New Sugar Gliders

Question
Hi,

I have a good friend who had two male sugar gliders as pets.  Unfortunately, something happened to her and I had to take the gliders unexpectedly, and I am unable to ask her for advice on their care.  I have had them about three months now.  I have looked online at many sources, but not one of those agreed on the proper diet.  I have heard that they are prone to calcium deficiency, so I have been giving them yogurt every day (which they love) along with a few bits of fruit (dried or fresh) and a handful of a protein (mealworms, grasshoppers, crickets, or unseasoned baby food mixed in with the yogurt... that's only way they'll eat it).  I have been keeping it about 2/3 yogurt and fruit, 1/3 protein.  They will not eat any veggies.  Lately I have discovered that they like nuts A LOT, and though I have heard nuts are too fatty to be given to them on a regular basis, I have started giving them a tiny amount each feeding... one or two nuts, no more.  Is this okay?  Is there anything wrong with their diet, anything I should change?  

Also, I don't have a lot of time for them, but there are two and I have heard this helps.  I try to stay with them for an hour a night when possible... since I have heard they need the social interaction... but they don't interact much.  They will eat a little out of my hands and jump around on me and let me pat them while they're eating, but mainly they just leap on and off or me and other objects in the room.  Is it enough for me to just be in the room with them out, or is there more I need to be doing to actually "interact" with them?  And a lot of the time I find myself with only 30 minutes to spend in there.  Is that enough, since there are two of them, or do I need to make more time?  Also, what if I stay in there 30 minutes, but let them stay out of the cage on their own for a bit longer?  Does that help?  

Another thing... Our air conditioner just broke and we don't have the money to fix it...  We have a fan or two, but it can get up to 85 degrees in our home, sometimes even hotter.  They seem okay... is that because they're tropical?  Or is that too hot for them?  It cools down at night, when they are awake.  They sleep in thick, warm pouches, and they have continued to do so even though it is hotter.  If they were too hot, would they sleep outside of the pouches where it is cooler?  Should I direct a fan at their cage, or just put one in the room?  I'm not sure they would appreciate the direct air flow, or would they?  

One last thing, I promise!  I have seen a lot of places saying that their nails need to be clipped once a month or so, and their nails are starting to curl under and they are getting caught on things.  However, up until I started reading through some of your answers and found your website, I hadn't seen anyone describe how to get these neurotic creatures to hold still enough for me to do so!  I tried what you suggested and even so, they just wiggle around so much I am scared I won't be able to clip the nail in the right place, and may even clip their toes or fingers off!  Do you have any suggestions to calm them down?

Sorry I am asking so many questions!!! I just want to make sure I am taking care of them properly!  Thank you *so* much for your time!

Answer
Alex.

Lots of questions!  I appreciate your concern for doing things right.

I have fed my gliders BML and fresh fruits and veggies for many years.  I suggest you at least take a look at the ingredients and provide your gliders a combination of those things throughout a week.  For example, you could feed eggs and yogurt one day and chicken and applesauce the next.  Mix honey with baby cereal and sprinkle on wheat germ, etc.  It is just easier for me to make the BML.  Be sure to supplement with calcium and vitamins.  Gliders can have serious problems from calcium deficiency.  I'm not sure yogurt is enough.  My gliders like most fresh fruits and also fresh green beans, raw yellow and green squash, carrots, and leaf spinach.  Nuts can be a problem, not just because of the fat.  Please limit nuts and corn.

When you have at least two gliders, they keep each other company.  It sounds like you are doing a fine job providing interaction.  When they are wide awake, they mainly just want to bounce around and have fun.  You are just a tree to them at that point.  They really like bonding time while they are sleeping in the pouch.  You could carry them around and slip your hand in to "cuddle" with them.

Gliders are used to a tropical climate.  Even so, I would replace the heavy pouch with a lightweight one.  They never sleep out in the open.  A light cotton pouch would be great.  It would make them feel secure, but would be airy enough to keep them cooler.  Have a fan going in the room, but not directly into the cage.

Getting nails caught on things can be very harmful to gliders.  They might even chew off their toes if they are caught badly enough.  Do the nail clipping during the day while they are sleepy.  Keep a firm grip with your left hand as I described on my website.  Don't be afraid to hold the feet.  Use two fingers of your left hand to position the foot so you can see the nails clearly.  I find that it helps to have something dark in the background so I can see the nails better.

I hope this helps.  Please keep me informed.  Good luck!

Betty