Sugar Glider Portal

Sugar glider diets can be simple and intuitive or incredibly complex, depending on what is your source of information! Here are some common sugar glider diet myths that you need to steer clear of to really understand these lovely animals.

Myth-1: The name "sugar" glider suggests they should be fed a lot of sugar
Truth: Oh no! The sugar part of a sugar glider does indeed come from a preference that sugar gliders have for things that are sweet. However, so does your 2 year old nephew. Foods that are sweet should always be had in moderation. In the wild this isn't a problem - a sugar glider cannot get a supply of "treats" in the wild anyway. They are naturally omnivorous.

The biggest problem is, what appears to be a small quantity for us can be a whole meal for your little pet. Thus, always measure sugary diets by a proportion of the total meal. Never assume small for you is small for your pet too. Too much sugar in sugar glider diet is very unhealthy for the animal.

Myth-2: Diet is fine, but bonding is more important.
Truth: Sugar glider diet is the foremost prerequisite for bonding. You can only bond with your sugar glider when it is healthy and active. Improper sugar glider diets can lead to lethargy, obesity or even premature death. Yes, bonding is extremely important as a pet owner but that needs to be preceded by a healthy and balanced diet.

Myth-3: Sugar gliders are carnivores
Truth: Before you decide to take your shotgun out to hunt for your little pet, you should know that sugar gliders are omnivores. Insects for an especially important part of a sugar glider's diet in the wild. Insects can be a source of high protein. They also enjoy plant sap, manna and honey, so they are not strictly carnivores. They have a variety of dietary options even in the wild.

Myth-4: I'll make a perfect sugar glider diet and stick with it.
Truth: This is very unhealthy for your pet. Any pet for that matter. Nutritional enrichment for sugar gliders is very important and you should know this as a pet owner. I am sure you would never want to eat spinach everyday for the rest of your life, would you? This is so even if you know that spinach is really healthy. The same is true for your pet as well. You cannot be obsessed with healthy diets for your sugar glider. Variety is important for a balanced and healthy sugar glider diet.

Myth-5: All fruits are the same for my sugar glider.
Truth: Not really. Most fruits and vegetables are good for us, but they can have different effects on your sugar glider. Consider this simple example: carrot vs. corn. Your sugar glider will probably love both. However, carrots have a good amount of Vitamin-A and are good for your pet but corn can have a high ratio of phosphorus that makes your pet more disease prone and is not considered very healthy in general. Avoid such foods from your sugar glider diet.

Myth-6: Supplements are bad.
Truth: Not really. Your sugar glider will seldom get adequate amounts of all vitamins and minerals from a diet, irrespective of how carefully you plan it. Thus, some supplements become an integral part of a sugar glider diet and should be so. The most common supplements for a sugar glider are calcium and vitamin supplements. These can be given daily along with the regular diet. Do not mix them in water though.