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A SUGAR GLIDER?
Sugar
Gliders are small arboreal, or tree-dwelling marsupials from Australia and New Guinea. Sugar gliders are communal mammals
and will form a group of 15 or so animals in the wild. Like other marsupials, they have large protruding eyes
and pointed ears, which gives them keen "sight and sound" senses. The female glider carries her young (joeys) in her
pouch.
Adults
weigh 4-6 ounces and measure about 10" from their nose to the tip of their tail. At least half of this length is tail! Sugar
Gliders have a thin membrane that stretches from their wrists to their ankles. This allows them to glide from treetop to treetop
in the wild. A glider's tail is not prehensile and serves two primary purposes: as a rudder to control direction
during flight, and for balance. Their gliding distances in the wild have been documented up to 150 feet!
TELL ME MORE..
Sugar Gliders (petaurus breviceps)
belong to a group of animals called phalangers which means "fingery one". One would think gliders are related to
the flying squirrel. However, they are actually related to the opossum. , Sugar gliders are omnivorous,
meaning they eat both plants and animals. Originally from the forest of northeast, east, and Southeast Australia, Papua-New
Guina, as well as in some of the islands in the Indonesian chain. Back in 1994 when they were first imported they were not
as tame and much darker than the tame domestically raised babies we see today. They are communal and live in colonies from
7 to 15 gliders and are very social. Gliders have a lifespan of 5 to 7 yrs in the wild and 10 to 15 years in captivity.
They have a patagium (membrane from their front paws to it's ankles like a flying squirrel) that is used for gliding from
tree to tree. Normal color is steel gray to brownish with a black stripe down the back. Tail is furry and is not
prehensile (used as an extra appendage like most other animals in the opossum family). They have a supple opposable toe on
each hind leg that does not have a claw. The next two digits on the hind legs are partially fused and used to brush and clean
fur. Gliders use their front paws just like a human uses hands.
OVERVIEW OF BIRTHING PROCESS
Most Sugar Gliders will begin breeding when they are somewhere between 7 months to one
year old. They will mate year round, provided they have the proper ratios of protein and calcium in their diet. They usually
have 2 babies at a time, and give birth up to three times per year. The gestation period is 16 days. Once born they are carried
in the mother's pouch for 2.5 to 3 months. The male may remain with the female throughout the entire birthing process, but
it is best to simply leave the mother alone during this period. When the joey's are out of the pouch, covered with fur,
have their eyes open and have been eating solid food for 3-4 weeks they are 3/4 grown, independent and ready to wean. At this
time, they can be gently handled for short periods of time. Just be sure that they are getting plenty of fruit & protein
and are handled gently. Once joey's are weaned, they should be handled frequently so they become comfortable
with human interaction.
PETS
Sugar
Gliders make wonderful pets. They adapt well to humans and develop strong relational bonds with their owners. They are communal
animals that crave attention. How close your newly adopted pet bonds to you will depend on the amount of time you spend together.
A minimum of 2 hours a day is recommended but more time is always better. Less
time is required if you have a pair that can keep each other company. Sugar Gliders can live up to 12 years. With proper food,
shelter, and companionship your pet will live a long and happy life.
HANDLING
Sugar Gliders are fragile creatures but
they can be easily handled. It is recommended to give them a few minutes in the cage after they wake up because this is when
they usually do their duty. If you work with them daily they will become familiar with your scent and more trusting. Soon
they will become your best friend. They love to be cuddled. You can carry them around the house in a loose shirt pocket or
on a shoulder. Make sure they have a place to crawl into if they feel insecure or just need to rest.
