What fruits can sugar gliders eat

What Sugar Gliders Can (and Cant) Eat A Complete Guide

What do sugar gliders eat? This is a question many pet owners struggle with.

When you get a first get a sugar glider as a pet it can be very overwhelming to figure out what they can and can eat. Naturally, you start doing research and you read all kinds of stuff about which foods they can and can not eat. You eventually gather some knowledge but even still, since there are so many fruits, vegetables, and other foods in the world it can be hard to remember which foods are good for them to eat and which are best avoided.

In this post, I hope to remedy this by compiling a complete list of what sugar gliders can and can not eat. I will create an exhaustive list of all the vegetables, fruits, and other foods that are safe and not safe for sugar glider consumption.

For some foods, such as blueberries, I have also written a more detailed overview which you can read by clicking on the link. Now, lets get into it!

Make sure to give them a varied diet

Before I begin listing off the foods that sugar gliders can and cant eat I want to stress that you give them a varied diet. Just because you see that they can eat one of the fruits or vegetables that you plan on giving them does not mean that you should make this a large part of their diet.

Sugar gliders benefit from eating a large range of diverse fruits and vegetables.

In the wild, these creatures have a very complex diet and its quite difficult to replicate this in captivity. However, you have to try as best you can to do this for them to be happy and healthy.

The optimal diet for sugar gliders

Whenever you search for the optimal diet for sugar gliders youll most likely run across a lot of different and conflicting opinions and information. Some websites will tell you that you should feed your glider a diet made only of fruits and syrups, while others want you to feed them only pellets. Because of this, it can be hard to determine what your glider should eat.

To give your glider a nutritionally balanced diet, I would recommend reading the information below.

According to the North Carolina State Veterinary Hospital, the optimal diet for sugar gliders is made up of the following components:

• 60% Leadbeater mixture (read below on how to make this mixture) this mixture, once completed, will be frozen in ice cube trays. Feed them a quarter to half of a cube per day of this.
• 30% pellets Around 1 teaspoon per day
• 10% fresh fruits/vegetables and nuts 2-3 teaspoons per day
• Occasionally some live insects, such as mealworms, as a treat not too often due to the high fat content

Now, when you read Leadbeater mixture you might wonder what the heck that is and thats very understandable. I hadnt heard of it either until recently. Basically, its a mixture that was created as food for possums that have a similar diet to sugar gliders. Some modifications to this mixture have been made to make it better for sugar glider consumption.

The ingredients you need to make this mixture are these:

• a quarter of a cup of apple juice
• half a cup of honey
• a hard-boiled egg without the shell
• 4 ounces of Mixed Fruit Yogurt Gerber Juice
• 1 teaspoon of Rep-Cal Herptivite Multivitamin Supplement (Blue label)
• 2 teaspoons of Rep-Cal Calcium Supplement Non-Phosphorus with Vitamin D3 (pink label)
• 2 0.5 ounce jars of chicken baby food
• a quarter cup of wheat germ
• half a cup of dry baby cereal (oatmeal or mixed)

Instructions on how to make this mixture:

Blend the honey, egg, and apple juice in a blender until smooth. Turn off the blender and add the Gerber juiceand Rep-cal Herpivite Vitamin Supplement. Blend until smooth and then turn off blender. Add the Rep-calCalcium Supplement, the chicken baby food, wheat germ, and dry baby cereal. One last time, blend untilsmooth, and pour into ice cube trays, filling each compartment only halfway and place into the freezer.

Source

The nice thing about this mixture is that it can be frozen. This means that you dont have to make it that often you can simply make a batch of it once in a while and keep it in the freezer. Just thaw it whenever its feeding time and give it to your glider.

Overall its a very convenient and healthy food for your sugar glider.

Fruits that sugar gliders can eat

Now that weve gone over the optimal diet, and know that its good for your glider to have at least 10% fruits and vegetables in it, lets see which fruits they can eat.

