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Anita Rae
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Anita Rae

Anita Rae


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Join date : 2009-12-28
Location : Mims, FL

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PostSubject: Obesity Discussion   Obesity Discussion Icon_minitimeWed Jan 20, 2010 9:28 am

I've known of many gliders who are fluffy. And when he was younger, my Titan was a real Chunky Monkey. In our tame American sugar gliders, I've seen all sizes; from slender to fat rolls. But when I see pictures of glider taken in the wild, I don’t see fat rolls but I also don’t see the thinness that is considered the norm in America. Most of the pictures show pretty large gliders that those of us who own captive gliders would call fluffy. I haven’t actually seen gliders in the wild with my own eyes. I wish that I had. Maybe someday. So the pictures are all that I really have to go on.

In the animal kingdom, the human animal is the only one that I know of that values thinness. For most wild animals, it looks like size does matter. It is the larger animal that gets the best of everything while the smaller weaker animal gets in line. It is the larger animal that gets to procreate. Why? Because a larger animal is considered by its own kind a healthier animal and gets the best choice of a mates. A larger animal is more likely a better provider, a better home builder, and a more skilled hunter.

So what I am wondering is, are we judging what a glider should weigh by our own standards? Ok, I know that the fat rolls are probably not healthy, but are we trying to keep them too thin? Are we asking something from their bodies that steps outside of what nature intended?

Ok, I have more on this but I have to get some work done. So I will have to get back to it later.
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Something_To_Believe_In


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PostSubject: Re: Obesity Discussion   Obesity Discussion Icon_minitimeWed Jan 20, 2010 3:54 pm

I know in the case of my family, this is certainly true:
Quote :
A larger animal is more likely a better provider, a better home builder, and a more skilled hunter.
Obesity Discussion 109349 Obesity Discussion 309431

Ok, seriously, those are very good questions, Anita. I am going to have to give it some thought. Around here, I just accept gliders as they are, unless they do have big fat rolls. I have taken in gliders over 200 grams in weight, and I think that is too big. But, 140? No, I don't put them on a diet. Some gliders are just larger.

I know that I worry about my very petite gliders because if they get ill, they don't have that much weight to loose before they are in a critical state. BUT, I don't intentionally put weight on them. I'll be giving this some thought.

I do know that my heavier/larger gliders always check out healthy with the vet and are active, happy and well adjusted.


GREAT topic, Anita!
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jungleflockmom

jungleflockmom


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Location : Pacific coast

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PostSubject: Re: Obesity Discussion   Obesity Discussion Icon_minitimeFri Jan 22, 2010 12:43 am

As with humans, dogs, cats, cows, chimps, armadillos, etc, a well-muscled sugar glider is what we should aim for. That might be a weightier glider, or if a petite one, a small glider. Thin is unremarkable and if the animal gets sick, can be a problem.

A bit of fat, especially in females, is a good thing. But it's a moderation thing. Darn. I hate that word, moderation!
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BelladonnasMom

BelladonnasMom


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Join date : 2010-03-07

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PostSubject: Re: Obesity Discussion   Obesity Discussion Icon_minitimeMon Mar 08, 2010 2:04 am

I have TRIED to put weight on what I believed to be a "thin" glider and I can say with all honestly that sometimes they are just thin for no reason. Bella is my example. When I got my first gliders (Bella and Donna) I shared pictures on GC and was rather alarmed when several people said she looked too skinny. And she is actually on the light side if you go by the popular weights offered. So I tried to pack some grams on her by feeding her extra mealies and the glider crack. All to no avail mind you. She wouldn't gain a single gram.

Now I have 3 girls that are all teeny weenies. Abby, Gale and Bella are all in the lower 70's most of the time, though they can range from 60-80, depending on their current eating trend. (Their weights depend on how well they are eating, which is affected by many factors around here: they don't eat as well when I am gone for more than one night, full moon, dark of the moon, the dog is in heat. All of these things have sparked a hunger strike in my house at least once. LOL)

Then we have Donna who hovers between 160 and 170, but is THE pickiest eater in the cages! She turns down treats on a regular basis yet suffocates herself with her boobies when she hangs upside down. Go figure.

Rounding out my bunch is Mr. Merlin who eats anything and everything all day long and weighs in at a whopping 108 grams at just over 6 months old. He's gonna be a bruiser.


Last edited by BelladonnasMom on Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:05 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : I fixed some typos so Val wouldn't smack me. LOL)
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Usha77
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Usha77


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PostSubject: Re: Obesity Discussion   Obesity Discussion Icon_minitimeMon Mar 08, 2010 2:55 am

I know what you mean! When I got my first pair (Lan & Nynaeve) they were underweight - a few months later the vet was very happy to see the amount of weight they had put on - but then they kept putting it on & they were overweight! And then their kids, they're even more overweight! Lan & Nynaeve seem to almost be at the point they should, maybe 5-15 grams overweight - but their kids! Tas & Tika are about 40-60 grams overweight! I don't know what to do, I finally listened to Dee & cut out corn & peas entirely for that quad and am looking forward to our next nail clipping/weigh in session.

Toffee & Zoey, same thing - came to me underweight - I put some weight on them & now Toffee is obese & Zoey is overweight. Cut out peas and corn completely thanks to Dee & we shall see.

Then, there is my itty bitty quad. They are all full grown (well, Seri is a bit younger yet!) but the full grown ones weight between 68 and 80 grams & I'm still letting them have peas and corn.

One thing I have noticed, is that with the itty bitty ones, their nails are so much tinier than my big ones. I think it realy does have a lot to do with body type - my 6 bigger gliders are just bigger all around then my little quad. Where my little quad should probably all be around 70-85 grams, my bigger gliders should be 120-145...
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CandyOtte

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Age : 74
Location : Lutz, FL

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PostSubject: Re: Obesity Discussion   Obesity Discussion Icon_minitimeMon Mar 08, 2010 9:28 am

Robin, you had expressed concern a while back about your gliders gaining weight on the Blended Diet. Did they level off and just maintain their weight or did you change diets?

I also have a wide range of glider weights, all getting the same diet each night. My largest glider is also the most dominant female in the cage. Sassy is the boss and she lets everyone know it. I am sure she takes first share of everything I put in the cage. Heck, she is always the first one to hit the side of the cage for treats and I think the others wait until she has one in her mouth before they come for theirs. She will take a treat from anyone that has one before her and they all seem to know that.
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jungleflockmom

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PostSubject: Re: Obesity Discussion   Obesity Discussion Icon_minitimeTue Mar 09, 2010 12:57 am

Also, the Australian gliders are much beefier and larger in general than the Indonesian gliders. The Australian gliders also have a different face w/ fuller cheeks.
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BelladonnasMom

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PostSubject: Re: Obesity Discussion   Obesity Discussion Icon_minitimeMon Mar 15, 2010 12:50 am

I haven't changed diets Candy. And I haven't looked at my weight charts lately to see what the weight changes are but I THINK it is just a matter of leveling off after some gaining. They all gained a bit of weight when I was first feeding the Blended diet, but things seem to have slowed down.

I would probably scare myself to death if I weighed them all right now. They all went ona 2 week long hunger strike when I didn't add any cantaloupe to their smoothie. I could NOT figure out what the strike was about until I made a fresh batch last night and this morning I had clean bowls. BAD MOMMY! Apparently the melon is a MUST now that they have discovered it. I bet everyone is down at least 6-10 grams from the hunger strike and I tend to flip out too easily over drastic weight changes. The little suckers sure keep me on my toes! Rolling Eyes
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