Sugar Glider Care

Among the many amazing and beautiful creatures on the face of Earth, is one that is adoringly popular as a pet - the sugar glider. As the name suggests, this creature is a marsupial that is adapted to glide distances of about 50 - 150 meters. The glider has a squirrel-like body, and it is called so because of its love for sweet food. Petaurus breviceps, is what it is called scientifically. The body of an adult sugar glider is 24 to 30 cm long, and it weighs about 4 ounces. One of the interesting facts about these little creatures of the wild is their resemblance to other marsupial animals like kangaroos and wombat. The female sugar glider keeps its juvenile in its pouch for 60 - 70 days. It is to be kept in mind that, the animal is among the exotic pets in the world, whose needs are specific and different from others. This, however, does not mean that it is difficult it as a pet. All you need to do is to help the sugar glider feel at home, by meeting all its basic requirements.

How to Care for A Sugar Glider

If you are well-versed with the housing, feeding, and socializing needs of the animal, then you can rest assured that you are taking good care of your sugar glider. The tips follow...

Housing Needs
While choosing a house for your sugar glider, remember that the animal fancies climbing. So with this consideration in mind, get a cage that is tall and narrow, instead of one that is short and wide. Do not go for barbed wires, but pvc or vinyl-coated wire. Other stuffs that you need to get in the cage would be various hanging toys, real wood branches, perches, and hanging food dish. Also ensure that your pet has a constant supply of clean water in his cage.

Feeding Needs
One common problem with exotic pets like the sugar glider, is that they are vulnerable to suffer from calcium deficiency. One severe complication that they may develop is known as hind leg paralysis (HLP). This is the reason why, when such animals are kept in captivity, special attention is required towards their diet. Experts recommend that you should feed your glider pet with fresh fruits and vegetables (a different one everyday), bread, cereals, live insects such as crickets and meal worms, and calcium supplements. An important point to be kept in mind is about the animal's feeding habit. It does not prefer the same kind of food everyday.

Bonding Tips
Another important aspect in caring for a sugar glider is to bond with the animal. It is one of those animals who are extremely social and bond really well. So this means that you would have to spend some good time playing and understanding your furry pet. There have been cases of many of these animals dying of diseases caused by depression and isolation. So ensure that you have enough time to spare for your glider friend, and help him get used to his new home, and new family. An advice that most hobbyists give is helping the pet to get familiar to your scent. This can be done by leaving a cloth that you wear, in its cage. Since this creature bonds by scent, doing this would be a smart idea.

If you are someone who can afford to take out enough time to spend with your pet, then the idea of keeping a sugar glider is definitely a bright one. If not, then you may wish to give a second thought.