| glider_diet_info.pdf |
Diet is a very controversial subject and everyone has their own opinions. I will provide some
information on the most popular diets and my best advice is to do your own research as well as
speak to your vet prior to choosing a diet. You will want to choose one that your gliders will eat
as well as one that works best for your lifestyle.
If you happen to read online or receive advice from fellow glider lovers that it's okay to modify
a diet, please be aware that if you follow their advice, you will no longer be feeding that
particular diet. You will be feeding your own variation of that diet. This can be dangerous for
your gliders health so please contact the diet creator and/or your vet for proper advice on any
changes.
Glider diets can seem confusing but is only as confusing as you allow it to be. Sometimes we
put too much emphasis in this area rather than just enjoying our gliders and the things we do
for them. Remember…”take time to stop and smell the roses”.
I would also like to point out that many people will do some research and come up with a new
diet plan. Several owners start feeding these diets without speaking with their vets and end up
having problems with their gliders health. Please do not jump on the “new diet bandwagon”
and feed a new diet just because someone else you know is feeding it and you think it sounds
good. I’ve seen this done in the past and it cost those owners some of their gliders. Please
learn from their mistakes.
Please note that I generally do not keep up with the changes to diet plans. Do your own research and make sure your information is current and changes with sugar gliders happen frequently. Also, feel free to let me know if any of my information is outdated. I'd be happy to update it.
HPW Plus (HPWP)
Mixing Instructions:
¼ cup Plus powder
1 tablespoon bee pollen
2 cups warm water
12 oz. honey
3 scrambled eggs (no seasonings or cooking oil)
1 cup green juice (optional)
Put all ingredients in blender and blend for about 2-3 minutes. Place mixture in freezer safe container and freeze.
Will freeze to the consistency of ice cream.
Serving Instructions per glider:
1 tablespoon HPW Plus mixture
1 tablespoon veggies
1 tablespoon fruits
Other Information:
See batch/package information below
See recommended (not required) fruit/veggie mixtures below.
This diet yields a 2:1 ca:ph ratio (for the mixture only). It’s believed that gliders need 1.5-2:1.
The HPW Plus powder is manufactured in the US and was introduced to the public February 2011.
Guaranteed Analysis: Min Crude Protein 54.00%
Min Crude Fat 13.00%
Min Crude Fiber 2.00%
Min Calcium 0.90%
Max Calcium 1.10%
Min Phosphorus 0.50%
Min Selenium 0.15 PPM
Min Vitamin A 15.00 KIU/LB
Ingredients: Dried Whey Protein Concentrate, Soy Protein Concentrate, Vegetable Oil, Ground Cereal Grains,
Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Flaxseed Oil, L-Lysine, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Silicon Dioxide, DLMethionine, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Inositol, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous
Sulfate, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Folic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate,
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K3), Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite, Copper
Sulfate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
This diet was created by Peggy Brewer. She can be reached at critterlove@critterlove.com for more
information/questions.
HPW Complete (HPWC)
Mixing Instructions:
½ cup Complete powder
1 ½ cups warm water
1 cup green juice (optional)
Put all ingredients in blender and blend for about 2-3 minutes or shake well. Place mixture in ice cube trays and
freeze. The mixture will freeze solid.
Single serving instructions:
1 teaspoon Complete powder
3 teaspoons (1 tablespoon) warm water
1 teaspoon green juice (optional)
Combine ingredients and shake well.
Serving Instructions per glider:
1 tablespoon HPW Complete mixture
1 tablespoon veggies
1 tablespoon fruits
Other Information:
See batch/package information below
See recommended (not required) fruit/veggie mixtures below.
This diet yields a 2:1 ca:ph ratio (for the mixture only). It’s believed that gliders need 1.5-2:1.
The HPW Complete powder is manufactured in the US and was introduced to the public February 2011.
Guaranteed Analysis: Min Crude Protein 14.00%
Min Crude Fat 2.00%
Min Crude Fiber 2.00%
Min Calcium 0.20%
Max Calcium 0.30%
Min Phosphorus 0.10%
Min Selenium 0.017 PPM
Min Vitamin A 1.60 KIU/LB
Ingredients: Dried Honey, Dry Egg Product, Dried Whey Protein Concentrate, Bee Pollen, Soy Protein Concentrate,
Vegetable Oil, Ground Cereal Grains, Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Flaxseed Oil, L-Lysine, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium
Phosphate, Silicon Dioxide, DL-Methionine, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Inositol, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid,
Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganese
Sulfate, Folic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K3), Thiamine
Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite, Copper Sulfate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate,
Vitamin D3 Supplement.
This diet was created by Peggy Brewer. She can be reached at critterlove@critterlove.com for more
information/questions.
HPW Breeders Formula (HPWB)
Mixing Instructions:
½ cup Breeders Formula powder
2 cups warm water
1 cup green juice (optional)
Put all ingredients in blender and blend for about 2-3 minutes or shake well. Place mixture in ice cube trays and
freeze. The mixture will freeze solid.
Single serving instructions:
1 teaspoon Breeders Formula powder
4 teaspoons warm water
1 teaspoon green juice (optional)
Combine ingredients and shake well.
Serving Instructions per glider:
1 tablespoon HPW Breeders Formula mixture
1 tablespoon veggies
1 tablespoon fruits
Other Information:
See batch/package information below
See recommended (not required) fruit/veggie mixtures below.
This diet yields a 2:1 ca:ph ratio (for the mixture only). It’s believed that gliders need 1.5-2:1.
The HPW Breeders Formula powder is manufactured in the US and was introduced to the public August 2012.
Guaranteed Analysis: Min Crude Protein 23.00%
Min Crude Fat 8.00%
Min Crude Fiber 2.00%
Min Calcium 0.30%
Max Calcium 0.80%
Min Phosphorus 0.10%
Min Selenium 0.017 PPM
Min Vitamin A 1.60 KIU/LB
Ingredients: Dried Honey, Dried Whey Protein Concentrate, Dry Egg Product, Bee Pollen, Soy Protein Concentrate,
Vegetable Oil, Ground Cereal Grains, Calcium Carbonate, Flaxseed Oil, L-Lysine, Dicalcium Phosphate, DLMethionine, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Inositol, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous
Sulfate, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Folic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate,
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K3), Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite, Copper
Sulfate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
This diet was created by Peggy Brewer. She can be reached at critterlove@critterlove.com for more
information/questions.
Original HPW (OHPW)
Mixing Instructions:
¼ cup Wombaroo High Protein Supplement (WHPS) powder
1 tablespoon bee pollen
2 cups warm water
12 oz. honey
3 scrambled eggs (no seasonings or cooking oil)
1 cup green juice (optional)
Put all ingredients in blender and blend for about 2-3 minutes. Place mixture in freezer safe container and freeze.
Will freeze to the consistency of ice cream.
Serving Instructions per glider:
1 tablespoon Original HPW mixture
1 tablespoon veggies
1 tablespoon fruits
Other Information:
See batch information below.
See recommended (not required) fruit/veggie mixtures below.
This diet yields a 1.29:1 ca:ph ratio (for the mixture only). It’s believed that gliders need 1.5-2:1.
The Original HPW diet has been used by many owners in the US since approximately 2003.
Guaranteed Analysis: Min Crude Protein 52.00%
Min Crude Fat 12.00%
Max Crude Fiber 5.00%
Max Salt 0.80%
Ingredients: Whey protein, soy protein, ground cereals, maltodextrin, dextrose, lysine, methionine, vegetable oils,
omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D3, E, K, nicotinamide, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic
acid, choline, inositol, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, iodine,
selenium.
This diet was created by Peggy Brewer. She can be reached at critterlove@critterlove.com for more
information/questions.
