Sugar Glider( Sugar Bear) Information

In the wilds of its native habitat, the Sugar Glider Sugar Bear is a tree-dwelling creature, often living in groups of ten to fifteen. It is active at night when it hunts for small vertebrae and insects. It feeds on the sweet sap of certain species of eucalyptus, acacia and gum trees. The Sugar Glider Sugar Bear is named for its preference for sweet foods and its ability to glide through the air like a flying squirrel.

It lives in groups of up to seven adults, plus the current season's young, all sharing a nest and defending their territory, an example of helping at the nest. Adult males mark the territory with saliva and with a scent produced by glands on the forehead and chest, and also mark members of the group with this scent. Visitors who lack the appropriate scent marking are expelled swiftly, even violently. The dominant male mates more frequently with the female of the group than the other males. When an adult member of the group dies, it is normally replaced by one of the group's own offspring if female, but by an outsider if male.

In the more south, breeding starts in mid-winter. In the north, there seems to be no particular breeding season. Two young per female is typical; they remain in the pouch for about seventy days, and once leaving it stays inside the nest for another forty or fifty days, then begin to look for food, usually under the care of the mother. The young are normally ejected from the group territory at seven to ten months of age. Sometimes they form new groups if an area is vacant, but competition for the area is fierce and not many survive the first months of independent life. In captivity, they may live up to fifteen years.

Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders are native to Australia, Tasmania, Indonesia, and Papua-New Guinea. Their descriptive name comes from their love of sweet foods and a membrane that allows them to glide.

Sugar gliders are marsupials which means that they raise their young in a pouch on the mother’s belly. They are small mammals and adults weigh between 4 and 5 ounces.

Sugar gliders have gray fur and a cream-colored chest and stomach with a black stripe running the full length of the spine. They have large, hairless ears that move independently of each other and are in constant motion to pick up sounds.

The tail of the sugar glider is used for stability and balance. During gliding, it acts as a rudder to control the direction of flight. A membrane of skin reaches from the wrist to the ankle and it is this membrane that gives them the ability to glide.

Sugar Gliders As Pets

Sugar gliders recognize the people that handle them and express affection and displeasure. They are social animals and do better in pairs. Sugar gliders can be very vocal and loud and bark much like a small dog.

Sugar gliders can live up to 15 years in captivity. They do need fresh fruit daily and a reasonably larger cage is necessary for their home. Although they do require some work, sugar gliders can make fun, enjoyable, and loving pets.

Sugar glider Food & Diet:

Your sugar glider’s diet should contain a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and about 1/4 of its food should have protein. Gliders tend to prefer fruits and vegetables that have a sweet taste.

Gliders should not be fed raw sugar, sugar substitutes, candy and never give your glider chocolate. If possible, all fruits and vegetables fed to your glider should be fresh and not canned. Below are some of the items you could feed your pet.

Fruits & Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables you could feed your sugar glider are apples, avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, carrots, sweet corn, figs, grapes, grapefruit, mangoes, oranges, peaches, pears, pineapples, sweet potatoes, and many others.

Protein Foods

Small pieces of cooked lean cuts of meat or poultry without any additional spices or sauces are good sources of protein. Hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, and tofu are also other protein options.

Dry Cat Food or Dog Food

Dry cat food and dog food can be used as a source of protein but should be used sparingly. These foods are not designed for sugar gliders and may not fill the nutritional needs of your pet.

Treats

Sugar Gliders love live insects. Crickets, mealworms, and earthworms are easily attainable insects. Don’t feed your glider insects that have been collected outside where they may have been contaminated with pesticides. Although great sources of protein, insects should only be used as treats due to their high-fat content.

Nuts are extremely popular treats with sugar gliders. The nuts should be raw and unsalted and be given out sparingly. Although loved by gliders, nuts are high in fat.

Supplements

Sugar gliders can sometimes be picky eaters. Even with a well-balanced diet your pet may be lacking in important vitamins and minerals.

Reptile multivitamins and calcium with D3 supplements can help make sure you have a happy healthy pet. Even though sugar gliders aren’t reptiles, the reptile supplements are convenient, affordable, and supply the needed dietary vitamins and minerals.

Water

Even though sugar gliders drink very little and get most of their water from food, fresh water should always be available for your pet. A stoppered water bottle is a great way to keep water available.

Basic questions about sugar gliders

Is it expensive to feed Sugar Gliders?

One of the most interesting things about Sugar Gliders is the way they eat.  Instead of having feet, Sugar gliders have four hands and on each hand, there is an opposable thumb, similar to us.  When they eat it will not escape your notice how similar they are to humans.  Their method of holding food and the quick mouth movements always make for an entertaining scene.

Feeding Sugar Gliders is not an expensive, complicated process.  In recent years, Veterinary science has come out with commercially-available pelleted foods which makes the process of feeding and caring for Sugar Gliders very similar to that of a cat or dog. The primary difference is those feeding Sugar Gliders is typically much less expensive than even the smallest cat or dog.

Although many internet websites still claim pelleted foods are not good for Sugar Gliders, recent Veterinary studies have shown that they are actually much better than the older, more complicated diets.  Any reputable, USDA Licensed Breeder will be able to provide you with detailed dietary instructions to keep your Gliders happy and healthy.

