If i get a sugar glider....?

Question

I am deciding on getting a sugar glider, what are some requirements. also please do not tell me any other animals to get, trust me i've tried mom is only up for maybe a sugar glider at the moment...

So please tell me everything you know about sugar gliders. i need help deciding before i make my choice.

Answer 1

I give- what is a sugar glider?

Answer 2

this link will tell you all you need to know on care and stuff..

http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/Unusual-Pet...

its very complete, without over doing it..

they need LOTS of attention!!! you MUST carry them with you at all times if you only get 1.

they are LOTS of work!

Answer 3

visit a exotic pet shop... the manager will tell you all you need to know and more!!! and also, do you have at least $1,000 to put off towards the glider? cuz they will probably need that much or more

Answer 4

They are very expensive to take care of and have very high vet bills.

Well the major thing you need to consider is finacial.

Do you have the money to buy them meal worms every week?

Do you have the money to buy them fresh fruits?

Do you have the money to keep care of there health?

They are nocturnal as you should know and they sleep in pouches which cost between $20-$50 depending on how exotic you want to get and you can find them at any "exotic pet store"

They enjoy a treat of meal worms and fresh fruits.

You need to get a big cage about 3x3 feet because they love to "glide" its like flying. You also will want to get a big tree branch that they sell at "exotic pet stores" They require a lot of care and sometimes can have health problems and when dealing with such a small creature that costs so much you would probably want to keep it alive in which exotic pet vets cost A LOT to get the help if they have a health problem. There very playful little critters. They can live to be 10-20 and are very adaptable to humans and love attention. However they do make noises, they can make a happy noise and they can make a mad noise signaling to "get away" also they can make a noise when they feel entrapped which mine did when it got caught in a pouch - it sounds like a loud very high pitched baby squeeking noise and they wont stop, it went on for about 2 hours until we gave it numerous meal worms. (you probably dont want a sugar glider if you dont like bugs since you have to feed them meal worms by hand) They sometimes can smell but as long as there cage is kept clean they wont. Last they are best kept in pairs or more, they enjoy eachothers company and get along very well. hope this helps (:

Answer 5

Sugar gliders are very high maintenance pets. They are expensive to purchase and even more money to keep. They range from $150 and up, depending on colors. The average start up cost will be about $1000(cage, gliders, toys, etc)

Temperament:

Sugar gliders are extremely active and very social animals and do not like to live alone. If you would like to own a sugar glider, plan on having more than one. A lonely sugar glider who is deprived of social interaction, will not thrive. They will become depressed and lonely, which can cause them to die. They need interaction with their owners to be happy.

Remember that they are nocturnal and are up all night and sleep all day. My gliders used to wake up at about 11pm and were up until about 7am. During the day they didn't like being bothered, imagine someone wanting you to get up and play at 3 in the morning. I am an insomniac and was up all night anyway, so I didn't mind. When I did want to sleep it was difficult, they are very noisy at night, jumping around and barking and chirping. I used to get woken up several times.

Gliders should be purchased when they are young. Older gliders are hard to tame and may never enjoy being with you.

Bonding

Gliders must be able to be carried by you during the day in order to bond. I was lucky enough to have a job that didn't mind that I had them with me. You cannot sneak them around with you, as occasionally they will crab, or bark. They are loud barkers.

It you are not able to carry them for at least a few your a day in a bonding pouch then they may not take to you.

Even as a bonded pet, they are still not cuddly. A friendly glider is pretty much one that will not bite you and will jump from the cage to you. You're pretty much a bridge for them to get to where they really want :) My gliders would use me as a bridge and really nothing else. I knew they "liked" me b/c they would allow anyone else to even come near them without crabbing.

They do not like being pet or held, I used to just have them jump from the cage to me and back. The only time they would sit still was when they were sleeping.

Feeding

The feeding requirements of a sugar glider are somewhat controversial. It is only recently they have been kept as pets, and needs are somewhat of a mystery. As time goes on people will learn more about the needs of these little creatures. Sugar gliders are omnivorous, meaning they will eat plant material and meat. In the wild they feed from nectar, fruit, insects and even small birds, eggs or rodents. This diet is pretty hard to replicate in captivity. People feed them a variety of foods trying to mimic their natural diet as best they can. Some people feed insects such as crickets, mealworms, waxworms, moths and spiders. The insects should be fed high quality food such as commercial cricket food, and dusted with a complete vitamin/mineral supplement. Hence their name, the sugar glider loves the taste of sugar. They like fruit cocktail. The fruit should be fed in small amounts, chopped together so the gliders can not just pick out their favorites. There are many different diets that can be fed. These diets cannot be mixed and match and must be fed according to directions. Incorrect diet can cause serious health issues. Some diets you may want to research:

BML, Taronga Zoo Diet, Chicago Zoological Park Alternative Diet , Darcy's Sugar Glider Diet , Elwin's Fresh Food Diet, Priscilla Price's Sugar Glider Diet, Suncoast Glider Diet Plan, etc(there are a few more to this list)

Cage:

A large cage, the bigger the better, should be provided with plenty of things to jump and leap off of (a minimum of 24 x 24 inches, by 36 inches high). For a sugar glider, height is more valuable than floor space. A wire cage, wire should be no more than ½ inch wide, is best to allow the cage to breathe. A plastic tub can be placed under the cage to catch any debris that may fall out of the cage. Lots of toys should be provided as well as an exercise wheel, nest box and/or glider pouch. Branches, ropes and ladders will provide lots of opportunity for climbing and exercise. Large cage is a must, if you do not have the space or $$$ to buy an appropriate cage then do not get a glider.

Vet care

Since gliders are exotic their veterinary care will cost more. You will need to find a sugar glider knowledgeable vet before you purchase a glider.

Other info

Male sugar gliders have a unique smell that some people find unbearable. I used to have to clean mine daily(scrubbing cage, washing bedding, cleaning toys) to keep the smell down. The males have scent glands and they mark their territory. Females do not have as bad a smell as males. The cage will need to be cleaned frequently, weather keeping males of females as urine has a strong odor. They usually urinate on the side of the cage, so you need to wash the entire cage, not just the bottom tray.

Also check for legality in your state. Gliders are illegal in some states and citi