Are blueberries OK for sugar gliders
What Fruits Can Sugar Gliders Eat? (The Best and Worst Options)
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The purpose of this blog is to share general information and is written to the author's best knowledge. It is not intended to be used in place of veterinary advice. For health concerns, please seek proper veterinary care. In addition, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Have you recently purchased a pet sugar glider? Youre likely having fun with your new pet since these animals can be very interesting.
You want to do your best to care for your new pet so it can thrive. This means feeding the pet properly and ensuring that it gets good nutrition.
Its common for people to give sugar gliders pieces of fruit as snacks. What fruits can sugar gliders safely eat?
Keep reading to learn about sugar gliders and what types of fruit they can consume. Itll help you to give your sugar glider only fruits that are known to be safe.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Oranges?
Oranges are considered to be good snacks for sugar gliders. These pets seem to love it when their owners feed them oranges.
You should cut oranges into slices and give them to sugar gliders that way. Its also fine to give them orange peels to eat, but this should be done in moderation.
Too many orange peels can be bad for sugar gliders. Its also imperative to avoid giving sugar gliders orange seeds.
Simply be careful to prepare things properly. Youll have a good experience feeding oranges to your pet sugar glider.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Grapes?
Grapes are another very common type of fruit that youll see sugar gliders eating. Its good to give grapes to your sugar gliders so long as you dont give them too much.
Like other types of fruit, grapes will be good snacks for sugar gliders. Simply ensure that youre giving the animals these fruits in moderation.
Its convenient to give grapes to your sugar gliders because theyre easy to eat. Sugar gliders will love these and theyll likely become a regular snack.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Blueberries?
Blueberries should be fine for sugar gliders to eat. Before giving blueberries to your pet, its important to wash them thoroughly.
Sugar gliders seem to love blueberries quite a bit. They will happily eat these fruits when you offer them to them.
Just try not to give the sugar glider blueberries too often. You dont want your pet to become overweight.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Pumpkins?
Its okay to give sugar gliders pumpkins, but you need to be careful. When sugar gliders eat too much pumpkin, its easy for them to have issues with loose stools.
So long as you exercise moderation everything will be okay. These pets can eat both pumpkin and pumpkin seeds.
Sugar gliders love eating pumpkins and getting through the shell seems to be satisfying for them. Just dont give your sugar gliders pumpkins too often.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Kiwi?
Kiwis are another type of fruit that these pets love to eat. Before giving them kiwis, its important to remove the skin.
Take the time to remove the skin from the kiwi and your sugar glider will be able to enjoy it. Your sugar glider will likely be very happy with the treat.
Dont give them kiwis all the time. Whenever your sugar glider eats kiwis, it should be in small amounts.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Peaches?
Peaches will be fine to give to sugar gliders, However, you have to cut the peach into slices.
You cant give the whole peach to a sugar glider because it might try to eat the pit. The pit is bad for the sugar glider.
As always, be sure not to give an abundance of peach slices to the sugar glider. Giving them peach slices as an occasional snack is acceptable.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Cherries?
Cherries are okay for sugar gliders so long as you remove the pit and the stem. Youll need to give them just the cherry itself.
Sugar gliders do love eating cherries. Itll be a snack that your pet will look forward to.
Dont give the sugar gliders too many cherries at once. So long as youre giving your pet small amounts of cherries this should work out okay.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Cucumbers?
Cucumbers are a good occasional treat for sugar gliders. Its pretty normal for owners to give cucumbers to their pets.
Its easy because sugar gliders can eat the cucumber, the skin, and the seeds without it being a problem. You simply need to wash the cucumber thoroughly before giving it to your pet.
This can be a semi-regular treat for your sugar glider. It might be one of the more convenient options that you have.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Bananas?
Sugar gliders absolutely adore bananas and will happily eat them as snacks. You need to remove the peel and give them just the banana, though.
Its also common for people to give these pets banana chips. Sugar gliders love banana chips, but it has such a high sugar concentration that you cant give it to your pet more than once per month.
