Sugar Gliders as Pets

What Colors of Sugar Gliders are available?

Our sugar glider babies are all sold between the ages of 6-8 weeks out of the pouch. Their fur can range in color from a light gray to dark gray and from a light brown to a dark brown. These colors may lighten or darken, as the sugar glider gets older. We do not sell sugar glider babies based on color. Some people believe that brown sugar gliders are wild caught; however, this is not true. We know for a fact that our babies are born here and yet we often have brown colored gliders.

Are Sugar Gliders sociable with their owners and do they make good pets?

I think gliders can be rated anywhere on a scale from one to ten as a pet. Where the glider rates on the scale is 75% of the owner’s responsibility and the other 25% is the individual personality of the glider. Attention and handling of the glider is critical to the personality development of the sugar glider. With time and patience any sugar glider’s temperament can be improved and a wonderful bond can be formed between gliders and their owners. One must remember, even the sweetest, nicest glider can bite, crab and grumble if it is scared or in pain.

"10" - the Wonderful Pet -- Sugar gliders can be awesome pets. It will ride around in your pocket or inside your shirt and go with you everywhere, a true pocket pet. They will cuddle, play games and never bite, grumble or crab. They are very socialized and go to anyone. They will come out of their pouch or cage to play anytime they can and they live to beg for treats. The owners of these love them so much that they have to get another sugar glider.

"5" - the Curious Pet’’ -- This sugar glider prefers to stay in its cage, but it will come out with some coaxing.;It will nip if it is grabbed or forced to come out.;It will take treats from your hand and may even climb on your hand, but its cage is security and that is where it prefers to be. It may grumble and crab but it tolerates some handling.

"1" the Terrible Pet -- This sugar glider does not like to come out of its cage, nest box, or pouch. It is scared all the time and it interprets human interaction as a threat and so it bites viciously if hands or fingers get too near. It can not be handled and it crabs and grumbles constantly.

On rare occasions there are gliders that seem to have a bad attitude even with lots of time and attention from the new owners. I can not explain this bad attitude and I will not promise that it will not happen, only that it is rare. Sometimes after adding a mate or even after several months the temper will mellow and the glider will become a great pet.;

How do Sugar Gliders react to being around a lot of people?;

Some gliders do very well around strangers and in-groups of people, but others become terrified and will try to escape the situation. I believe how the glider reacts depends on the atmosphere in which the glider was raised. If the glider is handled by only one person and is never around strangers you can expect the glider to have a harder time in strange situations. However, if the glider is played with and handled by an entire family or several people, it will have a much easier time in crowds and unfamiliar territories.

Can their personalities change?

Yes!!! I have had the sweetest nicest gliders go through shock when a new owner picks it up and it had to be re-tamed all over. On the other hand, a glider that is a monster for me could be gentle and friendly for someone else. Also, a traumatic event (such as chasing the glider through the house) can cause a great set-back in their personality development. That is why I can not and will not guarantee personalities.

Sometimes gliders go through what I call and adolescence. They want to nip or bite and they grumble and complain a lot. My best advice is to love them anyway, ignore it and eventually they will out grow it. Just like a teenager!

Do they bite?

Any animal with teeth CAN bite. Any animal that is extremely frightened is LIKELY to bite. Sugar gliders are no exception. If your sugar glider bites you, do NOT back off. If you back off, it will teach the glider that biting is a way to intimidate you and that you will go away. If you do not break the biting habit when your sugar glider is a baby, you will have much more serious problems when it is an adult.

What is the bonding process?

I suggest that you spend several hours a day for the first several weeks with your new glider. I don’t mean carrying it around in its pouch with the pouch closed up, I mean actual hands on contact. Your new glider will be scared and it will tell you about it. Don’t be intimidated - that is what it is trying to do!