 

Can Sugar Gliders be potty-trained?

Sugar Gliders cannot be “potty-trained” in the normal sense of the words.  However, the potty habits of Sugar Gliders are quite predictable – and they are very clean little animals that never require bathing.  Any reputable, USDA Licensed Breeder will be able to give you detailed instructions on how to master your Sugar Glider’s bathroom habits – making them on par with most other household pets.

What about Vet care?

Sugar Gliders do not require the same level of veterinary care as dogs and cats.  For example, they do not require vaccinations – since they have not been shown to carry any illnesses such as rabies, parvo, etc. They also require no repetitive care for conditions such as heartworms, fleas, etc.

Due to their rise in popularity as house pets over the last few years, most Veterinarians who already work on other small mammals such as hamsters, gerbils, etc. can easily work on Sugar Gliders. 

Do Sugar Gliders stink?

When fed older, outdated diets, (often consisting of insects, honey, meat, eggs, etc.), Sugar Gliders can develop a smell similar to that of a ferret.  The advent of commercial pelleted foods has reduced this issue and some advanced foods even contain Veterinary approved ingredients that leave the animal with no detectable smell.

Are Sugar Gliders noisy?

Sugar Gliders are capable of making several unique sounds; including barking and chattering.  However, in most cases, they only exhibit these behaviors during periods of extreme stress or mistreatment. 

Sugar Gliders are nocturnal by nature, and although they can be put on any “schedule”, they will still prefer to play in their cage at night.  When playing, they are typically no more or less noisy than other traditional house pets. 

However, since they are very intelligent little creatures, they will make the most of any toys you give them.  Sugar Gliders will play with almost any type of pet or baby toy.  Therefore, it’s best to remove any ‘noisemakers’ ahead of time if you prefer quiet surroundings.

What if I travel a lot?

Since Sugar Gliders are so small and compact, most owners praise how well they travel as a family pet.  If you are going on an extended trip and are unable to take them with you; the most preferable option is simply to take their cage over to a friend’s home where they can interact with others and enjoy themselves while you are gone. 

What kind of cage do Sugar Gliders need?

One common misconception about Sugar Gliders is that they require big cages.  Sugar Gliders love to jump and play.  However, for the first few months in their new home, they will be just learning these things and a big cage is not advisable.  Recent Veterinary studies have actually shown that the ideal cage size for up to two adult Sugar Gliders is around 2ft x 2ft x 2ft.   As adults, a larger cage is fine, but be careful to only use a quality cage in which all the surfaces are coated in a very high-grade epoxy finish.  Sugar Gliders are susceptible to zinc-poisoning; which comes from low-grade cages.

How big are Sugar Gliders?

Baby Sugar Gliders are born about the size of a grain of rice and the body of an adult Glider can grow up to 5-7 inches (with the tail measuring another 5-7 inches).

When it comes to birth and childhood, there are a lot of similarities between a baby Kangaroo and a baby Sugar Glider. Both are called “Joeys” at their birth and both spend the first weeks of their lives in their mothers’ pouches.  This desire to be “in the pouch” continues throughout their entire lives, and this is the reason why they love hanging out in shirt pockets and other similar spaces.

What is a Sugar Glider?

Sugar Gliders are small mammals native to the rainforests of Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia.  Weighing between 90-150 grams and measuring 6-8 inches in length they are common household pets.  They can fit into your pocket and can be easily carried around on your palm.  They belong to the same family as a Kangaroo or a Koala bear.  These cute marsupials have been domesticated and bred as popular pets in the USA for the past 15 years or so.

Their strong preference for sweet tree saps, nectar, pollen, fruits, and vegetables, as well as their ability to glide from tree to tree, has earned them the title of “Sugar Gliders”.  Their gliding ability comes from one particularly distinctive feature of their anatomy.  The skin membranes that extend from their forelimbs back to the toes of the hind legs form an aerodynamic surface that enables them to glide similarly to a North American flying squirrel.

In the wild, Sugar Gliders are tree-dwelling creatures and typically live in colonies of 10-15.  Sugar Gliders are scientifically named as Petauraus breviceps and zoologists have classified them as follows: Class: Mammalia / Infraclass: Marsupialia / Order: Diprotodontia / Suborder: Phalangerida / Family: Petauridae / Genus: Petaurus / Species: P. Breviceps.

Do Sugar Gliders make good pets?

Sugar Gliders should not be mistaken for rodents because of their initial outward appearance.  They are marsupials and have shown to be very appropriate for domestication.  Sugar Gliders make excellent pets.  They are known to bond well with human beings – and are typically not a one-person animal.  Their intelligence levels are often reputed to be on par with that of dogs.  With proper training, they learn to respond to their names and even do tricks.  They have the tendency to keep themselves impeccably clean and do not require bathing.  A good pelleted-diet also ensures that Sugar Gliders do not smell bad.  In captivity, Sugar Gliders typically live for 12-15 years. 