The following fruits can be consumed by sugar gliders:

• Acerola
• Apples
• Apricots
• Avocado
• Bananas
• Bell Peppers
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Breadfruit
• Cantaloupe
• Carambola
• Carissa
• Casaba Melon
• Cherimoya
• Cherries
• Coconut
• Crabapples
• Cranberries
• Currant
• Custard Apples
• Dates
• Elderberries
• Figs
• Gooseberries
• Grapefruit
• Grapes
• Ground Cherries
• Guava
• Honeydew
• Jackfruit
• Java Plum
• Jujube
• Kiwi
• Kumquat
• Lemon
• Lime
• Longans
• Loquats
• Mammy Apple
• Mandarin Oranges
• Mango
• Mulberries
• Nectarine
• Oheloberries
• Oranges
• Papaya
• Passion Fruit
• Pawpaws
• Peaches
• Pears
• Persimmon
• Pineapple
• Pitanga
• Plantain
• Plums
• Pomegranate
• Prickly Pear
• Prunes
• Pummelo
• Quince
• Raisins
• Raspberries
• Rose Apple
• Roselle
• Sapodilla
• Sapote
• Soursop
• Strawberries
• Sugar Apple
• Tamarind
• Tangerine
• Watermelon

As you can see, this list is quite big. Thats because sugar gliders can eat most fruits. However, not all fruits are equal; some are better for gliders than others. The best way to ensure that your glider gets a balanced diet is to give them a large variety of these fruits rather than feeding them only one or two from this list.

Also, always make sure to wash the fruits properly before feeding; especially if theyre non-organic.

Vegetables that sugar gliders can eat

Vegetables are another important part of your gliders diet. Lets take a look at which vegetables they can safely eat:

• Alfalfa Sprouts,
• Artichoke,
• Asparagus
• Baby Carrots
• Bamboo Shoots
• Beet Greens
• Beets
• Black Eyed Peas
• Bok Choy
• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chicory Greens
• Chinese Cabbage
• Collard Greens
• Chick Peas
• Cucumber
• Dandelion Greens
• Eggplant
• Endive
• French Beans
• Ginger Root
• Green Beans
• Green Pepper
• Jicama
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Mushrooms
• Mustard Greens
• Okra
• Parsley
• Peas
• Potato
• Pumpkin
• Radish
• Sweet Red Peppers
• Rutabagas
• Snow Peas
• Okra
• Spinach
• Summer Squash
• Swiss Chard
• Tomatoes
• Turnip
• Turnip Greens
• Watercress
• Winter Squash
• Yams
• Yellow Wax Beans
• Zucchini

Again, a pretty large list. However, the same thing applies here as to the list of fruits: dont just feed them one or two of these vegetables. Make sure to mix it up to give them a well-varied diet. Also, always make sure to wash the vegetables before feeding them to your suggie.

Can sugar gliders eat nuts?

Sugar gliders go nuts for nuts, but they shouldnt eat too much of it. You can occasionally feed your glider a bit of roasted non-salted almond, but not too often. Nuts are very high in fat and you can very easily overfeed your glider when giving them nuts.

Overfeeding can lead to obese sugar gliders which leads to a whole range of health issues.

If you do give them nuts, make sure to give it to them only very sparingly as a special treat.

Can sugar gliders eat meat?

Sugar gliders eat insects in the wild, but of course, since theyre small creatures, theyre incapable of taking down and eating big animals like pigs, cows, or birds in the wild. However, you might be surprised to learn that they can in fact eat some meats in small quantities and it can even be a good source of protein for them.

Some meats and animal products that sugar gliders can eat are:

If you give your sugar glider meat make sure that its well-cooked (never raw) and that you do NOT use any seasonings or salt.

Foods to avoid giving your glider

Now that weve gone over the fruits and vegetables that are safe for your sugar glider to consume lets discuss some foods that you should absolutely NOT give to your glider. After all, knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to include.

Foods to avoid are:

• Chocolate
• Cheese (or other dairies besides yogurt)
• Processed foods such as french fries or potato chips
• Processed meats like ham, salami, etc
• Rhubarb
• Bird food
• Candy
• Lettuce (low in nutrition)
• Garlic
• Onion
• Spices
• Raw Lima Beans
• Bread
• Canned fruits and vegetables (too high in preservatives)

Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive. There may very well be other foods that you should not feed your glider. Always do research to find out if something you want to feed your glider is safe for them to consume.

Calcium Phosphorus ratio for gliders

While there are many different opinions on the best diet for sugar gliders one thing that owners can agree on is that they need a diet that has a good calcium to phosphorus ratio.

The proper ratio is between 1 and 2 times more calcium than phosphorus, or in other words: a ratio of 1-2:1. This is important because if they do not have the proper ratio they can have problems like hind leg paralysis, definitely something youll want to avoid.

A good resource where you can find the calcium to phosphorus ratio for many common fruits and vegetables can be found here.

However, it should be noted that just because a fruit or vegetable does not have the ideal calcium to phosphorus ratio does not mean that they can not eat it. As long as their complete diet falls within the right ratio its fine for them to eat some fruits and vegetables that fall outside this ratio.

