The BML Diet

BML (Bourbon's Modified Leadbeaters) Diet:

Any changes in this recipe, other than noted, the gliders may not like it. The majority of my email that people have sent to me, stating their gliders would not eat this, we have found, has been caused by modifications, and items being omitted added or substituted. This is a complete plan and does not need additions. If they still won't eat it, you can try the BML (original mixing method). This new method makes it sweeter. If some don't like it this way, they usually like it the other. For those whose gliders were eating the bml using the previous mixing method of turning the blender on and off you can find it here.
One thing we have prided ourselves in, is that as more information emerges we will make changes. IF there is ANY chance of anything being an issue with the diet, we will make changes accordingly.

With that being said the changes made to the BML page, is not really a change in the basic BML diet plan. We have taken areas where we have allowed flexibility and really broken it down to the basic of the basics. This is what was tested, and this is what has been found to be nutritionally balanced. More and more we are seeing modifications and additions that could be potentially harmful to your glider. Everyone wants what is best for their glider; they strive and work hard to find a diet that is balanced. The BML Diet Plan which includes the fruits , veggies and optional insects, is balanced for as much as we know, for each item substituted, modified, and added it takes a balanced diet that was designed to be healthy and makes it unbalanced, thus opening the door for potential problems.
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1/2 cup Honey, do not use honeycomb, raw or unfiltered honey, most store bought Honey is the one to use unless it uses one of the three words above.
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1 4oz bottle PREMIXED Gerber juice with yogurt (Mixed Fruit or Banana).
both have yogurt mixed in, the fluid is creamy colored. For those that cannot find this, you may substitute 2 oz of plain yogurt and 2 oz of mixed fruit juice
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Turn on blender; add the next group of ingredients.
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1/4 cup Wheat Germ
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1 Teaspoon of Rep-Cal HERPTIVITE vitamin supplement,
Blue label on a white plastic container, DO NOT SUBSTITUTE this supplement.
(My pet store ordered it for me)
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2 teaspoons Rep-Cal Calcium Supplement non-phosphorus with Vit. D3 in it.
Pink label on a white plastic container (my pet store ordered it for me)
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2 2 1/2 oz jar of Stage 1 or 2 Heinz, Gerber or Beechnut Chicken baby food.
The chicken will say either Chicken with Chicken Gravy or Chicken with Chicken Broth either is acceptable
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1 Egg (boiled or scrambled, I Hard Boil Mine)
The shell is no longer an option. We do not use it at all.
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For the next 2 ingredients alternate them, a little cereal with a little juice, a little cereal with a little juice, going back and forth till both ingredients are included
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1/4 cup of Apple Juice, just the good ole apple juice that you and I would drink, Not frozen, not baby juice, just regular bottle apple juice.
You may also substitute 1/8 of the apple juice for white grape juice
1/2 cup dry baby cereal. Heinz or Gerber (Mixed or Oatmeal)

**NOTE: (most gliders do not like the taste of the oatmeal, I use rice with fruit bits)
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Blend well for 5 minutes.
Turn off blender, then pour it into Tupperware bowl, or ice cube trays and FREEZE.
1 cube in ice cube tray is approx. 2 tablespoons. (Measure out your first couple of cubes, place 2 tablespoons in each cube noting some ice cube trays are bigger than others)
It will freeze to the consistency of ice cream.

This mix will feed 1 glider for approximately 1 month.

Do NOT mix the fruits and veggies in before freezing.

The veggies are corn, peas, carrots and green beans
the fruit is apples, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, melon, frozen pitted cherries and blueberries
Do NOT feed the seeds of apples or the pits of cherries. You can use fresh or frozen, but do NOT used canned.
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The rule of thumb per glider is.
1 Tablespoon of the BML basic mix,
1 Tablespoon of fruits, (apples, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, melon, frozen pitted cherries and blueberries)
1 Tablespoon of veggies (corn, peas, carrots and green beans)
Insects (feed in the morning as dessert)
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IMPORTANT NOTES:
If they eat it all the first night add a little more each night till they leave only a little bit.

