What Are Sugar Gliders?

Also known as "Australian Flying Squirrels" &/or "Pocket Pets",

Sugar Gliders are highly social animals belonging to a group of

small marsupials native to Australia and New Guinea. Though Sugar Gliders

look very much like flying squirrels, they are actually members of the o'possum family. Being marsupials, the Females have a pouch similar to a kangaroo's pouch, where her little ones grow after birth.

Sugar Gliders are naturally nocturnal. They prefer to sleep during the day,

and play and eat at night. They are usually most active late at night.

Sugar Gliders do not "Fly", though they are quite capable of gliding

up to & possibly beyond 150 feet through the air when jumping from

one place to another. They have a thin stretch of skin, or membrane,

between their arms and legs, which, when fully extended with the

glider's outstretched arms and legs, practically becomes a pair of wings.

These gliding membranes are only noticeable when they jump.

Sugar Gliders "Bond" to their owner in what is considered by most

to be a life-long relationship. The bonding process begins almost immediately, which makes it important that glider joeys be adopted at an early age, preferably shortly after weaning. Carrying your Glider on you as much as possible, in a leather pouch, in your shirt pocket, or even inside the shirt itself, helps to strengthen the bonding process. The more you carry your glider, the more "Tame" it will be, & the stronger the "Bond" will become.

Scientific Name: Petaurus Breviceps. Size: The Sugar Glider's body averages 4-to-5 five inches long, with a fluffy tail that can easily pass 4-to-5 inches in length. Life Span: Sugar Gliders tend to live about 4-5 years in the wild. Properly Cared For In Captivity, they have been known to live up to fifteen years.

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Sugar Glider Foods List

Fruits

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These items may be provided (Raw) as often as your pets prefer.

*Blue Berries *Apples - No Seeds! (seeds are poisonous) *Cantaloupe - No Seeds

*Watermelon - No Seeds *Grapes - No Seeds (cut in 1/2) *Applesauce

*Honeydew Melon - No Seeds *Mango *Plums *Oranges - No Seeds *Nectar

*Pears - No Seeds *Fruit Salad or Fruit Coctail (drained & rinsed)

Vegetables

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These items may be provided (Raw) as often as your pets prefer.

*Whole Kernel corn *Corn on the Cob *Potatoes *Sweet Yams *Brocolli Florets

*Squash *Tomatoes *Cucumbers *Green Peas *Green Beens *Romaine Lettuce

*Sweet Bell Pepper *Celery (the leaves too) *Mixed Vegetables

Over-All, Our Gliders like frozen veggies better than canned, & Vine-Fresh BEST!

Protein

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A Good Protein Source should be provided 3-4 times per week.

Limit foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar.

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*Good Quality Low-Fat/High-Protien Dry Breakfast cereal, such as Honey-Nut Cherios & Granola Cereals with Almonds, Dates, Raisins, Dried Blue-Berries or Dried Peaches go well for me. "KASHI" Brand Cereals are my first choice...

Inexpencive, High in Protien, & my Gliders Love Most of the versions!

*Almost Any type of Cooked/Low-Salt meat except pork

*Canned Chicken Breast *Chicken Bologna *Turkey Franks *Chicken Franks

*Cheese *Scrambled Eggs (Cooked) *Low Fat Cottage Cheese

*Walnuts - shelled *Pecans - shelled *Sun-Dried Peanuts - shelled & unsalted

*Crickets - as a treat only (They're High in Protien, BUT they're Also High in Fat!)

*Meal Worms - as a treat only (They're High in Protien, BUT they're Also High in Fat!)

*Low-Fat "Senior" Dry Cat Food *Low-Fat Dry Puppy Food for Small Dogs

Miscellaneous

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These items may be provided as often as you wish.

Limit foods that are high in fat, salt or sugar.

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*Mango or Peach Nectar *Nekton-Lori

*Cinnamon-Raisin Bread *Cooked Rice/Pasta *Tortillas

*Dry Baby Cereal - mixed with water, or mango or peach nectar

*Yogurt - Fat-Free, with Blue Berries or Peaches

PROPER DIET

Sugar Gliders should not consume fat. The majority of their diet is fruit and vegetables (75%). They should receive 25% protein. Deviating from this 75/25 percentage can be fatal to the Glider.

A proper diet for Sugar Gliders will include:

1: FRESH WATER!!!

