<b>Hello all,</b>

I am a new parent to the Glider community. Last week I picked up a pair of ladies from a person who took very good care of them from what I observed but just did not have time for them. I have wanted gliders for years and did lots of research and am finally here. Research is one thing and practice is another. So here we go with loads of questions.
Here is the foods and routine that the previous owner had in place and want to know if I need to change or add to it.

<u><b>Cage:</b></u>
Cage is fairly large. Lots of toys in there. 3 pouches where they have a favorite one which they chewed a tiny hole in exactly the same spot on each side so they can stick their nose out. OMG is that a cute sight to see.

<u><b>Names:</b></u> <i><b>Sugar</b></i> (Sweet as sugar) and <i><b>Spice</b></i> (Very Crabby)

<b><u>List of Foods and nutrition:</u></b>
<b>Brand:</b> Exotic Nutrition
1. Yogurt Drops
2. Glider Booster
3. Monkey Bisquits
4. Glider Complete
5. Nutra Glider
6. Wombaroo high protein powder
7. Glider cal

<b><u>Misc:</u></b>
1. Natural Banana Chips
2. Sunmaid tropical Trio
3. Apples
4. Carrots
5. other fruits and veggies
6. An orange jelly (Which I forgot to write down name)

<u><b>Here is what she did with these items as I was told</b></u>
1. I give them each night some apple, carrot, banana chips and some glider complete.
2. Glider complete in one bowl, and the rest in another. I mix up the fruit variaties each night.
3. Monday and Friday I add some Glider Cal to the fruit.
4. Wednesday I add Glider Booster Powder.

I take the gliders out each night at around 6pm when I get home from work and they stay in their pouch with me for about 5 hours. I open pouch and give them some yogurt drops or apple which Sugar takes willingly and seems as if she smiles. Spice crabs but will take it and crab all the way when eating the food.

I come in to their room at 5am and sit there watching them for 30 minutes or so before I go to work. As the weather gets warmer I will start to take them to work so they can be with me all day.

I can open the pouch and easily touch Sugar but if I get close to Spice he jumps at my finger. If I have a yogurt drop he will gladly take that.

I have only had them for a few days and know there is a learning curve. I have loads of time and loads of patience. With that all being said........

Was told to avoid grapes but on some sites they say its ok????
How about Broccoli, green peppers, other fruits, veggies, cucumbers???
Cheerios????
Avacado????


ANY SUGGESTIONS?

Thanks,
Brett

Welcome :) You can look up top under resources and pick a good diet. Here is a link to safe fruits and veggies. Its all about keeping your ratios correct though.

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Welcome Brett!

You can feed grapes but I'd peel them and feed in moderation.
The fruits and veggies list is under the resources tab as Sabrina mentioned. We'll give a Cheerio or two once in a great while as a treat. Some will say okay, some will say no.

So, gliders are like children, they all have their little quirks and personalities. You've found that out and named them accordingly. So, what diet do you feed them or is it pretty much a hodge-podge of things? What was she feeding them? You think you have questions. I could be here all day asking you questions if I had the time. One more. Have you found a knowledgeable exotic vet nearby yet? God forbid you ever need one, it's good to have one just in case.

Grapes are known to cause renal failure in other domestic animals. There is no written evidence that they do in gliders BUT there isn't really ANY written evidence for anything when it comes to gliders so it's a personal judgement. I wont feed them, not worth the risk in my opinion. Broccoli is fine. Not sure on peppers. Avacado is fine but high in fat so only offer it as a treat.

I'd be tempted to feed the glider booster more than once a week. Mine get it everynight. Well, I make a weeks batch of fruit/veg at a time, blended up and frozen into ice cube trays. All the suppliments get blended up into that x

Welcome to the forum!

Sounds to me like she was a very good glider mama.

As far as diet goes, that's a personal preference for you and your gliders. I think for now what she was feeding is adequate but for you...you may want to read thru gliderpedia, check out some of the older diet threads, get a bit more knowledgable then you can decide for yourself what diet you prefer.

