Message:

Subject: Re: Herpeton Bonding
Posted by Tara on May 01, 1998 at 14:28:55:

In Reply to: Re: Herpeton Bonding posted by Clara on May 01, 1998 at 00:18:17:

Clara,

I read your page on feeding of gliders and thought I would share
with you what I have learned from my vet. I recently took my
boy in because he had lost a patch of hair from the back of his head.
She told me that it was probably stress related or nutrition related.
I told her that I fed him fruits and veggies and a little chicken each night.
I was also giving him seeds as treats, plus giving him rep cal each week as
a supplement. She told me of a colleague who studied in Australia for a year,
and found that the gliders diet in the wild is more of that if an insectivore/carnivore.
This is from the article I was given: "the natural diet includes the "sugary sap or gum" of
the eucalyptus. the name 'sugar' doesn't relate to 'sugar as in fruit' although they may like those foods.
It also does not rely on nuts, grains, or seeds despite the books published by breeders
and much info on the net. In the wild, foliage is not a major food item. The insects are high
in protein, and plant exudate is high in sugar content...Honey and fruit may be partial substitutes for (excess sugar)
in captivity."
I was recommended a variation of the Chicago Zoological Park diet that includes foods appropriate
for insectivores/carnivores of at least 50% especially if active breeders, along with fruit sugar source.
So, I give him some fruit (less than before, same with veggies), a serving of Leadbeaters mix, and mealworms.
Since I changed the diet, which was a little over a week ago,
his hair has started coming back, his stool is not as loose, his cage doesn't smell as bad, and he's more active.
As for the stress part, I'm looking for a friend for him, but haven't found one yet.
I'm not writing this to say that you are wrong in your feeding suggestions/guidelines. So, please don't be
offended by me! I love my boy (Yoda), and just want to get to know others with gliders
so we can exchange information and maybe clear stuff up that may/may not be wrong out there on the web.
I have perused your page before and found it informative. The stuff that I quoted above was not exactly quoted,
but a little paraphrased for space/ and copywrite paranoia (that's from being a college student!).
I just wanted to share what I have learned and hope I didn't offend you or anyone else reading this!
Tara

Follow Ups:

• Re:Gliders natural diet Betsycc 18:51:30 5/05/98 (0)