Tamed Exotics

A sugar glider (petaurus breviceps) is a small, nocturnal marsupial. Sugar gliders are in the same family as the kangaroo and koala bear, so they also have a pouch in which their babies grow. They get the name “sugar glider,” from two facts: They feed on sweet gums and saps, among other things, in the wild, giving them the first name, “sugar.” The “glider” portion comes from the distinctive flap of skin (patagium) connecting their front and hind legs on both sides, allowing them to glide surprising distances from branch to branch among the trees. They are social animals that live in colonies and love communicating with their colony mates, so we recommend that they live with at least one other sugar glider.

Yes, they are. The term “sugar glider” is the commonly accepted name for the animal around the world, while “sugar bear” is more of a marketing term used by particular businesses and organizations. When searching for supplies and support for these animals, we highly recommend searching under “sugar glider,” as this provides a wider, and often more accurate, source of information.

They do make excellent pets and loving members of the family, but they are “exotic” pets, they are a unique pet, and very different from a dog or cat. Like a smaller pet, they should be kept in a cage at night for their own safety. Because of their size, they should always be supervised if they are around other pets. They require more time and understanding than a “traditional” pet. Through your care & attention sugar gliders will love and bond to you. They will joyfully nap in your pocket or on your shoulder, and love to take treats from your hand!A: They do make excellent pets and loving members of the family, but they are “exotic” pets, they are a unique pet, and very different from a dog or cat. Like a smaller pet, they should be kept in a cage at night for their own safety. Because of their size, they should always be supervised if they are around other pets. They require more time and understanding than a “traditional” pet. Through your care & attention sugar gliders will love and bond to you. They will joyfully nap in your pocket or on your shoulder, and love to take treats from your hand!

They are indeed nocturnal, meaning that they sleep during the majority of the day and are active at night. This does not mean, however, that you will not be able to spend a good deal of time with them. They can adjust themselves somewhat to your schedule, and would be sleeping during the majority of a traditional “work day.” Towards the late afternoon and evening, they will become active and playful. This is an excellent time to bond and spend quality time with them.

Not at all! Though they do require more care and dedication than your average, “normal” pet, once the initial investment is made with supplies and the gliders have settled into your home, they will become a regular part of your family. They do have special dietary needs.
A healthy and well-cared-for sugar glider can live up to 12 – 15 years.

For the most part, sugar gliders make wonderful pets for everyone. We do recommend that younger children, below age 12, have parental supervision when handling sugar gliders, given their small size. There are also a few restrictions based on your local state laws. California, Alaska and Hawaii are among a few states that prohibit sugar glider ownership. Please check your local and state laws before considering adopting a sugar glider.

There are several basic necessities that are needed to welcome a sugar glider in your home, such as a cage, glass water bottle, glider-safe exercise wheel, and more.

It is suggested to keep more than one glider together. In the wild, gliders are community animals and they seem to be much healthier and happier while in groups in captivity. Gliders readily adapt to one another’s presence and will easily become best of friends. For breeding purposes, it is best to keep one male with two females. We do not suggest putting more than one male with only one female.

As a result of being aboreal (tree-dwelling), gliders have practically no fear of any land-dwelling creature. You will have more trouble with your other pets not liking your glider than vice-versa. That being said, gliders should always be kept in a cage, preferably on a raised stand, so that they are safe and away from other house pets like a cat or dog. When handling your glider outside of the cage, make sure the other pet(s) is either in a separate room or kept at a safe distance. You should never risk endangering or causing your stress for your sugar glider by putting them in harm’s way of another aggressive animal. Basically, it all depends on your other pet’s disposition(s).

Gliders are very dependent upon their excellent senses of smell to identify other gliders, as well as their owners. The main odor given off by gliders is the usual waste smell, but it’s not strong and if their cage is kept clean, you should never smell anything. There are products available to control the odors for your Sugar Glider’s waste, including Elimina (removes feces odors).

We should mention here, however, that the males do give off an odor before mating. While not really bad, it is a distinct odor and may take over a room for a week or two. This mating smell can be avoided if your glider is neutered. Male gliders have two scent glands that they use for marking – one is located on their belly and the other on the top of their head (which accounts for the bald spot).

When males grow accustomed to their surroundings, they will mark objects by rubbing their bellies back and forth upon the object. They will also mark any females in their colony by rubbing the female’s chin with their head.

Sugar gliders tolerate temperatures from 60°F to 90°F (15°C to 32°C); however, their preferred temperature range is 80°F to 88°F. Sugar Gliders are nest animals that require a safe place to sleep or nap, preferably one that is quite, dark, and warm. Proper nesting material can help reduce stress levels and increase the quality of sleep your pet is getting, all while optimizing their health. The temperature of the room or area should be maintained between 70-90 deg. F. The cage should be located in an area free from drafts and vents. A nest box, acrylic house, plastic dome or any type of nesting place can be used to provide your gliders with a comfortable living space. You can use a cage cover to avoid drafts from entering a cage or cage heaters to provide extra warmth.

Sugar Gliders (as far as we can tell) make 4 distinct noises. The first is the ‘get away from me noise’. This has been described as sounding similar to an electric pencil sharpener. The sound is also referred to as ‘crabbing’. You may hear this noise a lot at first, but after a month you will learn what they like and don’t like and you may never hear this again (hopefully).

The second is a happy chirp, which they make when excited or happy. The third is a quieter chirp which we have yet to find a purpose behind (other than simple communication). The fourth noise is a loud sharp barking. We believe this is some sort of call for other Sugar Gliders or just for attention from human owners.

Life Span in captivity: Sugar Gliders will live for 10-15 years if they are cared for properly.

Water should ALWAYS be available for your glider to drink. Use either a shallow water dish or a water bottle designed for small mammals. Make sure your glider(s) knows how to use a water bottle with straw before leaving them alone without another water source. Glass bottles and ceramic dishes are the most sanitary option for pet use. When outside the cage, never leave the toilet seat up! Gliders drown quickly. Make sure there are covers on all large drain holes.

Food should be available to your glider at any time of the day or night. Most people prefer to change out the food every morning after gliders have eaten throughout the night and gone back to sleep. You should have a pellet diet available at all times throughout the day, in case your glider wakes up in the middle of the day for a snack. The pellet should be removed and refreshed in the morning, or after 24 hours. Fresh foods like fruit, vegetables, Instant-HPW, Gumivore-fare, etc. should be served in the evening around the time your glider is waking up, then removed from the cage the next morning, after about 12 hours. This feeding schedule will allow your glider to eat food when it is fresh, prevent any staleness or mold growth, and keep fruit flies or smells away.

Never feed them chocolate, or allow them to eat houseplants or give them access to chemicals or toxins. Don’t feed them cat food or foods made for another animal species. Check the ingredients or guaranteed analysis of the food. If that information is not available, consider switching to a more reputable brand that provides full details on the food you are feeding. Never trust a company that doesn’t list product ingredients.