Recommended Fruit/Veggie Mixtures for all HPW Diets
MIXTURE 1
1 Small Bag of Frozen Peas
1 Small Bag of Frozen Cut Green
Beans
1 Small Bag Of Frozen Mixed
Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, Green
Beans, Corn)
2 Small Bags of Frozen Diced
Green Peppers (or 2 medium
green peppers diced)
1 Batch of Bok Choy (or 2 small
batches, chopped)
1 Large Cucumber (skin on, wash
well)
1 Large Papaya (chopped)
1 Bag of Frozen Mixed Berries
(Blackberries, Blueberries,
Strawberries)
MIXTURE 2
1 Small Bag of Frozen Peas
1 Small Bag of Frozen Cut Green
Beans
1 Small Bag Of Frozen Mixed
Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, Green
Beans, Corn)
2 Small Bags of Frozen Diced
Green Peppers (or 2 medium
green peppers diced)
1 Large Cucumber (skin on, wash
well)
1 Batch Dandelion Greens
(chopped)
1 Large Papaya (chopped)
2 Gala Apples (chopped, skin on)
MIXTURE 3
1 Small Bag of Frozen Peas
1 Small Bag of Frozen Cut Green
Beans
1 Small Bag Of Frozen Mixed
Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, Green
Beans, Corn)
2 Small Bags of Frozen Diced
Green Peppers (or 2 medium
green peppers diced)
1 Large Cucumber (skin on, wash
well)
1 Batch of Bok Choy (or 2 small
batches, chopped)
1 Bag of Frozen Mixed Berries
(Blackberries, Blueberries,
Strawberries)
2 Gala Apples (chopped, skin on)
1 Cantaloupe or Tuscan Melon
(deseeded and rind removed)
These mixtures should not be mixed together. It's okay to feed 1 mixture 1 night and try another the next.
Mixtures can be frozen together. What has worked best for me is to dish out servings for 2 gliders and put it in
ziplock snack bags then place all snack bags inside a freezer safe container or freezer bag. Otherwise you will end
up with a large ice ball of ingredients.
And remember, these mixtures are only recommended. You are not required to feed these specific mixtures but
keep in mind that you’ll want to factor in the ca:ph ratios of your fruit/veggie mixtures with the staple diet. Paying
particular attention to what you choose to feed if using the Original HPW diet.
HPW Diet Portions
HPWP:
1 oz. 1 batch 67 servings/83 if green juice is added
4 oz. 4 batches 268/332
8 oz. 8 batches 536/664
1 lb. 16 batches 1072/1328
2 lbs. 32 batches 2144/2656
5 lbs. 80 batches 5360/6640
HPWC:
2 oz. 1 batch 24 servings/40 if green juice is added
4 oz. 2 batches 48/80
8 oz. 4 batches 97/161
1 lb. 8 batches 195/323
2 lbs. 16 batches 390/646
5 lbs. 40 batches 976/1616
HPWB:
2 oz. 1 batch 52 servings/68 if green juice is added
2 lbs. 16 batches 832/1088
OHPW:
1 batch approx 80 servings/96 if green juice is added
125g 5.5 batches approx 440/528
250g 11 batches approx 880/1056
500g 22 batches approx 1760/2112
1K 44 batches approx 3520/4224
Unfortunately I have misplaced my information for OHPW. I’ve estimated these numbers but it shouldn’t be off by
a lot. These amounts are based on feeding non-breeding gliders on OHPW so the numbers would decrease if
feeding breeders.
*All servings are approximate.
To calculate approximately how long a batch of powder will last you, divide the number of servings by the number
of gliders you are feeding.
BML (Bourbon’s Modified Leadbeaters)
There are more variations of this diet but this is the correct link:
http://bmldiet.com.
http://www.glidercentral.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/6697/1. You will notice in
the thread that the author has done some calculations and states that the BML mixture itself is a 3.7:1 ratio but
with the fruits/veggies it would be about 2:1.
Mixing Instructions:
½ cup honey (DO NOT use honey comb, raw or unfiltered)
1 egg boiled or scrambled (no shell)
4 oz. bottle of premixed Gerber juice with yogurt (if you can’t find it, 2 oz. plain yogurt and 2 oz. mixed fruit juice
can be used instead, 100% juice-no additives)
**The recommended juice is no longer available. The diet creator is recommending Tropicana Island Punch, NOT NOT NOT the Dole Pineapple Orange Banana that people keep pushing in the Facebook groups. If you need confirmation, please contact the diet creator directly. Bourbon Hackworth on Facebook. This has been updated on 5/18/2023.
Blend until ingredients are mixed well.
½ cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon vitamin supplement (Rep-Cal Herptivite)
2 teaspoons calcium supplement non-phosphorus with Vit. D3 (Rep-Cal)
2-2.5 oz. jars of chicken baby food
¼ cup apple juice
½ cup dry baby cereal
Add these ingredients to above mixture and blend well for 5 minutes. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. The
mixture will freeze solid.
Serving instructions:
1 tablespoon BML mix
1 tablespoon fruits (apples, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, melon, frozen pitted cherries and blueberries)
1 tablespoon veggies (corn, peas, carrots and green beans)
Also feed 10-12 small, 7-10 medium or 3-5 large mealworms in the morning.
If they eat everything the first night, add a little more the next night until they leave only a small portion.
**I made the version on the first page of the website noted above. That mixture made 40 servings.
Bourbon H. is this diet’s creator. She can be found on facebook or by calling 321-331-1608.
Modified Leadbeaters Diet Plan (Judie’s Version)
Judie’s Modified Leadbeaters Diet Plan below was modified by a long time and respected breeder due to some of
her gliders rejecting the basic mixture. Please follow this diet plan exactly. Avoid supplementing or modifying
ingredients. Please note that there is not a specific list of fruits/veggies with this diet as there is with the Back to
Basics BML plan. Variety is important but do not overfeed items high in phosphorous such as corn.
Presentation: Start out by feeding (per 1 glider):
*1 tablespoon of the BML mix
*1 tablespoon fruits
*1 tablespoon veggies
*Feed 10-12 small, 7-10 medium, or 3-5 large mealworms
Other insects gliders enjoy are crickets, june bugs, moths and grasshoppers. Never feed roaches, lightning bugs or
any bug caught outside or in an area where it could have insecticide on it.
If they eat it all the first night add a little more the next night until they leave only a little bit.
BML Ingredients (aka Judie’s Version):
*1/2 cup honey (DO NOT use honeycomb, raw or unfiltered honey)
*1 egg hard boiled w/shell (if your blender doesn’t break the shell down don’t use it)
*1 oz Apple juice (100% juice, no additives)
*1 oz Cranapple or Crancherry juice
*4 oz bottle premixed Gerber juice with yogurt (comes in mixed fruit or banana found near the baby food
aisle. If it can’t be found, mix 2 oz plain yogurt and 2 oz mixed fruit juice (100% juice, no additives).
*1 teaspoon vitamin supplement (Rep-Cal Herptivite is recommended)
*2 teaspoons calcium supplement non-phosphorus with Vit. D3 (Rep-Cal).
*2-2 ½ oz jars chicken baby food
*1 small jar Stage 2 sweet potato
*1/4 cup wheat germ
*1/2 cup dry baby cereal (mixed or oatmeal)
Directions: Put honey, egg (with shell on) and apple juice into the blender and blend until ingredients are mixed
well. Add the chicken baby food and sweet potato, blend. Add the fruit juice, yogurt juice and vitamin
supplement, blend well. Add the wheat germ and baby cereal, blend well. Pour into ice cube trays or in a bowl
and freeze.
NOTE: It will freeze to the same consistency as ice cream. This recipe should feed one glider for about a month.
Judie Hausmann is this diet’s creator. She can be reached at JudithHausmann@msn.com.
