loving home. Please read this article and be honest with yourself. The decision to care for gliders will carry over into your adulthood after college. They deserve at least an hour of your undivided attention out of your day every day for their lifetime. Which could be for up to 15 years. Another perspective: You should spend at minimum of 5975 hours in the span of 15 years to their attention and that doesn't even count cleaning,food prep, shopping, vet visits, or their general care. Are you realisticly in a position today to make that choice for your/ their future? http://www.glidercentral.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=want_a_glider
Dawn Be patient, and Trust your journey.... Grace Ruby Mom Dad Fiona, Dot and Stewie wish I could turn back time... Miss you
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Anonymous]
#1417817
10/12/18 05:39 PM
10/12/18 05:39 PM
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 43 Utah
Littlecityfish
Out of Pouch
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Out of Pouch
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 43
Utah
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Oh, I meant the Oxalic acid prevents them from absorbing any calcium and cooking it breaks the bonds the acid has on the calcium. And I just read the article and I still want them. Every week either on Saturday or Sunday I have an animal day. I clean all the cages/pens/aquariums and observe to see if anything seems off with any of the animals. This week it's most likely going to be on Sunday but if I start at around 11:00-12:00 it only takes me until 2:30-3:00. Adding a bird into there maybe 3:30-4:00. And then adding sugar gliders 4:30-5:00. Almost all of my animals are going to be going with me into my adulthood. I could give them all the time they need after 9:00. I'm usually up to 11:30-12:00, so I assume that would give them enough time with me. I have contacted 1 of the vets so far and they do deal with Gliders. And as I said before I won't be getting them for another 2-3 years so when that time comes I'll see if I'm in a position to get a couple and care for them properly. Right now though, I'm gathering as much information as possible in preparation for that day.
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Anonymous]
#1417820
10/12/18 06:38 PM
10/12/18 06:38 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,979 Wisconsin
Feather
Administrator
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Administrator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,979
Wisconsin
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The Critterlove diet has been tested and the salads were put together under the direction of a nationally known animal nutritionist. None of the Critterlove salads have spinach, that is very high in Oxalates. We also don't recommend feeding spinach.
Kimberley Feathers-Sweetie, Mister Peanut & Big Mack Fur-Guinan, Mr. Spock, T'Mir, Cho, Toothless, Maverick & Maharet T'Pol, Elizabeth & Curzon TY, TJ, Light Fury, Madison & T'Pring Forever in my heart, Gizmo, Tucker, Khayman and the rest of my babies over the
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Anonymous]
#1417826
10/12/18 10:40 PM
10/12/18 10:40 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,482 Belleville, IL
Hutch
Glider Slave
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Glider Slave
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,482
Belleville, IL
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Colt, The chicken pellets (& the other pellets sold on Peggy's website) are meant as a dry supplement in addition to the Critterlove mix+salad meal. It's there to give them some options & as a daytime snack if they wake-up between meals. It isn't intended to necessarily be an integral part of the diet. I always leave a small amount of pellets in a separate dish inside the cage (my little turds prefer the fruity one) & they'll occasionally have a bite or two. I put a heaped tablespoon a night in there for my four & most of the time have plenty left over the next night. You're asking good questions for the early prep & gathering the right information. I would encourage you to check out some of the blog-style posts several members have under "Talk & Travel" to get a sense of living with gliders. There are several members (myself included) who chat about these zany things that took over our lives & can give you a picture of the ups, the downs, & the "What... the... huh?" moments. Before finally taking the glide myself, those tales helped cement my decision that these critters would be a good fit for me. There really isn't any perfect anything when it comes to these fuzzbutts. Find a cage of sufficient volume for the colony size you desire... then go just a little bigger if you're able to afford it. Powder-coated, 1/2" bar spacing, large opening to get accessories in & out are all necessary features of the cage. Most anything else is negotiable. Mine like height over width & bars on the roof, others may prefer wide & not give the roof a second glance. Same idea with food. Critterlove is an amazing diet that has been thoroughly tested (& on-going) that was developed with the aid of an actual vet nutritionist... but if your furballs don't like it, it is a terrible diet -for them-. Just realize you may do all this careful research & decide 'this is the ONE!' only for them to go 'nah.' So, have plan #1 (I also endorse & use Critterlove Complete, if you couldn't tell, lol), but research others just in case. Same with toys, cage accessories, play time, play style... you get the picture. Along with diets, treats are good things to use to your advantage (yogurt drops aka yoggies, dried bits of fruits, pine nuts, small insects, honey, parts of their dinner, tip of your finger, etc.) to help with bonding, playtime, & just to put them in a happy-clicking mood. Speaking of bonding, it cannot be emphasized enough that it WILL GO SLOW & the only one with a say in -how slow- are the beyond cute ones in fur coats. Sorry, no, it won't help for you to