As exotic marsupial, the sugar glider requires a very specific nutrition with key ingredients that yon won’t find in your local supermarket. Here’s how you can feed it to ensure he stays healthy.

In the wild, the diet of the sugar glider varies with the seasons. In summer (from November to March), it feeds mainly on arthropods, because they are very abundant. The sugar glider is specially fond of locusts and beetles, and does not disdain some spiders or even small mammals or chicks.
In winter, when insects become scarce, the possum consumes mainly acacia gum, eucalyptus sap, nectar, as well as honeydew produced by insects that feed on sap, and sweet secretions found on injured eucalyptus bark. Scientific studies have shown that the sugar glider prefers insects, but that when he found acacia gum, he always took advantage of it.

Overall, here is the composition of the sugar glider diet in the wild:

• 40% acacia gum
• 30% arthropods (insects, arachnids …)
• 11% eucalyptus sap

In captivity, it is not so easy to offer the same menu, but we can follow some very basic rules, established by recognized breeders:

• Proteins must represent at least 50% of the daily diet (some authors advocate up to 75%).
• You have to pay attention to the phosphorus / calcium ratio: it must be Ca / P = 2, which means there must be twice as much calcium as phosphorus. Arthropods rich in calcium are preferred.
• Fruit juices and nectars will not represent more than 10% of the diet.
• A vitamin supplement must be provided as a vitamin formula for omnivores. According to some authors, it is necessary to supplement in vitamin D3. According to others, this vitamin is associated with calcium intake and is therefore useless.

The daily diet

Here’s the ideal daily diet of a sugar glider in captivity.

• A teaspoon of special mixture: there are several very well know recipes you can prepare yourself, such as the Bourbon Modified Leadbeater’s Mix (Bourbon Recipe), the Dr. Cathy Johnson-Delaney’s mixture, the one of Dr. Rosemary Booth, or the one from the Chicago Zoological Park.
• Acacia sap (gum): it is the greatest pleasure of sugar glider and represents 40% of its diet! It is found in some pharmacies or exotic pet stores as a powder that can be diluted in water or as little solid crystals. Give the sap twice a week.
• Few insects: arthropods make up 30% of the diet in the wild. You can give mainly locusts and crickets. Beware of mealworms, often too fat. You can breed insects yourself!
• Proteins: you can also give a small piece of boiled white meat (turkey, chicken), never red meat or raw meat. Tofu is also a good source of protein.
• Few pieces of fruit: you can give all the fruits except those that are too acidic. Avoid the kernels, often toxic !
• Few pieces of vegetables and herbs, occasionally: celery, carrot, cabbage, pumpkin, escarole, chervil, peas, broccoli, basil …
• Few wild leaves of flowers: eucalyptus, hibiscus, clover, lavender, lemon balm, daisies, dandelion flowers …
• Little extras: honey or pollen is a must !
• Plenty of fresh water at all time

The overall intake of food should not exceed 15 to 25% of live weight, or about 35 grams per day.

In order to respect the animal’s nocturnal and arboreal lifestyle, food must be distributed in the early evening, in feeders at height and at room temperature.

Food to avoid

• Industrial baby food and other cooked meals, too fat and too sweet
• Other pets food
• Nuts, which are too fat and contain too much phosphorus
• Cereals as they may contain aflatoxin
• Foods containing additives and preservatives
• Dairy products
• Houseplants
• Some vegetables: turnip, rhubarb, garlic, chives, onion, shallot, corn
• Some herbs / plants: bird, tarragon, laurel, watercress
• Candies, chocolate, cookies
• Industrial snacks for other animals
• Any food not eaten in a few hours must be removed from the cage.

By Marie-Sophie Germain

Photo : NH Sugar Gliders