Many times people come on who are feeding pellets and apple slices for which most of us will stress getting them on a decent diet NOW! But while I personally choose not to feed a pelleted diet as their staple I know ENs' Glider Complete isn't on the bottom of the list as far as pellets go, and I see some HPW in their which I like, and I have even recently given Monkey Biscuits as a treat altho they don't really eat them. But based on what I'm reading your babies aren't in dire need of a diet change. IMO you have some time to familiarize yourself with the various diets and make a choice for yourself.

Broccoli can cause gassiness so use sparingly....Avacado: THEY LOVE IT! But it's fatty so again, sparingly. Many people give honey nut Cheerios as a treat so that's also fine. Yes, many avoid grapes. It's one of those things that I say is a calculated risk. I suggest you do your own research and decide for yourself. In my research I've learned that it's the skin of the grape that causes issues with dogs....my gliders don't eat the skin so I do feed grapes on occassion, but again, that's just me.

Well that's about it. Just take your time and don't get overwhelmed by all the informations and varied opinions. You'll get the hang of it, it just takes some time.

Again, Welcome & congrats on your babies!!!!!

The list that I put down is all the stuff that she was feeding them.... I have only had them since friday so I have just followed what she was doing to put them under less stress.

I bumped a few threads if you get time you can read through them :) They are full of great information

Just wana add about the pouch thing. You keep them in for 5 hours at 6pm when you get home? Maybe yours wake up late and thats fine for bonding but I know mine are normally stirring at around 7. I wouldn't advise trying to bond with them in a pouch whilst they are awake. They'll wana be out and about, it could stress them a little being confined when they're wide awake. Like I said, maybe yours like to lay in til later lol in which case that's fine, but just thought i'd mention it.

As for day time, if they're bonding with you quite well then you won't really need to keep them on you in the daytime at work UNLESS you really want to and they don't mind it either. Mine can't stand their bonding pouch, I move around too much for them and they just get crabby lol. I prefer to let them sleep during the day in their cage and bond with them at night. Again, personal preference as some people gliders sleep just fine on the in the day.

I prefer not to force myself upon them. Mine seemed to come round a lot faster with the 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' approach. Not at all saying I ignore them lol, I mite pop in during the day and offer a treat, then at night I sit in their cage with them for at least an hour. I have a big cage which allows me to do this but it would just be the same as an hour of 'tent time' for you.

As a newbie I wanted them to love me soooo much! So I spent soooo much time carrying them, and just being abit in their face I think. I wasn't really getting anywhere! Then I moved back in with the parents and they got put into a spare bedroom as apose to my living room. I was quite ill for a week so I didn't really spend much time with them. It was hard as my parents don't really have a glider safe room so I struggled getting them out. They weren't bonded at all but after a week of not really seeing me, I opened their sleeping pouch in the afternoon and one of the girls just jumped right into my hand and sat their as I fed her a treat! NEVER have they sat still on me before. I was chuffed to pieces lol. After that they seemed to crave my attention rather then looking asif they were sick of the sight of me. This isn't true for all gliders, but again, just thought i'd mention x

Thanks for the response.... They seem to jump right in to the bonding pouch (Sometimes) when I get home and go right back to sleep. Again I have had them less then a week so I guess we need time. Sugar is by far the best and when I put my hand in the cage she stretches out to touch me and then pulls away and then runs away. She comes back and does over and over again. Spice on the other hand is a crabby girl and she will take time.
I so value all of your words and will learn as I go along. The gliders and I need support and I have found it here.
My main worry has always been the food part as I want to get that right so there are no internal problems. The rest is easy... LOL

I'd say the diet was fine. They're getting different fruits and veg. The pellets you have are high quality. They're getting protein from the wambaroo AND the pellets. You've got all the right suppliments. Personally I like to use a hard food as part of their diet. I wouldn't be recommending you to stop using the pellets as long as you keep using them ALONGSIDE everything else. A little crunch is good for oral health. And mine LOVE them so I can feed them as 'treats' during the day as a way of bonding without worrying about them getting fat x

I know how you feel!! I just got mine on Sat. A boy Batman and a girl Princess. They are 2 12 yrs old. They are ajusting well. I have been carrying them with me during the day. They pretty much sleep through anything. As someone else said about a lot of people getting them and they are on a pellet and apple diet. Thats how I got mine. I now have them started on the BML Diet and they are liking it. Mine also love the pouches. So much so that its hard to get the out.