The Sugar Glider Exotic Diet (The Pet Glider Diet)
Ingredients:
*25 oz unsweetened applesauce
*4 oz. Dannon non-fat plain yogurt
*3 oz. concentrated calcium fortified orange juice, no water added
*3/4 cup Old Fashioned Oats (NO QUICK COOKING OATS)
*1 tablespoon fresh ground flax seed or wheat germ, refrigerated
Directions: In a large bowl, mix the applesauce, oats, yogurt, wheat germ and orange juice. Divide into three
equal portions. To portion one, add 3 small or medium scrambled eggs. To portion two, add ¾ pound
unseasoned, unsalted, broiled shredded chicken. Leave the third portion plain for the nights you feed mealworms
or yogurt.
Freeze flat in quart size freezer bags (1/2” or less thick).
In a separate bowl, chop up:
¾ cup various fruits
¾ cup various vegetables
You may also choose to use precut frozen fruits or vegetables
Combine and freeze in bags.
Presentation:
*Offer the basic mixture fresh the first two nights then freeze the remaining following the directions
above.
*Break off a frozen piece of the basic mix. Pull out the chopped fruits and vegetables from your freezer
trying to keep it one part fruits to one part vegetables.
*If you chose to use precut frozen fruits and vetetables, do not use vegetables which have a high ratio of
corn.
*Feed at least 4-6 fresh fruits and veggies each day; don’t feed the same combination of this mixture
three days in a row.
*Offer UNSEASONED, UNSALTED broiled chicken (1 teaspoon per glider), eggs or mealworms (3-6 giant)
four or five nights out of the week for extra protein. If your glider has a tendency to be overweight, offer less
mealworms. Mealworms are high in fat so only offer them three times per week.
*Offer fresh water at all times and Gatorade may be given 3-4 times a week. Use fruit flavored Gatorade
and mix the granular kind to your glider’s taste. The flavored fruit mix encourages your glider to drink more liquid.
It contains electrolytes and also contains some sucrose, a nectar substitute, both very important to them.
*Always sprinkle vitamins on top. Never mix them in and never freeze them. If you sprinkle them on top
the gliders will eat them first with some food because they taste good.
Priscilla Price is this diet’s creator. She can be reached at thepetglider@thepetglider.com.
Darcy’s Diet (Ensure)
Presentation: Feed about a tablespoon of protein source per glider. Such as insects, mealworms, chicken or duck
meat, crickets, wax worms, or egg. Also feed nightly, chopped fruits and vegetables. Use various fruits & veggies,
emphasis on variety and moderation (no large amount of any one thing).
Daily Staple: Zookeeper’s Secret is offered daily as a staple.
Enrichment Supplement: Nekton brand nectar is offered nightly. A multivitamin and protein supplement originally
developed for birds. It has a calcium phosphorus ratio of 1:1, therefore it cannot be relied upon for a calcium
supplement (similar to gliderade).
Daily Vitamin/Mineral Supplement: Mix one can of Ensure (8 ounces) with 380 mg (3/8 teaspoon) calcium
carbonate (human grade available at most pharmacies).
2-3 tablespoons Ensure* supplement (NEVER CHOCOLATE) with calcium per glider in a bowl (if you try putting it in
a bottle the calcium will clog the tube).
Optional: ¼ teaspoon acacia gum
This diet is especially useful for gliders who are malnutrition or recovering from illness. It is based on using Ensure
plus calcium as the nutritional supplement.
*Sustagen is the European equivalent
PML (Pockets Modified Leadbeater’s)
Mix ingredients:
*1 ¾ cup water (bottled preferred)
*1 ¾ cup honey (honey amount can be decreased to 1 ½ cup if using Australian honey)
*2 boiled shelled eggs
*1 ounce (30 grams) Wombaroo High Protein Supplement
According to Pockets: “I change my amount of Wombaroo HPS I offer according to season – but you do not have
to. I use 1 less egg in my PML than is recommended in Oz, as my research has shown a problem with captive
possums – possible cholesterol problems from providing to many egg yolks resulting in fatty tumors.”
Instructions:
*Warm water for 2 minutes in microwave before mixing in the honey (do not make water hot as it can
destroy the vitamins in the WHPS). Mix until dissolved.
*Place eggs and warm blended honey/water into blender, blend 1 minute.
*Add 1 ounce (30 grams) of Wombaroo High Protein Supplement & blend again for 1 minute.
*Place in freezer safe dish & freeze.
Presentation:
*Pockets Modified Leadbeater’s (PML) mix nightly; 1 glider portion is ¾ - 1 tablespoon.
*1 tablespoon insectivore fare per glider (zookeeper’s secret)
*1-2 tablespoons fruit/veggie mix per glider
*Tiny portion of Neocalglucon weekly (a type of calcium)
Debbie Houston is this diet’s creator. She can be found on facebook.
Wholesome Balance/ZooKeeper’s Secret
This particular diet has always seemed more confusing to me than any other diet available. Both of them do use a
pellet as the main staple. Please do your own research on this diet.
Per Glider:
1 tbls Wholesome Balance or ZooKeepers Secret Pellets
1 tbls fruit/veggies. Add a pinch of Vionate and a pinch of Rep-Cal Calcium (no Vit D3)
Also add on a 4 day rotation basis:
1. 3-5 large mealworms
2. 3-5 crickets
3. ¾ tbls yogurt
OR
4. ¾ tbls “concoction”
The “concoction” consists of mixing boiled egg (no shell), high protein/low sugar cereal (Corn Flakes, Special K,
etc.), and honey or apple juice.
These pellets can also be kept in the cage for daytime snacking as well.
The full diet plan can be found at http://www.sugar-gliders.com/sugar-glider-diet.htm.
Green Juices
There are 3 brands of green juices that I’m aware of.
Naked Green Machine:
Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness:
Odwalla Superfood:
Most grocery stores carry at least 1 of these products. I have found them located either in the refrigerated juice
section or the refrigerated section in the produce department.
What is the benefit of adding green juice to the HPW diets? They (Odwalla in particular) contain healthy
ingredients such as wheatgrass, spirulina, Jerusalem artichoke and wheat sprouts not to mention the added fruits.
This helps add in good antioxidants to the diet as well as comforting the owner who is worried about their gliders
not eating enough fruits.
Most of the BML ingredients
Dry baby cereal: Wheat germ:
Rep-Cal Herptivite: Rep-Cal Calcium w/Vit D3:
Chicken baby food: Gerber juice w/yogurt:
Apple juice:
Gliderade
Gliderade aka Lory Life Nectar has been used by many owners as an additional treat with OHPW and other diets.
It’s a 5:1 mixture (5 parts water/1 part powder) and usually offered 1-2x/week.
Nutritional information on this powder was obtained from Avico.
Moisture 2.36%
Crude Fat <1.30%
Protein 9.95%
Ash 2.24%
Crude Fiber 0.69%
Arsenic <0.15 ppm
Cadmium <0.050 ppm
Copper 36 ppm
Iron 46 ppm
Lead <0.20 ppm
Zinc 120 ppm
Vitamin A – WRE 054 1450 IU/100g
Safe fruits & vegetables for gliders
Vegetables Fruits TOXIC
Alfalfa Acerola Garlic
Amaranth Apple (with or without skin) Lima Beans
Artichoke Apricots Onion
Asparagus Banana Rhubarb
Avocado Blackberries Cocoa (Chocolate)
Bamboo Shoots Blueberries
Beets Breadfruit
Beet Greens Cantaloupe
Broccoli (spears & sprouts) Carambola
Brussels Sprouts Carissa
Burdock Roots Casaba Melon
Cabbage (green & red) Cherimoya
Carrots Cherries (sweet)
Cauliflower Crab Apples
Celery Cranberries
Chayote Currant
Chicory Greens Custard Apple
Chinese Cabbage Dates
Collard Greens Elderberries
Coriander Figs
Corn (yellow) Grapes
Cucumber (with or without skin) Grapefruit
Dandelion Greens Ground Cherries
Dock Honeydew Melon
Endive Jackfruit
Eggplant Java Plum
French Beans Jujube
Ginger Root Kiwifruit
Green Beans (snap beans) Kumquat
Jew’s Ear (pepeao) Lemon
Jute (potherb) Lemon Peel
Leeks Lime
Lettuce (butter head, iceberg, loose leaf Longans
& romaine) Loquats
Lupines Mammy Apple
Kale Mango
Kohlrabi Mulberries
Mushrooms Nectarine
Mustard Greens Oheloberries
Mustard Spinach Orange Peel
Napa Cabbage Orange (navel & valencia)
Okra Papaya
Parsley Passion Fruit (purple)
Parsnips Peach
Peas (green) Pear
Peppers (sweet) Persimmon
Pumpkin Pineapple
Radish Pitanga
Soy Bean (green & sprouts) Plantain
Spinach Plum
Squash (acorn, butternut, hubbard, Pomegranate
Spaghetti, summer, winter & zucchini) Prickly Pear
Sweet Potato Prunes
Swiss Chard Pummelo
Tofu (firm & regular) Quince
Tomato (green & red) Raisins
Turnip Raspberries
Turnip Greens Rose Apple
Watercress Roselle
Yams Sapodilla
Sapote
Soursop
Strawberries
Sugar Apple
Tamarind
Tangerine
Watermelon
Veggie Relish/Fruit Smoothie and other Recipes
I’m not sure who to give the credit to for the following recipes but they are a collection of several I have found
over the years. If you know who should get the credit, please contact me.