run out & buy a fur coat, they still win for cutest & therefore outvote you (just ask Gwynevere, she reminds me daily). It's something we've all learned to live with as a fact of life with gliders. It will go slow, there will be setbacks, you'll be certain you're getting nowhere & doing everything wrong... then one day they'll jump from the safety of the cage to you, be upset you couldn't play with them more, & you'll know why gliders are awesome. Well, maybe not so awesome when they're mad you're not playing with them enough... especially at 0200... on a work night... when you have to get up early. These critters can be LOUD when they want to be. You'll have many thoughts of them being less than awesome right at those moments, but like toddlers, the cuteness is also a natural defense until you're able to play with them again & they show you how much they miss you... by re-marking all over you to claim you as theirs. Okay, that part isn't any better than it sounds, but you'll at least know they think you're a keeper. It's the thought that counts, right? Refer to the cuteness-survival-factor again. Seriously though, I don't find mine are much of what I consider 'work' compared to other animals (exotic or domestic) that I've had. That doesn't change the fact they demand a lot of your time (& I do mean in a general sense & the literal sense they'll make demands). For me, it's been worth it & wouldn't change a moment. Mine helped me through many rough spots during dark times in my life, largely because the bonding works both ways; you belong to them as much as they'll belong to you. (Well, you may belong to them more than they belong to you. Opinions vary depending on whether you're the glider-owning-human or the human-owning-glider.) If you've put up with all this rambling & are still interested, it is a good sign they may work for you. Keep learning, keep asking questions, & keep an open mind. Remember, like the government, we're here to help! Only, we mean it... & won't tax you. Anyways, look forward to having you around these forums! Oh, I almost forgot: WELCOME TO G.C.!!!!
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Anonymous]
#1417830
10/13/18 12:10 AM
10/13/18 12:10 AM
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 43 Utah
Littlecityfish
Out of Pouch
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Out of Pouch
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 43
Utah
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Thank for responding with so much information! I don't know, but reading that made we want a colony a lot more lol. And thank you for going everything, I assumed the pellets were just going to act as a "got the munchies" kind of thing. I'm thinking I want 2-3 and I have been looking at a lot of cages on all kinds of different websites. Now that I *think* I have the #1 diet down, I'm going to start looking for a backup. Any recommendations on where to start? I guess the bonding kind of goes like birds. I know I say that a lot, but it's true, a lot of things are the same as birds. With birds, especially rescues, it can take them an extremely long time for them to warm up to you. And birds behave like toddlers most of the time lol. And I doubt they could be as much work as keeping up 4 fish tanks lol. Now THAT takes a lot out of you. And I was showing my mom a video of a Glider barking, and she was saying I'm never getting any, but she'll change her mind once I actually get some .
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Littlecityfish]
#1417833
10/13/18 07:34 AM
10/13/18 07:34 AM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,482 Belleville, IL
Hutch
Glider Slave
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Glider Slave
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,482
Belleville, IL
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Thank for responding with so much information! But wait, there's more! Hehe. I found an old link I used to do a lot of research: SunCoast Newsletter Archives I don't know, but reading that made we want a colony a lot more lol. Most of us glider-addicts are a straight-jacket waiting to happen, so I fully understand, lol! Now that I *think* I have the #1 diet down, I'm going to start looking for a backup. Any recommendations on where to start? There are a couple other popular ones including BML, TPG, and some others I can't remember. I didn't start with CL Complete, I was using Lisa's SunCoast diet which worked well for me for the first year & I go back to at times when I've had trouble getting everything to follow Peggy's CL diet plan (I was overseas). I almost switched to Priscilla Price's The Pet Glider diet, but after the nutrition study came out, I was sold on CL. There are many posts under " diet & Nutrition" that have a lot more details for you to consider. And I was showing my mom a video of a Glider barking, and she was saying I'm never getting any, but she'll change her mind once I actually get some . Just remember, Karma usually comes back to haunt you for not listening to one's mother If you show her all the other videos of them playing & looking adorable, you stand a good chance of converting her... as long as they don't become 'A Pet Too Far.'
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Hutch]
#1417834
10/13/18 12:53 PM
10/13/18 12:53 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,318 LittleRock, AR USA
KarenE
Owner
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Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,318
LittleRock, AR USA
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Everything Hutch has told you is true +10.
Truthfully gliders cannot be compared to any other animal, IMO. You may think there are some similarities when it comes to picky eaters and bonding UNTIL you actually have them. Then you will find they are truly an animal unto their own.
Depending on the size of home you live in, remember gliders are truly a nocturnal animal, and they can get loud with that cute barking. Not to mention playing with their toys and running in their wheel/s.
