Read articles about sugar gliders in the wild, glider illness, finding a vet, raising insects, special needs, and so much more! We add new articles periodically, so check back often!

Please read through our policies before applying to adopt a joey. We also have our Sugar Shop polices in this section

What are sugar gliders!?? Can sugar gliders fly? What do they eat? Find answers to the most commonly asked sugar glider questions.

See what the people that have adopted joeys from us have to say. We also have comments from people that have ordered form our Sugar Shop.

Find out exactly how our gliders are housed and cared for. Also see pictures of our glider room, cages, and gliders!

 

Are Sugar Gliders Right For You?

You shouldn't take the decision of owning gliders lightly. Unfortunately, a large percentage of gliders are re-homed after being owned for only a year or two. Gliders cannot be passed around as property, so please research glider care so that you know exactly what you are getting yourself into. Read the questions below to see if you are really ready for gliders.

Glider Costs

Sugar gliders are very social animals. You always need to buy at least two gliders. If you can't buy two, don't buy any! This cannot be stressed enough. No human can ever give a glider the companionship it needs, no matter how much time you spend with it. If you cannot afford to buy two gliders, you are not financially prepared for gliders anyway. Are you ready to pay almost $400 for your gliders alone?

Sugar gliders are gliding marsupials, and they need a rather large cage. For two gliders, you should have a cage at least 20"deep x 30"wide x 36"tall. Bigger is always better. Are you ready to pay $200 or more for a cage this size?

Sugar gliders have very specific nutritional needs. Our gliders' diet is made up of oatmeal, orange juice, wheat bran, yogurt, fruits, vegetables, several kinds of insects, and vitamins. Are you ready to pay at least $40 a month on food?

Just like humans, sometimes gliders get sick. If your glider gets sick unexpectedly are you going to be able to pay for a $300 vet bill?

Glider Care

Sugar gliders need daily out of cage play time, especially if they are in a smaller cage. Are you ready to spend an hour or two daily with your gliders?

Sugar gliders need to have fresh food nightly, which means you will have to remove and wash old dishes, and add new dishes nightly. Are you ready to spend around twenty minutes each night preparing food?

Your new sugar gliders' cage will need to be cleaned outside bi-weekly. You will have to remove all the toys and wash them, wash all of the pouches, and hose down and scrub the cage and wash it with a cleaner. Are you ready to spend a few hours every other week cleaning sugar glider stuff?

Sugar gliders have a life span of 12-15 years. Sugar gliders bond with their owners, and shouldn't be passed around like property. Gliders are very susceptible to stress, and being overly stressed can even cause mental illness, self mutilation, or death. Will you still be able to care for your pets in 15 years?

Noise, Smell, Biting and Other Drawbacks

A bedroom isn't the best place to house gliders, as they can be rather loud. Because gliders are nocturnal, they spend the entire night eating, playing, and making noise. If you buy a wheel that is silent, such as the stealth wheel, it won't be a problem - but gliders often make vocal noises at night also. Barking is very loud, and will easily wake a light sleeper. Do you have a place in your house where your gliders can live without preventing you from sleeping?

Because gliders need a large cage, they take up a lot of space. Also, gliders throw food - which can end up on walls and on the floor. Having a glider kitchen or covering the walls is a good idea. Do you have space for your gliders?

Some male gliders have a strong scent. This smell can be reduced by neutering your male, which normally runs $60-$250. Females don't tend to smell, but an unclean cage or a poor diet will cause an unpleasant odor. Do you have a plan for how to handle the smell of gliders?

Although truly tame gliders don't bite...a glider can develop a new habit. You will need to spend lots of time with your gliders so that they don't lose their friendliness. A glider that bites and draws blood is not fun to be around - therefore resulting in a pet that isn't going to get the human interaction it needs. If your gliders start biting, do you know how to deal with it?

 

Conclusion

If you have decided that gliders aren't for you, don't feel bad. Gliders aren't for everyone. It is mature to recognize that gliders aren't the best fit for you, rather than buy some glider and have to later re-home them.

If you have honestly answered yes to all of the above questions, you are ready for sugar gliders. Go to our Complete Glider Care pages to read how to take care of your new gliders!

Preparing For Your New Gliders

 

 

Written by Lauren Way, owner and operator, The Glider Pouch 2007