READ BEFORE BUYING A SUGAR GLIDER ( Are they legal in your state?)
1. RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH
2. RESEARCH MORE, I have researched for 2 years and I'm still learning more.
When checking websites, check to see first when last updated. You want the most current information on sugar gliders.
1. Since the sugar glider requires patience and a lot of attention from you, think about the time it will take to care for it, and compare to your schedule now. Will a new specialty pet fit into your lifestyle? Can you make sure that you will cut veggies and fruits every night, mix the BML, feed it mealworms? One glider will take 3 to 4 hours a day to keep it from getting lonely and /or depressed. Two gliders will require a minimum of one hour a day.
2.Sugar gliders are nocturnal. This means they are awake at night.
3. Can you afford the cost of the specialty food it requires to keep your glider healthy? You’ll be buying fresh fruits and veggies, along with all the ingredients for BML. You can’t just buy a dry food, and expect your glider to be healthy. You will also need to by mealworms. I have made my own mealworm farm. It takes a lot of time to get a mealworm farm started, so, in the meantime, you still need to buy them. You will need to buy all sorts of toys, pouches, branches, etc.
4. Do you have room for large cage? Cage size should be minimum of 24”x18”x36”Sugar Gliders require lots of room, so they can jump all around in their environment.
5. Can you handle cleaning the cage weekly? This also takes time.
5. If you feel you can spend the time it needs to have a happy glider, then before you buy one, you must find a Veterinarian, that is knowledgeable in the Sugar Glider . You would be surprised at how many do not. So, call around, ask them questions that you already know, to test their knowledge.
6. Life span is 10 to 15 years old, so commitment is long.
7 Speak to someone who has a glider already, and find out some information from them. Go to a message board, to learn more. I use Glider Central. It’s very informative, and the people are very nice, and ready to help. Of course they are not vets, but they do have gliders, and have knowledge to share.
8. With all this being said, I have seen people research a long time, and once they have the new glider, feel it was a mistake. So, it may look good on paper, but, it is different, once that new family member arrives.
9. OK You still feel you can be a good human to a new glider? Buy your cage first, with some accessories.
10.Line up a veterinarian now, also find emergency vet for after hours, prior to getting your glider.
You will need:
1. Shelving or perches for leaping and places to sit on
2. Must have a wheel( glider safe) There is Wodent Wheel and Stealth wheels, I know are glider safe. I use Wodent Wheels at this time.
3. Toys, parrot toys, baby toys, cat toys without catnip ( it's toxic to the glider) Mine love the ones with feathers attached.
4. Crock bowls at least 2
5. Rope for climbing
6. Little huts to climb in
7. Water bottle (I use the ones with the floating duck in them to monitor water intake).
This page was last updated: February 22, 2010
