Ferret or Sugar Glider?

Question

Idk,,

i have been thinking about a sugar glider..butthen i thought abouta ferret....which would make a better pet. Sugar gliders are harder to care for..but, which makes a better pet in general?

I bought this large tall cage and stuff...can a ferret usethat tall of a cage?

Answer 1

From all research I've done on sugar gliders you can pet and play with them, just as you can with ferrets - and ferrets are wonderful (yes I'm a ferret owner...4 of them).  A large tall cage is actually what I own for my ferrets and they love it!  

Between these two animals what you do have to keep in mind though as well is that their diets are on complete opposite ends of the spectrum from one another.  Sugar gliders depend upon a high fruit diet whereas ferrets depend on a high protien diet.  I do not know how time consuming sugar gliders actually are, but I do know that ferrets demand a lot of time as they are very energetic creatures that not only run around everywhere but are quite inquisitive so get into everything!  This is something you will want to consider as you have to be willing to dedicate your time to them.

Answer 2

I have both ferrets and sugar gliders, and I would have to say sugar gliders for this one. My room never had any sort of smell until I got the ferrets and I have to clean their litter box about two to three times a day. When we went to California for a few days, I came back and I didn't even want to go into my room. (My boyfriend was taking care of everyone and feeding them.)

But if you keep a suggie's cage clean and wash their pouches, toys, and feed them a good diet, they don't smell at all. (Females, anyway. I think males smell a bit more.)

But I would definately vote for sugar gliders!

Sugar gliders are actually pretty easy to care for, once you get it into your routine. The only thing about them that is a little different is their feeding, since you should NOT give them any type of pellets or kibble.

As far as the cage, I wouldn't use a tall cage for a ferret, because they can be pretty clumsy and fall off of shelves. Even my boys, who have a shelf that's takes up half of the cage's size on the second floor, they still manage to fall off of it.

Answer 3

FERRET VS SUGAR GLIDER:

HOW EASY TO TAKE CARE OF: Sugar Gliders are much more high maintenence than the other two, but if you have the time that should be no problem at all.

SMELL: I would rate the smell on the two of them about the same. Which is to say, quite high if you don't clean their cage and fur.My sugar gliders are well bonded so have no problems when I give them baths ((well the girl a little bit, but she's always a little fussy, the girls are harder to bond with)) and I could do the same with my ferrets when I had them. I use a special shampoo for them.

SPACE: Both require large housing units, but since you have a large house this shouldn't be a deciding factor for you.

MY OPINION: I personally found the sugar gliders to be a more rewarding animal in the long run. You just put so much effort and time into them that when they are completly bonded it's amazing. As soon as my boy figures out I'm in the room he's out of the pouch, barking at the door to get out and jump all over me! It's just the cutest thing ever! And tent time! That has to be the most amusing thing ever. They just do the craziest things. Then again, I have had the suggies for 5 years and counting now and I only had the ferrets for 1. *shrugs*

GENERAL SUGGIE INFO:

First things first, check to make sure they are legal in your state! I placed a link below.

They are a good pet if you put the time into the relationship. If they don't have a cage-mate they get depressed VERY easily, and 1+ hour of play time a day is a must. Carrying them around during the day in a bonding pouch helps the process along, and putting little pieces of your clothing in the cage so they get your scent.

These are not recommended for children, because they require a lot of work and can be delicate animals. They live as long as dogs/cats in captivity if they are taken care of properly, so make sure you are ready for that kind of commitment.

They are HIGH MAINTENENCE animals. These aren't cute little pocket pets, they require a lot of work. They do glide around and can glide for quite a distance. They get up on something high and glide off, or jump off the cage and glide to you, VERY VERY cute!!

They stay in a cage, a big cage, unless you take them out and it is suggested that you "glider proof" the room they are in so they don't get into mishief! They are very curious and will go EVERYWHERE so it's important to glider proof a room, get a cage with good locks, and watch them when they are out and about with you.

If you have cats and give them cat nip, eliminate that from the diet right now! This is a highly deadly substance to sugar gliders and you don't want it anywhere in your house just in case they accidentaly get out one night or something like that.

They require a staple food, NOT CAT FOOD!!! Not even if it is high quality! Some diets have staple foods you can buy, while others have some that you have to make. Some diets have choices that the owner can make regarding fruits and veggies, while others do not want you to deviate from what they have planned out. It's your choice to choose what will work best for you and stick to it for the suggies.

Lots of information! I would seriously check out the links below. The second one has a newsletter that they have been doing for awhile with lots of questions and answers that are important to know. The first one is a forum but they have links to pages about sugar glider diets and lots of information regarding how to take care of them. The third one is the specific diet page.

Vets are important to have and let them know you before you need them! Put some money aside in a savings account every month for an "emergency vet fund" so that if something does go wrong, you aren't screwed because you don't have any money. Depending on your region and which vet you go to normal old check ups vary. I spend $85 every time I want my 2 chinchilla's checked up, but about $115 every time I want my 2 suggies checked up.

As long as you give them attention each night ((30 minutes to an hour MINIMUM)) and carry them around in the bonding pouch then they should be friendly. Don't be afraid to let other people touch them or hold them, this will get them used to being social with other people and not just you. A great bonding trick is "tent time" find information about it in the first link or google it.

The males are normally ((95% of the time)) much easier to bond with then the females. The only draw back is the males can get a little musky, so having him fixed would be a plus. If you are getting a female, then be prepared to try a lot harder at the whole bonding process then if you have a male.

They are also illegal in some states, so check to see if they are/aren't in your area. They can also be costly!!! I wouldn't reccomend getting a pair on Craigs List if they are your first, joey's are going to be your best bet at bonding well. Only because you don't know how the other owner treated them and they might not bond at all if they didn't get enough attention or weren't treated right. But if you're willing to put in the time for bonding with matured adults then feel free to peruse craigs list. You can usually get a pair and a cage for less than $300 on CL, just make sure you know what diet the previous owner had them on so you can continue with that one.

The second link sells sugar gliders as well, but you have to go through a screening process of sorts to make sure you know what you're doing. Lisa ((the owner)) doesn't give them out to just anyone! She'll put you on a list, and within 2 weeks of the time they will be weaned she calls you to make sure you have done your research and have everything you need to have. I got mine in about a month and a half from the time I made my reservation. $175 for the first one and if you get a second one at the same time then only $150 for the second one. It sounds like a lot, but these are VERY inexpensive prices for baby exotic animals. Plus if you get a male they offer a ((I believe)) $50 neutering before they go home with you. This would normally be anywhere from $130-$200!!! And like I said earlier, the males have very active scent glands, so if you do not plan on breeding them then this really is the smartest route to go.

Hope this helps!! I want to keep rambling on, but I'm pretty sure the links below will provide all of the information I can and then some! They are so cute, and when bonded so worth it!