Today we will introduce the OHPW diet. If you’re a sugar glider owner, you know that providing your pet with a nutritious diet is essential to their health and well-being. While there are many commercially-available diets on the market, they can often be expensive and may not be tailored to your sugar glider’s specific needs. So you may need an OHPW diet!
What is the OHPW diet for sugar gliders?
The OHPW diet stands for “One Hundred Percent Healthy, Non-GMO, Whole Foods.” This diet consists of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats that are all free of artificial additives, chemicals, and preservatives. Not only is the OHPW diet more affordable than many commercial diets, but it also provides your sugar glider with all the nutrients they need to thrive.
You can provide your sugar glider with a varied OHPW diet, but keep an eye on the sugar content. Sugar gliders are not people, they do not have the same dietary needs. In the wild, they feed on small insects like crickets. We have to consider their natural needs and provide them with food that is closest to their natural habitat. Sugar gliders need a lot of protein, as they are primarily insectivores.
The benefits of feeding your sugar glider the OHPW diet
• Improved digestion due to the lack of artificial ingredients and chemicals
• Increased energy levels from nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables
• Stronger immune system from the vitamins and minerals found in whole foods
To get started with the OHPW diet for sugar gliders, simply select a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats that meet the criteria listed above. Be sure to wash all produce thoroughly and chop them into small pieces so that your sugar glider can easily eat them.
If you’re unsure about what foods are safe for sugar gliders to consume, please consult with a veterinarian or experienced sugar glider breeder before giving any new foods to your pet.
What are the components of the OHPW sugar glider diet
Protein-Rich Foods
As its name suggests, the OHPW diet is high in protein. This is because sugar gliders are very active animals and need lots of protein to maintain their energy levels. Insects are a good source of protein for sugar gliders, and you can purchase them online or at your local pet store.
You can also feed your sugar glider live insects, such as crickets or mealworms. Just be sure to remove any uneaten insects from your sugar glider’s cage so they don’t escape and become a nuisance in your home!
Fruits and Vegetables
In addition to protein-rich foods, sugar gliders also need to eat fruits and vegetables as part of their OHPW diet. Fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals that sugar gliders need in order to stay healthy. Some good options include apples, bananas, grapes, carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach.
You can either feed your sugar glider fresh fruits and vegetables or purchase a commercially-prepared food that contains them.
Meat
Sugar gliders also need to eat meat as part of their diet. Meat provides essential nutrients like iron and vitamin B12 that are important for maintaining a healthy immune system. You can either feed your sugar glider cooked meat (chicken, beef, pork) or purchase a commercially-prepared food that contains it.
To get started with the OHPW diet for sugar gliders, simply select a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats that meet the criteria listed above. Be sure to wash all produce thoroughly and chop them into small pieces so that your sugar glider can easily eat them.
If you’re unsure about what foods are safe for sugar gliders to consume, please consult with a veterinarian or experienced sugar glider breeder before giving any new foods to your pet.
The OHPW sugar glider diet recipe
Basic OHPW diet recipe
Ingredients
| AMOUNT | INGREDIENTS |
|---|---|
| 1/4 Cup (1/2 Cup) | High Protein Wombaroo Powder (Increase to 1/2 Cup for Breeding Gliders) |
| 2 Cups | Warm Water |
| 1.5 Cups | Honey |
| 3 | Scrambled Eggs (No Seasoning) |
| 1 Tablespoon | Bee Pollen |
- You can cook the eggs in the microwave – it’s faster and less cleanup. Just make sure to use a tall plastic cup and mix the eggs up really well. Microwave for 30-second intervals, stirring in between until they’re done.
- The final HPW Diet mixture will be runny and a bit foamy at the top. This is normal.
- If you have two gliders, double the recipe to 1 TBSP HPW, 2 TBSP fruits, & 2 TBSP veggies.
Directions
Cook eggs, and set aside. (Easy microwaving instructions are below.)
In large bowl mix water and honey. Stir until honey is dissolved.
Add in HPW powder, and mix well.
In a blender add eggs, bee pollen, and 1/2 to 1 cup HPW liquid mixture. Blend for two minutes.
Add in additional liquid and blend for another two minutes.
Pour into a freezer-safe bowl with an airtight lid. Keep in the freezer. HPW will freeze to the consistency of ice cream.
Feed Nightly Per Glider
| AMOUNT | ITEM |
|---|---|
| 1.5 Teaspoons | OHPW Mixture |
| 1 Tablespoon | Fruits |
| 1 Tablespoon | Vegetables |
OHPW SALAD MIXES
Serving size is 2 Tablespoons (24g) per glider to be fed alongside your OHPW
Select one of the following mixes at a time. You can switch between mixes if your glider(s) tires of one.
Salad Mix 1
Frozen Peas 400g
Celery 250g
Yellow Wax Beans 350g
Frozen Mixed Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, Green Beans, Corn) 400g
Frozen Diced Green Peppers (or 2 medium green peppers diced) 350g
Bok Choy (Chopped) 300g
Kale 850g
Papaya (chopped) 900g
Frozen Mixed Berries
(Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries) 400g
Salad Mix 2
Cabbage 500g
Celery 500g
Frozen Mixed Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, Green Beans, Corn) 800g
Cilantro 150g
Parsley 300g
Dandelion Greens (Chopped) 300g
Watercress 150g
Gala Apples (Chopped, skin on) 1200g
Salad Mix 3
Frozen Peas 400g
Kale 800g
Frozen Mixed Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, Green Beans, Corn) 400g
Yellow Wax Beans 350g
Cucumber (skin on, wash well) 300g
Bok Choy (Chopped) 500g
Frozen Mixed Berries
(Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries) 400g
Gala Apples (chopped, skin on) 250g
Cantaloupe or Tuscan Melon (Deseeded and rind removed) 500g
Salad Mix 4
Pears or Apples (cored & deseeded) 400g
Frozen Mixed berries (Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries) 400g
Kiwi and/or Passion Fruit, Cactus Fruit 400g
Green Beans (frozen or fresh) 350g
Frozen Peas 400g
Frozen Mixed Vegetables 200g
Beets 200g
Butternut Squash 300g
Any combination of chopped seasonal greens
(collards, mustard, turnip, watercress) 800g
Salad Mix 5
Berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries) 300g
Apple 250g
Pear 250g
Green pepper 500g
Peas 450g
Frozen Mixed Vegetables 450g
Mushrooms 300g
Broccoli 500g
Kale 500g
Bok Choy 500g
Substitutions:
- Green Beans could substitute for yellow wax beans
- Kiwi, mango, and melon chunks could substitute for papaya.
- Watercress and Arugula could substitute for kale.
- Bok Choy could substitute for the cabbage
- Dragonfruit could substitute for Passion fruit, Cactus fruit.
In conclusion
We hope you’ll consider trying out the OHPW diet for sugar gliders! This nutritious diet is not only more affordable than many commercial diets on the market, but it also provides your pet with all the nutrients they need to thrive. If you have any questions, please consult with a veterinarian or experienced sugar glider breeder before giving any new foods to your pet.