GLIDER SAILING
By: Dottie Schira

More photos of sugar gliders on the next page. Including photos of tiny babies.

(Psst! If you are new to navigating web pages, all of the underlined highlighted words can be left clicked on using your mouse. This will bring you to pages with more information. I just didn't want you to miss anything).

What Is A Sugar Glider?

Sugar gliders sort of look like a flying squirrel and a chipmunk rolled into one. They are tiny marsupials from Australia and surrounding areas. They are tree dwellers and live in a group of about 12.

Their color is a light grey to a brownish grey. They also have a dark brown or black stripe going down the back, around their eyes and ears and down their legs. Their bellies are a cream color. They have a long bushy tail and they measure in length about 10 and a half to 11 inches from head to tail.  Sugar Gliders now come in mutated colors in captivity.  Females have a pouch on their bellies an males have a round furry spot on their belly between their hind legs.  

They do not use their tails for holding onto branches. They use it like a rudder for flying. The patagium is the gliding membrane. The females have pouches where they carry their young.

 

Do They Have An Odor?

Yes they have an odor but it is not strong and it is not a constant smell. You will smell three different odors some only lasting briefly.  Their odor is usually more noticeable during breeding or when frightened.  Males give off an odor during breeding. A single pet does not have much of an odor. Males produce a strong odor when mating.

Males have two scent glands. One is the bald spot on the top of his head. The second is a tiny bald spot on his chest. The third which females also have is an anal gland.  Females also have a scent gland in their pouch.

 

What Sounds Do They Make?

Sugar gliders make many different sounds. . Their playful noise sounds like a tiny puppy making a barking sound. They make a chattering, growling kind of grumpy sound when they are frightened or upset. Babies make a tiny squeek or peep sound to call their mother.

 

What Kind Of Pets Do They Make?

If treated right, sugar gliders make wonderful pets. When first arriving home your sugar glider will be timid and a little frightened. Give them a few days to adjust before you invite everyone over to view your new pet or before you try to handle it.

After a few days offer them treats and talk softly. They will soon learn that you mean them no harm. My pair settled right in within two days. Frightened sugar gliders will bite or try to grab your finger, scratch you with their claws. I played a tape of sounds that sugar gliders make when playing and within minutes my thirteen year old daughter was petting both my male and female.

 

Are Sugar Gliders Nocturnal?

Yes sugar gliders are nocturnal which means they come out at night usually around 10:00 PM. If you want a pet to play with during the day then maybe you should reconsider getting a sugar glider. They can be somewhat active during the day in dim lit areas but for the most part, they are active and playful at night.

Please consider their large eyes when it comes to bright-lit rooms. They have large eyes to see better at night. Bright lights can hurt their eyes. Play with them in rooms with soft lighting.

 

How Long Do Sugar Gliders Live?

Sugar gliders can live as long as fifteen years, so please consider this before purchasing one. They can also bond very quickly to their owners. It is cruel to uproot them by selling them after they have bonded to you. They can become a very loving and devoted pet. So if you are not in it for the long haul then do the animal a favor and do not purchase one.

 

Are They Good With Children?

Sugar gliders are not good pets for young children. They have sharp claws and love to jump and hold onto things like clothing, fingers and your face. A small child could get scratched in the eye. When they get upset, Sugar Gliders can bite. For the most part, they are gentle and loving.

 

How Much Attention Do They Need?

If you are wondering, "What is the least amount of attention I can give a sugar glider to keep them tame and loving," then you should not own a Sugar Glider. Sugar Gliders make loving pets and need hands on daily attention. You should set aside some time to play with and handle your sugar glider every day.

 

Should I Keep Two Sugar Gliders?

Sugar gliders can do well as single pets but since they are so playful at night when most of us are asleep, I recommend having two in the same cage. If you can give your sugar glider plenty of attention then it will be quite happy as a single pet. They remain just as tame kept as a single pet or in pairs.

 

What Size Cage Do They Need?

Cage dimensions for one Glider is about 3 feet deep by 3 feet wide by 4 feet high.  Bar spacing should be 1"x1/2" or 3/4" if housing in bird cages. Do not house them in aquariums or hamster cages. They need a wire cage.

Give Sugar Gliders several branches in which to climb on. Include safe toys for them to play with. Make sure their tiny toes can not get caught anywhere. I use small parrot toys and hamster toys.

Change the food and water dishes daily. Do not just rinse them off. Have a second set of dishes and while the first set is in the dishwasher, you can put the second set right back in their cage.

Here is a picture of a nice homemade cage that was donated to us.  The perches are too small though.  I am replaces them with larger tree branches. The cage dimensions are 4 feet high X 2 feet deep X 3 feet wide.  Bar spacing is 1/2 inch square wire mesh.

 

What Do Sugar Gliders Eat?

Their diet should be 25% protein and 75% fruits and veggies. There are several different diets on the market. I feed Zu Preem parakeet size bird pellets.  The pellets are left in the cage at all times.  Every other day I feed fruits, veggies, cooked chicken, Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal with Almonds and a few other foods. 

In the wild Sugar Gliders eat sap and gum from eucalyptus. They also eat insects and small animals such baby birds (not in my house <grin> ) and pinky mice, yuck ( I could never feed a baby anything to another animal). They can eat some healthy table foods as treats such as fruits and vegetables and other natural healthy foods. Peanuts and sunflower seeds should be given rarely and only as a special treat. They contain too much fat and that could be harmful to sugar gliders. for a list of foods they like to eat.

Water must be available at all times. Just one day without water and your sugar glider could die. You can give them a water bottle but be careful so they don't jam food up in the spout which will prevent any water flow.

 

 

Page Two

Contains information such as foods they like, health issues, household hazards, breeding, babies and more.