As household pets, rodents such as mice, hamsters, gerbils, ferrets, etc. present a destructive problem to their owners.  Since a rodent’s teeth constantly grow, they need to chew on things continually.  Sugar Gliders are not rodents, and therefore do not have this destructive nature.

Probably the most interesting quality that separates Sugar Gliders from any other “rodent” type of pet are how deeply they bond with their owners.  Once bonded, these adorable pets can be carried almost anywhere in pockets.  Since they are instinctively inclined to be near their “families”, they make excellent pets for senior citizens and even handicapped individuals who are looking for an affectionate, loving companion. 

The big question… should I breed?

Well, I guess this question always pops up. I know many have been wondering,  why I do not really talk much about it. One big reason is that breeding is not easy and to avoid impulse breeders, I decided to let people contact me directly and ask for advice rather than let my blog become a guide for breeding.

First, ask yourself…. Why breed? Are you looking to improve pet gliders in Malaysia? Are you breeding for money? Or just because you are keeping a pair so you feel you should breed?

My aim when I started breeding was because there were not many, or should I say, almost not a single proper sugar glider breeder. A few years ago, everyone was getting their joeys from suppliers, including me when I got my 1st joey, Kiah. I was stupid, acted on impulse but I made sure I did everything I can to bring up my joey. It was tough work because it was very rare even to have sugar gliders back then. I didn’t have any guidance from any keepers nor oversea breeders. I also find it sad that many US breeders don’t really reply to their emails when someone sends them queries. When I notice that there was a need to have good breeders around and to educate people, I decided to put my heart and soul into this hobby. I think people thought I was weird and a loner because all I could talk and think about were gliders. Now, one can find a few good breeders in Malaysia. You just have to open your eyes and listen.

If you are breeding to improve the quality of pet gliders, then bravo to you. When breeding, you will face a lot of ups and downs, basically, you need lots of capital to start with. I don’t really keep account records of what I bought over the years, but I actually spent a rough figure of RM10k on my gliders, from purchasing them to getting their accessories. This is not including food and supplements.  Each glider was bought for around RM250 to RM350 each. I don’t go scouting for agents selling breeding wild adults that go for RM60 to RM100 each. Then when you breed, you have to make sure the gliders are of sound body and mind. I have a few gliders that are naturally crabby, but they never attack me and have great health. Some have an awesome disposition that actually gets passed on to their offspring, which is what I am looking for. When you breed for the purpose of improvement, then it really requires a lot of time, money, sacrifices and losses. I kinda breed for hobby and improvement.

People are breeding their gliders for money. Come on, don’t treat them as objects. Yes, one can make easy money if they have 200 gliders and breed them non-stop and feed them crappy rubbish food. Don’t go into that level. It is too low. I never see animals as an object for money. To me it is wrong. Some may fire me back, saying I charge a joey between RM300 to RM350. Yes, I do set a high price but I do have reasons. When the price is high, I scare away the impulse buyers.

Don’t be one of those breeders that think since they have a pair, their gliders should breed. Understand this, the female glider can breed 2 to 4 times a year, and they continuously breed until they are 6 to 8 years old. That’s a long time for the gliders to continue breeding non-stop. So with this, what is your aim? To produce cheap joeys? To gain a little side pocket money? I know some people who practice this kind of breeding, and they sell their joeys to any tom, dick and harry.

ONE IMPORTANT NOTE: Sugar Gliders are not like humans, where we enjoy sex and want to have children to build a family. Animals basically breed to repopulate, they do not care about mom or dad or brother or sister or aunt and uncles…. They breed from instinct and the need to repopulate, never to have a family and never for security purposes. So we must understand this, if we neuter our male gliders, we won’t harm them and in fact, just make them happier and less stressful with their lives.

If you want to breed, think twice and think about what are your aims. If you plan to be one of those who would want to see their gliders have joeys for 1 time, then make sure you are responsible. Neuter your male adult gliders and joeys to make sure no further breedings and no inbreedings occur. Practice responsible pet ownership. Breeding pets is never about profits. You will never make a profit from breeding pets that you love.

Will my Sugar Gliders get along with my other pets?

Studies have shown that most people who have Sugar Gliders also have other common household pets such as cats, dogs, and birds.  When introduced properly to each other over time, in most cases they end up becoming life-long companions.  This is since Sugar Gliders are marsupials – not rodents (such as squirrels, mice, rabbits, etc.) – and therefore they do not instinctively smell like prey to most cats and dogs. 

Some more exotic pets, (such as hawks, owls, and snakes), will never bond with Sugar Gliders – and vice versa. 

As is the case when introducing any pets to each other, it’s always best to go slow and let them get used to each other over time.  Most reputable breeders will provide step-by-step instructions on exactly how to safely introduce them to your other pets.

Do I have to get two Sugar Gliders?

One of the most common misconceptions about Sugar Gliders is that they will die if you only get one.  Sugar Gliders are social animals – and while they instinctively love contact and interaction – rarely, they will actually “die” of loneliness unless completely neglected by their owners.   

Any animal is always happier if they have a playmate of their own kind, so whenever possible, it is best to get two.  However, in most cases, they will be just as happy playing with their owners – or other pets in the home.