Can Sugar Gliders Eat Strawberries?

Delicious, sweet and ever so juicy, it is easy to see why strawberries are one of the most popular berries in the world.  Probably more than once, the thought of sharing your strawberries with your sugar gliders has crossed your mind.

After all, Strawberries are sweet, sugar gliders are sweet.  It seems like the perfect match!  Your furry friends would probably be in heaven if you shared your juicy strawberries. 

Sadly, not every healthy and delicious food we eat is the same for sugar gliders.  So, before giving your sugar glider strawberries or any other food, it’s always best to double check that the new food is okay for them to have.

So, what about strawberries?  Can sugar gliders eat strawberries?  The quick and easy answer is: Yes, sugar gliders can eat strawberries, but not the stem. Thoroughly wash the strawberry before feeding it to your tiny buddy.  And, like most treats, make sure you feed your sugar glider strawberries in moderation.

How Should I Prepare Strawberries to Feed My Sugar Glider?

Any produce you feed your sugar glider needs to be thoroughly washed.  Often, produce is treated with insecticides and pesticides.  Even trace amounts of these can really harm our little friends. 

Unlike strawberries, other fruits and vegetables are easier to peel, which is often one of the best way to make sure your sugar glider doesn’t accidentally ingest anything bad. 

Since strawberries can’t be peeled easily, a good rinse is the next best thing.  Even better, buy organic strawberries that haven’t been treated with pesticides at all!

Be sure to remove the stem from the strawberry.  Remember the rule of feeding fruits and vegetables to sugar gliders.  If you don’t eat it, they probably shouldn’t as well. 

A lot of sugar glider owners slice or dice up the strawberry before it giving it to their pets.  This isn’t a necessary step, especially with smaller strawberries.  Though little, sugar gliders can easily handle a full strawberry. 

Don’t go crazy feeding sugar gliders a whole strawberry every day.  Treating your suggies to a strawberry as part of a rotating diet is the best approach. 

Many sugar glider owners try to maintain a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 2:1 in their sugar gliders’ diet.  So don’t forget to be aware of how a strawberry treat could change your sugar gliders’ overall calcium to phosphorus ratio.

Are All Types of Strawberries Safe for Sugar Gliders?

Strawberries, like apples, come in many different varieties.  Fortunately, as long as they are served fresh or frozen, sugar gliders are able to enjoy all of them. 

When it comes to feeding produce to sugar gliders always stick with frozen or fresh.  And never, with few exceptions, give them canned fruit.  For sugar gliders, strawberry jellies and the like are also a no-no. 

What if My Sugar Glider Doesn’t Like Eating Strawberries?

Most people love strawberries, so you’d expect the same from sugar gliders.  Oddly enough, a lot of sugar gliders are not huge fans of strawberries. 

If that is the case with your sugar gliders, don’t worry, this (by itself) isn’t a sign that your wide-eyed pals are sick or in distress. Like humans, sugar gliders can be picky eaters. 

Before you give up on feeding your suggies strawberries, try offering a little slice a few times, and squish it a little so your sugar glider can smell the sweet juice more easily.  Sometimes sugar gliders take a while to get used to a new food.  If that’s the case with your sugar glider, it will likely come around.

Summary: Can Sugar Gliders Have Strawberries?

Can sugar gliders eat strawberries? In a word: Yes!  Sugar gliders can eat strawberries in moderation.  Be sure to wash the strawberry well and remove the stem before giving it to your sugar glider.  Better than washing the strawberry, buy organic so you don’t accidentally feed your sweeties pesticides.

As with all produce, avoid feeding your sugar glider canned strawberries.  And keep track of their overall calcium to phosphorus ratio.

Remember, not every human likes strawberries (Though there probably aren’t many!), so don’t worry if your sugar glider doesn’t either.