They are so much fun I hope you enjoy!

Just came home now after my workout for my triathalon training to raise money for leukemia.... This is the First time I got home today... I made their dinner and went up to the cage and they were still sleeping at 10pm. Is that OK?

Hahaha, Yeah. They probably woke up a few times in the day without you knowing it. They also could have gotten up earlier and then went back to sleep. Mine will do this most nights. They wake, stretch their legs, relieve themselves, eat, then sleep more then play about midnightish. Pretty regular routine if you ask me.

Quick Question.....
I put apples, cucumbers, and carrots in the cage at 9:00pm last night and at 5:00am I noticed that not much was eaten at all.... Is this normal?

Yeah, unfortunately it is for some of us.

They seem to be going thru a phase. I personally feel it's because Spring is approaching and they are changing their eating habits, or maybe it's the full moon that will be upon us within a few days.

Mine are doing the same thing. Not eating much of anything! It's so worrisome with such little animals.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by JazzNZoeysmom</i>
<br />Yeah, unfortunately it is for some of us.

They seem to be going thru a phase. I personally feel it's because Spring is approaching and they are changing their eating habits, or maybe it's the full moon that will be upon us within a few days.

Mine are doing the same thing. Not eating much of anything! It's so worrisome with such little animals.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

My Rue is doing the same thing! He used to love apples and strawberries, but now he won't even touch them. I try to get him to eat lots of strawberries since they're high in calcium!


And, welcome Brett! (:
My glider also doesn't wake up until late. He usually comes out around 10 and stays awake until 5 in the morning. My friends glider, on the other hand, wakes up at 4 in the afternoon and goes back to sleep at about 2am. It just depends on the glider really.

Just want to make sure that i did this right....
Last nights food....

Pellets in their hanging bowl.
1/4 apple, 2 baby carrots, 1/8 cup cucumber, 6 yogurt drops
Sprinkle Glider powder and wombaroo powder on this mixture.

I see the yogurt drops were all gone but does not look like much else.

And also some things will look like the are not eaten but are. They suck all the juices out of things as well as like peas and corn they eat the center and leave the shells.

SeirranevadaK:

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I try to get him to eat lots of strawberries since they're high in calcium!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Strawberries are not high in calcium (0.67:1 ratio)

Try to offer a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to give your glider a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals in these foods.

Sciguy4u:

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Just want to make sure that i did this right....
Last nights food....

Pellets in their hanging bowl.
1/4 apple, 2 baby carrots, 1/8 cup cucumber, 6 yogurt drops
Sprinkle Glider powder and wombaroo powder on this mixture. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Please take a look at the recognized glider diets. The example dinner you gave does not appear to have enough protein. Sprinkling "glider powder" may give them too much or too little of the calcium and vitamins they need to live a long healthy life.

The recognized glider diets have the amounts of calcium added spread through out the mixture so the glider gets the appropriate measured amount.

I have links to these diets on my web page to help you look them over and choose one that works best for you.

http://www.gliderkids.com/contact.html

Agreed with candy. Try and follow a recommended diet. Your gliders could also have enjoyed a bit of scrambled or hard boiled egg with this meal to add protein. Also 6 yogurt drops is a LOT! Try one a piece. They are small animals after all and this means small stomach to fill with sweets and no healthy food. If you are worried one might eat both, simply hand feed 1 each at the same time.