Some people have no problem sleeping through all that while others are very light sleepers making it a problem for them (like your mom ).
Colonies sometimes have all night gab sessions
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Anonymous]
#1417836
10/13/18 01:08 PM
10/13/18 01:08 PM
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 43 Utah
Littlecityfish
Out of Pouch
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Out of Pouch
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 43
Utah
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I'll look into all of those diets, and my mom said she didn't want me to get fish tanks, but now she's in love with them and said I cant ever get rid of them lol. She's a pretty light sleeper, but I'm not. Even so I'll probably have the cage in my "animal room" which is just a room connected to my room with french doors. It's where I keep my gecko, but I plan to get more animals in there. I also have a separate room for my fish tanks but there not enough room in there for another cage because we built specifically with the tanks in mind. And every time I try to refresh the page it gives me a 500 error and says that I have to wait, and it usually takes an hour or so to go away.
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Anonymous]
#1417842
10/13/18 03:32 PM
10/13/18 03:32 PM
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 43 Utah
Littlecityfish
Out of Pouch
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Out of Pouch
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 43
Utah
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That makes sense. I just got back from the farmers market with my mom and there was a lady there selling organic raw honey. A big tub for $20. If I choose to go the CL plus route that would be good. Is the CL plus a complete diet? It says that it's to boost protein intake, is that just for gliders that need more protein? Or can it be used as a staple diet? And can I use coconut oil to scramble the eggs?
Last edited by Littlecityfish; 10/13/18 03:33 PM.
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Littlecityfish]
#1417848
10/13/18 05:52 PM
10/13/18 05:52 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,482 Belleville, IL
Hutch
Glider Slave
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Glider Slave
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,482
Belleville, IL
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my mom... She's a pretty light sleeper, but I'm not. Even so I'll probably have the cage in my "animal room" which is just a room connected to my room with french doors. At last house, I kept them downstairs in the opposite corner of the house. Even if I closed my door, if they really wanted my attention, they sounded like they were in my room, over quiet music. Just a heads-up. Most of the time, they're not an issue, the only noise is their playing. When even one of them is of the mindset... sleep-interuptus-maximus Your mileage... er... glide-time may vary.
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Anonymous]
#1417858
10/13/18 09:51 PM
10/13/18 09:51 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,306 SW Missouri USA
Ladymagyver
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,306
SW Missouri USA
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Oh they are tree dwellers. They love high. But they are also jumpers. My newest glider Stewie showed me that. After he got is bearings in his new quarantine cage, he leapt to all four sides and looked at me cocked his head and as if to say... " Is that it? Really?"
They need width space for jumping. They wouldn't be happy with a short cage on the floor. But they would be happy with their cage high on a dresser.
Dawn Be patient, and Trust your journey.... Grace Ruby Mom Dad Fiona, Dot and Stewie wish I could turn back time... Miss you
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Littlecityfish]
#1417860
10/13/18 10:27 PM
10/13/18 10:27 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,979 Wisconsin
Feather
Administrator
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Administrator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,979
Wisconsin
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Actually the plus formula might work. In the tub I think there's 12 cups of honey. The recipe calls for 1/4 cup of the powder, 2 cups water, 1 1/2 cup raw honey, 1 tbsp bee pollen, and 3 scrambled eggs. I have unlimited eggs, a big jar of bee pollen would last a long time, and the big tub of honey would last a long time. I'm assuming that making it on those directions will last about a week.
A 1 pound bag of Critterlove Plus would last 8 months for 2 gliders.
The tub of honey would give about 8 servings. So that would last quite some time. For 3 gliders it said the 1 pound bag of powder will last roughly 2 months.
A 1 pound bag of Critterlove Plus would last 5 months and 1 week.
The big tub of honey would also last that long if each making lasts a week.
Kimberley Feathers-Sweetie, Mister Peanut & Big Mack Fur-Guinan, Mr. Spock, T'Mir, Cho, Toothless, Maverick & Maharet T'Pol, Elizabeth & Curzon TY, TJ, Light Fury, Madison & T'Pring Forever in my heart, Gizmo, Tucker, Khayman and the rest of my babies over the
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Anonymous]
#1417862
10/13/18 11:16 PM
10/13/18 11:16 PM
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 43 Utah
Littlecityfish
Out of Pouch
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Out of Pouch
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 43
Utah
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It lasts that long!? I thought I was going to have to be ordering powder in every month. Of course I'm going to have to buy more honey, bee pollen, and fruit/veggies. Although it's still going to be a lot. So going the plus route, it's going to be about $370 dollars every 5 months. 1 tub of honey will last about 2 months, so I'll need 3 of those within 5 months, 2, 8 oz jars of bee pollen should last 5 months, and then the fruits and veggies are about 50 dollars a month. So actually now that I do the math again, the complete might be the cheaper route... If I do the complete route it will only be about $300 every 5 months. $50 for the powder (+ the snack pellets) and $250 for fruits/veggies.
