Ok so I am pretty sure Rikku has a joey IP and I have heard that pinkie mice are great for momma suggies. How on earth do I give them a pinkie? Is there any certain way I should prepare it? and how often should I give one? I am totally lost so any and ALL info is appreciated! Thanx!

I buy the frozen ones and let them defrost for a couple hours before feeding them. Only about 1/2 of my gliders will even touch them, but those that do just love them. I feed one pinkie per glider per week.

gross, don't feed pinkies

I feed them to my gliders about once a month--just 'cause they like them. I buy frozen and thaw them for a few hours before, and serve as is. No complaints yet, just happy chirps.

You can also buy them live ones, but gliders don't tend to kill their prey before digging in--as I'm sure you've witnessed with mealies. I've heard the pinkies scream, and I don't think I could stomach that.

You can also feed fuzzies. I believe they are a better calcium source than the pinkies are.

*lmao@nome63* they are an excellent source of protein for suggies!

I actually fed one last night, just thawed, and there was nothing left of it this morning.

any more input anyone?

My gliders absolutely loves pinkies. Nothing to clean up afterwards!!

I feed my mommy gliders the fuzzies about once a week when they have joeys ip or oop. My males don't seem to care for them.

I place them in the cage frozen. They don't seem to mind and they don't ever leave any remains behind.

I feed the fuzzies because there is more calcium in the bones.

HTH!

why you say that? ours lovem here

I find it very disturbing to feed pinkies to gliders considering bald little joeys look a whole lot like pinkies, I'm sure some gliders like them but mine will never be eating them.

I've never fed pinkies (or fuzzies). Just to clear up any misconceptions, though (before the question might arise), if you feed pinkies, your gliders won't be prone to cannibalizing their young. Gliders are very scent oriented, and definitely know the difference between their joeys and a pinkie.

I don't feed pinkies either, It does gross me out, but I imaging if they like I should try since they eat similar things in the wild. I just would not be able to clean up remains! YUCK! LOL

I understand feeding mice and pinkies to snakes and certain lizards that require them as part of a diet, but Suggies do not. I just prefer to stick to mealies, but thats just my opinion

I completely agree. yes I know that you say they are a good source of protein for preggo mothers, but it's just kinda sad, feeding a baby mouse to a glider. Have you ever watched them eat one? I'll bet that's not fun...

POOR MEECES!!

I dont have a problem giving worms cause I use them for bait but mice are different!

I couldnt do it, I opt for other proteins.

I agree. There are other ways to supplement a suggies diet. I've had pet rats and mice and they are such intelligent creatures - I couldn't imagine doing that to them.

I agree.... I would hate to see them eating one.... but they eat worse things in the wild... i guess once in a while won't hurt.

In the wild, gliders eat all sorts of things--other than bugs. They eat small birds and mammals, so offering pinkies isn't a strange source of vitamin supplementation. There are diets out there that call for day old chicks. Thier omnivorous, eating other animals comes naturally.

Watching them eat them isn't anything. They eat it whole, and there's no remnants. The pinkies are so small, it's not like they are oozing blood. Obviously, they are a bit more complex than mealies, but if you can handle stringy mealie guts, pinkies are nothing. And as mentioned, they are eaten whole, so no mess!
I actually snapped some pics a while back:
gliders and pinkies

And I'm stressing what's been mentioned--feeding pinkies will not cause your glider to cannabalize their joeys. Gliders know thier joeys from food.

mmm... my girls love their pinkies! I haven't given them any in awhile but the reptile show is coming up so I'll have to buy some more bulk.
Thanks for reminding me!
Maybe I should try a fuzzy too and see what they think of those. They eat the hair? I guess I don't know why they wouldn't.

Hmm... I've had snakes for years and have never heard of peach-fuzzies. I'll have to look into that. Thanks!

I fed mine some "Artic" mice - already frozen, grown in labs, etc. from PetsMart for an Easter treat .

They loved them - I had small fuzzies for calcium/protien and just popped them into the cage whole. 2 amoung 3 gliders - next time they will each have to have one since they fought over it.

I have raised rats in the best and, yes, they are intelligent animals. But, I've also had snakes. Animals have to eat. Chicken baby food has animals in it too (and I've had pet chickens!) Anyways - I would never feed live - frozen works fine.

Sorry, couldn't do it. But Gina, your monkeys sure do look happy eating them!

Yeah, great protein source...but still couldnt do it...I had mice as pets too and read that they scream!!! That would just break my heart! Id probably lose it.

Granted, thought, they do eat ALOT worse in the wild, but those arent my pets and I dont have to watch them! lol

For anyone who feeds pinkie or peach-fuzzy mice, a few questions:

-How many pinkies or peach-fuzzies do you offer (does each glider get his own, or do they share it)?

-Where do you get yours from?

-How often do you serve this?

-When you do offer the mice, what other supplemental foods are served on those days (veggies/fruits/vitamins, etc.)?

Thanks so much!

I give the boys their own pinkie. They aren't too happy about sharing things they like.


I buy them frozen from a reptile store near my last apartment (it's still close enough that I don't mind the occasional drive). I usually buy several and keep them frozen until serving.
I feed frozen and thaw prior to feeding. You can also just toss them in frozen or feed live--the store I mentioned offers both. I believe wormman.com sells them, and you can always ask at other pet stores.


My boys each get one once a month. It's really up to you, though, I probably wouldn't offer daily. I know those with breeding females often give them once a week. But mine seem content with their monthly treat.


I just feed them instead of the mealies for that night. They get their regular meal and vitamins along with them, it's just an added bonus.

Gina,

Thanks for clarifying! I'm starting to have a bit of a shift in my thoughts about this, and I may try it as an occassional thing. Thanks!

Thank you for those!!

I have been considering feeding pinkies or fuzzies, but was still a little leery about feeding them, but it doesnt look to horrible!

Mine aren't breeders but I feel they need the calcuim and protein, from a source other than supplements.

Don't feed live though, please! It is horrible to see a live animal being killed. Frozen is much better and no risk of injury to the glider. Frozen mice are killed by freezing - which is a relativly painless way to die - not being chewed to pieces!

(Sorry, a bit graphic, but I always killed the mice for my snakes for this reason - Mice will and do scream, even newborns. I think it is inhumane to feed live animals - I can barely tolerate mealies, but those are worms. Again - I have fed frozen fuzzies, but never live!)

isn't the calcium you sprinkle on their food enough? or the diets that they are on... that's supposed to provide them with adequate nutrtion?

courtney

I don't believe anyone offers them as a calcium supplement. If I'm not mistaken, they have an inverse Ca:P, much like mealies, though, not AS bad. I know it's been mentioned that fuzzies have a higher calcium content (fully formed bones equals more calcium), but it's still a poor ratio. Your best ratio for calcium is your adult feeder mice. But it's really no different nutrition-wise to give the occasional pinky vs. offering bugs on a regular basis.

They are a good source of protein, which is definitely needed for females with joeys to aid in milk production. But it's not the ONLY means of increasing protein. Even those that don't feed them find other sources of protein to offer--be it extra BML (if feeding this diet), extra mealies, yogurt, etc.
But all diets call for some amount of protein, so the occasional mouse is nice for a change--even in nonbreeding gliders.