Risks: Sugar gliders can and will likely bite you, especially in the early stages of ownership. Their teeth are very sharp and can cause a lot of harm, which means you should be very careful and be fully vaccinated before owning them. Some of these animals are imported and may carry disease.

It is okay to have just one glider if you give it A LOT of playtime and bonding time. I started out with just one glider and I gave her a lot of playtime and I carried her in a bonding pouch all day, but she still got depressed and was barking a lot at night because she was lonely.

A. Sugar gliders bite for various reasons ranging from fear, unfamiliar smells or self defense. Biting is the prime source of defense when a sugar glider feels threatened or trapped. Once you have earned its trust and formed a bond with your sugar glider, it will enjoy grooming you.

Here are the 5 steps of bonding with your sugar glider:

1. Give them time to adapt to their new environment;
2. Get them used to your presence;
3. Reward them with treats;
4. Spend some time with them in a confined space;
5. use a pouch to carry them around you around the house.

Trembling or shakiness – Shaking or shivering right after waking up from sleep is normal for a glider. But if it continues after a few moments, especially the back legs and the glider has weak limbs, it could mean a calcium deficiency problem. Treatment: Calcium supplement has to be given if it is the early stages.

Unsafe Foods for Sugar Gliders

• Fruit (in excess, is high in sugar)
• Nuts (high fat)
• Bird Seeds (high fat)
• Corn (low nutritional value)
• Lettuce (no nutritional value)
• Oranges (high citrus)
• Mealworms (high fat, low calcium)
• Pork (high sodium)

Signs that your sugar glider is sick include a decreased appetite, lethargy, sneezing or nasal discharge, ocular discharge, itchiness, or any lumps on the body. Your sugar glider should be seen right away if he/she stops eating, especially if you notice weakness, tremors, or seizures.

Sugar Gliders may self-mutilate or chew on themselves, causing serious injury and can be fatal if not treated. Possible reasons for self-mutilation include extreme stress, pain, post surgical issues, lack of attention, grief, poor nutrition, or parasites.

Balding in Sugar Gliders This loss of hair generally occurs as the little guys achieve physical maturity. Sugar gliders are usually around a year to 15 months in age when this happens. Adult male sugar gliders employ these glands to claim their turf, whether a preferred resting spot or a mate.

Gliders are wild animals and they can most certainly live outdoors. Additional special care must be given when captive though because they cannot run to hide from predators or the sun when in a cage. An outdoor cage must have a roof and must be out of direct overhead sun.

The first reason why these animals die in captivity is the lack of calcium. Calcium is an essential part of the sugar gliders diet. The second reason why gliders could die prematurely in captivity is because of poor nutrition in general. Those exotic pets diet can be very simple, but it is also very specific.

A sugar glider can totally dehydrate and die in as little as 12 hours. Dehydration can be easily tested for by pulling up the skin at a glider’s shoulders. If the skin stays up or goes down very slowly, there is a good chance the pet is dehydrated.

10-12 years

According to a publication from Purdue University, one of the most common causes of death in sugar gliders is poisoning from unfiltered tap water. It’s recommended to avoid feeding sugar gliders peanuts because they may be contaminated with a fungus that can cause a deadly liver disease in gliders called aflatoxicosis.

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 (27°C to 31°C). They should be kept in a warm room, away from heating or air conditioning vents and direct sunlight.

Meat and Dairy While some gliders may be able to tolerate small amounts of flavored yogurt, they are generally lactose intolerant and cannot consume dairy products such as cheese or ice cream. Wild sugar gliders do eat insects for protein, but captive sugar gliders should not be allowed to eat insects around the house.

Sugar gliders are playful little marsupials who love to cuddle — but they require specific care. Learn more about the sugar glider in this quick care guide. A sugar glider might be your perfect pet if you can’t have a cat or dog, but you fancy something more interactive than a stick insect or a pet tarantula.

Sugar gliders are playful, curious animals that typically love to hang out with both their cage-mates and their human caretakers. Pouches designed for sugar gliders are typically available in pet stores. They must be handled daily by their owners to become tame or they tend to be nippy.

Sugar gliders are illegal to own as pets in a few states, including Alaska, California, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania. Some cities, such as St. Paul, Minnesota, and New York City, also prohibit the pint-sized, nocturnal marsupials.

Sugar Gliders do pee and poop a relative amount, drop food to the bottom of the cage, and they like to mark their territory. You will need to clean their cage regularly, but when paying attention to their habits, you can prevent as many accidents outside their cage from happening.

They do not intentionally throw anything but they do enjoy pee and poo up high in the cage and on the walls and as they jump around. Things tend to get flung. Also, you will notice food being picked up and licked or sniffed and tossed aside and much of this can end up outside the cage. They are fun creatures to watch.

10 Things To Consider Before Getting A Pet Sugar Glider

• 10 They Have Long Lives.
• 9 They Are Active At Night.
• 8 They Require A Special Diet.
• 7 Owners Need More Than One.
• 6 They Require Special Care.
• 5 They Should Have A Certain Environment.
• 4 They’re Not Allowed In Some Places.
• 3 Bonding Takes Time.

A baby Sugar Glider can cost $200 and $500, while an adult will cost approximately $100 and $150.

If you are planning to buy your sugar gliders from petsmart, you may have to spend about $200 to $500 for a baby sugar glider (8 – 12 weeks old). And it will cost around $100 to $150 for a sugar glider that about 12 weeks old.

Bacterial Diseases Sugar gliders are susceptible to infection with common bacteria, including Pasteurella multocida (commonly contracted from pet rabbits), staphylococci, streptococci, Mycobacterium sp (especially in skin), Klebsiella sp, and Clostridium.

Why can’t I have a hedgehog, sugar glider, ferret, or other restricted, non-native species as a pet in California? All species are restricted from possession as pets in California primarily because they can become pests where introduced into the wild where they don’t naturally occur.