Does anyone own a sugar glider?

Does anyone have a sugar glider and can anyone tell me more about them? Characteristics? Eating habit? etc?

• My fam is thinking about getting a sugar glider as a pet and we were wondering if there are any concerns or hardships in having them as pets? Would you recommend getting two?

• Answer:

  Hi there...sugar gliders can make wonderful pets, however they require a lot more work than most small animals kept as pets. Here's some ideas to consider: They need a daily diet of fresh fruit and vegetables daily (frozen can work too) and meal worms and/or crickets since they are also insectivores. They also need a product called Gliderade 3 times a week, which can be purchased on the Internet. Additionally, they need non-phosphorous and calcium supplements as they have problems with hind-leg paralysis since their diet lacks some of these nutrients. They shouldn't be allowed to ever eat nuts or small animal food made for rodents (hamsters, gerbils, guinnea pigs, rabbits, etc) as this harmful for them and deprives them of their nutritional needs. Their cage must be a minimum of 3 feet high by 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep. They need a lot of space to jump and glide. Anything less will be too confining and contribute to the decline of their emotional needs so the more gliders you have the more space is recommended. Regular cleaning of the enclosure is a must as it will become soiled quickly and becomes quite ripe which is a bit much for some people. They can be messy little critters as they urinate wherever they jump as soon as they wake up or after eating their meals. Additionally, all gliders require interactive attention for throughout their life (which can be up to 15 years). Personal attention should be a minimum of 1-2 hours daily. Without it they then become depressed and die. If one cannot give a single glider attention regularly then a mate is suggested--it's best to get two of the same sex because a USDA license is required to either sell or give away the offspring. Gliders who are left alone will become less sociable so it's important to keep handling them daily for at least an hour to keep them friendly. This is a pet that requires dedication of preparing food daily, giving them toys to play with, and spending time with them everyday for their entire life. Without this they will not make a good pet. Be sure to locate an exotic veterinarian in the event these little guys become ill such as with the common hind-leg paralysis. I've included a few websites below to help you gather more info on their care requirements and other fun stuff too.