You can feed a standard banana to your sugar glider once per week if you want to. Your pet will really love it.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Pineapples?
Pineapple is another acceptable type of fruit to give to sugar gliders. Of course, you need to prepare the pineapple so the sugar glider can eat it safely.
You must remove the rind and the stem first. Once this has been done, your sugar glider can enjoy eating the pineapple.
Do your best to only give small amounts of pineapple to your pet. You dont want to give them pineapples as treats too often either.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Tomatoes?
Its said that all types of tomatoes are safe for sugar gliders to eat. Cherry tomatoes are among the most popular options to give to sugar gliders.
Be sure to choose tomatoes that havent been exposed to pesticides. Give them to your sugar gliders in moderation.
Overall, tomatoes are a good type of fruit to give to sugar gliders. Theyre not expensive and its easy to wash them before feeding them to your pets.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Apples?
Apples are supposed to be good treats for sugar gliders. You should always wash the apple and remove the skin first, though.
Its also important to remove the stem and get rid of any seeds. As long as you do this, your sugar glider will love the apples.
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Strawberries?
No, strawberries are not good for sugar gliders. These fruits are delectable to humans, but they shouldnt be given to sugar gliders.
Under no circumstances should you feed strawberries to your sugar glider. Doing so could be potentially harmful.
Always be careful to check new types of fruit to see if theyre safe for sugar gliders. Failure to do so could lead to health issues.
How Often Can Sugar Gliders Eat Fruit?
Its fine to feed your sugar gliders fruit on a daily basis. However, fruit isnt the only thing you should give to them.
Typically, youre going to feed these pets both fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Change the fruits that you give the sugar glider each day to ensure that it gets a mixture of different nutrients.
Some people choose to feed sugar gliders protein cubes as well. The diet should consist of healthy fruits, veggies, and protein.
How Much Fruit Can Sugar Gliders Eat?
Make sure not to give your sugar gliders too much fruit on a daily basis. You want to give them about one tablespoon of fruit per day.
Giving your pet more than this could be detrimental. Sugar gliders will struggle if they eat too much and become overweight.
One tablespoon of fruits and one tablespoon of veggies should be good for your pet. Serve this to your sugar glider on a nightly basis.
What Fruits Should Sugar Gliders Avoid?
There are many types of fruits that sugar gliders should avoid. As mentioned earlier, strawberries arent good for sugar gliders.
There are other types of berries that should be avoided as well. You should never give sugar gliders blackberries or raspberries.
Other fruits that need to be avoided include figs and pears. You should also know that any type of fruit can be bad for sugar gliders if it has been treated with pesticides.
Therefore, its likely safer to buy organic fruits that havent been treated with any pesticides. When you care about the safety of your pet, its best to take precautions.
Final Thoughts
Youve learned a lot about sugar gliders and what types of fruit they like. There are so many different types of fruit that you can give to these animals.
Fruit will be a standard part of your sugar gliders diet. Itll eat fruits such as bananas, grapes, and cucumbers fairly often.
Simply remember to give fruit to sugar gliders in moderation. Its said that you should give a sugar glider one tablespoon of fruit each night.
Change things up and give the sugar glider different types of fruit. Ensure that you keep it as happy and healthy as possible.
Avoid giving sugar gliders figs and pears. They also cant eat blackberries, raspberries, or strawberries.
Keep all of this in mind and you shouldnt have trouble caring for sugar gliders. Youll have a good experience and your sugar gliders will be happy to be under your care.
I have a bachelors degree in construction engineering. When Im not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, Im at home with my wife, two daughters and a dog. Outside of family, I love grilling and barbequing on my Big Green Egg and working on projects around the house. Growing up, I had pet dogs, cats, deer, sugar gliders, chinchillas, a bird, chickens, fish, and a goat.
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Can Sugar Gliders Eat Blueberries? Is This Fruit Safe or Not?