Last edited by Littlecityfish; 10/13/18 11:17 PM.
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Littlecityfish]
#1417867
10/14/18 12:28 PM
10/14/18 12:28 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,318 LittleRock, AR USA
KarenE
Owner
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Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,318
LittleRock, AR USA
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I haven't sat down to do the math, but if you are planning on only 2-3 gliders, the money you are quoting sounds very high to me. I would think people would be complaining all over the place having to pay that much
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Anonymous]
#1417871
10/14/18 12:57 PM
10/14/18 12:57 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,306 SW Missouri USA
Ladymagyver
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,306
SW Missouri USA
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It's not. CL is sold in dry weight. The measurements to mix are in liquid measure. Big big difference.
I have the 2 lb bag of CL plus I bought in June, it's still over half full.
I feed 3. It's cheaper than the complete to feed. Even with the added ingredients.
Dawn Be patient, and Trust your journey.... Grace Ruby Mom Dad Fiona, Dot and Stewie wish I could turn back time... Miss you
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: AlyCatz]
#1417873
10/14/18 01:04 PM
10/14/18 01:04 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,306 SW Missouri USA
Ladymagyver
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,306
SW Missouri USA
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Would you say the Congo Cage is okay though? They love to use their wheel (located toward the bottom of the cage) to a point I don't think they mind that the width of the cage isn't as wide as it could be as long as they are maintaining their running speed and getting a good workout! Lol. It's plenty big for a large colony. Stewie is the exception to the rule. I think he came oop running and jumping. He never stops!!! Now gliding is his fav pastime when he's allowed have out of cage time. He likes to ambush passerbys... Lol!
Dawn Be patient, and Trust your journey.... Grace Ruby Mom Dad Fiona, Dot and Stewie wish I could turn back time... Miss you
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Re: Thinking about getting sugar gliders
[Re: Littlecityfish]
#1417879
10/14/18 06:50 PM
10/14/18 06:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,979 Wisconsin
Feather
Administrator
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Administrator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,979
Wisconsin
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Oh wait, since you feed double the amount of complete as plus would it only last 2 1/2 months? If we're still doing the 5 month range, it will be $100 for the complete and $250 for fruit and veggies. It's still cheaper than the plus... $350 for complete $370 for plus. A 1 pound bag of Critterlove Complete would last 3 gliders 2 months.
You do not feed twice as much, it is 1 tablespoon of Critterlove and 2 tablespoons of salad for each glider at night.
With the numbers of gliders we are feeding here I order 10 pounds at a time and it should last with my gliders, the sanctuary gliders and the rescues 2 months. That doesn't include what my clients purchase.
Critterlove is one of the most tested diets out there for sugar gliders. Peggy is always testing not only the glider, but the powder to make sure our pet gliders are getting the optimum diet that they need.
I personally know that there is a diet study, as every so often I will get the call for more blood work from my glider for the diet study. With my numbers she gets a nice amount to do several tests.
A couple years ago a diet study was done that was funded by the sugar glider community and several diets were tested. You can find out more about it, with links to the articles Here (click here). You can also learn more about the Sugar Glider Foundation by clicking Here.
Just a couple of side notes on the diets:
Which ever diet that you choose you should feed it according to how it is written. For example, BML (Bourbon's Modified Leadbetters) diet is very strict. You are only allowed to use certain fruits and vegetables, that is because of the high calcium content in the staple portion of the diet.
DO NOT ADD additional protein to any diet, to much protein is hard on the gliders kidneys and liver. Your protein source for your gliders comes mainly from their staple (some does come from their fruits and vegetables).
diets like Critterlove Plus or Complete or BML are all your glider needs besides love. What I like most is with the Critterlove you are allowed a little freedom to give them some fruit that you only see when it is in season. Such as Lychee fruit, we will get enough for one to be shared by 2 gliders they get it once a season as a rare treat.
Do as much research as you can before you get gliders, they are a lot more work than a hamster or a gerbil. They are as much work if not more than a parrot and I have 3 parrots and a guinea pig besides the parrot and my friend has her cats here too.
Kimberley Feathers-Sweetie, Mister Peanut & Big Mack Fur-Guinan, Mr. Spock, T'Mir, Cho, Toothless, Maverick & Maharet T'Pol, Elizabeth & Curzon TY, TJ, Light Fury, Madison & T'Pring Forever in my heart, Gizmo, Tucker, Khayman and the rest of my babies over the
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