What a difference a night makes.... Last night I gave the ladies one half hard boiled egg, 2 baby carrots, and 4 banana chips. All was gone when I woke up at 5am, not even a crumb left behind.

Question: Being the holiday season can the gliders have Matzoh?

Another question... Though it does have some chemicals can the gliders have a Welsh's fruit snack? I feed them to my Macaw and he loves and and Vet sait is was ok for him.

Sorry, I have no clue about the Motzah...

I tried offering mine some fruity snax like the Welchs'...they had no sugar, but mine won't touch 'em...they don't seem to like the sticky feel of them. You may want to hit the pet store...they have little glider sized pieces of Papaya and other items.... maybe try some blueberries and the like, they are much healthier.

Got the blueberries from WalMart near the raisins and other dried fruits.



These I got from PetSmart...

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Candy</i>
<br />SeirranevadaK:

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I try to get him to eat lots of strawberries since they're high in calcium!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Strawberries are not high in calcium (0.67:1 ratio)

Try to offer a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to give your glider a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals in these foods



<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I do offer a VERY BROAD spectrum of fruits, vegetables, and supplements. And last time I heard, from my doctor (I have an intestinal problem that requires me to get more calcium and fiber), strawberries are one of the highest calcium fruits. Just letting you know.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by sierranevadaK</i>
<br /><blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Candy</i>
<br />SeirranevadaK:

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I try to get him to eat lots of strawberries since they're high in calcium!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Strawberries are not high in calcium (0.67:1 ratio)

Try to offer a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to give your glider a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals in these foods



<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I do offer a VERY BROAD spectrum of fruits, vegetables, and supplements. And last time I heard, from my doctor (I have an intestinal problem that requires me to get more calcium and fiber), strawberries are one of the highest calcium fruits. Just letting you know.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

A general practitioner or nutritionist? Doctors are much like regular vets- they know their medicine, but I wouldn't trust them with nutrition.

well then I should ask if they can have wheat products... Matzoh is just wheat and water and nothing else....

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by khigh</i>
<br /><blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by sierranevadaK</i>
<br /><blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Candy</i>
<br />SeirranevadaK:

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I try to get him to eat lots of strawberries since they're high in calcium!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Strawberries are not high in calcium (0.67:1 ratio)

Try to offer a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to give your glider a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals in these foods



<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I do offer a VERY BROAD spectrum of fruits, vegetables, and supplements. And last time I heard, from my doctor (I have an intestinal problem that requires me to get more calcium and fiber), strawberries are one of the highest calcium fruits. Just letting you know.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

A general practitioner or nutritionist? Doctors are much like regular vets- they know their medicine, but I wouldn't trust them with nutrition.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

He's a general practitioner. It's fine if they aren't high in calcium, because I feed other foods that are.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by sierranevadaK</i>
It's fine if they aren't high in calcium, because I feed other foods that are.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Lol, I don't mean this to sound rude and please try to find the funny side of it, but after the 'strawberries are high in calcium' advice, it doesn't sound to me like you know what foods are high in calcium :P

HERE is a list of all fruit/veg and protein ratios x

Lol, it's fine. I understand. Two of his favorites are papayas and spinach, and I'm pretty sure that they have more calcium then phosphorous, right?

Yea, papaya is the highest. It's 4.8:1 I think. Spinach is the perfect 2:1 HOWEVER, it's high in oxylates (think that's what they're called) which inhibit the absorption of calcium, which means that the ration will actually be lower than what it is.

Oxylates only inhibit the calcium absorption in the food that they are in, not in the overall meal. Just another confusing thing to throw at ya lol. Leanring about the diet made me want to bang my head against a brick wall! You jsut get to grips with the calcium:ph ratio, find something that seems perfect (Spinach), then someone mentions oxylates which completely throw you off ....

Hope you understood that tho :) x

Yeah, I'm starting to understand all of this diet stuff. It's really confusing at first. lol

It's all a learning curve..... I am ok with everything I guess... I just only ever need to know foods not to feed....

How about cheese???? If they will eat it.....