E-Diet/The Ensure Diet

THE GLIDER DIET IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE WILL HAVE A SAY ON. PLEASE ASK IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. NO, FRUIT AND VEGGIES ARE NOT ALL THEY NEED TO EAT AND PELLETS ARE NOT EITHER. I WILL LIST THE 3 DIETS AND YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TIME TO READ THEM AND CHOOSE ONE THAT YOU WILL BE COMFORTABLE FIXING. ALL OF MY GLIDERS ARE ON THE ENSURE DIET W/HAPPY GLIDER PELLETS 24/7. NO HONEY IS ADDED TO THIS DIET SO I FEEL BETTER FEEDING IT.   

The Ensure Diet      

This diet has been used by Carolina sugar glider rescues and a growing number of individuals on a daily basis, some since 2012. Although it is not recommended by some groups, it is growing in acceptance. It is a nectar made up of 33% goat milk, 33% Ensure and 33% Coconut water. Plus veggies, fruit and other options on the side, plus a sprinkle of calcium on the nectar. The nectar alone is enough to provide many needed vitamins, minerals and protein, and gliders love the flavor! It’s easier than TPG, is less restrictive than most diets, and does not require purchasing anything on line. You can buy everything at Walmart or grocery store!

Ingredients  

Original Ensure (Generic brands like Equate are OK) (No chocolate)  

Goat milk [fresh (pasteurized recommended) or evaporated or powdered] (found next to evaporated cow milk)  

Coconut Water (can or carton) (not coconut milk) (found next to sports drinks)    

Vegetables (variety is recommended) 

Fruit (fresh or frozen)  

Powdered Calcium (Calcium Carbonate or Calcium Citrate) (found in larger pharmacies or health food stores)  

Pellets (Pet-pro Happy Glider or other quality brand)  

Options (anything glider safe*)    

Nectar preparation:  We recommend using powdered goat milk for small batches to reduce waste, caused by unused evaporated goat milk spoiling 

Nectar preparation for small batches  

Thoroughly blend 2 scoops of Meyenberg goat milk powder with 8 oz filtered water and 8 oz coconut water  

Gently stir in 8 oz Ensure (do not use blender)  

Pour into ice cube trays, or very small storage containers  

Freeze (will freeze quite hard)    

Nectar preparation for large batches  

Prepare evaporated goat milk (equal parts evaporated milk and water) or fresh goat milk (24 oz total)  

Gently stir in 24 oz coconut water  

Gently stir in 24 oz (3 bottles) Ensure  

Refrigerate for up to 3 days (will sour after that if not frozen)    

Feeding (per glider): We feed once a night, soon after they wake. They may graze all night. 1 to 1.5 TBSP nectar in primary bowl(s)  

Side-bowl(s) with the following: 1 to 1.5 TBSP mixed vegetables Up to 1 TBSP fresh or frozen fruit Up to 2 TBSP glider safe pellets (We recommend pet-pro.com pellets) left in cage 24/7  1 “drop” calcium (1/64 tsp, 78 mg, one shake from salt shaker) (double the amount if additional protein is offered)    

Recommendations for side-bowl(s)  

Classic “Mixed Vegetables” (corn/peas/greenbeans/carrots) has an amazing spectrum of vitamins/minerals  Otherwise, try to use the stoplight method to choose veggies. (green/yellow/red) Most any fruits, according to taste. Remove all pits. Try to remove seeds and skin when possible    

Protein mostly includes boiled chicken, turkey and egg    

*Glider Safe Foods It’s very had to keep up with the long, long lists of what a sugar glider can eat. Honestly, Sugar gliders can eat nearly every healthy food that you and I eat, the same way we eat it. (Raw, cooked, pitted, skinned, etc)  

It's much easier to list what they should not eat. The following are considered    

TOXIC: Never feed anything from the onion/garlic family, No cocoa, No peppermint, No fresh, raw Lima beans, No alcohol, No caffeine, No honeycomb, No to most spices. The following is not healthy for them as it is not healthy for you. Limit salt and sugar. Nothing canned or oil fried. Stay away from "artificial" anything. (that eliminates much of the “junk food” we eat). Limit fruits and veggies that are acidic or cause gas. Otherwise, they eat any fresh, frozen or cooked vegetable or fruit you eat. Eggs, and lean meats too    

Diet adjustments for overweight gliders  

Reduce fat by buying non-fat goat milk powder from Amazon. Try mixing 1 scoop full fat and 1 scoop non-fat. Reduce carbs by staying away from peas, beans, sweet potato, Banana, Mango, pineapple and grapes, then feeding more Kale, mushrooms, spinach, and red bell peppers, melons, peach, berries and coconut   

Diet adjustments for underweight gliders  

Reduce the amount of water or coconut water to create a stronger nectar to build more health and energy. Increase carbs by staying away from Kale, mushrooms, spinach and red bell peppers, melons, peach, berries, coconut, then feeding more peas, beans, sweet potato, Banana, Mango, pineapple and grapes