NOTE: The relish and smoothie recipes have been used for many years but have since been known to be recipes that are not nutritious for our gliders. Our gliders only eat the portions of their foods that they actually need so when we blend the foods, they are getting things that aren't needed. I'm leaving these here though for educational reasons.
VEGGIE RELISH
16 oz veggies
2 oz white grape juice
2 tbls honey
Put all ingredients in blender and blend until it is the consistency of relish. Pour 2 tbls into ice cube trays and
freeze.
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
5-6 lbs fruit
4 oz baby apple juice
2-4 tbls honey
½ cup French Vanilla Yogurt
Put all ingredients in blender and blend until it is smooth. Pour 2 tbls into ice cube trays and freeze.
More variations of the relish and smoothies can be found here http://www.sweet-sugar-gliders.com/ssgcomplete-hpw-diet.html.
These should be offered as an occasional treat only unless otherwise noted.
CHEERIO CHAINS
Using rexlace, attach a bell at the bottom and string Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios and Multi Grain Cheerios
together. Tie to the cage. You can also make hoops and swings! Keep in mind, you will have to remake them
every few days!
GLIDER GRANDPA’S SHREDDED WHEAT PANCAKES
Crushed, plain shredded wheat
Eggs
Mix together and scramble like a pancake (remember, no cooking oils or seasonings should be given to gliders)
L’OMELETTE de FRUITS De POULET
Cooked shredded chicken
Eggs, beaten well
Mixed vegetables
Apple, chopped
Make omelet and top with melons, grapes, pineapples and a sprinkling of The Pet Glider Complete multivitamin.
Variation: Turkey, sweet potato and apple with sugar snap peas, red bell pepper & peaches.
HELWIGGLE’S MEALIE SALAD
2 oz torn salad greens, thoroughly washed
2-3 dried papaya pieces
8 mealworms
Pinch of Gliderade
Toss and serve! Serves 2 gliders.
PINA COLADA SMOOTHIE MIX
Frozen mixed fruit
Container Pina Colada flavored yogurt
¼ tsp Karo syrup
Apple or orange juice to blend
Blend together and serve!
GLIDER BIRTHDAY CAKE
Pancake mix, prepared with applesauce instead of oil
Sunmaid Dried Fruit Bits
Fluker’s Freeze Dried CricketsAdd enough fruit and crickets to make the batter full, but still stick together. I halve the smallest recipe, and there
was a lot left over. Put them in tiny cake cups and then bake at 350 degrees until firm and springy! You can
substitute the dried crickets for mealworms.
BERRY SMOOTHIE MIX
1 ¼ cup Frozen Mix Berries
½ can water
Gerber or Heinz Rice Cereal
11.5 oz can Libby’s Kerns Nectar with Calcium added, any flavor
In blender or food processor, blend frozen berries with nectar and water. While blending, add rice cereal until
ingredients have the consistency of a malt. May be frozen.
FREE-FOR-ALL FRUIT SMOOTHIE MIX
1 ¼ cup frozen fruits
¾ cup water
1 ½ cups apple juice
Gerber or Heinz Baby Rice Cereal
In blender or food processor, blend frozen berries with juice and water. While blending, add rice cereal until
ingredients have the consistency of a malt. May be frozen.
SUPER CHARGED EGG SMOOTHIE
1 hard boiled egg, shell removed
¼ cup Special K cereal
¼ cup apple juice or Libby’s Kerns Nectar with calcium added
In blender or food processor, blend all ingredients well. Serve immediately.
HOMEMADE GLIDER NUTRI-NECTAR
Frozen fruit, any variety
Water
½ tbls non-fat yogurt
In blender or food processor, blend all ingredients to a thin, liquid consistency.
CHICKEN APPLE MANGO PEACH CRUNCH
1 sm apple, peeled, diced
1 chicken breast, skinned, boiled, boneless
¼ cup Mott’s Healthy Harvest unsweetened Peach Medley Applesauce
1 ½ cups Honey Nut Cheerios
1 egg
In mixing bowl, mix ingredients well. On nonstick cookie sheet, place spoon-size balls 1” apart and bake 20
minutes at 300 degrees.
CHICKEN POT PIE
½ cup diced chicken breast, boiled, skinned, boneless
1 ½ cups frozen mix vegetables
2 raw eggs
1 small sweet potato, boiled, peeled and chopped up
In mixing bowl, combine ingredients well. Spray mini-muffin pans with Pam and fill to top. Bake 20-25 minutes, or
until beginning to brown, at 350 degrees.
CHICKEN EGG DROP SOUP
1 chicken breast, skinned, diced
2-2 ½ cups water
¾ cup frozen mixed vegetables
1 raw egg, mixed well
In saucepan, boil chicken for 10 minutes. Add mixed vegetables. Cook an additional 10 minutes. Bring to another
boil. Slowly stir in raw egg, stirring only in one direction. Turn off heat as soon as you start pouring in the egg. Let
cool and serve. Before serving, sprinkle with vitamins, if desired.
GLIDER BOOST
1 quart water
2 tsp molasses1 tsp all natural apple cider vinegar (the kind you buy in the health food store)
Fill quart jar halfway with water. Add other ingredients. Shake to mix well. Add the rest of the water. Give to
gliders once every two months to boost immunity and reduce the male scent.
GLIDER ELIXIR –use for medicinal purposes only!!
1 part Wombaroo milk replacer
1 part Pedialyte
1 part Gerber Baby Rice Cereal
1 part fruit flavored yogurt
Mix. Give 1-2 tsps twice daily. Use this if a glider is depressed or has diarrhea until you can get to the vet
(hopefully first thing in the morning).
GLIDER SALSA
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 tomato
Dash of lemon juice
Clean and chop (small pieces) peppers and tomato. Add a dash of lemon juice if desired. Mix well. Can be frozen.
You can also add 1 small cooked shrimp for each glider and add it to the mixture.
GLIDER CRACK
1 small can white chunk chicken (drained & rinsed well)
1/2 an avocado
1 scrambled egg
1/2 tsp Rep-Cal (can substitute with WHPS)
water
Put all ingredients in the blender & add water until it’s the consistency of paste.
MEALWORM SCRAMBLE
1 scrambled egg
Stir in freeze dried mealworms. Sprinkle lightly with spirulina.
CARROT SALAD
2 shredded baby carrots
Fresh chopped coconut
Chopped raisins (about 3)
Chopped pineapple (one small chunk)
Coconut milk
Water
Small amount of honey
Lightly sauté shredded carrots and coconut in a little coconut milk until soft. Add other ingredients and serve.
information on the most popular diets and my best advice is to do your own research as well as
speak to your vet prior to choosing a diet. You will want to choose one that your gliders will eat
as well as one that works best for your lifestyle.