Final words

Sugar gliders are difficult to feed; their natural diet is hard to replicate in captivity but with the right preparation and research you can give them a diet thatll allow them to thrive. Make sure to always do your research before you feed them so that you dont accidentally feed them the wrong foods.

Overall, the best way to feed them is by giving them a diet that consists of the Leadbeater mixture Ive described, pellets, fruits, vegetables, and small amounts of nuts/insects as treats.

Also, make sure to keep the calcium to phosphorus ratio in mind to avoid the problems that can arise from a lack of calcium.

Safe Fruits & Vegetables

Sugar Gliders in the wild are opportunistic omnivores. They eat primarily vegetables, nectar from tree saps, insects, and some fruits. As their primary care taker, it is important that you feed your gliders a well-balanced diet consisting of all the nutrients they need! It's always good to rotate your fruits & veggies with each batch to make sure and give them a variety of vitamins.

A diet too high in phosphorous will lead to intestinal problems and calcium deficiency. Low calcium levels will cause your glider to get very sick, eventually having partial or total paralysis, and inevitably an early death. Always be sure to sprinkleThe Pet Glider's Multi-Vitaminwith Calcium before serving your gliders their regular meal!

Below is a list of safe fruits and vegetables that you may feed your sugar gliders. The ones highlighted are the foods that we feed our sugar gliders at TPG. Always feed fresh or frozen, never canned!

Foods to avoid:

Garlic, Onions, Chocolates of any kind, Rhubarb, bread, dog/cat food, beef, cottage cheese.

What Vegetables Can Sugar Gliders Eat? (Plus What to Avoid)

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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.

Sugar gliders are some of the most unique pets out there. If you get one of these adorable pets with giant eyes, youll be the talk of the town!

However, one of the downsides of having exotic pets is that it is harder to find information about taking care of that animal (or even veterinarians that can help you out if there is an issue). You dont want to accidentally make your sugar glider sick by keeping it in the wrong habitat or feeding it the wrong food.

A captive sugar gliders diet is going to look a bit different from its wild cousins. Your domesticated sugar glider will probably eat a lot of vegetables.

Which vegetables are safe for sugar gliders to eat, and which ones should you keep at home? Here is a rule of thumb for preparing salad for your flying friend.

Safe Vegetables for Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders can eat most vegetables that humans do. When preparing your sugar gliders meal plan, be sure to create a precise balance of nutrients.

Sugar gliders need certain vitamins and minerals more than humans do. Here is a guide to the vegetables your sugar glider can eat based on nutritional value.

High-Calcium Vegetables

One of the most important nutrients for sugar gliders is calcium. Calcium is important for building strong bones. One of the most common health problems for sugar gliders is metabolic bone disease, which is most common in younger animals that dont eat a balanced diet.

It doesnt help that many vegetables are high in phosphorus, which leaches calcium out of the system. To keep your sugar glider healthy, be sure to feed it many vegetables that are high in calcium.

Leafy greens are some of the best sources of calcium for sugar gliders and for humans. Usually, the darker the green, the higher it is in calcium. Some of the best vegetables for sugar gliders are spinach, kale, and bitter greens such as mustard greens.

Other calcium-heavy vegetables include cabbage, green beans, and okra. You can also serve broccoli but in moderation. These vegetables should make up the bulk of your sugar gliders diet.

Sweet Vegetables

Most of us humans are not used to thinking of vegetables as sweet because were spoiled by the selection of chocolate and artificially flavored desserts available to us. However, to a sugar glider, the natural sweetness of vegetables is the equivalent of candy to a kid.

Your sugar glider will love having a few pieces of sweet potato to chew on during mealtimes. Sweet potato is naturally sweet but does not contain any harmful chemicals for the sugar glider.

Another sweet vegetable that sugar gliders love is the humble carrot. These roots have a delicate natural sweetness and the animals like crunching on them.

Sweeter root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots are perfectly safe for sugar gliders. However, if you feed your glider too many sweet vegetables, you will spoil its appetite for other veggies and it may miss out on valuable nutrients, especially calcium. Try to keep sweeter vegetables to a minimum or only give them to your glider as treats.

Other Vegetables

Sugar gliders can eat most vegetables, giving you plenty of options if you want to switch up your pets diet so it doesnt get bored, or you cant find the exact vegetable that you wanted to buy at the grocery store.

Crunchy green vegetables such as peas, string beans, and green beans will be a hit with your sugar glider.