The first step in the bonding process is working with the glider in its pouch.; The pouch is the sugar glider's comfort zone.; It will feel safe there and will more than likely want to stay in the pouch until it feels comfortable with you and its surroundings.; When you put your hand in the pouch, avoid sticking your hand directly in its face.; This is very intimidating for the little critter.; I suggest cupping the glider in the bottom of the pouch with one hand, then sliding the other hand in around the glider while the pouch is still somewhat closed.; Many times, if the glider can't see your hand coming toward it, it isn't as intimidated by your hand invading its territory.

You should ignore it’s crabbing and it’s attempts to bite - DO NOT PULL YOUR HAND AWAY. If you pull your hand away the glider will learn that it can get you to go away by crabbing and biting.; You can offer treats that it can lick off your finger (pudding, applesauce, yogurt, tapioca, peanut butter etc.).; The goal is to teach your glider not to be afraid of your hand.; You should hold the glider in your hand in the pouch until you and/or the glider are comfortable with each other. Hold it this way while watching a movie or riding in the car or reading a book.

The next step is to hold the sugar glider in your hand outside of the pouch.; I suggest cupping the glider in your hand, talking to it and petting the glider on all parts of its body.; You want to make sure it fully trusts you.; Offer it nutritious treats, such as grapes, from your hand.; This is a good time to practice putting on a glider leash.; It will take some practice to master the art of glider harnessing!

You must remember that sugar gliders are very quick and that they might get away from you, so be very careful!; The advantage of putting your sugar glider on a leash is that you will not have to chase you glider in order to catch it should it jump and try to run away.; I have seen many people have huge setbacks in the bonding process when they had to chase an escaped glider.; Sugar gliders are very small compared to us and it is only natural for them to be traumatized when the are chased.

When the sugar glider is out and about in its cage, stick your arm in the cage and let it explore you.; Be very still and very patient the first few times you try this.; Again, make sure the glider doesn't have a chance to escape while you have your arm in the cage.; Bird style cages work well for this since they have many small openings that you can put your hand or arm though and the door slides down so there is very little open space.

How long does it take to bond with a Sugar Glider?

The amount of time it takes to bond with a sugar glider is dependent on both the personality of the sugar glider, personality of the new owner and if there are factors that could add to the stress of the glider. Loud noises and other pets can be stressful to some gliders.; If you grab your sugar glider or if you have to chase your glider it can set you back in the bonding process.

Some gliders bond to their new owners very rapidly – with in a few hours, but that is a rare occurrence. Most gliders bond to their new owner within a couple of days to a week or two. However, there is the occasional glider that may take months of patience and persistence to win the little gliders heart. This is especially true with older gliders that are on their second or third home.

Unfortunately there is no way to predict how long it will take your glider to bond to you.

My glider has recently started biting.; What can I do?

Young gliders can go through an adolescent period where they may start biting. It is normally just a phase that they will outgrow if you ignore their bad behavior and continue to work and play with them. This rebellious period may last a couple of days or a couple of months. In most cases the glider will outgrow this annoying habit. I encourage you to let your glider lick small amounts of tasty foods such as yogurt, honey, applesauce, or baby food off of your finger. This will remind your glider that your hand is a friend not an enemy.

**Gliders often nip or tug at your skin as a sign of curiosity, affection, and/or an attempt to "groom" you. This should not be considered biting since it is a friendly contact, not as an act of aggression. One might compare this kind of nipping to a puppy chewing on your finger.

Do they make a lot of noise?

Sugar gliders make various sounds that can be described as barking, grumbling, crabbing, or fussing. An experienced glider owner can tell the difference between the noises. The gliders usually make the crabbing or fussing noises when they are disturbed, either by a human or another glider. The barking is a noise that they usually make at night. This is a type of call they make to one another. Some owners would say that their gliders are quiet and others would say that their gliders make a lot of noise especially at night.; Often times night time barking is a way to get your attention or to come and play!

Are they nocturnal?

Yes, sugar gliders are nocturnal and most prefer to come out at night. Gliders will vary from one to another in their sleep-wake cycles. Some gliders will wake up in the evening as early as seven or eight o’clock and others will sleep until 1am.

Since they are nocturnal they have very large, sensitive eyes. Direct sunlight and bright fluorescent lights can harm their eyes.

