Talk to your glider’s veterinarian if you wish to formulate a diet for the best results.Ĭaptive sugar gliders may receive commercially available glider-specific pellets and nectar supplements. Some home diets may provide the nutrients required to keep a sugar glider healthy, however they are difficult to make, and few owners are willing to provide these complicated recipes for their pet. It is difficult to reproduce this ever-changing diet in captivity, so domesticated sugar gliders frequently suffer from poor nutrition. They will eat pollen, insects, larva, spiders, sap, gum, plant blossoms, and nectar.

They are true omnivores and adjust their food choices based on climate and season. In the wild, a sugar glider’s diet is highly varied. Because of this, most veterinarians and owners recommend keeping two water bowls in the cage-a traditional hanging water bottle and a second water dish on the cage floor near the food bowl. Gliders are very active and will utilize the entire cage for exercise, play, and exploration. Owners may utilize additional heat sources in colder months to provide appropriate temperatures. Sugar gliders thrive around 75-90 degrees F and should never be kept in environments lower than 70 degrees-even at night. Spot-clean the cage daily and perform a more thorough cleaning of housing, toys, and accessories every few weeks.īecause they are nocturnal, do not keep gliders in bright sunlight, which may result in eye damage. Stay away from wood shavings which may cause irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system. Line the bottom of the cage with paper towels, hay, or Carefresh bedding. Sugar gliders will chew on branches, so make sure only nontoxic plants and trees are provided. Use caution with any natural products to ensure you’re not introducing pests or chemical sprays. Branches and plants are extremely important to mimic a glider’s natural environment and allowing room to leap and climb. Frequently switch other enrichment tools in the cage, including shelves, solid running wheel, swings, and bird toys.

Hide and nest boxes and pouches allow safety, comfort, and dark areas to rest. Sugar gliders enjoy toys and other items in their cage as enrichment. Many sugar glider enthusiasts find that bird cages work well as sugar glider habitats-although avoid cages with only vertical bars that may cause injury. Replication of this environment makes gliders as close to their natural habitat as possible. Gliders are from Australia and New Guinea and are an arboreal species-therefore spending most of their time living and gliding from tree to tree. The cage should be at least 36×24x40 inches, with height as the most essential factor. The openings in the mesh shouldn’t be larger than ½-1 inch. Cages should be constructed of PVC-coated wire with plenty of places for gliders to climb and grab. Like most exotic species, the husbandry-or overall care-of sugar gliders is important for a happy and healthy pet. Sugar gliders vocalize frequently and are typically docile, but will bite when scared, stressed, painful, or poorly socialized. They are very social and live in groups of 5-12 in the wild. Gliders can live up to 15 years old, so they are a lengthy time commitment as a pet parent. Sugar gliders can make wonderful pets and bond closely with their human families if given the specific care, enrichment, and socialization they require. They get their name from a flap of tissue connecting their wrists and ankles, called the gliding membrane, which allows this species to sail, as they cannot fly, from one place to another with remarkable accuracy. While they may look like rodents, they are actually small marsupials, most closely related to kangaroos and koalas.Īs a nocturnal tree-dwelling species, they have large eyes to help them navigate in the darkness. Sugar gliders are lovely, interesting, energetic, and inquisitive animals that have gained recent popularity as pets.

Sugar glider care