Surgar Gliders?

Question

I'm thinking about getting a sugar glider for my sister and i need to know these questions: how much does one cost, is it legal to have one in illinois, how much space does it need, what type of cage, what does it eat, is it nocturnal, how much work does it require, do you need alot of responsibility, and overall cost

Answer 1

They cost anywhere from $100-$250. It is legal as far as I know. They need cages at least two feet tall with wire sides, so they can climb. They eat fruits and veggies and dry insectivore food, and they need special vitamins to stay healthy. They are diurnal (both day and night) as far as I know. They need to be handled at least an hour every single day, and need fresh food and water and vitamins every day, so they require a fairly high amount of responsibility. Overall, with cage, sugar glider, and accessories, you're looking at a cost of upwards of $250.

Answer 2

General information:

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/sugarglid...

http://www.sugarglider.com/archives/ruth...

And once you've read the general information, this site sounds like a reputable, caring breeder who knows what (s)he's doing and would help you with a decision like this:

http://www.petsugargliders.com/

My concern would be, if your sister isn't an adult yet, if she's still in school, a sugar glider is an animal that will bond with her and live 10-15 years, so there has to be a plan for when she goes to college, and/or gets an apartment.  You can't usually keep pets in dorms, many apartments don't allow pets, and the glider will miss her terribly if she hands it over to someone else to care for.  So unless one of your parents or you is not only prepared to care for this animal if she's away but also willing to be its other best friend until then, it isn't a good choice.

It's an unusual, exotic pet, so finding someone who knows how to take care of it and is willing to while the family travels may be more difficult than something more common.

They are illegal in the county where I live, so you'll need to actually check, perhaps with the USDA animal control folks or some such whether they're legal where you live--it isn't necessarily a state-wide thing, there may be different laws county by county.

I'm really happy you're doing this research, because getting a long-lived, exotic pet needs to be a family decision.

Answer 3

well i got mine off a breeder in Indy for $80 and she is very sweet and if you email me at [e-mail] i can get her number for u and cage must be 2ft by 2ft by 2ft minimum and you can get  a nice one on ebay and if you need any  more info go to