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  1. #1
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    Question I’m new. Flyer advice?

    Hi! This is my first time posting to the forum.

    Basically… my friend has a flying squirrel he has taken care of for years. Originally his cat had brought it in as a young baby, eyes still closed, and he brought it back to health and took care of him. The squirrel is now about 5 years old and is definitely a non releasable. I won’t get into the reasons but basically he is having to rehome his animals. I’m a potential candidate for his flying squirrel and if I take the squirrel in, I want to make sure that I’m doing everything right.

    He is currently being fed- well I’ll quote 😅 “A typical meal looks like 3 acorns, an alfalfa hay cube, a sesame seed peanut roll, and a yogurt drop” “And once in a while some sliced meat “

    “. He has a somewhat easy diet and and doesn't need alot of special or expensive stuff. He won't eat larvae or anything that's still moving. Every 3 or so weeks I put honey in his water (he has a water bottle) and mix it and it gives him natural sugar and he gets some nutrients from it (it was recommended by a vet)”

    “ He gets chicken and egg for protein” “ And then fruits acorns nuts, some vegetables” “ And some fiber too, he likes oats” “ He eats alot of doffeent types of berries and grapes” “ He likes strawberries the most” “ He likes carrots and celery” “ And dried fruit as well, like raisens and dates” “ He refuses to eat anything that might have a slimy texture ”

    I was thinking of slowly changing his diet if I get him to include some squirrel pellets, Henry flyer blocks, etc- but I don’t 100% know what’s best. (Obviously I know that he isn’t a sugar glider but) is there any special formulas you can follow for flyers like they have for sugar gliders? (Like SGS2, OHPW, TPG, etc-) to keep the calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D levels good and ensure proper nutrition?

    I hear that he likes to chew a lot, makes sense considering their teeth continuously grow. I imagine that flyers would like a lot of the same stuff in their cage that sugar gliders do but would I have to be careful about plastic toys because of this?

    I also want to make sure that I’m not breaking any laws if I take him in… I live in Florida and don’t have any permits for taking care of wildlife.

    Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

  2. #2
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    Default Re: I’m new. Flyer advice?

    . Hello…I’m also in Florida and have a flyer. I’m along the east coast.

    Florida does not have strict rules about squirrels. I don’t think you have to worry about that. It’s always advisable to not post info about him on social media and such, however I know there are folks that have gray squirrels and raccoons that do. I’m not sure if they have permits or not.

    Here is the link to the recommended foods for a flyer. https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...ying-Squirrels

    If you take this guy I think it would be wise to include Henry’s blocks in his diet. A flyer only gets 1/2 to 1 block a day. Don’t get the Flyer blocks most flyers hate them. I’d get either the Picky Eater blocks or the hazelnut. My guy prefers the Picky Eater ones. The block provides the necessary calcium in his diet. Mushrooms are also very important for flyers because they contain Vitamin D which helps them absorb the calcium. My guy likes shiitake mushrooms best.

    Reading the diet your friend provides sounds like it might be higher in nuts and seeds and fruit than it should be. Nuts and seeds are treats. My flyer gets about one half of a shelled almond about once every 2 weeks and an in shell nut about once a month. I will occasionally give him a couple of raw pumpkin seeds. Never any pine nuts or sunflower seeds. He really likes dried banana chips and I will break one into small pieces and give him one as a treat.

    For a protein source that doesn’t move you could try dried mealworms or PureBites dehydrated chicken. It can be found in the dog and cat treat aisle at big box pet stores. My guy also likes rolled oats and I’ll give him that occasionally. I also give a spoon of full fat Liberte’ vanilla yogurt every night….it comes from Publix….it is the brand he prefers.

    In my opinion flyers are easier to care for than gray squirrels. The most difficult aspect of them is that they’re nocturnal and that they are really, really fast. Because they’re always on the move it’s hard to cuddle them. I take my guy into the bathroom to jump and run around…I have cats so he can’t be out in the rest of the house. Besides if I take him into the bedroom he hides behind the bed and it’s very difficult to coax him out. Be sure your toilet seats are always down, they have been known to drown in the toilet.

    I hope I’ve answered your questions. If not, then ask some more.

    Flying Squirrels can live 10+ years in captivity.

  3. 3 TSBers pass along the fuzzy thanks to Mel1959:

    Chirps (01-24-2022), island rehabber (01-22-2022), stepnstone (01-23-2022)

  4. #3
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    Default Re: I’m new. Flyer advice?

    Funny about the brands of yogurt. My flyer only ate Oui vanilla yogurt, so I bit the bullet and started buying Oui instead of good old (cheap) Dannon Greek. The flyer has long been released but I am still hooked on Oui vanilla.
    Island Rehabber
    NY State Licensed
    Wildlife Rehabilitator


    "Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
    Michelangelo


    *
    If you can't afford the vet,
    You can't afford a pet.
    NEGLECT IS ABUSE.