Can you train them to be diurnal or should they remain nocturnal?

Sugar gliders can learn to adjust to your schedule. I have quite a few animals to feed so all of my animals are fed during the day. Most of my gliders have learned to wake up and come out to eat when they hear me preparing their food or talking to them. They are always looking for a treat or attention and many are hanging on the door begging for treats as soon as they hear the sound of cracking peanuts.

I have several customers whose gliders are very active during the day. The gliders would much rather be with their owners than sleeping in their cage!

Can I let my Sugar Glider roam the house?

Sugar gliders are very curious animals and they love to explore their surroundings. When they are out and about you need to keep a close eye on them because they can and will find trouble! You need to look out for poisons (household chemicals, toxic plants, rat poison), ways they can slip outside (open windows, registers, and fireplaces), ceiling fans, and standing water (toilets, mop buckets, washing machines).

Can you train gliders to come to you on command?

Yes, it is possible to train sugar gliders to come to you on command, but it takes time and patience. From my personal experience, the easiest way to train an animal to come to you is to train the animal to associate a certain sound with a treat.; This is often called "clicker training".; For instance, if you snap your fingers twice before you give it a treat (EVERY time) the animal will soon learn that two finger snaps means that a treat is on its way. Once the animal has learned this association it will come to you when you "call" it to receive its treat.

Can I use a leash for my Sugar Glider?

Yes. I sell leashes that are used by many of my customers.;

As with any accessory there are dangers associated with leashes. If the harness is too tight it can cut into the glider’s pantigium or gliding membrane. On the other hand, if the harness is too loose, the glider can slip out and escape.

Sugar gliders can be very squirmy when you are trying to put on the harness. It can take anywhere from a few seconds to 10 minutes to get the harness properly secured. Usually distracting the glider with a treat is a big help!; Practice putting the leash on in stages.; Let your glider get used to the head part of the leash before trying to put on the body part of the leash.

Once the leash is on, you have to watch the gliders at all times and you must never leave the glider unattended. When the glider first gets used to the leash they don’t realize the leash limits the distance they can move away from you. You should always be there to untangle them or to keep them from dangling in midair!

Can sugar gliders be potty trained?

Most sugar glider owners say that sugar gliders can not be potty trained or litter box trained.; However, you can learn the sugar glider's habits and act accordingly.; Just like humans, one of the first things they like to do when they wake up is go to the bathroom.; Since you know this is most likely going to happen with your sugar glider, you can be prepared.; Some people have a baby wipe handy and other people place their sugar glider on a paper towel and wait for it to do its business.

If you carry your glider in your shirt or in a pocket lots of times the sugar glider will come out to do its business.; Most sugar gliders do not potty where they sleep but then again there are some who are more messy than others.; If you keep your glider in a zippered pouch some gliders will make a certain noise to tell you they need to come out for awhile or others will start getting antsy and move around in their pouch.

If you are afraid of being pottied on, a sugar glider may not be the pet for you because it will probably happen some time or another.; However, most sugar glider owners do not complain of bad toiletry habits as a major drawback to owning a sugar glider.;

Will my Sugar Glider get along with other pets?

In general NO, but there is always an exception to a rule. In the wild, larger animals prey upon sugar gliders. It is natural that they should feel intimidated by dogs, cats, ferrets, or even large birds. On the other hand, in the wild they prey upon small birds, lizards, or small rodents. A pet hamster may look like a tasty meal to a sugar glider. Even if sugar gliders seem to get along with other pets, I would never leave pets together unsupervised.

Do Sugar Gliders smell?

Gliders do have an odor that is unique to them, but I don’t think it is any stronger than the odor of a dog or cat. Some houses with dogs and cats in them smell badly, other houses you wouldn’t know there is a dog or cat in the house. Sugar gliders are the same way. However, intact male sugar gliders smell MUCH, MUCH, more than neutered males and they become especially smelly when they reach sexual maturity.

What can I do to prevent or get rid of glider odor?

The number one cause of glider odor is an intact male.; So, unless you are planning on breeding your gliders, get the male neutered!