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Can sugar gliders eat blueberries? Thats a common question most sugar glider owners will have asked themselves.
Many people consider blueberries a superfood. They have many nutrients, from vitamins to calcium and other nutrients.
But would fresh blueberries be a superfood to gliders as well? Would your furry friends take to highly beneficial succulent fruits, or would the fruit be harmful?
What sugar glider eat is a question that we will answer on this article, so read on.
Those are the questions this article will answer, so read on.
Check: Sugar Glider Yogurt Drops and Other Healthy Treats
Can Sugar Gliders Have Blueberries?
Most glider owners want to know the best meals for them. Youre likely to have heard some owners wondering what their pets can or cant eat.
Can sugar gliders eat fresh pineapple? Are blueberries good for sugar gliders? What of mangoes?
If you own one, there must be a time youve had such questions. So, can sugar gliders eat blueberries? Yes, they can.
Sugar gliders are famous for having a sweet tooth- the sweet tooth gives them their name. Blueberries are quite sweet, which makes them such a treat.
Besides being sweet, blueberries pack a lot of health benefits (2). They contain high levels of fiber, antioxidants, and flavonoids.
Jo Lewin (1), a registered nutritionist, says blueberries are extraordinarily rich in phytochemicals.
So, if you want a healthy diet for your glider, then blueberries should be your go-to fruit for fruit sugars.
You can add some yogurt before giving the fruit to your pet. Yogurt and greens can also form part of the ideal tpg diet for sugar gliders. You didnt think only toddlers love yogurt, did you?
Although plain yogurt is also a good enough accompaniment, its also better to get some Greek yogurt.
We have established gliders can eat the blue fruit. But do they like eating blueberries? Will they willingly eat the blueberries, or will you have to force them?
Heres a video of a sugar glider eating blueberries
Do Sugar Gliders Like Eating Blueberries?
It is one thing being able to eat something and another to enjoy eating it. I see it with humans all the time.
While children can and should eat vegetables, I see how hard my sister has to struggle to convince her toddlers to try some veggies.
It is the same with your sugar babies. Some will love eating the blueberries, and some wont. That doesnt mean the blueberries or the pet have a problem.
If your pet doesnt want to eat blueberries, dont force it. Try something else instead. Sugar gliders, like humans, also need time to get used to different food.
So, if, at first, your sugar glider appears not to enjoy eating blueberries, give them time. But then the sugar content in the blueberries is often enough to have your omnivore pet scrambling for them.
RELATED ARTICLE: Can Sugar Gliders Eat Fresh Pineapple?
Are Blueberries Toxic for Sugar Gliders?
Blueberries in their natural state arent toxic for gliders. But if the blueberries contain even a trace of pesticides or other chemicals, they will be toxic for them.
Captive sugar gliders have sensitive digestive systems, unlike wild sugar gliders. Even the tiniest chemicals could be harmful to your sugar baby.
Thoroughly clean the blueberries before giving them to your pet sugar glider. Washing under running water for a few minutes should be enough.
Also, no need for warm water since cold water will do just fine. Beware of chlorine in tap water, though. It is also a chemical and might cause problems.
A better option is only to feed them organic blueberries. But then, that isnt possible for most people. Organically grown blueberries arent cheap and can be hard to come by.
Therefore, blueberries are an entirely safe option for a sugar glider diet. They will raise their calcium levels, a component of healthy food for gliders.
But if they contain any chemicals, that makes them toxic.
Can Baby Sugar Gliders Eat Blueberries?
Yes, baby sugar gliders can eat blueberries. Of course, that will depend on the age of the joey. Fruits will already be a part of its diet if it has already been weaned.
The important thing is to ensure you offer the blueberries in moderation. Include some dairy products, oranges, or fresh vegetables if you can.
Like with baby human food, you need to get a perfect balance for all the nutrients. Occasional treats of blueberries will also boost the pets calcium to phosphorus ratio as this video says.
What About the Frozen Blueberries?