    "Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."

    '...and the greatest of these, is Love. '

  5. #4
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    Default Re: I’m new. Flyer advice?

    Thank you for the replies!

    So for mushrooms I’m guessing you give them raw? Just making sure

    For diet, how does something like this look:?
    Breakfast:

    1 tablespoon of pellets and 1/4 or 1/2 of a picky flyer block, 1 rodent block, all dusted in squirrel multivitamins, honey powder, and sugar glider HPW powder

    Dinner:

    small ice cube sized mix of fruits, slightly larger ice cube sized mix of veggies, hard boiled quail egg with the shell, dried bugs, teaspoon of yogurt, teaspoon of oats, 1/4 of a picky flyer block, and a rodent block, all dusted in squirrel multivitamins, calcium, honey powder, and sugar glider HPW powder

    Is that too much supplementation? I know that they aren’t sugar gliders, and that they aren’t even related, and that they have very different dietary requirements, the HPW powder was to add more protein and for taste, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea or not….

    It is interesting that they have brands of yogurt that they prefer.

    For inside the cage, are sugar glider toys safe?

    https://www.thepetglider.com/collect...ar-glider-toys

    Then I was also thinking of if I get him, giving him exercise in a tent once a week

    And continuing to add honey to his water every 2 weeks because that’s what he’s used to

    Do flying squirrels like sugar glider wheels? If so, is it better to have nail trimming inserts? Or without those? Do flying squirrels need nail trims in a captive setting? Is there anything extra that someone can do to enrich their life?

    Thank you for taking the time to read and answer 😅

    Food and supplement links because I’m still not sure what’s best:
    😅

    https://henryspets.com/picky-blocks-...rats-and-mice/

    https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/pro...nt=18410004871

    https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/pro...nt=53151009223

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/7187390...-mice?ref=cart

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/7155125...tural?ref=cart

    https://henryspets.com/hi-protein-blocks/

    https://henryspets.com/mbd-treatment...-in-squirrels/

    https://henryspets.com/hazelnut-bloc...rats-and-mice/

    https://henryspets.com/healthy-block...rats-and-mice/

    https://henryspets.com/wild-bites-fo...rats-and-mice/

    https://www.jandaexotics.com/product...ent-food-block

    https://smallpetstore.com/shop/ols/p...obal-2014-9lbs

    https://smallpetstore.com/shop/ols/p...4lb-net-weight

    https://www.chewy.com/mazuri-mouse-rat-food/dp/124758

    https://www.exoticnutrition.com/Prod...pc-S227EN.aspx

    https://www.exoticnutrition.com/Prod...e__S225EN.aspx

    https://www.exoticnutrition.com/Prod...b__EN1879.aspx

    https://www.chewy.com/kaytee-forti-d...RoCY38QAvD_BwE

    https://www.chewy.com/mazuri-mouse-r...BoC3PwQAvD_BwE

    https://henryspets.com/flyer-diet/

    http://www.theratshop.com/shop.html

    https://www.thepetglider.com/product...nt=30925664331

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/6799175...t-for?ref=cart

    https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/pro...=6873520635959

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/8321533...etary?ref=cart

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/7202278...for-a?ref=cart

    https://sugarglidershop.co.uk/product/sgs-honey-powder/

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/6395047...tural?ref=cart

  6. #5
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    Default Re: I’m new. Flyer advice?

    Also if I get him are there any bonding tips or things in general that might be useful to know before getting a squirrel?

    Thanks!

  7. #6
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    Default Re: I’m new. Flyer advice?

    Quote Originally Posted by Curious_and_learning View Post
    Thank you for the replies!

    So for mushrooms I’m guessing you give them raw? Just making sure

    For diet, how does something like this look:?
    Breakfast:

    1 tablespoon of pellets and 1/4 or 1/2 of a picky flyer block, 1 rodent block, all dusted in squirrel multivitamins, honey powder, and sugar glider HPW powder

    Dinner:

    small ice cube sized mix of fruits, slightly larger ice cube sized mix of veggies, hard boiled quail egg with the shell, dried bugs, teaspoon of yogurt, teaspoon of oats, 1/4 of a picky flyer block, and a rodent block, all dusted in squirrel multivitamins, calcium, honey powder, and sugar glider HPW powder

    Is that too much supplementation? I know that they aren’t sugar gliders, and that they aren’t even related, and that they have very different dietary requirements, the HPW powder was to add more protein and for taste, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea or not….

    It is interesting that they have brands of yogurt that they prefer.

