LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Sugar Gliders: Captivity
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In captivity, sugar gliders are fed mostly fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, insects and sometimes rodents and dairy products. There is some discussion about whether sugar gliders are lactose-intolerant, although their “mother’s milk” does have lactose in it. Most breeders recommend that you do not feed cow’s milk or goat’s milk to your sugar glider. Many of them... feed yogurt to their sugar gliders with no problem. The general rule about dairy products is this: feed small amounts of dairy products to start. If your glider gets diarrhea or other symptoms from it, then stop. Most breeders recommend that you avoid giving cheese to your sugar glider, because it may cause intestinal binding.
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Sugar gliders are approximately chipmunk-sized, measuring about 9 to 12 inches long (including their long tail), and they weigh about 3 to 6 ounces as adults. Their normal color is steel gray to brownish with a black stripe down the back, but selective breeding in captivity has brought out other color variations, including albinos. In captivity, they can live as long as 15 years, although 8 to 12 years is more usual.
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In captivity, sugar gliders have been reported to capture and consume house mice. Diets consisting of a variety of fruits, a commercial monkey diet (Mazuri® primate diets-Purina Mills) or bird pellets, crickets and mealworms, and vitamin and mineral supplements have been used with success (Tables 2 3). A source of protein appears to be essential for breeding and lactation. Sugar glider pellets and insectivore diets are now available and are a better alternative to a commercial monkey diet or bird pellets.
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In captivity, the Sugar Glider is susceptible to back leg paralysis. It is thought this may be caused by some sort of deficiency. It can be prevented and treated with vitamins D, E and calcium. Nuts and seeds should be fed very sparingly, as the sugar glider is prone to impaction, a condition similar to constipation.
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Even adults with the best of intentions admit it is a challenge to properly care for sugar gliders. Due to poor diet, ignorance, or household accidents, it is likely that 80% of gliders in captivity die within the first three to six years of life
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