If you happen to read online or receive advice from fellow glider lovers that it's okay to modify
a diet, please be aware that if you follow their advice, you will no longer be feeding that
particular diet. You will be feeding your own variation of that diet. This can be dangerous for
your gliders health so please contact the diet creator and/or your vet for proper advice on any
changes.
Glider diets can seem confusing but is only as confusing as you allow it to be. Sometimes we
put too much emphasis in this area rather than just enjoying our gliders and the things we do
for them. Remember…”take time to stop and smell the roses”.
I would also like to point out that many people will do some research and come up with a new
diet plan. Several owners start feeding these diets without speaking with their vets and end up
having problems with their gliders health. Please do not jump on the “new diet bandwagon”
and feed a new diet just because someone else you know is feeding it and you think it sounds
good. I’ve seen this done in the past and it cost those owners some of their gliders. Please
learn from their mistakes.
Please note that I generally do not keep up with the changes to diet plans. Do your own research and make sure your information is current and changes with sugar gliders happen frequently. Also, feel free to let me know if any of my information is outdated. I'd be happy to update it.
HPW Plus (HPWP)
Mixing Instructions:
¼ cup Plus powder
1 tablespoon bee pollen
2 cups warm water
12 oz. honey
3 scrambled eggs (no seasonings or cooking oil)
1 cup green juice (optional)
Put all ingredients in blender and blend for about 2-3 minutes. Place mixture in freezer safe container and freeze.
Will freeze to the consistency of ice cream.
Serving Instructions per glider:
1 tablespoon HPW Plus mixture
1 tablespoon veggies
1 tablespoon fruits
Other Information:
See batch/package information below
See recommended (not required) fruit/veggie mixtures below.
This diet yields a 2:1 ca:ph ratio (for the mixture only). It’s believed that gliders need 1.5-2:1.
The HPW Plus powder is manufactured in the US and was introduced to the public February 2011.
Guaranteed Analysis: Min Crude Protein 54.00%
Min Crude Fat 13.00%
Min Crude Fiber 2.00%
Min Calcium 0.90%
Max Calcium 1.10%
Min Phosphorus 0.50%
Min Selenium 0.15 PPM
Min Vitamin A 15.00 KIU/LB
Ingredients: Dried Whey Protein Concentrate, Soy Protein Concentrate, Vegetable Oil, Ground Cereal Grains,
Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Flaxseed Oil, L-Lysine, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Silicon Dioxide, DLMethionine, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Inositol, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous
Sulfate, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Folic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate,
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K3), Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite, Copper
Sulfate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
This diet was created by Peggy Brewer. She can be reached at critterlove@critterlove.com for more
information/questions.
HPW Complete (HPWC)
Mixing Instructions:
½ cup Complete powder
1 ½ cups warm water
1 cup green juice (optional)
Put all ingredients in blender and blend for about 2-3 minutes or shake well. Place mixture in ice cube trays and
freeze. The mixture will freeze solid.
Single serving instructions:
1 teaspoon Complete powder
3 teaspoons (1 tablespoon) warm water
1 teaspoon green juice (optional)
Combine ingredients and shake well.
Serving Instructions per glider:
1 tablespoon HPW Complete mixture
1 tablespoon veggies
1 tablespoon fruits
Other Information:
See batch/package information below
See recommended (not required) fruit/veggie mixtures below.
This diet yields a 2:1 ca:ph ratio (for the mixture only). It’s believed that gliders need 1.5-2:1.
The HPW Complete powder is manufactured in the US and was introduced to the public February 2011.
Guaranteed Analysis: Min Crude Protein 14.00%
Min Crude Fat 2.00%
Min Crude Fiber 2.00%
Min Calcium 0.20%
Max Calcium 0.30%
Min Phosphorus 0.10%
Min Selenium 0.017 PPM
Min Vitamin A 1.60 KIU/LB
Ingredients: Dried Honey, Dry Egg Product, Dried Whey Protein Concentrate, Bee Pollen, Soy Protein Concentrate,
Vegetable Oil, Ground Cereal Grains, Dextrose, Maltodextrin, Flaxseed Oil, L-Lysine, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium
Phosphate, Silicon Dioxide, DL-Methionine, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Inositol, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid,
Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganese
Sulfate, Folic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K3), Thiamine
Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite, Copper Sulfate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate,
Vitamin D3 Supplement.
This diet was created by Peggy Brewer. She can be reached at critterlove@critterlove.com for more
information/questions.
HPW Breeders Formula (HPWB)
Mixing Instructions:
½ cup Breeders Formula powder
2 cups warm water
1 cup green juice (optional)
Put all ingredients in blender and blend for about 2-3 minutes or shake well. Place mixture in ice cube trays and
freeze. The mixture will freeze solid.
Single serving instructions:
1 teaspoon Breeders Formula powder
4 teaspoons warm water
1 teaspoon green juice (optional)
Combine ingredients and shake well.
Serving Instructions per glider:
1 tablespoon HPW Breeders Formula mixture
1 tablespoon veggies
1 tablespoon fruits
Other Information:
See batch/package information below
See recommended (not required) fruit/veggie mixtures below.
This diet yields a 2:1 ca:ph ratio (for the mixture only). It’s believed that gliders need 1.5-2:1.
The HPW Breeders Formula powder is manufactured in the US and was introduced to the public August 2012.
Guaranteed Analysis: Min Crude Protein 23.00%
Min Crude Fat 8.00%
Min Crude Fiber 2.00%
Min Calcium 0.30%
Max Calcium 0.80%
Min Phosphorus 0.10%
Min Selenium 0.017 PPM
Min Vitamin A 1.60 KIU/LB
Ingredients: Dried Honey, Dried Whey Protein Concentrate, Dry Egg Product, Bee Pollen, Soy Protein Concentrate,
Vegetable Oil, Ground Cereal Grains, Calcium Carbonate, Flaxseed Oil, L-Lysine, Dicalcium Phosphate, DLMethionine, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Inositol, Niacinamide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous
Sulfate, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Folic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate,
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K3), Thiamine Mononitrate, Sodium Selenite, Copper
Sulfate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
This diet was created by Peggy Brewer. She can be reached at critterlove@critterlove.com for more
information/questions.
Original HPW (OHPW)
Mixing Instructions:
¼ cup Wombaroo High Protein Supplement (WHPS) powder
1 tablespoon bee pollen
2 cups warm water
12 oz. honey
3 scrambled eggs (no seasonings or cooking oil)
1 cup green juice (optional)
Put all ingredients in blender and blend for about 2-3 minutes. Place mixture in freezer safe container and freeze.
Will freeze to the consistency of ice cream.
Serving Instructions per glider:
1 tablespoon Original HPW mixture
1 tablespoon veggies
1 tablespoon fruits
Other Information:
See batch information below.
See recommended (not required) fruit/veggie mixtures below.
This diet yields a 1.29:1 ca:ph ratio (for the mixture only). It’s believed that gliders need 1.5-2:1.
The Original HPW diet has been used by many owners in the US since approximately 2003.
Guaranteed Analysis: Min Crude Protein 52.00%
Min Crude Fat 12.00%
Max Crude Fiber 5.00%
Max Salt 0.80%
Ingredients: Whey protein, soy protein, ground cereals, maltodextrin, dextrose, lysine, methionine, vegetable oils,
omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D3, E, K, nicotinamide, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic
acid, choline, inositol, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper, iodine,
selenium.
This diet was created by Peggy Brewer. She can be reached at critterlove@critterlove.com for more
information/questions.