    For inside the cage, are sugar glider toys safe?

    https://www.thepetglider.com/collect...ar-glider-toys

    Then I was also thinking of if I get him, giving him exercise in a tent once a week

    And continuing to add honey to his water every 2 weeks because that’s what he’s used to

    Do flying squirrels like sugar glider wheels? If so, is it better to have nail trimming inserts? Or without those? Do flying squirrels need nail trims in a captive setting? Is there anything extra that someone can do to enrich their life?

    Thank you for taking the time to read and answer 😅

    Food and supplement links because I’m still not sure what’s best:
    😅

    https://henryspets.com/picky-blocks-...rats-and-mice/

    https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/pro...nt=18410004871

    https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/pro...nt=53151009223

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/7187390...-mice?ref=cart

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/7155125...tural?ref=cart

    https://henryspets.com/hi-protein-blocks/

    https://henryspets.com/mbd-treatment...-in-squirrels/

    https://henryspets.com/hazelnut-bloc...rats-and-mice/

    https://henryspets.com/healthy-block...rats-and-mice/

    https://henryspets.com/wild-bites-fo...rats-and-mice/

    https://www.jandaexotics.com/product...ent-food-block

    https://smallpetstore.com/shop/ols/p...obal-2014-9lbs

    https://smallpetstore.com/shop/ols/p...4lb-net-weight

    https://www.chewy.com/mazuri-mouse-rat-food/dp/124758

    https://www.exoticnutrition.com/Prod...pc-S227EN.aspx

    https://www.exoticnutrition.com/Prod...e__S225EN.aspx

    https://www.exoticnutrition.com/Prod...b__EN1879.aspx

    https://www.chewy.com/kaytee-forti-d...RoCY38QAvD_BwE

    https://www.chewy.com/mazuri-mouse-r...BoC3PwQAvD_BwE

    https://henryspets.com/flyer-diet/

    http://www.theratshop.com/shop.html

    https://www.thepetglider.com/product...nt=30925664331

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/6799175...t-for?ref=cart

    https://www.squirrelsandmore.com/pro...=6873520635959

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/8321533...etary?ref=cart

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/7202278...for-a?ref=cart

    https://sugarglidershop.co.uk/product/sgs-honey-powder/

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/6395047...tural?ref=cart


    I don’t know what sugar glider HPW is? Don’t dust his block with any extra vitamins. Henry’s blocks are full of vitamins which is why he only needs one per day. The rest of his diet should consist of veggies and fruits from the healthy list. Squirrels can get too many supplements and it can be equally as harmful as not enough.

    Yes, mushrooms are raw. You need to give some greens like kale, arugula, endive, escarole, broccoli, radicchio etc.

    I didn’t go through all of your links but got through most. Don’t buy the Exotic Nutrition starter kit. You could buy dried rose hips from them but not the other stuff. Get the Henry’s Picky blocks not the Flyer blocks…..they like the picky ones better. The Envigo and Mazuri rodent block you found is correct. If you can get a small bag of each without it costing too much you could see if the squirrel will like one better than the other. Envigo is a high quality block but neither need dusted with any other supplements. They are complete nutrition. Chances are good he won’t eat either as they’re not real tasty and he’s older, but you can try. Henry’s has a straight calcium powder with no vitamin D. Vitamin D in large quantities is toxic so don’t give calcium with it in it.

    Here’s the link for the wheel I have. https://www.mygliderwheelsandmore.co...or-wheels.html You can get it with or without the nail files. I’m not sure they do a whole lot.

    Here’s the link for a bonding pouch. https://www.etsy.com/listing/7325327...iABEgLQz_D_BwE
    You can try putting him in it, but he may not tolerate it since he’s older.

    Good luck, let us know how it goes.

  8. #7
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    Default Re: I’m new. Flyer advice?

    So—— something happened between me and my friend and, simply put, I don’t think I’m going to end up with his flyer, but I hope everything gets figured out and everything goes well for him.

    I saw 2 flyers on Craigslist listed as Sugar Gliders, not bonded, the female being 1 year old and the male being 2 years old. I was curious so I reached out and they said they aren’t flying squirrels but sugar gliders… They don’t look like sugar gliders but rather like flying squirrels… Basically… I got them.

    I figured I might as well since I was already mentally preparing for a flyer and that happened between me and my friend so… I plan to give them the best life I can provide (within my ability to do so, I’m 19).

    Since I got them on Valentine’s Day I named the male Valentino and I’m still coming up with a name for the female. (Feel free to provide suggestions)

    I’m hoping to get them a cage upgrade (after bonding them), give them a more species appropriate diet, and get more cage items for them.

    Thank you for the tips I’ve gotten so far and any more people have for me are welcome, please remember that I’m a person just like you 😅

    Thank you!!

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