The main environmental culprits of odor are things that hold or absorb urine.; Wood, galvanized wire, carpet around the cage, paper or litter under the cage, bedding and nesting materials all have potential to hold urine.

I use wire bottom cages with newspaper in the bottom of the tray. The newspapers are changed twice a week. I recommend cleaning the entire cage once a month. This can be done in the shower or the car wash! The best cleaner to use is plain bleach. Just make sure you rinse it all off! The sugar gliders will scent mark their surroundings.; So, cleaning the cage too often will cause them to re-mark their territory.; Right after they sent mark the cage is when it will smell the strongest.

Cage accessories and the litter under the cage should be cleaned and changed more frequently. Wood parts of the cage, branches, or wooden furnishings can absorb urine and hold a strong smell so they may need to be replaced entirely.; Make sure you change bedding and nesting material as well.

Poor ventilation in a room will also intensify the odor.; I have had a lot of success using air purifiers.; You can email me about how the air purifiers work.

Finally, too many vitamins in the diet or an imbalanced diet can also lead to strong glider odors.

There are products on the market that will help combat odor problems. Read labels carefully. There is a product called Glider Glo Spray Conditioner and Odor Neutralizer made by Brisky Pet Products.; I have heard both positive and negative reports about this product, but I have not tried it myself. To check out these reports you can do a search at the Glider Central web site.

I have only heard good things about Oxyfresh products. They are natural and pet safe. They make a Neutralizing Pet Deodorizer that can be used in the glider’s drinking water, sprayed on the glider directly or on the cage.

At what age should sugar glider babies be weaned?

When referring to weaning "age" there are a lot of variables that come in to play whether or not the babies are "ready to go" or are ready to be weaned.

First, keep in mind glider babies can technically come OOP at different ages.; It is just about impossible to determine when they were actually born and migrated to the pouch.; Most books say that glider gestation is only 16 days and they are in the pouch for approximately two months and the eyes open a week to ten days of emergence.

Single babies may stay in the pouch longer than twins or mommies with stretched out pouches have more room for larger babies to stay inside.; I have seen babies come out of the pouch with barely any fur on them at all and I have seen babies come out of the pouch with their eyes open. Obviously babies with their eyes open are much older than almost nude babies.

Also, people have different definitions of OOP.; Some people consider the babies to be out of pouch the first time they see the baby's body outside of the pouch but the head may still be in the pouch.; The baby may go in and out of the pouch several times before it stays out of the pouch for good. Other people consider the babies out of the pouch when even the head is outside of the pouch.; Some people count back ten days from when the eyes open as the out of pouch date.

There are also several factors that affect how fast the babies grow.; New moms and older moms may have slower growing babies than moms in their prime. I personally have noticed that babies grow faster when the temperature is above 75F than when I keep the glider room slightly cooler.

The diet fed to the parents and babies greatly affects how fast the babies grow.; We use Happy Glider Breeder Formula dry food in addition to small amounts of fruits, vegetables, mealworms, and crickets.; Once the babies open their eyes we start putting a few pieces of Happy Glider in the nest box.; The babies see mom and dad glider eating and they start eating much sooner than if I wait for them to come out of the nest box and eat on their own.; Since they are eating sooner they are growing faster and are ready to wean much sooner than if I had waited for their mom and dad to show them the food bowl.

We look at several things when we decide if our glider babies are ready to go.; We look at body size, tail fullness or fluffiness, and fur condition of the baby.; We keep track of how much food our gliders eat every day.; If the babies are ready to wean the glider family typically eats 1/3 more than the parents do on their own.; To verify that we are on the right track, we have had two different veterinarians look at babies that we consider "ready" and they have agreed with our assessments.

I have had several opportunities to compare my babies with babies for sale by other people.; My five week OOP babies are often the same size as babies others consider 8 weeks OOP.; My 8 week OOP babies are quite often the same size as the parents!!; Then again, I have seen 8 week OOP babies that were fed a poor diet still too small to leave their parents.

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