The Bourbon's Modified Leadbeater's Mix (BML) diet is a popular and widely used feeding plan for sugar gliders. It's based on the diet of Leadbeater possums, close relatives of sugar gliders. This article provides detailed recipes for BML, including Judie's Modified BML Recipe, along with essential guidelines for feeding your sugar gliders.
Understanding the BML Diet
The BML diet aims to provide a balanced nutritional profile for sugar gliders, ensuring they receive adequate protein, vitamins, minerals, and hydration. It's a structured approach to feeding that emphasizes specific ingredients and proportions to maintain the health and well-being of these animals.
Key Components of the BML Diet
The BML diet primarily consists of a base mix, supplemented with specific fruits and vegetables. The base mix provides essential nutrients, while the fruits and vegetables offer variety and additional vitamins and minerals.
Core Principles
- Protein: A minimum of 25% of the diet should be protein.
- Water: Hydration is crucial.
- Calcium: Adequate calcium intake is essential for bone health.
BML Basic Mix Recipe
This recipe is a modified version of the original BML diet.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Honey (Avoid honeycomb, raw or unfiltered honey)
- 2 oz. Dannon Plain Yogurt or 2 oz of Activia Mixed Berry Yogurt (1/2 of 4 oz. container)
- 2 teaspoons Rep-Cal Calcium Supplement (non-phosphorus with Vit. D3)
- Two 2½ oz jars of Stage 1 or 2 Beechnut, Gerber or Heinz Chicken baby food (Chicken & Chicken Gravy or Chicken with Broth)
- 1 Egg hard-boiled (Do not use the shell)
- 1/4 cup of Apple Juice (Regular bottled apple juice, not frozen or baby juice. May substitute 1/2 with white grape juice)
- 1/2 cup dry baby cereal Heinz or Gerber (Rice or Oatmeal) (Rice cereal with fruit bits is recommended)
Instructions:
- Blend Honey and Yogurt: In a blender, combine the honey and yogurt.
- Add Chicken Baby Food and Egg: Add the chicken baby food and hard-boiled egg to the blender.
- Alternate Cereal and Juice: Alternate adding the dry baby cereal and apple juice, a little at a time, until both ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Blend Well: Blend all ingredients for 5 minutes until smooth.
- Freeze: Pour the mixture into a Tupperware bowl or ice cube trays and freeze. The mixture should freeze to an ice cream-like consistency. Each cube is approximately 2 tablespoons.
Judie's Modified BML Recipe
Judie Hausmann, a respected sugar glider breeder, created this modified BML diet to enhance palatability and ensure gliders readily consume the mix. This recipe aims to mask the bitter taste of the vitamin supplement, encouraging better eating habits and sustained health.
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Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 egg (boiled or microwaved, no shell)
- 1/4 cup mixed fruit blend of juice (e.g., apple-white grape)
- One 4oz bottle premixed Gerber juice with mixed fruit yogurt (mixed fruit) (or substitute with 1/4 cup plain yogurt and 1/4 cup mixed fruit juice)
- 1/2 TEAspoon Rep-Cal Herpivite Vitamin Supplement (blue label)
- 2 TEAspoons Rep-Cal Calcium Supplement Non-Phosphorous with Vitamin D3 (pink label)
- Two 2 1/2 oz. jars of Chicken baby food
- 1/4 cup Wheat Germ
- 1/2 cup dry baby cereal (mixed or oatmeal)
Instructions:
- Blend Initial Ingredients: In a blender, combine honey, egg, and mixed fruit juice. Blend well.
- Add Yogurt and Vitamin Supplement: Turn off the blender, add the Gerber juice with mixed fruit yogurt and Rep-Cal Herpivite Vitamin Supplement. Blend until smooth.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Turn off the blender, add the Rep-Cal Calcium Supplement, chicken baby food, wheat germ, and dry baby cereal.
- Blend to Smooth Consistency: Blend until you reach a very smooth consistency.
- Freeze: Pour the mixture into a Tupperware bowl or ice cube trays, cover, and freeze.
Feeding Instructions for Judie's BML
For each glider, provide the following nightly:
- 1 TABLEspoon Judie's BML mix
- 1 TABLEspoon fruits
- 1 TABLEspoon vegetables
Use a frozen bag of mixed vegetables (corn, peas, & green beans) for the veggies. For the fruits, use a mixture of frozen blueberries, frozen cherries, fresh red grapes, and assorted melons.
Important Feeding Guidelines
- Fruits and Vegetables: There is a specific list of vegetables and fruits to be fed with the BML diet plan.
- Vegetables: corn, peas, carrots, green beans.
- Fruits: apples, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, frozen pitted cherries, blueberries.
- Avoid Certain Foods:
- Do NOT feed the seeds of apples or the pits of cherries, peaches, etc.
- Do NOT use canned fruits and vegetables.
- Do NOT use fruit slurries or vegetable relishes.
- Fresh or Frozen: Use fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.
- Young Joeys: Young joeys may eat more BML and less fruits & veggies, which is acceptable. Continue to offer fruits and vegetables every night.
- Avoid Mixing Diets: Do NOT offer Briskys with the BML, as it is a separate diet plan.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Substitutions: If you cannot find Gerber yogurt juice, substitute it with 1/4 cup plain yogurt and 1/4 cup mixed fruit juice. You can also substitute the chicken baby food with turkey baby food.
- Vitamin Supplement: Do NOT substitute the Rep-Cal Herpivite Vitamin Supplement with any other supplement.
- Mess Management: Gliders can be messy eaters. Place their food dish inside a "glider kitchen," such as a plastic igloo on top of a plate or an upside-down plastic container with a hole, to minimize mess and cage odor.
- Early Feeding: If you need to feed your gliders a few hours early, prepare the diet without thawing the fruits and vegetables. They should thaw by the time the gliders wake up.
- Treats: Offer treats in the morning to help with bonding. Avoid overfeeding treats in the evening or at night to prevent spoiling their appetite.
- Consistency: Maintain a consistent diet to avoid digestive upset and ensure your gliders receive balanced nutrition.
- Individual Needs: Monitor your gliders' eating habits and adjust portion sizes as needed, considering their age, activity level, and overall health.
- Water Availability: Always provide fresh, clean water for your sugar gliders.
Choosing the Right Diet
When selecting a diet for your gliders, remember the following:
- Protein: Ensure at least 25% of the diet is protein.
- Water: Provide adequate hydration.
- Calcium: Ensure sufficient calcium intake.
Feeding Schedule
The general rule of thumb per glider is:
- 1 Tablespoon of the BML basic mix
- 1 Tablespoon of fruits
- 1 Tablespoon of veggies
Feed insects in the morning as a snack.
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