Recommended Fruit/Veggie Mixtures for all HPW Diets
MIXTURE 1
1 Small Bag of Frozen Peas
1 Small Bag of Frozen Cut Green
Beans
1 Small Bag Of Frozen Mixed
Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, Green
Beans, Corn)
2 Small Bags of Frozen Diced
Green Peppers (or 2 medium
green peppers diced)
1 Batch of Bok Choy (or 2 small
batches, chopped)
1 Large Cucumber (skin on, wash
well)
1 Large Papaya (chopped)
1 Bag of Frozen Mixed Berries
(Blackberries, Blueberries,
Strawberries)
MIXTURE 2
1 Small Bag of Frozen Peas
1 Small Bag of Frozen Cut Green
Beans
1 Small Bag Of Frozen Mixed
Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, Green
Beans, Corn)
2 Small Bags of Frozen Diced
Green Peppers (or 2 medium
green peppers diced)
1 Large Cucumber (skin on, wash
well)
1 Batch Dandelion Greens
(chopped)
1 Large Papaya (chopped)
2 Gala Apples (chopped, skin on)
MIXTURE 3
1 Small Bag of Frozen Peas
1 Small Bag of Frozen Cut Green
Beans
1 Small Bag Of Frozen Mixed
Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, Green
Beans, Corn)
2 Small Bags of Frozen Diced
Green Peppers (or 2 medium
green peppers diced)
1 Large Cucumber (skin on, wash
well)
1 Batch of Bok Choy (or 2 small
batches, chopped)
1 Bag of Frozen Mixed Berries
(Blackberries, Blueberries,
Strawberries)
2 Gala Apples (chopped, skin on)
1 Cantaloupe or Tuscan Melon
(deseeded and rind removed)
These mixtures should not be mixed together. It's okay to feed 1 mixture 1 night and try another the next.
Mixtures can be frozen together. What has worked best for me is to dish out servings for 2 gliders and put it in
ziplock snack bags then place all snack bags inside a freezer safe container or freezer bag. Otherwise you will end
up with a large ice ball of ingredients.
And remember, these mixtures are only recommended. You are not required to feed these specific mixtures but
keep in mind that you’ll want to factor in the ca:ph ratios of your fruit/veggie mixtures with the staple diet. Paying
particular attention to what you choose to feed if using the Original HPW diet.
HPW Diet Portions
HPWP:
1 oz. 1 batch 67 servings/83 if green juice is added
4 oz. 4 batches 268/332
8 oz. 8 batches 536/664
1 lb. 16 batches 1072/1328
2 lbs. 32 batches 2144/2656
5 lbs. 80 batches 5360/6640
HPWC:
2 oz. 1 batch 24 servings/40 if green juice is added
4 oz. 2 batches 48/80
8 oz. 4 batches 97/161
1 lb. 8 batches 195/323
2 lbs. 16 batches 390/646
5 lbs. 40 batches 976/1616
HPWB:
2 oz. 1 batch 52 servings/68 if green juice is added
2 lbs. 16 batches 832/1088
OHPW:
1 batch approx 80 servings/96 if green juice is added
125g 5.5 batches approx 440/528
250g 11 batches approx 880/1056
500g 22 batches approx 1760/2112
1K 44 batches approx 3520/4224
Unfortunately I have misplaced my information for OHPW. I’ve estimated these numbers but it shouldn’t be off by
a lot. These amounts are based on feeding non-breeding gliders on OHPW so the numbers would decrease if
feeding breeders.
*All servings are approximate.
To calculate approximately how long a batch of powder will last you, divide the number of servings by the number
of gliders you are feeding.
BML (Bourbon’s Modified Leadbeaters)
There are more variations of this diet but this is the correct link:
http://bmldiet.com.
http://www.glidercentral.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/6697/1. You will notice in
the thread that the author has done some calculations and states that the BML mixture itself is a 3.7:1 ratio but
with the fruits/veggies it would be about 2:1.
Mixing Instructions:
½ cup honey (DO NOT use honey comb, raw or unfiltered)
1 egg boiled or scrambled (no shell)
4 oz. bottle of premixed Gerber juice with yogurt (if you can’t find it, 2 oz. plain yogurt and 2 oz. mixed fruit juice
can be used instead, 100% juice-no additives)
**The recommended juice is no longer available. The diet creator is recommending Tropicana Island Punch, NOT NOT NOT the Dole Pineapple Orange Banana that people keep pushing in the Facebook groups. If you need confirmation, please contact the diet creator directly. Bourbon Hackworth on Facebook. This has been updated on 5/18/2023.
Blend until ingredients are mixed well.
½ cup wheat germ
1 teaspoon vitamin supplement (Rep-Cal Herptivite)
2 teaspoons calcium supplement non-phosphorus with Vit. D3 (Rep-Cal)
2-2.5 oz. jars of chicken baby food
¼ cup apple juice
½ cup dry baby cereal
Add these ingredients to above mixture and blend well for 5 minutes. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. The
mixture will freeze solid.
Serving instructions:
1 tablespoon BML mix
1 tablespoon fruits (apples, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, melon, frozen pitted cherries and blueberries)
1 tablespoon veggies (corn, peas, carrots and green beans)
Also feed 10-12 small, 7-10 medium or 3-5 large mealworms in the morning.
If they eat everything the first night, add a little more the next night until they leave only a small portion.
**I made the version on the first page of the website noted above. That mixture made 40 servings.
Bourbon H. is this diet’s creator. She can be found on facebook or by calling 321-331-1608.
Modified Leadbeaters Diet Plan (Judie’s Version)
Judie’s Modified Leadbeaters Diet Plan below was modified by a long time and respected breeder due to some of
her gliders rejecting the basic mixture. Please follow this diet plan exactly. Avoid supplementing or modifying
ingredients. Please note that there is not a specific list of fruits/veggies with this diet as there is with the Back to
Basics BML plan. Variety is important but do not overfeed items high in phosphorous such as corn.
Presentation: Start out by feeding (per 1 glider):
*1 tablespoon of the BML mix
*1 tablespoon fruits
*1 tablespoon veggies
*Feed 10-12 small, 7-10 medium, or 3-5 large mealworms
Other insects gliders enjoy are crickets, june bugs, moths and grasshoppers. Never feed roaches, lightning bugs or
any bug caught outside or in an area where it could have insecticide on it.
If they eat it all the first night add a little more the next night until they leave only a little bit.
BML Ingredients (aka Judie’s Version):
*1/2 cup honey (DO NOT use honeycomb, raw or unfiltered honey)
*1 egg hard boiled w/shell (if your blender doesn’t break the shell down don’t use it)
*1 oz Apple juice (100% juice, no additives)
*1 oz Cranapple or Crancherry juice
*4 oz bottle premixed Gerber juice with yogurt (comes in mixed fruit or banana found near the baby food
aisle. If it can’t be found, mix 2 oz plain yogurt and 2 oz mixed fruit juice (100% juice, no additives).
*1 teaspoon vitamin supplement (Rep-Cal Herptivite is recommended)
*2 teaspoons calcium supplement non-phosphorus with Vit. D3 (Rep-Cal).
*2-2 ½ oz jars chicken baby food
*1 small jar Stage 2 sweet potato
*1/4 cup wheat germ
*1/2 cup dry baby cereal (mixed or oatmeal)
Directions: Put honey, egg (with shell on) and apple juice into the blender and blend until ingredients are mixed
well. Add the chicken baby food and sweet potato, blend. Add the fruit juice, yogurt juice and vitamin
supplement, blend well. Add the wheat germ and baby cereal, blend well. Pour into ice cube trays or in a bowl
and freeze.
NOTE: It will freeze to the same consistency as ice cream. This recipe should feed one glider for about a month.
Judie Hausmann is this diet’s creator. She can be reached at JudithHausmann@msn.com.
