Message:

Subject: Re: calcium problems
Posted by Jo on February 24, 1999 at 19:36:03:

In Reply to: calcium problems posted by CandiMI on February 24, 1999 at 16:25:01:

First thing I would do would be to get rid of the cat food. It causes digestion prblems in gliders. Then I would increase the amount of protien, making sure that they get a minimum of 25% in their diet. Add things like ground beef, turkey, tunafish, chicken, mac & Chesse (surprisingly)and pasta. They all are high in protien. Think of things that you eat. A breeding female will take upto as much as 50% protiens in her diet. So you can range protien to there. Much controversy has been talked about on protien amounts. Some suggest 25% - 33% - 50%, but if you look at their diet in the wild they eat alot of bugs sap and nector. Romeo recovered from white muscle disease by making sure he got enough calcium plus he was on 100% protien for three days. He is doing wonderfully. Too much calcium can be just as harmful, causing seizures and death too. I give my gliders extra by way of critter cookies. If you are feeding them well balanced diet suppliments shouldn't be needed because fruits and vegs contain Calcium and vitamin E. But like us, we want to make sure they have all the essential nutrients that they need. I would say if they are eatting hard-boiled eggs with the shells they need the calcium. (Eggs have protein too). I feel that gliders will look for nutrients in there diet. I saw this first hand with my own and also have talked about it with others. Try three different protien foods and give them that as a variety one day every 4 days. That way you will be sure they are getting the needed protiens. (25%min total diet). I also give mine mealworms every now and then and the cookies have protien too. They are probably getting closer to the 33% protiens that way.
Hope this helps....

JO

: My question is about the calcuim in my gliders diet, I'm worried they aren't getting enough of it ( also my one female had twins before I got her and lost both, read this might be a lack of protein/calcium problem so I want to be extra sure this doesn't happen again )They get a large variety of fruits and vegies ( fresh and frozen ) a nite, plus always have a bowl of lowfat high quality cat food ( rarely touched though ), They also get mealworms and cooked chicken, love both.. so I know they are getting their protein, but I'm having problems getting them to eat yogurt ( plain with fresh fruit added or fruited varieties ), or cottage cheese <~~~ will eat alittle of this sometimes, I try to act "slick" and mix in some apple sauce but doesn't help much. I purchased repcal with vitd in it, but my one female wont touch anything I've sprinkled it on, not even a meal worm ( she usually TEARS into them ) I'm worried about her calcium especially since she had a baby right before I purchased them. Does anyone have any other ideas on what I could try giving her, she will eat hardboiled eggs with the shell on them, but I dont want to give this too often and I dont think shes getting all that much calcuim from the shell... and they all seemed to hate the Leadbeaters mix ( maybe she tasted the repcal in this also? )I read a post on here where someone said Soy milk, anyone else have luck with this before I try go out and get some? Any ideas appreciated!

: thanks
: Candi and the critter crew ( Sassy,Bumble, and Max )

Follow Ups: