• What is a Sugar Glider?
• How are sugar gliders born?
• What is the breeding age and estrus cycle of a sugar glider?
• Is a sugar glider the same as a flying squirrel?
• Are sugar gliders legal?
• Are sugar gliders expensive?
• What is the lifespan of a sugar glider?
• What does a sugar glider look like?
• Can a sugar glider fly?
• How much does a sugar glider weigh?
• Do sugar gliders make sounds?
• Do sugar gliders have an odor?
• What is the sugar glider's natural habitat?
• Are sugar gliders territorial?
• What do sugar gliders eat?
• What do sugar gliders drink?
• Do sugar gliders make good pets?
• Is it easy to provide care for sugar gliders?
• What is bonding?
• Are sugar gliders tame?
• Can sugar gliders be housebroken?
• Do sugar gliders bite?
• When do sugar gliders sleep?
• Are sugar gliders prone to disease?
• Can sugar gliders be left alone?
• Do sugar gliders require a cage?
• How large should their cage be?
• What is the sugar glider cage made of?
• How should I furnish the cage?

What is a Sugar Glider?

Sugar gliders, often referred to as honey gliders, are nocturnal marsupials. "Mars" is the Greek root word meaning "a bag" or pouch. The sugar glider's marsupium (or pouch) is where its babies crawl into at birth. Sugar gliders are mammals. They are native to New Guinea and northeastern Australia. They are of the family petauridae, genus petaurus -- the lesser gliding possums, and species petaurus breviceps.

Since a sugar glider is a marsupial, it spends only a small portion of its development in the uterus before migrating to its mother's pouch. Their gestation period is about 16 days. Once it is in the pouch, it attaches to a nipple, and remains there until its development is completed. On average, they leave the pouch at about 70 days of age. And they are weaned at about 105 days. Sugar gliders breed year around, provided their diet is sufficient in protein. Mothers may carry one or two babies (joeys) at a time.

Females reach breeding age when they are about 8 months old. In contrast, male sugar gliders are older when they reach their sexual maturity and become capable of breeding. The female sugar glider has a polyestrus cycle of about 29 days.

Flying squirrels are rodents. Sugar gliders are not. Although they look similar, they are two distinct unrelated animals.

There are regulations to keeping any type of pet. And since many of these laws are controlled by local and state agencies, it is best to check with your local government first to find out if this exotic pet is legal in your area.

Prices for sugar gliders generally range from $100 to $450, with some reports of gliders selling for as much as $600. Their dietary requirements are extensive, as are their housing needs.

Sugar gliders in captivity will live 8 to 12 years if cared for properly. The oldest recorded lifespan of a sugar glider kept in captivity is 14 years.

Sugar gliders resemble a cross between a miniature squirrel and a possum. They have big, bold, round black eyes. They have large, erect, well-defined and sensitive ears. And a long furry tail with a dark tip. There head is wedge-shaped. Some people like to call them Gremlins because their eyes and ears resemble that movie character. Sugar gliders are brownish grey in color with subtle cream-colored undercoat. They have a very delicate appearance, and five digits on each foot. Both sexes generally look alike with the exception of a diamond-shaped scent gland on the mature male which resembles a bald spot on his forehead. Sugar gliders measure between 6 - 9 inches long and their tail of about the same length. They also have a gliding membrane, similar to the side flaps that are found on flying squirrels, which is attached to the front and hind legs. Can a sugar glider fly?

The gliding membrane of the sugar glider stretches outward and enables them to catch air when they jump, which subsequently permits them to glide from one treetop to the next. In some circumstances, they are capable of gliding approximately 150 feet. They are agile and quick. And capable of catching insects in midair.

Sugar gliders generally weigh between 4 and 6 ounces. Averaging about 135 grams.

They are not incessantly noisy animals. However, since sugar gliders are extremely intelligent, they have a language all their own with several distinct sounds. Their communication is audible to the human ear. And they are able to project sound as far as several hundred yards away -- an understandable necessity when you consider the fact that they naturally would be talking to other gliders in other treetops within their noisy native rain forests. When sugar gliders are angry, they make a "crabbing" sound which resembles the grind of an electric pencil sharpener. They can also bark, chirp, gurgle, and chatter.

Sugar gliders depend heavily on scent marking as another form of communication. Each sugar glider has its own unique "signature" scent and, in addition carries the group scent which identifies him/her as being part of a particular "family" of gliders. The sugar glider scent can be described as a sweet musk. It is heavier in their nest area and usually much less noticeable on their bodies. The dominant male in each family will use his scent gland to mark his family members by rubbing his forehead on their bodies. He will also scent mark objects in his cage. In addition to the scent gland on the forehead, male sugar gliders also have chest and urogenital scent glands. In comparison, female sugar gliders have pouch scent glands and urogenital scent glands. Keep in mind, each scent gland on a glider has a distinctive smell and consequently makes it possible for him or her to convey complex combinations of information to other gliders.

Sugar gliders (aka "gliders") live in forests and woodland. They live in "families" or colonies of about 6 to 10 gliders. They generally live in the highest branches of eucalyptus trees, and sleep huddled together in tree hollows. They prefer a temperature range of between 50 and 90 degrees, and adapt to colder weather by snuggling together. During extreme cold spells, they will reserve body heat by minimizing their activities. They have even been known to hibernate. Sugar gliders prefer soft warm nests inside of trees. They line their nests with leaves and moss.

They are in the wild. For instance, sugar gliders depend on eucalyptus trees for food as well as for shelter. Understandably, they will defend their home and food source from outside invasion.

Sugar gliders are omnivorous. It is their love of sweets that earned them their name. In the wild, sugar gliders feed on nectar and pollen from eucalyptus blossoms. They also like the sap from the eucalyptus tree. To reach the sap, they bite holes into the tree bark until they access the goo inside. In addition, they feed on assorted insects and larvae, small birds, mice, seeds and nuts. They spend much of their time foraging for food. During food shortages, sugar gliders may go into states of dormancy or torpor until food supplies are improved. Since sugar gliders are omnivores they will eat a wide variety of foods. A healthy diet will consist of about three parts fresh fruits to one part protein. A good rule of thumb is: the more variety your offer, the healthier your sugar glider will be. You will have to experiment and see what your gliders like to avoid excessive waste. Often finicky eaters, each glider has definite likes and dislikes. But typically they all like sweet fruits (melons, apples, berries, grapes, tomatoes, and pears). Offer vegetables such as corn, squash, peas, yams, carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli. And include protein-rich foods like crickets, mealworms, baby mice, bone marrow, turkey, monkey chow, cat food, and egg. And for special treats, you may offer your sugar glider a tiny bit of honey or real maple syrup dribbled over their food. Sugar gliders like assorted nuts and seeds too, particularly sunflower and pumpkin seeds. However, since nuts and some seeds are relatively high in fat content, these food items should be offered in smaller portions.

Sugar gliders will drink water. For added vitamins you may offer them fruit juices or special sugar glider nectar. They will take liquids from a water bottle. And their water should be as pure as possible. Preferably filtered or bottled.

Sugar gliders are great pets. They adapt very well to captivity and they are endearing little creatures. They are small, like a hamster, but much smarter. They have sassy attitudes and can often be found chattering away at friends and strangers who peep in on them while they nap during the day. Of course, whether or not they make good pets depends upon who you ask. While some people believe that sugar gliders should not be kept in captivity, most people generally enjoy these tiny pocket pets because they tend to bond to their owners at an early age. They are adorable, gregarious, and intelligent. And it is fun to carry a sugar glider around in one's bonding pouch during the day. Nevertheless, potential owners must recognize the fact that sugar gliders seek companionship, and can die if kept captive and alone.

Sugar gliders are comparatively easier to care for than are several types of reptiles and exotic birds. And they are a lot more hardy and consequently a lot easier to care for than some tropical fish. However, they are not as simple to maintain as goldfish, dogs and cats. Sugar gliders require extremely close attention to dietary intake. Their activity outside of the cage must be deligently monitored. And their behavior should be assessed for changes that may indicate dietary deficiencies and/or disease. There are several Sugar Glider books on the market that will explain how to clip nails, build a cage, and provide information on how to breed. The best rule of thumb: the more you know about sugar gliders, the more successful you will be at caring for them.

Sugar gliders love people. They crave attention, interaction, and play -- especially hide-and-seek. As the pet-owner spends more time talking to the glider, the glider gets to know its owner's voice. And as the owner spends more time playing with the glider and petting the glider, the glider becomes accustomed to the owner's scent. The owner should hold the glider gently and securly, and on a regular basis. Bonding pouches (like the Zip-and-Go) are a great way to provide a safe atmosphere for the glider, while providing an easy way to effectively interact with its owner during the day. In time, the two have bonded, and the glider will eagerly anticipate spending more time with its human. A bonded glider will leap onto its owner's arm, sit on the owner's shoulder, and enthusiastically play with the owner.

In their native habitat, gliders are as tame as our own wild squirrels. And even in captivity they remain somewhat untamed and undomesticated ‹ they are intelligent and can be somewhat independent. If captured from the wild, where they are accustomed to gliding high amongst the treetops, they will be more prone to difficulties associated with captive life. In contrast, if they are captive bred, then chances are very good that they are adjusted to living in a cage.

No, although it has been rumored that one owner successfully toilet trained his glider, in truth sugar gliders urinate and defecate whereever they are. Which means that you should not be surprised when your sugar glider relieves himself/herself on you. Their waste matter is small and solid, and easy to remove from your clothing -- not at all like the runny consistency of a bird's waste.

They bite and they scratch. While a well-bonded glider is not apt to attack and bite its owner, sugar gliders naturally have sharp claws that enable them to cling to whatever they are climbing. As such, their owners are likely to have several scratches from their gliders who pounced onto their face, scampered up their arms, lept onto their back, etc. While a glider scratch is no deeper than a cat scratch, some people are allergic to sugar glider scratches (some people are allergic to cat scratches too). Keep in mind, sugar gliders with a negative history (abuse, neglect, etc) may seem ill-tempored and even vicious due to their poor treatment. Consequently they can develop what is called "pit bull" biting behavior, in which they lock their teeth onto one's skin and shake their head furiously back and forth. This is a painful, yet modifiable behavior that indicates that the glider is not bonded to its owner. Undoubtedly, the sugar glider is afraid, and it is attempting to defend itself against what it perceives as a predator.

Gliders are extremely nocturnal. There is no changing that. Their eyes are designed to function best at night, and too much direct sunshine can actually kill them. So they need to be protected from exposure to bright lights during the day. However, with dimmed lighting and consistent attention, they can be conditioned to stay awake for short periods of time during the day. Compromise is key to success in this area.

Keeping your glider healthy is basically a matter of providing a well-balanced diet, a stimulating safe environment, and companionship. Sugar gliders may appear to be delicate, but they are actually quite hardy. They are prone to health problems if their diet is insufficient for any length of time. For instnace, although they love foods high in fat, these are not good for them in great quantities. A lack of calcium in their diet, over time, will kill them. Severe calcium deficiency is recognizable in a sugar glider who drags his/her hindquarters and is unable to jump. But by the time these signs become evident, it is often too late to remedy the problem. So, prevention is your best measure. Most importantly, be aware of behavioral changes in your glider and find a veterinarian who is familiar with treating this particular species. Inspect your glider's feet periodically for any signs of injury. Abrasions and sores due to sharp cage wire can lead to infection and death. And check your glider's fur for parasites.

A single sugar glider, kept alone and in captivity, will not do as well as a glider permitted to socialize with other gliders. Indeed, isolation can kill a sugar glider. Gliders require interaction with others. Some experts even say that sugar gliders need interaction with their own kind, as much as we humans need interaction with other humans. Gliders have complex social structures and behaviors governed by complex social mechanisms between groups of families, between family members themselves, and between individual sugar gliders. In captivity, unless you can provide a zoo-like setting, keeping sugar gliders in groups is simply not feasible. So sugar glider pairs works best. However, keep in mind that many sugar gliders thrive in captivity with only the companionship of their human owner.

Yes. Although you will probably want to permit your glider some play time outside of its cage, you never want to give your glider unsupervised free roam of your home. It is not only dangerous for the glider, but can be damaging to your household furnishings as well. Gliders must be watched for their own safety. For instance, they can accidently fall into a toilet and drown because they can't jump out. Furthermore, you'll want to protect your curtains and wood furniture too. Remember, some gliders are prone to chew wood and shred draperies. So, provide your sugar glider with a home of its own -- a large cage or indoor aviary with as much height as possible. And keep an eye on your sugar glider when it is outside of its cage.

The bigger the better. As big as it can possibly be without making it impractical to clean and maintain. Provide a cage that is at least two feet wide and three feet high per glider. Common cage dimensions are 24" x 24" x 26". When considering space, keep in mind that the sugar glider is capable of gliding 150 feet - much further than the length of most people's backyards. Ideally, you will permit your glider ample play time outside of his cage to compensate for his relatively small living quarters. Supervised play time to romp around your home and explore the safe environment will enable the glider to be as happy and healthy as any glider kept in captivity.

Wire construction is best. Use wire mesh of 3/4" grid or smaller (we prefer 1/2" grid). Baby gliders can get trapped between the bars of cages designed for hamsters and larger animals. Provide enough doorways to enable access to food dishes and sleeping compartments. Also provide a way of cleaning the floor. This is usually accomplished with a sliding tray at the bottom of the cage. Do not use newspaper or decorative papertowels as a floor covering, as your glider may have a tendency to shred the paper and may subsequently ingest toxic ink. Even if your glider does not nibble at the paper, during grooming he or she may inadvertently ingest newspaper ink which has rubbed onto its paws from walking across the paper. Also, do not use cedar shavings either. Cedar wood is toxic to gliders as well.

Sugar gliders need a warm cozy place to sleep. It should protect them from drafts and sunlight. Most owners provide some sort of washable fabric pouch as a nest. The fabric nest suits this purpose well because it does not lend itself to being chewed into tiny shreds, like cardboard boxes and tubes do. Wooden nestboxes have also been used, but they tend to absorb urine and feces, and can therefore become a hotbed of bacteria and disease. So, a cloth nesting pouch is preferable. Place the pouch high in the cage, not on the floor. In addition, gliders need lots of toys. They enjoy running on Wodent wheels. And they love to run across ropes. They also love leaping from one ledge to another. The cage must include items that will enable the glider to climb. Natural tree branches are an excellent furnishing for the sugar glider cage, if you can find a branch that is free from pesticides. But be sure that the wood is not toxic to sugar gliders! Gliders can tend to nibble on branches placed in their cage, so avoid cedar, ponderosa pine, white pine, walnut, and black walnut branches as they will kill your glider if ingested. Instead, use apple, filbert, poplar, and cherry if you want to add a live branch to your sugar glider's cage. And manzanita is a popular safe wood choice for perches too.