SGS II Diet

What do you feed your gliders?

The diet of captive sugar gliders is very different to that of wild gliders.  In captivity we cannot recreate the wild diet as it consists mainly of gum and tree exudates as well as pollen, nectar, honeydew (insect secretions), manna, and naturally gut loaded insects.

In captivity there are many different diets to choose and confuse you.  The most popular diet in the UK by far is SGS II. The SGS II diet was created by Marie of www.sugarglidershop.co.uk where you can also purchase all the needed supplements for this diet.  It is a highly effective diet producing fantastic improvements in gliders when they are switched to SGS II from another diet.  On the Sugar Gliders UK Facebook page there is a photo album showing before and after pictures. You do need to be a member of the group to view the album. SGS II is now very popular across Europe and it is also an approved diet in America.

What Does SGS II consist of?

SGS II consists of a base made from fruit and vegetables all blended together to form a ‘mush’ mix.  The mush should be at least two thirds vegetables and one third fruit.  Many people like to make two large 1lb batches (one with calcium and one without) and freeze in ice cubes.  A batch of this size can make 20 – 25 individual meals (each glider having a heaped tablespoon of mush).

Instructions to create SGS II mush for freezing. Please note These instructions create ONE 450g batch.

You will need to do TWO different batches to freeze, I recommend to pick 2 different recipes (See Mush Recipe page for options) as this will vary the diet and it is much nicer for the gliders to not have the same meal each day, One batch that includes egg as the protein source and one that has no protein included so you can alternate each night and offer a variety of different protein sources throughout the week. The other main reason is to include calcium in one and not the other, so its only given 2 to 3 times a week.

Follow each step ...

  • Firstly, soak 1 Tablespoon of brown linseed (or golden linseed if brown is unavailable) add around 5 Tablespoon of boiled water. The boiled water will soften the linseed shell and release the oils. Leave to one side until needed.
  • If you are using egg as your protein source, put your egg onto boil.
  • Thoroughly wash your fruit and veg, then peel and dice ensuring you remove all seeds/stones. Weigh out each ingredient needed for the recipe you have chosen. For skins on veg or fruit use the method 'if i would eat it with it on then they can' apples, pears etc all okay.

 

Pop all the prepared fruit and veg into the blender/food processor, add a little water and blend into a nice even mush, you want the mush to be moving around the blender easily. A blended mush will ensure the gliders cannot pick out what they like and they receive all that is needed in their diet.

  • Add in 2 Teaspoons of WHPS - Wombaroo High Protein Supplement or SGS Hi-Pro Supplement
  • Add in 1 Teaspoon of Bee Pollen.
  • Add in 1 Tablespoon of Oatmeal or Wheatgerm (Oatmeal is especially better for winter/colder months).
  • Add in 1 Tablespoon of Linseed with the water.
  • Add in 1 Tablespoon of Natural Probiotic yogurt (Onken brands) or 1 crushed Tablet of Holland & Barrett chewable Acidophilus.
  • Add in your boiled egg (No shell).
  • Blend everything all together to ensure the supplements are evenly blended through out the mush and serve into silicone ice cube trays (which hold around 1 Tablespoon per cube and then freeze) The mush does not have to be completely smooth.

Batch 1

  • Add in ½ Teaspoon of calcium powder (or sprinkle fresh 2-3 times a week).
  • OPTIONAL (You can add in both batches or just Batch 2 as not all gliders seem to like it) Add in ½ Teaspoon of spirulina. 

Batch 2  

  • Add in ¼ Teaspoon of Acacia Gum.
  • Add in ½ Teaspoon of spirulina.

 

Feeding your gliders

  • Simply take out 1-2 cubes per glider each morning and pop them in the fridge this will ensure they are thawed before serving. I feed between 6-7pm as my gliders prefer this time and they like their routine, some will eat alot later. Always ensure there is food left over in the mornings and not just the glider spit outs (lil half moon shaped bits) in their bowls. 
  • If using Zolcal (Liquid calcium) add 0.1ml per 100g bodyweight to the mush and mix well just before serving. Calcium is a very important part of the diet to avoid ‘hind leg paralysis’. Do not exceed the dose stated. Too much calcium is as bad as too little.
  • Ensure fresh water is given daily (Ensure a minimum of 2 water bottles are available for a pair of Gliders).
  • Serve Gliderade with water or Nutriglider with juice in a small dish (as per pack instructions) 2-3 times per week, 
  • Free to eat food such as ‘Monkey Biscuits’ and ‘SGS Glider Complete’ can be put freely in the cage (as per pack instructions). This is not a complete diet but a diet extra and is purely optional. The added crunch is good for the teeth especially with a mush diet, which will keep teeth and gums healthy.
  • Protein source daily. If your not including egg within your mush then a alternative protein source to be served alongside your mush. Protein should be increased for females with joeys.

 

For days without egg as the protein source you can alternate your protein with one of the following

  • Insectivore fare which can be bought from www.sugarglidershop.co.uk
  • Iams or James Wellbeloved Cat Biscuits (5 per glider)
  • Homemade Turkey Burgers (half a burger per glider) usually around a tablespoon in size.
  • Boiled chicken 

Insects should be given as treats rather than the gliders protein source due to the lack of nutritional value they contain, if giving insects as treats ensure they are gut loaded first and have not been raised on corn bedding due to risk of aflatoxin poisoning. 

 

There is much speculation regarding what sugar gliders should eat, but there are a few basic rules:

  • Never feed chocolate, anything from the onion family, millet, caffeine, canned fruit, rhubarb, grapes and avocado should also be avoided due to its high fat content.
  • Ensure clean water is available at all times, use a water bottle not a dish.
  • Always remove any uneaten fruit in the morning, this is a breeding ground for bacteria and will also attract flies and ants.
  • Never feed rodent mixes, peanuts, sunflower seeds, corn or corn products. Gliders are not seed and nut eaters, not only can they be a choke hazard and possibly damage the intestine, but they are prone to aflatoxin contamination which can prove fatal.

 

used with permission from Marie at SGS, please note some info may be edited or added to by SWSGUK