Am I overfeeding?

I'm thinking of trying this diet. After reading it, especially the serving sizes, I realize that I am really over-feeding my gliders. I worry about them being hungry, so I end up giving them over 1/4 C (sometimes per glider, not just per pair) of the frozen veggie/fruit mix along with the 1 T of HPW Complete. One T of fruit/veggie looked so small that I felt like I was starving them. I always over compensate Poppy for Georgie's food aggression. I know he gets into her kitchen now, and I want to be sure she has enough when he leaves. He's my BIG boy. Do I REALLY give what seems like such a small dinner? Maybe my food dishes are too big and make the dinner seem small? I also don't hide a lot of the main meal around the cage because I am worried that Georgie will just get that as well. However, I could do that for the other cages.

Do you put the frozen concoction in a usual spot, and hide the cut fruit/veggie mix? What dog/cat kibble do you recommend? That's a great thing to hide in the cage, and I would stop leaving pellets 24/7. They don't get up during the day - they eat them along with their dinner. Maybe they eat it just because it's there? They are good eaters, even with me overfeeding. But I don't want to set them up for obesity.

I think I have the treat thing under control. Every morning I visit them, and everyone gets a conversation and a few treats (dried papaya or mango, dry roasted mealies - I might add cheerios :o) They wait to go to sleep until I have been in for my visit. They are SO sweet...all lined up on the cage sides, snacking, and making their cute little chirping happy noises! The new, shy girls now look for me, too (yay!).
This should be easy - the HPW diet is easy and they love it. But I do feel bad that it is a bit boring....even with my additions each week of extras (cherry tomatoes, watermelon, etc.)

But...am I really overfeeding? I've been struggling with this question for quite a while now.

Sorry - this ended up way longer than I had planned. It's a topic I am still working out in my head, and I think I really need some help to figure it out!

Thanks!

In order to keep discussions on topic, I am splitting your post and making a new topic for it.

Bobbie, Take a deep breath and relax.

First, gliders have a stomach about the size of the tip of your thumb. They do eat off and on all night long - I guess it would be the equivalent of our 3 meals and a snack or two during the night but even eating often 3 TBS total food per glider is probably a good average amount to offer each night.

1 TBS HPW plus 1 TBS vegetable plus 1 TBS fruit per glider.

If their bowls are licked clean every morning, then offer a bit more of each food - not just more fruit or more vegetable. Chances are they will eat a little of all the extra foods offered if they are hungry.

If you offer 1/4 cup vegetables (that is about 4 TBS) along with the other foods chances are a lot of it will go to waste because their stomachs are just not that big.

they may have stomachs the size of your thumb nail but I believe they have a high metabolism. I've seen a glider eat a 200g glider in one night and still finish off all the food in their bowl.
I think the more active your gliders are the more they will eat. I make sure they have plenty to play with in their cages.
I put in per glider 1tablespoon veggies/1 tablespoon fruit/ 1 tablespoon protein nectar every night some night when they aren't as active they leave stuff but nights the bowls are clean.

Quote :

I've seen a glider eat a 200g glider in one night and still finish off all the food in their bowl.

I think there was a typo there, but oh my goodness did it ever make me laugh out loud!!

I don't think it was a typo. I am familiar with this situation, and yes, that glider did eat its cage mate (all except the tail) in one night.

Bobbie, are you saying that you offer 1/4 cup of mixed fruits and veggies per glider or 1/4 cup veggies and 1/4 cup fruit per glider?

Are your gliders eating everything that you give them, or are they leaving a good bit of it?

Clarifying these few points will help us determine whether or not you are overfeeding.

You don't have to worry that they are not getting enough to eat. Thousands of gliders are fed using these same recommendations each day and they are all healthy.

Put it this way, I CAN eat a whole pizza if I get to pick at it all night. Sometimes I even really want to. And, if you serve me my own pizza I might just sit there and eat until I am sick. But, just because I can do it and because it is there does not mean that it is a good, healthy decision for me to do so. Animals do not tend to make food decisions based upon what their long term health outcome will be.

Overfeeding on a consistent basis is not healthy for them. Just as it would not be healthy for you or for your children.

OH MY GOSH!! I am SOOO Sorry. I really thought it was typo...and this is why I dont post over here. Im so sorry Karen.

Don't feel bad, Peggy.
I don't think it was Karen's glider either. I could be mistaken about that part. But, it was a while ago, so don't feel bad.

I think the point was that they CAN eat a lot in one night. Does that mean that they should?

Sorry guys. Yes it was someone I was glider sitting for. the only thing left was the tail.
They can eat that much and I don't think they should. I think they eat as long as there is food for them.

I always feel I am not giving them enough either when I serve the 1 1/2 teaspoons or Tablespoon of staple food (depending on the diet being fed).
I also feel a good choice in fruits and veggies ~ serving a variety in a big larger amount is more healthy then over feeding the staple. Many human diets tell you it is OK to eat a lot of fruits and veggies.
How do you feel about this? If one feels they are shorting the gliders a full meal is it safer to offer more fruits and veggies then staple?

I dish out the frozen veggie/fruit mix (one of Peggy's recipes for the HPW Complete) using a 1/4 cup measuring cup. I figured that would = 4 T of the mix, which was correct for the two in each cage (separated for Georgie and Poppy). Their food dish is a large plastic jar top (for Trader Joe's protein powder), and when I pour the frozen mix in the lid it looks so puny that I add more. So they might be getting close to 1/2 cup total. Maybe once frozen the mix takes up more space in the measuring cup? They leave very little most nights. On nights that they get a little something extra, I generally halve the veggie/fruit mix. Several times each week I add one extra item...maybe chicken, hard boiled egg, watermelon (they had a ball with that), cherry tomatoes, etc. I noticed that they also eat the pellets that I leave out for them as a supplement. I'm going to stop doing that and just leave treats (kibble, maybe?) in their foraging toys.

And....the glider actually ate its cage mate???!!! Did it survive (the diner, not the dinner)? Seems like a lot to put into a stomach and survive!

Gliders eat each other quite frequently. One glider passes away and the cage mate(s) will eat it to dispose of the remains. It is one of their natural insticts. It just happens that MOST of the time they don't eat the whole thing - they just eat the soft tissues.

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If your gliders are eating most of everything given to them and not significantly overweight, then I think you are ok.

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Brenda, I totally agree. If you are going to offer extra of something, it should be the fresh, wholesome stuff rather than the staple mix.