"Sugar Gliders??"

"The One, The Only....Flying Marsupial's"

Squirl on Wire

Sugar Glider?

Housing

Feeding

If you press my picture, you will hear the sound I make when I'm scared.

Press this photo to hear my "I want attention" bark.

What is a Sugar Glider?

The sugar glider is the first species from the major group of animals known as marsupials to gain popularity as a domestic pet. It is a member of the group of animals known collectively as lesser gliding possums. The sugar glider is nat ive to New Guinea and several nearby islands, the Bismarck Archipelago, and parts of Australia. A distinguishing feature of the sugar glider is the dark stripe that extends from the nose down the length of the spine. Dark markings are also prominent aro und the eyes and on their legs. Other facial characteristics include big, bold eyes and large, well-defined ears.

Housing:

Housing Your New Pet

When considering a new home for your pet, there are a few thing you should take into account

As spacious as possible, depending on the amount of time that your pet is allowed to exercise
Easily assessed and cleaned
Secure so that he does not escape (they do have a tendency to get out on occasion)
Safe with no sharp metal that would injure your pet
Placed in a part of the room where the temperature remains constant
Sufficient furnishings to keep him busy when you are not around
Adequate sleeping, feeding, and drinking facilities
Only use granulated paper, natural wood pulp or non-printed paper for bedding

Feeding:

Feeding Your Sugar Glider

Feed your pet at the same time everyday; the actual time should be determined by your daily routine. Try to make it a habit to stick to the same feeding time. This will assure that you will remember to feed it each day. Captive Sugar Gliders are often fed a diet of a mixture of sunflower seeds, wild birdseed, hamster mix, puffed-wheat cereal, wheat germ, dry dog kibbles, melon seed, and Granola. Sugar Gliders are partial to anything sweet. Many kinds of fruits, vegetables, and nuts are needed in their daily diet. Give them a choice of cherries, lettuce, apples, oranges, grapes, raisins, carrots, raw sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, and, if avai lable, the fruit of the prickly pear cactus. Some favorite nuts are raw peanuts (not to many or he'll get fat), pecans, walnuts, hickory nuts, acorns and pistachios. I give mine a variety of fruits, vegetables and baby food every night. In order to giv e your sugar glider an effective diet, you need to determine what he is eating and what he is not eating. Most sugar gliders love peanuts and will get spoiled if you give them a peanut to often. They should only get a peanut (or any nut for that matter) about once a week. It is a good idea to give your pet a variety of solids (fruits and vegetable) and liquids (baby food) to keep your pet regular. When giving your pet water, some prefer a dish as opposed to a water bottle, because it is closer to what he would be accustomed to in the wild, and your pet would always have fresh water. I prefer the water bottle for mine because I have a busy schedule, and the last thing I want is for my pet to go a day without water. Three precautions pertaining to wat er that are critical to the survival of your pet:

Never use tap water (your pet is very intolerant of Chlorine)
If you use a water bottle, always check it for mold that may grow on the side
Don't use household cleaners to clean any part of the cage or dishes, they could be deadly

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Last Updated: December 12, 1998.