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When selecting the proper cage for Sugar
Gliders, there
are several important factors
to
understand... |
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First
and foremost - looks are deceiving.
Almost all cages look identical to a prospective buyer -
and are pretty much impossible to tell apart visually
from pictures or descriptions on the Internet. They are
all about the same size, look the same, and even come in
what looks like the same colors. This makes it very
easy for the average consumer to get fooled by a flood
of cheap cages which will fall apart in a matter of
weeks/months - and can actually poison a Sugar Glider. |
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Most of
the cages made today are manufactured in China, and the
coatings used on the bars are typically very cheap and
will wear off in a few weeks or months. Since Sugar
Gliders continually rub up against these bars, and then
groom themselves constantly - they can contract zinc
poisoning from the cheap metal used to construct these
cages - and die. Therefore, the single-most important
factor to consider when selecting a cage is the coating
on bars. |
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Keeping
all this in mind, the following is a breakdown of the 6
most important factors to consider when selecting a cage
for your Sugar Gliders - and an objective comparison of
three different "versions" of the most popular
cage
size/model being utilized today for Sugar Gliders... |
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1. |
Veterinary Endorsements: |
A quality Sugar Glider cage should be
thoroughly tested - and endorsed - by several
Veterinarians who specialize in Sugar Glider care and
research. Multiple endorsements are preferable. |
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2. |
Medical-Grade Epoxy Coating: |
The coating on the bars of a Sugar
Glider's cage is the SINGLE most important factor
in determining it's safety and value. Most cages are
powder-coated or painted, and both these coatings can
easily wear off. Cages coated with a medical-grade
epoxy finish are significantly more expensive (as much
as 100% over cheap discount cages), but they are
guaranteed to be safe and will usually last the entire
life of the animal. |
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3. |
Auto-Closing Safety Latches: |
Sugar Gliders are ingenious, and can
easily release many latches with their human-like hands.
Several types of auto-closing safety latches come
standard on most cages, and some have built-in
resistance which makes it virtually impossible to open
for even the strongest Glider. |
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4. |
Damage Replacement Policy: |
Most cages are shipped unassembled to the
customer. It is common for panels - no matter how well
packed - to sometimes get damaged in shipping. As such,
it's important that your supplier will quickly replace
any damaged components at no cost to you. |
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5. |
Additional Assembly Instructions: |
Most cages come with a standard, one-page
set of assembly instructions which are very difficult
for most customers to follow. If a cage is not
assembled properly, over time gaps can develop which
allow the animals to escape. As such, most reputable
retailers will provide an additional set of instructions
- with lots of photos - which make assembly very simple. |
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6. |
Glider-Safe™ Certification: |
Many products currently being marketed
for Sugar Gliders are actually products designed for
other pets which have been "re-labeled" for Sugar
Gliders without objective testing. Products which have
received Glider-Safe™ certification have undergone
extensive testing by animal care professionals
(including Veterinarians) - and have been specifically
approved for use by Sugar Gliders. |