2:  A fresh source of fruit & vegetables

3:  A fresh protein source

(including insects such as meal worms, crickets)

4: A daily dose of vitamin and calcium supplements >EXTRA NOTE<

5: A fresh staple food available all day, every day

(we keep a small amount of good quality Dry Breakfast Cereal in a feed-bowl)

6, 7, 8, & 9: FRESH WATER!!!

and 10: NO COFFEE!!!

Please Refer to Our Sugar Glider Foods List.

I've heard it said that Gliders are expensive to feed... we don't agree.

We "Shop" for our glider groceries the same as we do for our own,

and most of  what our gliders eat is basically the same thing

that our doctors tell US to eat. The treats, insects, & vitamin/calcium supplements can be a bit high in pet stores, but are available online at more reasonable prices.

>EXTRA NOTE>>4: A daily dose of vitamin and calcium supplements

We add one level teaspoon of  "GliderAde" per glider

(available @ www.ExoticNutrition.com)

3-4 times per week, by stirring it into the food,

or by sprinkling it over thier food (my preference).

Powdered Calcium Supplements can be purchaced in small containers

at any Walmart, & most grocery stores, at very reasonable prices.

HOWEVER... it's a good idea to check with your Water Utility Office in your home town, & ask about the calcium content in your water. Our own "City" water actually has a higher than normal level, so we seldom add calcium as often as others might need to.

Please Consult Your Veterinarian as to the Proper Amount.

EXERCIZING YOUR GLIDER

Just as your own good health requires exercise, your glider's good health is directly linked to the amount & quality of the exercise it gets on a daily basis. In my opinion, (my opinion & a buck+tax buys a Whopper Jr.) this actually begins with the cage your glider sleeps in.

Have you ever visited a newlywed couple's first tiny apartment?

"Adequate", but a bit short on space? Did you feel "Closed In"?

It's good to keep in mind that most standard bird cages are merely adequate (if that) for your glider's needs. Remember... gliders are more like us than we often realize. We both require exercise, & exercise requires space.

In my opinion, (gotta 'nuther buck & a coupon? get a fried pie!)

two foot squared should be considered a minimum for two gliders.

(If you're suddenly looking off into space, that's 2' wide, 2' front-to-back, & 2' tall) The cages our breeder pairs are in right now are 16" wide, 22" deep, & 24" tall. Personally, I feel that this isn't really quite enough, since they have to spend the vast majority of their time there. I intend to replace each with a 2x2x2 cage as soon as is absolutely possible ($pace & $$$).

Equally important is an exercise wheel, which can be purchased at Walmart for about $10. The size suggested for grown hamsters (10") works quite well, but the smaller (6"-8") mouse version can cause your glider to get it's tail caught in the frame & possibly broken completely off!!

A branch & a simple piece of rope (replaced often) stretched across the cage to climb on are also inexpensive ways to provide additional exercise.

Before You Adopt a Glider...

There are a number of things to think about before adopting a sugar glider.

First in my mind is: What other indoor pets do you have? Cats? Dogs?

We have four cats who tend to come & go pretty much as they choose,

yet I like to give our gliders "Play Time" out of the cage for an hour or so each morning and/or evening, as well as at other times of the day occasionally.

This means that I have to send at least 3 of our kitty friends outside for a while... JJ (adult male Persian) grew up with Darlin & will let her do as she pleases, undisturbed, but Muzbe will literally chase the poor fellow out of a room if he's in while Muzbe is playing,

so JJ usually heads for the door on his own. >smile<

(Muzbe has no idea that he himself really ISN'T a grizzly bear)

BUT, when my Mom leaves her home, she almost always has "Princess"

(her 12-y/o Pomeranian) with her.

The first time Princess came visiting,

she went straight to Darlin's cage & started having a fit to get to her.

The second & third visits were the same, even tho

Mom tried to hold Princess in her arms. So, to Mom's distress, Princess isn't

a visitor in our home these days.

Second in my mind is: Are you a Knick-Knack Collector? We are... >sigh<

if you want to have a glider AND your knick-knacks,

you'll have to "Glider-Proof"

a "Safe Area" in your home, or chance having your glider hurt, or something

broken when your glider is out playing. For instance, the digital camera that

I left sitting on the edge of my desk recently... >siiiiigh<

For EXTENSIVE INFORMATION on the care & love of a Sugar Glider,

PLEASE Visit & Read www.SugarGliderInfo.com!!

Put Bluntly, if you don't have time to read it, you don't have time for a glider!