HOUSING
A. Cage requirements
Before you buy any cage, you should consider the following: food
placement, bedding, shelter, and exercise area. Make sure food holders are large enough to keep food in but too small for
your pet to sit in and possibly soil the food as they eat. Always replace perishable items on a daily basis. Sugar Gliders
also need a nest box or pouch to sleep in during the day and protect them from the sun. This is important since prolonged
exposure to sunlight can kill a Sugar Glider. If you mount the nest box up high in the cage, make sure there is room for your
pet to climb on top of it. Make sure that bedding material is natural and doesn't pose a threat to your pet. Your Sugar Glider
should have a cage that will allow plenty of room for exercise. The wire spacing should be no more than 1/2"x1. We recommend
a minimum cage six of 24x24x36” high. Wire should be PVC coated for ease of cleaning. There should be a wire bottom
to allow droppings to fall through. Keep the cage away from drafts, heating, and air-conditioning vents. The recommended temperature
is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
B. Toys
Sugar Gliders have a natural
need to play. You can go to your local pet store and find bird toys or other small animal toys that your pet can climb, push,
or carry around. For the best reaction, place new things high in the cage. A wodent wheel is one of their favorite exercise
toys.
BONDING
So you decided to get a Sugar Glider and have just brought them
home, now what? Where do you begin? Everything is going to be strange and new to your Sugar Glider. He has just been whisked
away from everything he knew and thrown into a brand new situation. Keeping this in mind, I would suggest you place them in
their new house and let them alone for a day. They will have to become used to all of the new sounds, sights, smells, and
food that are now part of their home. During this time, it is recommended you try to hand feed your pet some treats he may
enjoy (ie. grapes, nuts or other things). This will help him get used to seeing your face. At this point, the bonding process
has begun.
Bonding with your Sugar Glider is the easiest part of owning one. It takes some time so be patient
and do not force anything. The time frame for bonding can take anywhere from immediately to a few months. During the day you
can pet and bond with your Sugar Glider even if he is asleep. He will get used to your scent and touch at the same time. If
you do carry him in your shirt pocket be careful not to lean against anything that could possibly injure your pet. Sugar Gliders
tend to bond closer to their main caretaker. Bonding is a process that can be different for every animal. You may
hear many stories of one glider bonding within a few days and another that took several months. Generally, hand-raised babies
will bond the easiest to humans.
NUTRITION
Perhaps the most important thing you can provide your glider is a proper diet. 75% fruit
and vegetables - 25% protein diet. You need to keep fat intake to a minimum. Too much fat can result in serious
health problems. Sugar Gliders can be peculiar about what they eat. They may be willing to accept a certain food for a few
days and then refuse it for a week. The following week they may eat the food item again. The bottom line is that they each
have their own personality and tastes. It will just take time to find out their likes and dis-likes. You also need to make
sure you supply FRESH WATER every day. Feed once a day at dusk. Glider pellets should also available daily.
DIET
We feed our gliders a commercial pellet
dry food, leadbeaters mix (a recipe of egg, honey, apple juice, wheat germ, gerber baby cereal, herptivite, and rep-cal).
All items are liquefied in a food processor to almost a apple sauce consistency and then frozen. One teaspoonful per glider
per day, each day), a 7 day rotation of fruits and vegetables (variety is key), and Gliderade (a powder that you mix with
water in a one to 5 part mix that closely matches the nectar that gliders eat in the wild).
TREATS
There are many different type of treats available
for gliders. Blueberries and yogurt drops are some examples. Mealworms are also a favorite but have
a high fat content and should be given in moderation. Treats should be limited to no more than 10% of
a gliders diet.
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Apple
Apricot
Blueberry
Cantaloupe
Carrot
Cherries
Chicken (boiled without skin)
Coconut
Cucumber
Eggs (hard boiled)
Fig
Grapes
Honey
Honeydew melon
Crickets
Meal worms
Kiwi
Mandarin
Mango
Papaya
Peach
Pear
Pineapple
Plum
Prunes
Raisins
Raspberry
Squash
Strawberry
Sweet potato
Wheat germ
White rice (boiled)
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Beans
Beets
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Corn
Cottage cheese
Grapefruit
Greens
Oranges
Parsley
Peas
Spinach
Turnips
Yogurt
Nuts
Banana
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Canned foods
Canned meats
Cold cuts
Canned fruits
Chocolate
Pet food
Wild insects
Milk
Onions
Processed meats
High phosphorous foods
Raw eggs
Raw meats
Rhubarb
Salt
Scallions
Seeds (including fruit seeds)
Tofu / Soy
Table sugar
Cheese
Chives
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