 | Posted by: | Dan Buck, dbuck@ksdk.gannett.com | | Subject: | New Pet... Help! | | When: | 5:22 PM, 22 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 199.217.207.34 |
I've recently recieved a "pregnant" sugar glider (2 peanuts in her tummy) from a lady who knew litttle about them. (She got her as a gift.) Needless to say, I'm a bit lost. I've read the diet suggestions and they say don't change her diet from the previous owner, but that diet seems entirely inadequate. (Basically she had it living on peanuts, sunflower seeds and occasional yogurt.)
One thing I can't find in the "diet" literature is how much do you give. I know, 33% proteins and 67% fruits and veggies. But how much. A friend has recommended a Hartz Exotic Bird mixture (sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, a granulated vegetable (soy) mix, and dried peas.)
What fresh fruits do you recommend and again, how much and how often.
Help! Any suggestions, advice and basic survival technics greatly appreciated. (Santa is bringing in 2 days and I'm hoping to attach a book of suggestions.)
Desperate New SG Owner in St.Louis,
Dan
P.S.
Also, our SG is currently in a long 3' metal cage with a wire floor. We're willing to buy a big nice new home for her and the future youngsters, but what kind, size, floor should it have. Thanks for your help.
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| Posted by: | Mary/Beck, intr01dc@frank.mtsu.edu | | Subject: | none | | When: | 5:44 PM, 22 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 12.77.121.112 |
Okie well deffinitly do change the diet. Not sure where you read that...but we deffinitly suggest getting gliders on a healthy diet as soon as you can. You may have to gradualy change it if they have a hard time switching...but do so soon, especially for the babies sakes.
The diet your friend suggests is for birds...not gliders. It would not be a good glider diet. Gliders need a diet reaserched, balanced, and proven for them. There are several complete proven glider diets avaliable that you can feel safe feeding.
Please read this page, it contains several proven glider diets:
<a href=http://www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/diet/index.html>http://www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/diet/index.html</a>
Many people on this board recommend Bourbons diet..I feed it, and so do many other board members. Its easy to make and its a very ehalthy choice:
<a href=http://www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/diet/leadbeat.html>http://www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/diet/leadbeat.html</a>
One of the best places you can reaserch is bourbons website. It is updated as often as new reaserch becomes avaliable. You can even pribt it out for more help. Please visit all the links there:
<a href=http://www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/>http://www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/</a>
What do you mean by metal cage? Can the glider climb the sides? The best type of cage material is pvc coated wire. The spacing should be no more than 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch. The absolute smallest cage should be 3ft by 2 ft by 2 ft. Gliders love height and prefer very tall cages. My cage is 5 ft tall...I would suggest ever taller if you have the room for it. You can buy some glider cages online...but many people make their own cages. Its a cheaper way to make exactly what you want.
Does your glider have a mate? I noticed you just said a pregnant female. Where is the father? The males play a very importiant role in the raisings of the babies. In very few cases will the babies make it when there is no father there to help. In cases with no father the miother depends upon you to help raise the babies. The stress is too hard on a mother to raise the babies by herself.
Is this her first pregnancy? Did her mate die? This soinds like a very high stress precnancy. Gliders do not do well under stress. In general its not a good a idea to sell a pregnant female because the move is too stressful for her and she rejects the babies. I would be very watchful of her as soon as the babies come out. Be prepared to take over in case she rejects them.
Please do ask questions and lots of them. Several people here have experience with raising rejected joyes and can help you...Maria...Shelia..Judie, I am sure there are more but thats just to name a few.
I am not saying they will be rejected, but in this case it sounds like you will really need to be prepared. If at all possible put the female back in with the father until the babies are weaned. You will have a much better chance that way.
Welcome to the board...so sorry to put so much on you like this. They are a lot of hard work..so you have you work cut out for you already. Reaserch all the NEW information you can. Much of the information avaliable is outdated and is no longer valid.
Good luck!
| Posted by: | Dan Buck, dbuck@ksdk.gannett.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 5:46 PM, 22 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 199.217.207.34 |
One more quick question, when can we expect to see the joey's tails in the pouch? We were told the mother is 3 to 4 weeks pregnant. How quickly can you begin bonding with the new babies?
| Posted by: | Brittney Jones, chdrfry@hotmail.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 7:35 PM, 22 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 65.6.222.166 |
I am new at raising joeys, but I will tell you what I can about gliders and joeys. I was given a glider pair three days ago by a friend that wanted to "get rid of them." This is not her first time, so I am not as worried about rejection as I normally would be. However, because of the stress involved with the move and her new surroundings, we are keeping a close eye on her. Fortunately the male is with her, so she will have help. The joeys came OOP this morning and are the most adorable animals I have ever seen. If you do everything possible for her, it will all be worth it once you see their tiny faces snuggled up to mama.
First, after conception it takes 16 days before the joeys climb into the pouch. At this point they are about the size of a grain of rice. Amazing huh? Once they are in the pouch, they will remain there for about two months (I read somwhere that it was ~63 days). A week or so before they come OOP you will begin to see arms, legs, tails, etc. sticking out of the pouch as they try to make room and hang onto their food supply at the same time. You will know that they are almost ready to come out when they are covered with fur. If they come out without fur and are still pink all over, they are premature and you need help fast. Once they are OOP, I have been told that you can begin handling them after the first couple days. Just start out with five minutes of cuddling, and gradually increase it each day.
I would definitely go out and buy Caroline MacPherson's book about gliders. It has an entire section on babies and what to do if a joey is rejected. This book will be my Bible for the next few months. It is also important that you get the mother on a proven diet like Beck posted above. Mine are all on Bourbon's Modified Leadbeaters and they love it. It is very easy to make and most people agree it is very balanced and complete. While she is pregnant and nursing, you will need to increase her calcium and protein. This is really important since her previous diet was obviously so lacking. If she is not on an excellent diet the joeys will not be healthy and they may either die, be killed my the mother, or be rejected.
I will keep you updated on the progress of my joeys and any new information that I learn. As I said initially, I am VERY new at this, so if I am wrong about anything, please feel free to correct me.
Brittney
Kayla and Lily
Arnold, Katie, and their two new joeys
Sydney (soming soon)
| Posted by: | Barb, blooprints@yahoo.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 12:03 PM, 23 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 63.178.68.220 |
An absolute must have for a new glider owner is Caroline MacPherson's book SUGAR GLIDERS (publisher Barrons)...it's an easy to read, great reference book. You definitely need a brand new diet for your glider, and it needs to be started immediately: Forget all the peanuts and seeds - way too much FAT - it will kill your glider. (You can add a max of one RAW peanut back as a treat, but I'd wait MONTHS to do it based on what she has been fed...Start with FRESH fruit - apples, grapes, pears, etc; for veggies mine like corn and raw yams best, but also jicama and water chesnuts; get some nonfat (if possible fruit-juice sweetened yogurt) NO ASPARTAME adding repcal to it; and always extra protein with mamas with joeys - boiled egg WITH SHELL, microwaved chicken ot turkey - no skin, fat, seasonings, mealworms and crickets....That's the easiest to start with.   
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