Yellow Belly

[Abcj]

Hi guys,
My roommate owns two gliders, a brother and sister (who have been here just over 2 weeks), whos diet consists of, glider pellets which have been ordered in from the US, mixed with a little baby food, some fruit, so some days blueberries, some days raspberries with a bit of natural yoghurt, maybe a bit of dried prune as well, some days theyll get a teeny tiny cat treat, or a dried mealworm each, they also get a nectar supplement, and vitamins mixed in with this.
They don't seem to be eating the pelleted food, it looks like they lick/suck the babyfood off, and spit out the stuff, which is what they do with cat treats.

Anyway, my question is, why is their underside tinted yellow? What could be causing this?? My housemate is really worried. Please give us some advice!
Thanks,
J

[Amalthea]

Their diet needs some serious work.  Those pelleted diets are crap.  They should be on a diet consisting mainly of veg/fruit mush with a calcium to phosphorus ratio of as close to 2:1 as possible (about 75% of the diet).  Plus various protein sources (about 25% of the diet).  Supplements and vitamins, as well.

[Abcj]

Yeh the calcium:phosphorus thing i know is checked, what fruit and veg are good for them?? Can the pellet stuff be used as the protein part of the diet? Or does it need to be changed? and what to??
I'll pass on the info!!

[Abcj]

Also, wondering, what could their bellies be yellow from??

[Abcj]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UavciGBcJg&feature=relmfu

This is the reason for feeding them what he's feeding...... Anything I say is not listened to because the sugar glider vet said otherwise, the first part of this video is about how the pelleted foods are very good and should be 75% and fruit and veg should be 25%
So what's true??

[Rhianna]

That is an american vet, not a UK vet. Most american sugar gliders are very obese and do not live half as long and healthy lives as a uk glider on the 2:1 ca:p ratio diet. Its the americans that developed the pelleted food and also Leadbeaters i believe. Both diets are completly unsuitable for a healthy sugar glider.

Here is a list of suitable fruit and veg and their ca:p ratio. . No grapes, no raisins, no avocado, nothing from the onion family. No chocolate.

http://www.sugar-glider.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,162.0.html

Bellies are probably yellow either due to a bad diet, or they frequently pee on their belly. Mine are all fed on the 2:1 diet and all have white bellies, or a very dull cream colour when they are being disgusting and pee in their bed.

The best way to feed them is to feed them 75% fruit and veg, and 25% iams cat biscuits. I would just chuck the pellets out. They will not be getting anywhere near enough nutrition from a pelleted food.

[Marie]

Ohhhhh god!!!  Not these again!!!    They're convincing aren't they??  But they are closely linked to one of America's largest glider mills which is like a puppy farm for gliders!  If your friend won't join forums how is he thinking he is going to learn?  Rely on You Tube??  

Yellow bellies can be either from an un neutered male's scent gland (I hope he's neutered!!!). Poor diet or poor hygiene - I find nest boxes discolour the fur terribly!

[Abcj]

See the problem is, I completely believe what you are saying, I have kept exotics pretty much my whole life, and have relied on forums, other knowledgable owners to learn from, but he is refusing to listen to anything and will turn around and say ''Well thats not what the sugar glider vet said. And he deals with them so he knows better'' I have brought up the fact i don't think the two are eating the pellets but rather just mushing them up, but what i get back is ''they just suck out the nutrients and spit it out''
I'm not sure what my best option is??
Yes, the sugar glider vet is listened to on everything, as there is so much confusion around the internet and people say different things, and ''the sugar glider vet knows best'' 
I dont know what to do, i live in the same house as them, and they spend the night in my room, because theyre to loud for. so i do sneak them cat biscuits and things, but if i got caught, i'd be murdered!!!
Whats my bet option?? Its not that she wants to hurt the animals, its just when you believe so much that youre doing the right thing because of the sugar glider vet, (its actually kind of ridiculous how much he means in this house, no making fun of him or anything) he doesnt want to change anything or believe me because thats wrong and it will be bad for them.....

HEEEEELPPPPP!!

[Marie]

Well, have a look at the links I have posted in this thread - http://www.sugar-glider.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,6727.0.html

According to the Forida Department of State Division of Corporations, they don't even exist! 

The pellets are also what is called extruded:

Extrusion processing destroys much of the nutrients in the grains used to produce the pet foods. It destroys the fatty acids; it even destroys the chemical vitamins that are added at the end of the process. The amino acids are rendered very toxic by this process. The only advances made in the extrusion process are those that will cut costs … regardless of how the processes will alter the nutrient content of the final product. The amino acid lysine, a crucial nutrient, is especially denatured by extrusion. Cooking(extrusion)and other processing of meat and by-products used in pet food can greatly diminish their nutritional value.

The following are examples of extruded Sugar glider foods:
1) Pretty Pet
2) Glider-R-Chow
3) Happy Glider
4) Vets Pride (Nutrimax)
5) Wholesome Balance

[Abcj]

I cannot believe what i just saw you post, that is just.... i have no words....
The food they are eating, is the same brand that is on the website in your signature http://sugarglidershop.co.uk/images/Glider%20complete.jpg like this type, but its a different one, it is all the same colour, just pellets....

[Abcj]

Also, he is not yet neutered..... My housemate is currently saving up for the cost....
And theyre related... Hes only just started developing his bald spot! Will she be pregnant by the time hes neutered??

[Marie]

I stock Exotic Nutrition pellets, they are not related to glider mills and the pellets are not extruded, they are pelletized which is a completely different method.  I only stock items that I trust 

Depending on how long it takes your flatmate to save up it is possible the female could become pregnant.  Has s/he enquired about costs?  Some vets charge £45.

[Abcj]

No no, they are exotic nutrition pellets, that is what i meant! I think it could be this one! http://www.exoticnutrition.com/rooo46.html and then they get the other stuff i said... It could be a different one, but it looks like the photo, just dry pellets!

Yes hes rang an exotic speciaist vet here near us, but she said its going to be 200 for a health check on both and neutering...

[Rhianna]

£200? Thats daylight robbery! You can get them neutered for much cheaper then that! Im sure my lot were about £35-55, inc consultation.

[Marie]

Well, it's not so bad then if she's using EN pellets, but the rest of the diet still needs a lot of working on!  The vet 'association' on the You Tube video have their own brand of pellets which are rubbish which I presumed s/he was using.

I personally wouldn't use the pellets as a major part of the diet, it's not particularly interesting as far as diets go.  I would be feeding a wide range of fruit and veg, a protein source (one dried mealworm does not constitute a protein source though!), and the pellets could be left in the cage as a 'staple' diet.  They also need vitamins, calcium, and extras like bee pollen and acacia gum.  

Meal times need to be interesting, and if they're not eating the pellets then they're not getting any nutrition from them.

I'm shocked at the £200 quote - that's extortionate!