Hi! I have sugar gliders now… (only specified that if anyone scoured my profile to look at previous posts… anyways-) and I was thinking about getting some native plants for them for enrichment…

I found a eucalyptus golobus plant for sale on Etsy
I also found a “ Banksia spinulosa ‘Schnapper Point’” plant on there… I think that’s good?
I’m not 100% sure what kind of acacia is best- I think Acacia mearnsii is good? But idk where to find a plant of it for sale…?

I’m not sure what kind of bugs exactly they eat in the wild- or if there’s a place to get some that are captive bred without having to worry about pesticides or parasites..? 😛

I’m not completely sure what kind of fruits exactly they eat in the wild?

Manna, honeydew, and lerp are probably pretty difficult to provide in captivity…

What kind of fungi do they snack on in the wild-?

I’m not asking these questions to replace their staple diet. I feed them OHPW with CLO salads… I’m asking because I think it’d be beneficial for them to have access to some native plants 😅

Any ideas on if it’d be better to grow the plants indoors to lessen the amount of bugs on them? Or outside for better growing conditions-? Or ‘sugar glider native habitat plants growing conditions’ advice in general? 😅

Or if anyone knows more than me on the subject just any advice on this in general-?

Any advice on this subject would be appreciated…

Thanks!

These are the plants I was looking at…

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1110052488/banksia-spinulosa-schnapper-point-1?ref=cart

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1231527568/eucalyptus-globulus-live-plant?ref=cart

I don’t know if any of these are good:(?)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1067746088/acacia-salicina-weeping-acacia-live?ref=sfl_cart

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1186361034/acacia-cultriformis-2-to-3-feet-tall?ref=sfl_cart

https://www.etsy.com/listing/914998024/cousin-itt-little-river-wattle-acacia?ref=sfl_cart

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1271194675/acacia-salicina-1-feet-tall-1-gallon?ref=sfl_cart

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1267630837/acacia-stenophylla-live-plant-3-4-ft-in?ref=sfl_cart

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1081937362/acacia-stenophylla-shoestring-acacia?ref=sfl_cart

Or if anyone knows any good links?

Thank you for the reply!

“ You need to be careful with Eucalyptus, some are ornamental and not safe for gliders. There is a place in California that grows safe eucalyptus for gliders. You should be able to find an post about it in GliderCENTRAL.[/color] “

I know… that’s why I’m sticking to eucalyptus golobus (blue gum)- I know that some people get that variety for their gliders from places like http://eucproducts.com/ and that it’s safe- so I’m sticking with golobus/blue gum unless if I get confirmation that another variety is also safe- thanks for the warning though! (And I will look for that…)

“ Most people put corkbark in their cages for enrichment. Keep in mine that any wood put in the cage will start to smell from the gliders peeing on it. [/color] ”

I know- definitely plan on getting some cork bark. I just think that giving our captive gliders (safe) plants they’d encounter in the wild would be fun and enriching for them… and so I’d like to buy the plants in case I can grow some for them- I prefer an already growing plant over seeds because I have better luck with those- I just need to make sure that whichever plants that I get them are safe…

“ Remember these are captive bred gliders the only bugs recommended to feed come from a grower like Rainbow mealworms. The only safe hornworms are from the pet store. No outdoor bugs are safe and could harbor parasites. [/color] “

I have mealworms for them (as treats) already… and that’s why I mentioned captive bred without the worry of pesticides or parasites… because I know of the dangers that come with wild caught and want to avoid them. I was just curious if anyone knew of anyone that breeds the bugs they eat in the wild in captivity for more enrichment..? And what those bugs were

“ I would stick with their staple diet. You can add the white button mushrooms from the grocery store. Any other mushrooms are not safe. [/color] “

I agree, I definitely plan on sticking with the staple diet first and foremost unless if an extreme situation occurs… this would just be like more cage enrichment and “treats”

“ I would get them foraging toys and hide mealworms for them to forage. I would get a popup tent for you to play with them, use cat feather toys with no catnip. They will chase it and hunt it just like a cat. “

Thanks for the advice-! I still would like more information on wild plants and diet and stuff if anyone has it… (again, not to replace the staple- as enrichment and as a treat…)

“ I don't give bugs and only use grapes, scrambled eggs as treats. My gliders use their wheels and little hidaways to play. They don't need plants to be happy. “

I rarely give treats- but I still give them ofc- I don’t doubt that a sugar glider can be happy without, it’s just something I’d like to provide mine…

Does anyone know any information on the subject..?

Sorry… I got an Etsy gift card for my birthday and I’m trying to figure out how to spend it… and I thought getting them some native plants would be cool…

I have never considered plants for my gliders, gliders in the US have been raised here for over 30 years. They wouldn't really know what a native plant was.

Check out Shelly Sterk's website at Glidernursery.com for a list of safe plants and flowers.