The Sugar Glider Exotic Diet (The Pet Glider Diet)
Ingredients:
*25 oz unsweetened applesauce
*4 oz. Dannon non-fat plain yogurt
*3 oz. concentrated calcium fortified orange juice, no water added
*3/4 cup Old Fashioned Oats (NO QUICK COOKING OATS)
*1 tablespoon fresh ground flax seed or wheat germ, refrigerated
Directions: In a large bowl, mix the applesauce, oats, yogurt, wheat germ and orange juice. Divide into three
equal portions. To portion one, add 3 small or medium scrambled eggs. To portion two, add ¾ pound
unseasoned, unsalted, broiled shredded chicken. Leave the third portion plain for the nights you feed mealworms
or yogurt.
Freeze flat in quart size freezer bags (1/2” or less thick).
In a separate bowl, chop up:
¾ cup various fruits
¾ cup various vegetables
You may also choose to use precut frozen fruits or vegetables
Combine and freeze in bags.
Presentation:
*Offer the basic mixture fresh the first two nights then freeze the remaining following the directions
above.
*Break off a frozen piece of the basic mix. Pull out the chopped fruits and vegetables from your freezer
trying to keep it one part fruits to one part vegetables.
*If you chose to use precut frozen fruits and vetetables, do not use vegetables which have a high ratio of
corn.
*Feed at least 4-6 fresh fruits and veggies each day; don’t feed the same combination of this mixture
three days in a row.
*Offer UNSEASONED, UNSALTED broiled chicken (1 teaspoon per glider), eggs or mealworms (3-6 giant)
four or five nights out of the week for extra protein. If your glider has a tendency to be overweight, offer less
mealworms. Mealworms are high in fat so only offer them three times per week.
*Offer fresh water at all times and Gatorade may be given 3-4 times a week. Use fruit flavored Gatorade
and mix the granular kind to your glider’s taste. The flavored fruit mix encourages your glider to drink more liquid.
It contains electrolytes and also contains some sucrose, a nectar substitute, both very important to them.
*Always sprinkle vitamins on top. Never mix them in and never freeze them. If you sprinkle them on top
the gliders will eat them first with some food because they taste good.
Priscilla Price is this diet’s creator. She can be reached at thepetglider@thepetglider.com.
Darcy’s Diet (Ensure)
Presentation: Feed about a tablespoon of protein source per glider. Such as insects, mealworms, chicken or duck
meat, crickets, wax worms, or egg. Also feed nightly, chopped fruits and vegetables. Use various fruits & veggies,
emphasis on variety and moderation (no large amount of any one thing).
Daily Staple: Zookeeper’s Secret is offered daily as a staple.
Enrichment Supplement: Nekton brand nectar is offered nightly. A multivitamin and protein supplement originally
developed for birds. It has a calcium phosphorus ratio of 1:1, therefore it cannot be relied upon for a calcium
supplement (similar to gliderade).
Daily Vitamin/Mineral Supplement: Mix one can of Ensure (8 ounces) with 380 mg (3/8 teaspoon) calcium
carbonate (human grade available at most pharmacies).
2-3 tablespoons Ensure* supplement (NEVER CHOCOLATE) with calcium per glider in a bowl (if you try putting it in
a bottle the calcium will clog the tube).
Optional: ¼ teaspoon acacia gum
This diet is especially useful for gliders who are malnutrition or recovering from illness. It is based on using Ensure
plus calcium as the nutritional supplement.
*Sustagen is the European equivalent
PML (Pockets Modified Leadbeater’s)
Mix ingredients:
*1 ¾ cup water (bottled preferred)
*1 ¾ cup honey (honey amount can be decreased to 1 ½ cup if using Australian honey)
*2 boiled shelled eggs
*1 ounce (30 grams) Wombaroo High Protein Supplement
According to Pockets: “I change my amount of Wombaroo HPS I offer according to season – but you do not have
to. I use 1 less egg in my PML than is recommended in Oz, as my research has shown a problem with captive
possums – possible cholesterol problems from providing to many egg yolks resulting in fatty tumors.”
Instructions:
*Warm water for 2 minutes in microwave before mixing in the honey (do not make water hot as it can
destroy the vitamins in the WHPS). Mix until dissolved.
*Place eggs and warm blended honey/water into blender, blend 1 minute.
*Add 1 ounce (30 grams) of Wombaroo High Protein Supplement & blend again for 1 minute.
*Place in freezer safe dish & freeze.
Presentation:
*Pockets Modified Leadbeater’s (PML) mix nightly; 1 glider portion is ¾ - 1 tablespoon.
*1 tablespoon insectivore fare per glider (zookeeper’s secret)
*1-2 tablespoons fruit/veggie mix per glider
*Tiny portion of Neocalglucon weekly (a type of calcium)
Debbie Houston is this diet’s creator. She can be found on facebook.
Wholesome Balance/ZooKeeper’s Secret
This particular diet has always seemed more confusing to me than any other diet available. Both of them do use a
pellet as the main staple. Please do your own research on this diet.
Per Glider:
1 tbls Wholesome Balance or ZooKeepers Secret Pellets
1 tbls fruit/veggies. Add a pinch of Vionate and a pinch of Rep-Cal Calcium (no Vit D3)
Also add on a 4 day rotation basis:
1. 3-5 large mealworms
2. 3-5 crickets
3. ¾ tbls yogurt
OR
4. ¾ tbls “concoction”
The “concoction” consists of mixing boiled egg (no shell), high protein/low sugar cereal (Corn Flakes, Special K,
etc.), and honey or apple juice.
These pellets can also be kept in the cage for daytime snacking as well.
The full diet plan can be found at http://www.sugar-gliders.com/sugar-glider-diet.htm.
Green Juices
There are 3 brands of green juices that I’m aware of.
Naked Green Machine:
Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness:
Odwalla Superfood:
Most grocery stores carry at least 1 of these products. I have found them located either in the refrigerated juice
section or the refrigerated section in the produce department.
What is the benefit of adding green juice to the HPW diets? They (Odwalla in particular) contain healthy
ingredients such as wheatgrass, spirulina, Jerusalem artichoke and wheat sprouts not to mention the added fruits.
This helps add in good antioxidants to the diet as well as comforting the owner who is worried about their gliders
not eating enough fruits.
Most of the BML ingredients
Dry baby cereal: Wheat germ:
Rep-Cal Herptivite: Rep-Cal Calcium w/Vit D3:
Chicken baby food: Gerber juice w/yogurt:
Apple juice:
Gliderade
Gliderade aka Lory Life Nectar has been used by many owners as an additional treat with OHPW and other diets.
It’s a 5:1 mixture (5 parts water/1 part powder) and usually offered 1-2x/week.
Nutritional information on this powder was obtained from Avico.
Moisture 2.36%
Crude Fat <1.30%
Protein 9.95%
Ash 2.24%
Crude Fiber 0.69%
Arsenic <0.15 ppm
Cadmium <0.050 ppm
Copper 36 ppm
Iron 46 ppm
Lead <0.20 ppm
Zinc 120 ppm
Vitamin A – WRE 054 1450 IU/100g
Safe fruits & vegetables for gliders
Vegetables Fruits TOXIC
Alfalfa Acerola Garlic
Amaranth Apple (with or without skin) Lima Beans
Artichoke Apricots Onion
Asparagus Banana Rhubarb
Avocado Blackberries Cocoa (Chocolate)
Bamboo Shoots Blueberries
Beets Breadfruit
Beet Greens Cantaloupe
Broccoli (spears & sprouts) Carambola
Brussels Sprouts Carissa
Burdock Roots Casaba Melon
Cabbage (green & red) Cherimoya
Carrots Cherries (sweet)
Cauliflower Crab Apples
Celery Cranberries
Chayote Currant
Chicory Greens Custard Apple
Chinese Cabbage Dates
Collard Greens Elderberries
Coriander Figs
Corn (yellow) Grapes
Cucumber (with or without skin) Grapefruit
Dandelion Greens Ground Cherries
Dock Honeydew Melon
Endive Jackfruit
Eggplant Java Plum
French Beans Jujube
Ginger Root Kiwifruit
Green Beans (snap beans) Kumquat
Jew’s Ear (pepeao) Lemon
Jute (potherb) Lemon Peel
Leeks Lime
Lettuce (butter head, iceberg, loose leaf Longans
& romaine) Loquats
Lupines Mammy Apple
Kale Mango
Kohlrabi Mulberries
Mushrooms Nectarine
Mustard Greens Oheloberries
Mustard Spinach Orange Peel
Napa Cabbage Orange (navel & valencia)
Okra Papaya
Parsley Passion Fruit (purple)
Parsnips Peach
Peas (green) Pear
Peppers (sweet) Persimmon
Pumpkin Pineapple
Radish Pitanga
Soy Bean (green & sprouts) Plantain
Spinach Plum
Squash (acorn, butternut, hubbard, Pomegranate
Spaghetti, summer, winter & zucchini) Prickly Pear
Sweet Potato Prunes
Swiss Chard Pummelo
Tofu (firm & regular) Quince
Tomato (green & red) Raisins
Turnip Raspberries
Turnip Greens Rose Apple
Watercress Roselle
Yams Sapodilla
Sapote
Soursop
Strawberries
Sugar Apple
Tamarind
Tangerine
Watermelon
Veggie Relish/Fruit Smoothie and other Recipes
I’m not sure who to give the credit to for the following recipes but they are a collection of several I have found
over the years. If you know who should get the credit, please contact me.
