People say that the way to a glider’s heart is through its stomach. That is a very true statement. Sugar gliders LOVE sweet things. It is important to remember that treats should be fed in moderation. Too much is not healthy for them. That said, I have a bucket load of treat ideas that you can use for bonding time!
Freeze Dried/Dried Fruit
The possibilities are endless! Kiwi, mango, watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, apple, pear, blueberries, dates, mulberries, bananas, figs, raisins, papaya. Just about anything. Just be sure that there is no added sugar or preservatives and that the fruit is on the glider safe list. You can find cheap dried fruit at Target. https://www.target.com/c/dried-fruit-raisins-chips-snacks-cookies-grocery/-/N-5xt0y
Remember, a little goes a long way. Your glider is tiny and will take a long time to eat through a bag of dried fruit. The smaller portions you can buy the better.
Yogurt Drops
Yogurt drops are a favorite among sugar glider owners. They are my glider’s favorite treat. They do have some sugar in them, so I don’t give them as foraging treats. I got the mini kind from SunCoast Glides. Ink and Dreamer get two or three a night. When I had the big versions, I would break one in half and they would each get a half.
Marshmallows/White chocolate
Some people will feed their gliders marshmallows or white chocolate (NEVER DARK CHOCOLATE OR ANYTHING WITH COCO). I personally don’t do that because I don’t want my gliders to have that much sugar at once.
Monkey Biscuits/Pellets
I bought a small bag of monkey biscuits from The Pet Glider as a treat for mine, but they refuse to eat them.
Let me stress that dried food such as pellets is NOT a suitable diet for a glider. However, they can make fine treats if your glider will eat them.
Nuts
Nuts should only be fed once every few months as they are insanely high in phosphorus. Some people think that it’s okay to feed a glider a diet of apples and peanuts, but that is totally NOT the case. That will kill your glider slowly. I choose not to feed my gliders nuts at all. Also, be very careful what almonds you get. They CANNOT be raw! (http://www.glidercentral.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/1379696/raw-almond-dangers)
Honey
Ah the endless possibilities of this wonderful substance! Gliders love honey. Sometimes I will put some honey water in a little plastic container for them to drink as a treat. Or I will add some honey to yogurt and put it inside of straws as a foraging toy.
Mealworms/Bugs
Another favorite among sugar gliders! Tons of glider owners have their own mealworm farms. If you don’t want to do that, you can buy mealworms online. Be sure to get them from a credible source so that your gliders don’t get sick from eating them. If you’re squeamish about feeding live bugs, you can always buy them freeze dried or canned. Same goes for other bugs. Sugar gliders love dubia roaches and crickets. Be sure that you do not catch bugs around the house and then give them to your gliders. This is not safe as you do not know what pesticides the bugs have been exposed to.
Eggs/Meat
Gliders love eggs. If you want to give them a little extra protein, hard boil an egg, peel it and give them little pieces. They also enjoy chicken and turkey. Don’t overdo any of these. MODERATION IS KEY, FRIENDS.
~Hattush
Do you have any treats that your pets enjoy? Do you think you’d like to try some of the glider’s treats?
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