Frozen blueberries are okay to give to your glider. However, you need to ensure you defrost them firstthe same thing for other fruits. Dry blueberries are also okay, even if a bit low in water content.
What you cant give to your pet glider is canned or processed fruit. Such fruits have artificial sugar thats harmful to them.
The same applies to other foods. If youre feeding them leafy vegetables or meat, use only fresh or frozen foods. Gliders arent fussy animals and will love the healthy treats.
Of course, sometimes theyll need a special treat. But since they are your babies you wont begrudge them that, will you?
ALSO CHECK: Can Sugar Gliders Have Grapes?
Blueberries For Sugar Gliders: Things to Consider
Although it is okay to feed your glider blueberries, there are some things you need to consider.
How Often Can Sugar Gliders Eat Blueberries?
Gliders, like children, can eat fruits all the time if you dont control their intake. Toddlers dont mind having ice cream for supper. But then, a balanced diet for your pet shouldnt hinge too much on one food type.
That can lead to health issues because of a lack of all the required nutrients. Therefore, you need to strike the perfect balance with each meal. (4)
I know you love your sugar babies but you shouldnt let them eat blueberries all the time. Yes, you can feed them blueberries every day, but only if you carefully manage the rations.
Mix up with other fruits to ensure they get all the variety of nutrients they need. Blueberries dont carry all the nutrients gliders need for all their sweetness. For instance, they dont have sodium (3).
Although gliders need relatively small amounts of sodium, a blueberry-exclusive diet will deny them the little sodium they need.
Thats why your furry friend needs a variety of fruits besides blueberries. The best way to do this is to monitor the effect of blueberries on the nutrient ratio and adjust accordingly.
How Much Can Sugar Gliders Eat Blueberries?
Gliders being small animals, dont eat that much. So, you wont need too many blueberries to feed one.
A tablespoon of the fruit with another tablespoon of vegetables should be enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can sugar gliders eat fruit every day?
Yes, they can. But you need to mix the fruits with other foods like vegetables, worms, or insects for protein.
Can sugar gliders eat just fruit?
Yes, they can. But that wont be a balanced diet. Even if some fruits are excellent sources of protein, your pets only need them in moderation. Thats why its best to have a variety of foods to give them.
Conclusion
Can sugar gliders eat blueberries? The answer is an emphatic yes. You can give them blueberries so long as you balance them with other fruits and foods.
If you were considering feeding your glider blueberries, go right ahead! It will love them!
Have you tried feeding your sugar glider some blueberries? Let us know how it went down in the comment section!
Resources
- 1. Lewin J. The health benefits of blueberries [Internet]. BBC Good Food. 2021. Available from: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/health-benefits-blueberries
- 2. Ware M. Blueberries: Health benefits, facts, and research [Internet]. www.medicalnewstoday.com. 2017. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287710
- 3. Food and Diet SUGAR GLIDER INFORMATION [Internet]. nhsugargliders.com. [cited 2022 Apr 14]. Available from: http://nhsugargliders.com/estore/glider-information/food-and-diet.html#:~:text=Good%20fruits%20include%20apple%2C%20strawberries
- 4. Dierenfeld E. (PDF) Feeding Behavior and Nutrition of the Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) [Internet]. ResearchGate. 2009. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/24253523_Feeding_Behavior_and_Nutrition_of_the_Sugar_Glider_Petaurus_breviceps
Alina Hartley
Alina Hartley is a small-town girl with a ginormous love of bearded dragons. It all started with Winchester, a baby bearded who was abandoned at the shelter by his former owners because of a birth defect that caused one front leg to be shorter than the other. Alina originally went to the shelter looking for a guinea pig, but one look at Winchester and it was love at first sight. From that day on, Alina has dedicated her life to learning everything she can about bearded dragons. She loves helping new beardie parents start their incredible journey with these magnificent reptiles.Follow her on:LINKEDINTWITTER.Read her latest articles HERELearn more about her HERE.