Sample Menu

Below is a sample of meals I prepare for my gliders. I'v listed 14 days of menus, to give you an idea of the variety I try to work into it to keep my gliders from getting tired of any one thing. Just like us, eating the same thing day after day gets tiresome for them & it can make them refuse thier meals, and we can't have that!

Mainly, I use Frozen Veggies from Walmart. I just pull out exactly what I need, put it in a bowl of luke warm water, let it thaw, then drain the water from it before feeding. Fresh Fruit & Veggies can be chopped or shredded as needed.

(My "Spoons" are usually well-rounded unless specified :o)

The amounts below are intended for one glider

Monday:

1 tablespoon of veggies (usually a mixture of two of the following: whole kernal corn, mixed veggies, chopped broccoli florets, green peas, or chopped carrots)

1 tablespoon of diced fruit, such as peaches, pears, fruit cocktail, blue berries apricots, or apples (NO SEEDS)

Protien: Meat - usually a few slices of chicken weenies, sliced about 1/4 inch thick, or 1 tablespoon of canned boneless chicken breast

Tuesday:

2 tablespoons of oatmeal (mix 1 part dry oatmeal with 3 parts nectar, let soak)

1 tablespoon diced fruit & 1 level teaspoon of GliderAde stirred into the oatmeal.

Wednesday:

2 tablespoons of  cooked rice (the gliders seem to like it better if it's firm)

1 tablespoon of canned boneless chicken breast stirred into the rice

Thursday:

1/4cup cooked pasta (such as small elbow macaroni, spaggetti or

"NO-Yolks" brand dry dumplings, broken up before cooking)

1 tablespoon of veggies or diced fruit stirred into the pasta.

1 level teaspoon of GliderAde sprinkled over or stirred into it.

Friday:

1 tablespoon of veggies

about 1/2 of a tortila, torn or cut into pieces about the size of a penny

1 tablespoon of sliced almonds

Saturday:

2 tablespoons of  diced fruit & 1 level teaspoon of GliderAde stirred into

1 tablespoon baby cereal (mix/soak with nectar as with the oatmeal, above)

Sunday:

2 tablespoons of fruit cocktail mixed with 1 tablespoon of  veggies

with 1 level teaspoon of GliderAde sprinkled over or stirred into it.

Sample Menu

continued, 2nd week

Monday:

1 cup of chopped or shredded fresh romaine lettuce

1/2 slice of 99% fat free chicken or turkey sandwich meat, chopped in small bits

Tuesday:

2 tablespoons of  cooked rice

1 tablespoon diced fruit & 1 level teaspoon of GliderAde stirred into the rice.

Wednesday:

2 tablespoons of  veggies

about 1/2-3/4 of a slice of sandwich bread (or french/italian) torn in small bits

Thursday:

1/3cup applesauce with 1 level teaspoon of GliderAde stirred into it,

stir in 1/4cup diced apple, NO SEEDS

Friday:

1 tablespoon of sliced almonds

2-3 monkey biscuits (www.ExoticNutrition.com) soaked in nectar for 1-2 hours & then chopped into bits

Saturday:

1/2 slice of 99% fat free chicken or turkey sandwich meat, chopped in small bits

1 tablespoon cooked scrambled eggs (olive oil is best for low fat cooking)

1 tablespoon cooked rice (firm)

Sunday:

1 tablespoon of whole kernel corn mixed with 1 tablespoon of  fruit cocktail & 1 tablespoon of shredded fat free mild cheddar or american cheese

Sprinkle 1 level teaspoon of GliderAde over it.

The "Sample Menus" above are just that... samples of various ways to keep the diet as interesting as possible. You'll get used to it and make your own varied concoctions, as you learn what your glider likes best. As with us, thier tastes tend to vary from glider to glider, but whole kernel corn, pasta, & scrambled eggs seem to be a favorite to most gliders. Happy Meal Planning! :o)

BONDING WITH YOUR SUGAR GLIDER

As with everything, there are varying opinions about caring for your glider. One thing that everyone does agree on, however, is that the "Bond" between the Glider & yourself is not only one of the foremost attractions in adopting, but is also a very important thing in the life & health of your glider.

You DO need to be careful in how you create the bond itself, though. For instance, from the very first day, I carried Darlin with me everywhere I went. It was winter, so she preferred being inside my shirt, rather than in my pocket, mostly. Now, that's where she always wants to be. She loves to come out & be petted & loved on by anyone & everyone, but will immediately head straight back "Home" to the inside of my shirt.