NOTE: The relish and smoothie recipes have been used for many years but have since been known to be recipes that are not nutritious for our gliders. Our gliders only eat the portions of their foods that they actually need so when we blend the foods, they are getting things that aren't needed. I'm leaving these here though for educational reasons.
VEGGIE RELISH
16 oz veggies
2 oz white grape juice
2 tbls honey
Put all ingredients in blender and blend until it is the consistency of relish. Pour 2 tbls into ice cube trays and
freeze.
FRUIT SMOOTHIE
5-6 lbs fruit
4 oz baby apple juice
2-4 tbls honey
½ cup French Vanilla Yogurt
Put all ingredients in blender and blend until it is smooth. Pour 2 tbls into ice cube trays and freeze.
More variations of the relish and smoothies can be found here http://www.sweet-sugar-gliders.com/ssgcomplete-hpw-diet.html.
These should be offered as an occasional treat only unless otherwise noted.
CHEERIO CHAINS
Using rexlace, attach a bell at the bottom and string Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios and Multi Grain Cheerios
together. Tie to the cage. You can also make hoops and swings! Keep in mind, you will have to remake them
every few days!
GLIDER GRANDPA’S SHREDDED WHEAT PANCAKES
Crushed, plain shredded wheat
Eggs
Mix together and scramble like a pancake (remember, no cooking oils or seasonings should be given to gliders)
L’OMELETTE de FRUITS De POULET
Cooked shredded chicken
Eggs, beaten well
Mixed vegetables
Apple, chopped
Make omelet and top with melons, grapes, pineapples and a sprinkling of The Pet Glider Complete multivitamin.
Variation: Turkey, sweet potato and apple with sugar snap peas, red bell pepper & peaches.
HELWIGGLE’S MEALIE SALAD
2 oz torn salad greens, thoroughly washed
2-3 dried papaya pieces
8 mealworms
Pinch of Gliderade
Toss and serve! Serves 2 gliders.
PINA COLADA SMOOTHIE MIX
Frozen mixed fruit
Container Pina Colada flavored yogurt
¼ tsp Karo syrup
Apple or orange juice to blend
Blend together and serve!
GLIDER BIRTHDAY CAKE
Pancake mix, prepared with applesauce instead of oil
Sunmaid Dried Fruit Bits
Fluker’s Freeze Dried CricketsAdd enough fruit and crickets to make the batter full, but still stick together. I halve the smallest recipe, and there
was a lot left over. Put them in tiny cake cups and then bake at 350 degrees until firm and springy! You can
substitute the dried crickets for mealworms.
BERRY SMOOTHIE MIX
1 ¼ cup Frozen Mix Berries
½ can water
Gerber or Heinz Rice Cereal
11.5 oz can Libby’s Kerns Nectar with Calcium added, any flavor
In blender or food processor, blend frozen berries with nectar and water. While blending, add rice cereal until
ingredients have the consistency of a malt. May be frozen.
FREE-FOR-ALL FRUIT SMOOTHIE MIX
1 ¼ cup frozen fruits
¾ cup water
1 ½ cups apple juice
Gerber or Heinz Baby Rice Cereal
In blender or food processor, blend frozen berries with juice and water. While blending, add rice cereal until
ingredients have the consistency of a malt. May be frozen.
SUPER CHARGED EGG SMOOTHIE
1 hard boiled egg, shell removed
¼ cup Special K cereal
¼ cup apple juice or Libby’s Kerns Nectar with calcium added
In blender or food processor, blend all ingredients well. Serve immediately.
HOMEMADE GLIDER NUTRI-NECTAR
Frozen fruit, any variety
Water
½ tbls non-fat yogurt
In blender or food processor, blend all ingredients to a thin, liquid consistency.
CHICKEN APPLE MANGO PEACH CRUNCH
1 sm apple, peeled, diced
1 chicken breast, skinned, boiled, boneless
¼ cup Mott’s Healthy Harvest unsweetened Peach Medley Applesauce
1 ½ cups Honey Nut Cheerios
1 egg
In mixing bowl, mix ingredients well. On nonstick cookie sheet, place spoon-size balls 1” apart and bake 20
minutes at 300 degrees.
CHICKEN POT PIE
½ cup diced chicken breast, boiled, skinned, boneless
1 ½ cups frozen mix vegetables
2 raw eggs
1 small sweet potato, boiled, peeled and chopped up
In mixing bowl, combine ingredients well. Spray mini-muffin pans with Pam and fill to top. Bake 20-25 minutes, or
until beginning to brown, at 350 degrees.
CHICKEN EGG DROP SOUP
1 chicken breast, skinned, diced
2-2 ½ cups water
¾ cup frozen mixed vegetables
1 raw egg, mixed well
In saucepan, boil chicken for 10 minutes. Add mixed vegetables. Cook an additional 10 minutes. Bring to another
boil. Slowly stir in raw egg, stirring only in one direction. Turn off heat as soon as you start pouring in the egg. Let
cool and serve. Before serving, sprinkle with vitamins, if desired.
GLIDER BOOST
1 quart water
2 tsp molasses1 tsp all natural apple cider vinegar (the kind you buy in the health food store)
Fill quart jar halfway with water. Add other ingredients. Shake to mix well. Add the rest of the water. Give to
gliders once every two months to boost immunity and reduce the male scent.
GLIDER ELIXIR –use for medicinal purposes only!!
1 part Wombaroo milk replacer
1 part Pedialyte
1 part Gerber Baby Rice Cereal
1 part fruit flavored yogurt
Mix. Give 1-2 tsps twice daily. Use this if a glider is depressed or has diarrhea until you can get to the vet
(hopefully first thing in the morning).
GLIDER SALSA
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 tomato
Dash of lemon juice
Clean and chop (small pieces) peppers and tomato. Add a dash of lemon juice if desired. Mix well. Can be frozen.
You can also add 1 small cooked shrimp for each glider and add it to the mixture.
GLIDER CRACK
1 small can white chunk chicken (drained & rinsed well)
1/2 an avocado
1 scrambled egg
1/2 tsp Rep-Cal (can substitute with WHPS)
water
Put all ingredients in the blender & add water until it’s the consistency of paste.
MEALWORM SCRAMBLE
1 scrambled egg
Stir in freeze dried mealworms. Sprinkle lightly with spirulina.
CARROT SALAD
2 shredded baby carrots
Fresh chopped coconut
Chopped raisins (about 3)
Chopped pineapple (one small chunk)
Coconut milk
Water
Small amount of honey
Lightly sauté shredded carrots and coconut in a little coconut milk until soft. Add other ingredients and serve.