Peanuts and peanut butter are popular high-protein foods that lots of people enjoy. While most of us know that we should avoid varieties that have lots of additives and sugar, natural peanuts and peanut butter can be a healthy addition to our diet.
The question is, can Sugar Gliders Eat peanuts? It’s no surprise that you’re curious about whether it’s okay to give peanuts to your sugar glider.
Just in case you’re in a hurry, the short answer is that you shouldn’t give peanuts to sugar gliders, as this treat can be dangerous for sugar gliders to consume.
Quick Peanuts Nutrition Stats
Peanuts are a good portable source of protein, plant-based fat, and fiber for people – however, you can’t share peanuts with your sugar glider.
Around a ¼ cup serving of dry roasted peanuts offers approximately:
- 165 calories
- 6g carbohydrates
- 2g fiber
- 9g fat
- 6g protein
Did you know that peanuts are legumes, just like peas and beans? They’re not even remotely related to nuts that grow on trees! Just like other legumes, peanuts pack a powerful nutritional punch.
That same ¼ cup serving of dry roasted peanuts gives you about:
- 184 mg potassium
- 1 mg calcium
- 3 mg magnesium
- 6 mg iron
- 100 mg phosphorus
- 6 mcg folate
- 9 mg vitamin E
- 8 mg phosphorus
- 5 mg choline
- 6 mg manganese
Can Sugar Gliders Eat Peanuts?
Peanuts like crickets and dried corn products have a very high risk of aflatoxins, which can be deadly to sugar gliders. Aflatoxin is produced by molds that affect foods like peanuts, dried corn, and crickets living in corn-based products.
Peanuts are very high in fat, plus they contain quite a bit of calcium, which can cause long-term problems for a sugar glider.
It’s also important to note that gliders’ teeth aren’t designed to eat nuts or seeds. Their teeth are designed to compress the juices from foods, typically the pulp is spat out. So, their teeth aren’t used to grind nuts and seeds, their saliva won’t break down the particles, nuts and seeds are not easily digested.
Feeding nuts and seeds regularly to sugar gliders can often cause digestive blockages, constipation, impaction.
Are Peanuts Good For sugar gliders?
No – peanuts are not good for sugar gliders. Even though peanuts are nutritious for humans, they’re not good for sugar gliders.
Is Peanut Butter Good For Sugar gliders?
No! Absolutely not. As peanut butter contains so much added sugar and extra fat. Peanut butter can also make a sugar glider very sick.
Do Sugar Gliders Like Peanuts?
A sugar glider would probably love to get their hands on some; however, this doesn’t mean that they should be given peanuts.
The Correct Diet Is Important
Since peanuts aren’t on the menu, what could your sugar glider eat instead?
Here’s what to feed your Sugar Glider for good health:
As wild sugar gliders are omnivorous and eat a wide variety of foods, including saps, pollen, fruits, and insects. Of course, this diet is very difficult to replicate for sugar glider owners and has led to a lot of controversy about what is appropriate to feed domesticated sugar gliders. However, pelleted diets are available, which helps to add to a sugar glider’s natural diet.
Along with feeding them pellets, a good overall diet should consist of small amounts of fresh vegetables and fruits, while mealworms can be offered occasionally as treats.
Healthy Alternatives To Peanuts For Sugar Gliders?
There’s no reason to risk your sugar gliders’ health by feeding them peanuts or peanut butter. Instead, here’s a list of healthy things to try instead:
- Apples
- Apricots
- Avocado
- Bananas
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries (sweet)
- Coconut
Believe it or not, these are just a few of the fruit you can give to your sugar glider! There’re lots of other healthy, natural vegetables, fruits, and herbs for your sugar glider to enjoy!
For now, why not try treating your sugar glider to a little slice of cucumber or one of the other veggies on the list? At least you can be assured that your sugar glider is will be happy – and safe!
Aren’t you glad you took a moment to check into peanuts for sugar gliders?
Spending a few minutes researching each new food you plan to offer your sugar glider can save lots of trouble and will help to keep your sugar glider as healthy as possible.