Muzbe, on the other hand, I made a mistake with. Not only did I take him to work with me sooner than I really should have, I also let him do pretty much whatever he wanted to from the beginning. At that time, I was still in home remodeling, which meant he kept getting into things that weren't safe for him, for one thing, and secondly, he got the idea from the start that he COULD do whatever he wanted to. Big Mistake.

Now I have to worry about Muzbe wanting to jump away from me unexpectedly, so I can't carry him with me away from home very often. This is without a doubt my fault, due to the first few weeks of his "Training", or rather the lack of it on my part. This means that I have to be sure to give him a good bit more attention when I'm at home, and I still let him out daily to play in a safe environment.

A glider who thinks of  YOU as "Home & Safety" is a Happier, Healthier Glider.

Things that can be HAZARDOUS to Your Sugar Glider

  Things in your home can be a hazard, things that you might not think of 'til it's too late. I know, believe me. This page came to be because of just one of these things.

  #1: The Toilet-Bowl Lid!! If the glider can get to it, he'll probly dive right into it. Don't ask me why. They seem to have some fascination with it. But, when they get in, they can't get back out, & they can only float for just so long. Not to mention, if you were to flush without looking...

  #1: Cut Flowers!!  Gliders love rosebuds, daisies, etc. If the flowers have been fertilized, it's in the bud, & the glider will be poisoned.

  #1: Sleeping or Bonding Bags that have begun to ravel, and Your Hair!!

Lose Threads and Hair can get wrapped around some part of the Glider's body & cut off circulation, possibly maiming or even causing death.

  #1: The Kitchen Sink!! Soapy water, smooth surface, forks & knives, etc... it's similar to the toilet, but can be worse.

  #1: Medications!!! Aspirin or any other medications dropped on the floor MUST BE FOUND or the glider will find it for you! 'nuf said?

  #1: Pets!! Most house pets will be interested in giving your glider a chase. JJ, our 7 yr old Siamese, is a fluke. He's weird. (which means he fits right in with us)

He's been known to let Darlin pick fleas off of him after having been outside.

(Glider Delicacy, maybe? She was NOT Happy when I said Stop!)

BUT... JJ's birthday is a week after Darlin's. So they literally grew up together. Our other cats AND My Mom's 18 yr old Pomeranian would love nothing better than to have a taste!

  #1: Seeds! Again, if the parent plant was fertilized, it gathers in the seeds. If you garden, make sure your glider can't get to your stock of seeds!!

  #2: Anything else in your house that might seem interesting, but that you wouldn't want your Son or Daughter to swallow... Gliders are more human than they look!

Taking Your Sugar Glider Home

  The first 7 to 10 days of having your glider are possibly the most important days in the bonding process. If possible, it's best to pick your glider up on a day that will give you the time to spend carrying your glider on your body (in a pocket, pouch, or inside your shirt) as much as is absolutely possible for that evening, and the next day, as well. I like for folks to pick their baby up on a Friday, so that they will have the whole weekend to bond their glider to them strongly in the first 48-72 hours, & then keep the glider with you every moment that you are able to in the weeks following.

  REMEMBER... the more time you spend with your glider, the stronger the bond will be, and the better your glider will behave, both with you alone, and in public. If you keep your glider in the cage most of the time, it will be a cage pet, and it will not be safe for the glider to go outside of it's known area, simply because it won't know how to act, & will be likely to even jump away from you.

Keeping the glider on your body constantly the first weekend not only lets the glider get used to being with you, someone who just appeared in his or her life suddenly, but begins the bond in such as way as to make the glider think of YOU as "Home & Safety".

  Now, of course, I'm NOT telling you to take the baby to bed with you! But, spending a number of hours per day, evening, & night with the glider near your heartbeat, holding it in your hand & talking quietly to it, rubbing its chin... this is the process that seems to me to be the best & strongest way to create the bond.

  Carrying the glider around with you as you go through your day is not something that should be a worry for you. My day involves working here at my desk, cleaning house (some, anyway's) taking care of my wife, our other pets outside, the gliders in the breeder room, talking on the phone (wayyyy tooooo muuuuch), washing clothes, & working in my woodshop, as well as running into town for whatever reason. Almost everywhere I go, I have at least one glider on my body, usually either in my pocket, or inside my shirt.

  YOUR Sugar Glider can be a "Little Darlin" too... IF you take the time to spend with it, love it, & let it know you love it. Otherwise, the simple fact is that you'll end up with a cute cage pet.

  And to tell the truth, a hamster can be a cute cage pet.

Good Luck!! :o)