IF they DON'T eat it all, no need to worry. Back off on everything only half of the recommended amounts and only a few pieces of veggies increasing each day, till they leave only a little behind. If they are eating 3/4 of a tablespoon each then they are doing good. There are gliders that do eat more thus the reason for the tablespoon.

Young joeys up to 6 months oop, may not eat the full amount offered or they may not eat as many fruits and veggies, and eat more of the mix. This is NOT cause for concern; they are just not ready for it yet. You can introduce them by offering them as finger treats.

For nursing and lactating mothers, stay with this plan, do not add or increase protein and calcium, they will eat more BML if needed, and less fruits and veggies. They also may want more insects, you can increase theirs by 1 or 2.
They get up and down all night foraging, feeding and playing.
They only eat the insides of the corn, peas, green beans, so closer inspection may reveal they are eating more than you think.

Some very important things to keep in mind:
IF your glider suddenly stops eating, it could be normal, if you have more than 1 cage, notice if all the cages slow down, if so there is probably a good explanation. I tell people to keep a log of their gliders eating habits, when they do slow down. Check the moon phase, is there a lot of atmospheric activity. Something stressful in the home, or changes made. I also ask people if they are famished when they go to the table each night. Of course not, well then we shouldn't expect our gliders to be either. Are we over feeding them, giving them too many treats, feeding the mealies at night before they eat. Changing their foods around too much. Offering too much?? Please ask yourself these questions first. Gliders do not tire of their food, the plan allows for daily variety.

If you don't remember anything, please remember that your gliders stomach is only as big as your thumbnail. It holds less than a tablespoon of foods and liquids.
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***Special Notes***
For Joeys that are under 5 weeks OOP, please use the JOEY BML. Ask the breeder how they age them, some large breeders age them upon emergence into the pouch. If that is how they age them, subtract 60 days from their age.

If your glider has never been introduced to insects, it may SEEM like they do not like it, that is NOT the case. Break a mealie in half, allow them to lick the guts, or squeeze it onto your finger and offer it as a licky treat. This can be started very young (mine start this at about 3-4 weeks oop, but only the insides.) If they are older (over 8 weeks OOP), you may try dipping the half in their favorite licky treat.

As for insects, Depending on what you feed, and what size. I feed 2-3 Large (jumbo) mealies per day (not superworms) small 5-7, Large or jumbo 2-3, superworms 1. Some of the most popular insects are . Mealworms, moths, june bugs. My gliders do not like to have their mealies in the BML mix. I offer 2 to 3 mealworms each morning. I may also offer them a few moths, june bugs or Man'o'wars. If it is a bug.. Look out... In the summer the fav is moths, june bugs and man'o wars or skeeter eaters.. Whichever people call them they look like giant mosquitoes.

Caution : DO NOT feed fireflies/lightening bugs. Do NOT feed roaches, or any insects found on the floor or on the ground, which could have come in contact with pesticides, either from your place, or someone else’s. We no longer suggest or advocate the use of crickets due to the problems posed with aflatoxin.
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There are many ways to offer variety this is some of the ways I feed mine... please notice I am not changing the ingredients of the diet, but how it is offered.
After I spoon the BML mix into their bowl, I feed their veggies and fruits in various ways.

1.) Fold in a few frozen veggies.. Corn, peas, carrots. Etc. into the BML mix
2.) I will give those fruits and veggies during the day, for treats. Reducing the amount I give them at night with their meal
3.) In a side bowl.
4.) If I "ICE" the BML mix with applesauce or another fruit, I will reduce the amounts of fruit offered. By Icing you take about 1/8 teaspoon of applesauce and spread it across the top of the BML mix, take the edge of a spoon and cut ridges into the BML mix.
Motts has snackpack flavored applesauce, try the different flavors to find out which ones your gliders like.