You can rotate out vegetables seasonally for your pet. Do you like chowing down on bountiful summer vegetables from the farmers market? So will your sugar glider if you share juicy summer tomatoes and late August corn with it. In the fall, chop up some squash to serve as a treat.

Your sugar glider probably doesnt care about the aesthetics of its meal as long as it gets fed on time, but if you feel like being creative, you can add pops of color to its vegetable plate. Serve up chunks of colorful bell pepper, cooked beets, cooked eggplant, or even cooked pumpkin.

How to Serve Vegetables to Your Sugar Glider

Now that you know which vegetables are safe for sugar gliders, how can you serve them to your little pet?

Sugar gliders are fine with fresh or frozen vegetables, just let the frozen vegetables thaw before giving it to your pet. Avoid canned or preserved vegetables because they have added sugars and other materials that are harmful to sugar gliders.

Some people wonder if they have to buy organic vegetables for their pets. You can if you want to, but the price of organic vegetables will add up, even when youre feeding an animal as small as a sugar glider! Just be sure to thoroughly wash the vegetables before feeding it to your sugar glider to get rid of any pesticides and you should be fine.

Before serving any vegetables to your sugar glider, fresh or frozen, chop them up into small pieces. These small animals dont have very powerful jaws and you dont want your poor sugar glider to be stuck in front of a meal it cant eat.

How Often Can Sugar Gliders Eat Vegetables?

Most pet guides recommend feeding sugar gliders twice a day, once in the early morning and once in the evening, to replicate their natural circadian rhythms. They can eat vegetables dailymost pet guides recommend serving the vegetables at night.

When you give your sugar gliders their daily serving of vegetables, be sure to take away any leftovers the next day and give them a fresh serving. Sugar gliders dont operate like human children where you make them eat their leftovers, so they learn their lesson. Rotting food in their habitat could make them sick and definitely will make for an unpleasant living environment for you.

How Much Vegetables Can Sugar Gliders Eat?

Sugar gliders are tiny animals so they dont eat a lot of vegetableswhich will save you money on your grocery bills! Most guides recommend feeding your glider two tablespoons of vegetables per day, or one tablespoon of vegetables and one tablespoon of fruits.

Of course, thats not the only thing your glider will eateven a tiny animal such as a sugar glider will starve on such little food. You should supplement its diet with protein or a dedicated sugar glider pet food such as HPW.

What Vegetables Should Sugar Gliders Avoid?

Sugar gliders can eat most vegetables, meaning that when you make yourself a salad its easy enough to make a smaller one for your pet. However, there are a few plants that are perfectly safe for humans but could make your sugar glider quite ill.

Sugar gliders cannot eat any alliums. Alliums is a family of aromatic vegetables that includes onions and garlic. In fact, onions and garlic are dangerous for almost all pets because the plants contain toxic substances that hurt pets such as cats, dogs, and sugar gliders.

Sugar gliders should never eat rhubarb either. Although rhubarb is technically not a vegetable, many people confuse it for one, so dont accidentally give it to your glider. The plant contains oxalates that could be dangerous for your sugar glider.

You also shouldnt give your sugar glider raw lima beans. If you want to serve your pet something from the bean family, opt for green beans or peas instead.

There are some vegetables that are not necessarily harmful to sugar gliders, but dont offer much benefit either. Iceberg lettuce has little to no nutritional value, so cut up a leafy green with calcium for your sugar glider instead. Your glider also shouldnt have too many vegetables that are high in phosphorus, including broccoli.

What Do Sugar Gliders Eat in the Wild?

The diet of a sugar glider hanging out in your home will be very different from its wild cousins.

In the Australian bush, which is their native habitat, sugar gliders primarily eat insects, nectar, pollen, and sap from eucalyptus and acacia trees. While you can replicate this diet for your sugar glider somewhat, for example by feeding it captive insects, a perfect reproduction is impossible.

Thats why sugar gliders in captivity eat primarily prepared pellets and other pet foods designed to give them the same nutrients as their wild diet, along with supplemental fruits and vegetables.

Sugar Gliders and Vegetables

Sugar gliders need a few tablespoons of vegetables daily to supplement their diet of prepared pet food. Luckily, these omnivorous creatures have wide-ranging tastes even when it comes to vegetables and will eat almost any vegetables.

Serve them crunchy produce such as beet tops, seasonal delights such as squash, and even some colorful cooked produce such as eggplant.

When putting together a vegetable plate for your sugar glider, just make sure that you have plenty of vegetables that are high in calcium and only a few sweet ones such as carrots to avoid the sugar glider equivalent of gorging on junk food.

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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