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SUGAR GLIDER CARE |
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Physiologic
Body weight: 90-130g
Sexual maturity:
Male 12-14 mo
Female: 8-12 mo
Life span: 10-14 yr
General
Sugar gliders make interesting pets. They are marsupials, about the size of a hamster with soft fur. They are very social animals and are best kept with at least one other sugar glider. If kept alone, they require considerable playing attention and social interaction with their owners. |
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Being nocturnal, their eyes are very large, and they prefer dim lighting. They have specialized incisors designed to gouge trees to extract sap, so they need branches to chew. They have several distinctive vocalizations for alarm yaps and hisses to low barking groans, screams and high squeaks.
What do Sugar Gliders Do All Day?
Sugar gliders sleep during the day and are active at night. Relative to other animals, their cage should be extremely large, at least 24" x 24" x 48" with many branches and perches for exercise. They should be let out of their cage every evening for supervised play with their owners. During the day they need a wooden nest box in which to sleep.
Are Sugar Gliders Tame?
Sugar Gliders should be socialized by the breeder when they are very young. They usually are not provoked to bite, although they may investigate fingers with their mouth. Tame sugar gliders bond with their owners and like to ride around in pockets.
What Should Your Sugar Glider Eat?
Sugar Gliders should be fed a diet containing a variety of foods appropriate for insectivorous /carnivorous animals, along with sources of fruit sugars. One daily portion may include:
- Zoo formula insectivore or exotic feline diet
- Equal amounts of chopped apple
- Grapes or mango
- Carrot
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- Sweet potato
- Hard-cooked egg yolk
- Pet industry raised insects (1 tablespoon of volume per day = one dozen small mealworms)
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Pet industry quality insects, including crickets, mealworms, wax worms and moths, are fed enriched diets or can be dusted with complete vitamin/mineral supplements before feeding. Fruits and moist foods can also be dusted with the vitamin/mineral powder. Nectars formulated for lories (a nectar eating parrot) can be given as a fruit portion substitute or as an occasional treat. Provide fresh water every day in a crock (elevated off the floor of the cage to prevent contamination) or sipper bottle.
Information taken from Companion Exotic Mammal Care Series. Wingers Publishing 1988.
The Animal Health Clinic recommends annual wellness visits for all rabbits. If you have any questions, feel free to call us at: 701-237-9310 |
