glider formula

Question
  Okay, the pouch situation sounds fine. Mama will let the joeys come out in the fleece pouch.  They won't fall out of it.  Do they sleep in the tents?  You might want to take the tents out.  If the joeys are left there, they may fall out.  


You will be amazed when you first see tiny hands, feet, or tails popping out from the pouch.  It is sooo cute!  It's okay to touch the babies right away, but don't take them away from mama.  When they are old enough to be left alone, then you can hold them for a while.

Please substitute BML for the pellets.  The vitamins and calcium are essential, along with the other ingredients.  Actually, save the pellets to use if you ever need to be gone for a couple of days.  Hard pellets are not good for their teeth and gums, plus, I am not sure of the nutritional content.  My recipe for BML is also on the website.  You will see that it is extremely nutritious.  My sons are quite right when they tell me that the gliders eat better than they did when they were kids!  The formula I was talking about is just human baby formula.  Or, you can get baby cereal with formula added right in.  I don't know if the formula is needed, but it can't hurt. Just sprinkle a bit of it on the food, or mix some in with the BML (maybe a teaspoon).  When you run out of the dry pellets, please order Zookeepers Secret (Zupreme) from sugar-gliders.com.  This food is soft, like Tender Vittles.

Tuna isn't really good for gliders.  Check the can.  I think it has salt and other stuff.  Maybe if you soaked it in water to get the salt out....  A tiny taste or two won't kill them; I am not a fanatic about these things.  They love Thanksgiving dinner!  Turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.  

I hope this helps.  Keep in touch.

Betty
   



no, they never sleep in the tents... always the pouch but i will take them out just to be safe.


the food is sunseed brand  sugar glider formula. it's soft (crumbles easily in my fingers) and is the only thing pet smart even carries for gliders. I suppose I was tecnically incorrect when I said pellets,
link below:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=16629


that stuff ok?

Answer
Callie,

The ingredient list sounds like it is a pelleted vitamin pill or some kind of hiking meal or space food.  I'm sure it is fine for a supplement, or for days when fresh foods aren't available. I would not count on it for the glider's "main dish."  They really enjoy eating BML.  Even though the Sunseed product crumbles, it is still dry and will get up under the gums and be an irritant. I would at least moisten the pellets with some juice before serving.  Here's the BML recipe with my notes in parentheses.  You can either mix up a batch as written or serve the individual ingredients in their food dish.


The Basic BML Mixture

1/2 cup Honey, do not use honeycomb, raw or unfiltered honey, Most store bought Honey is the one to use unless it uses one of the three words above

1 Egg, boiled or scrambled (I Microwave Mine)
The shell is OPTIONAL, if your blender does NOT break the shell down into miniscule pieces do not use it. (I break the egg shell into pieces before putting it into the blender.)

1/4 cup of Apple Juice, just the good ole apple juice that you and I would drink, Not frozen, not baby juice, just regular bottle apple juice. (I vary the kind of juice, sometimes orange, sometimes cranberry, etc.)

1 4oz bottle PREMIXED Gerber juice with yogurt
For those that can not find this, you may substitute 2 oz of plain yogurt and 2 oz of mixed fruit juice (I use Nouriche smoothie)

Blend well, Turn off blender, add the next group of ingredients.
1 Teaspoon of Rep-Cal HERPTIVITE vitamin supplement.
Blue label on a white plastic container, DO NOT SUBSTITUTE this supplement.
(from pet store, or online)

2 teaspoons Rep-Cal Calcium Supplement non-phosphorus with Vit. D3. Pink label on a white plastic container (from pet store, or online)

2  2 1/2 oz jar of baby food chicken  
The chicken will say either Chicken with Chicken Gravy or Chicken with Chicken Broth. (you can substitute boiled chicken)

Blend well again, Turn off Blender, add next group of ingredients.
Note:  If you are doubling the recipe, pour blended mixture into large bowl and stir in the next group of ingredients.   

1/4 cup Wheat Germ

1/2 cup dry baby cereal. (Mixed or Oatmeal)


Blend well , turn off blender, pour into freezer container, or ice cube trays and FREEZE, 1 cube in ice cube tray is approx. 2 tablespoons (I pour into small paper or plastic disposable cups). It will freeze to the consistency of ice cream.

Betty