I want to get a Sugar Glider?

Question

Are they good pets and are they easy to take care of??

Answer 1

Sugar Gliders have become popular pets in the United States, and anyone who has ever seen one can easily tell you why. Besides being intelligent, playful and inquisitive, they are just darn cute. They also don't smell bad (if their diet is correct), don't have fleas, don't need shots, are relatively inexpensive to keep, and having one in your pocket is a sure-fire way to meet people and make new friends!

Like any pet, they come with their own unique set of needs and requirements, and although there's a lot more information available now than there was a few years ago, there are still a lot of glider owners out there who really don't know how to best care for their animals.

Although sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) are native to Australia, they have not been exported from there for many years. The ones we have in the U.S. are descendents of gliders that were imported from other places, mostly Indonesia.

Like many animals from that part of the world, they are marsupials, similar in size to our American flying squirrel (but much cuter). Their name comes from their affinity for sweet things like the sweet sap that leaks from wounds in trees. At the moment they are considered an "exotic" in the U.S., and a federal license is required to sell them. Unfortunately, it is illegal to even own them in some states, notably California. Before purchasing a glider, it would be a good idea to check with the USDA's Animal Care Sector Office for your state and make sure of the laws in your area.

The diet of wild sugar gliders consists mainly of sap, nectar, bugs, and small animals such as baby birds. They are nocturnal, so as pets they're most fun late in the evening and early in the morning, and they are capable of making an interesting variety of sounds. They are very clean little animals, and although they do have their own unique scents, they don't smell bad if their diet is correct.

Check out this site for more info

http://www.skinhorse.net/gliders/

Answer 2

To answer your question directly, they are fantastic pets, but they are not easy to take care of. Many gliders fall victim to neglect or rehomed several times because people were not aware of the 15 years of maintenance they would require.

They requre a large amount of space - a cage at LEAST 3-4 feet tall for one to two gliders, and play time outside of this cage in a safe area - I'd never let mine just play in the house because there are too many threats, so we set up a tent inside with toys for supervised play time and bonding time every night.

They need alot of attention. I always recommend two - no matter how much attention you give a glider, they are just too social and need the attention of another glider. They are completely nocturnal, so you have to be able to stay up late with them to socialize play and bond. To create and keep a good bond, you also need to keep them with you during the day while they sleep - there are tons of bonding pouches out there for just this purpose.

They require a highly specific diet, not just fruits and nuts as so many people believe. There is still little known about gliders in captivity (pretty much all the text books vets use are out of date and refer to wild gliders) - in the years they have been in captivity a few well balanced diets have been proven to keep gliders healthy and happy. I personally think the most commonly used proven diet is BML (bourbon's modified leadbeters). http://www.sugargliderinfo.com/NutritionAndDiets/leadbeat.html here is a link to a how-to and what you need for that diet - along with that blend they need fresh/frozen fruits and vegtables. The fruits and veggie list is specific, because some things are very harmful and can cause death or illness (pits from fruit, lima beans, ect).

Another thing to consider is no glider is alike. They are like humans in that each has a distinct personality. Many people purchase gliders because they are adorable and can be sweet and very bonded to their human. The key word here is CAN be bonded and sweet. Until you try and bond with a hyper, scared glider you may not be able to fully understand how crushing it can be - I have 5 gliders and only one is bonded. Despite my best efforts, the others just prefer to be left alone for the majority of the day. My bonded boy on the other hand will ride in my bra by day and beg for playtime a night... So just be prepaired - hope for a sweet baby but be prepaired for an animal that will never trust or like you...

*phew*! That's alot of info, but I hope it helps - it's all words from my own research and experience!

Answer 3

I've always wanted a Sugar Glider, too! They seem like great pets. Unfortunately, I think that they are not permitted in my state. I suggest that you check your state regulations on pets before you invest in a Sugar Glider and find that you can't keep him!

Answer 4

As long as you treat it like an animal or a pet... and not tote it around to show off in a little louis vuitton pet carrier like retard Hilton and tinkerbell... you and it will be just fine.

They require a special, often expensive diet and are a bit inquisitive and are capable of opening most cage locks... They can be as cute as and as destructive as a monkey if they are allowed to run around free or get out of their pen...

I suggest a tall cage with natural branches for climbing. Like a really tall atrium type parrot cage with mesh screen around the bars because they can squeeze through even the smallest spaces and allowed to run free they can get hurt....

Answer 5

you need to do a lot of research before you get an exotic pet. they are not just little and cute they take a lot of work. they are like little babies and need to be treated as such or they will become mean, they are nocturnal which means they will keep you up all night moving around in their cage because they sleep during the day. they require certain food that you can't get just anywhere. i suggest you look up some information on this before you get one.

Answer 6

theyre illegal in CA and i think in Hawaii also