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Sugar Gliders as household pets: Separating fact from fiction.

In the last 15 years, Sugar Gliders have gotten extremely popular across the USA as “companion pets”.  Along with this increased attention has come a wide range of good – and bad – information about them; most of which is published on the internet where it is difficult to tell fact from fiction.

Not all animals are right for all people, and if you are thinking about getting a Sugar Glider as a pet, the following is a list of short, factual answers that will help you make the right decision for you and your family.

FICTION:  Sugar Gliders are abandoned by the thousands each year by overwhelmed owners who got in over their heads.  Rescues are flooded with abandoned gliders who need good homes.  Adopt rather than buy..."

FACT:  ** BEWARE **  No legitimate Sugar Glider "rescues" exist anywehere in the U.S..  Sugar Glider "rescues" are simply an old internet scam perpetrated by persons who are actually trying to sell animals they have usually bred themselves (often illegally and against Federal Law).  They often play on the well-meaning emotions of others with phrases like "Think Rescue/Adoption First" - and sometimes even have the nerve to ask for donations to help fund their cause.  Check with your local animal shelter - and you'll see that most have never seen a single Sugar Glider come through their doors.

FICTION:   The diet of a Sugar Glider is very costly and it’s a time consuming effort to arrange for its daily meals.  If you don’t feed them live insects and mice every day, they’ll die.

FACT:  The three components of a healthy Sugar Glider’s diet are: 1) fresh fruits and vegetables, 2) a Veterinarian-approved protein-based pellet food, and 3) a Veterinarian-approved multivitamin .  The typical monthly cost of this type of diet normally does not exceed $10 per animal. 

FICTION: Sugar Gliders stink and are messy.

FACT:  Sugar Gliders only exude an offensive smell when fed a diet consisting of  “live” foods such as insects and meat.  Commercially available pellet foods that eliminate this problem have been available for years. Additionally, Sugar Gliders are actually very clean animals and do not need bathing. 

FICTION:  Sugar Gliders make a lot of noise at night.

FACT:  All pets make some kind of noises, and Sugar Gliders do not make any more noise or less than other household pets. They are capable of making several kinds of sounds, but usually only do so when they are scared or hurt. 

FICTION: Sugar Gliders are vicious and they bite.

FACT:  The simple fact is that any animal with teeth can bite.  However, like most household pets such as cats or dogs, well-cared-for Sugar Gilders will usually only nip if they are scared or being hurt.  It’s important to note that a Sugar Glider’s teeth and jaws are designed to scoop out fruit and insects, not bite down.  As such, a “nip” typically feels more like a firm pinch, and there has never been a single documented case of a Sugar Glider bite ever requiring stitches.

FICTION:  Sugar Gliders can get very lonely and will die if you do not have at least two.

FACT:  Sugar Gliders are very social animals and – like any other household pet – are happiest when they have some type of companionship.  It’s always best if you have more than one Glider, but it’s almost never a “life & death” issue.  If you can only afford to get one Joey, then just try to spend as much time with it as possible, playing and enjoying its naturally friendly nature.

FICTION:  Sugar Gliders need spacious cages occupying a lot of your living space.

FACT:  Veterinary studies show that a 2ft x 2ft x 2ft cage is appropriate for up to 2 adult Gliders.  Larger cages are fine for adult gliders, but Joeys are more active (and bond faster) in a cage roughly the size of the one noted above.  Cage wires should be coated either in PVC or a high-grade epoxy resin to avoid toxicity poisoning.

FICTION:  Sugar Gliders require expensive health care.

FACT:   Sugar Gliders require no vaccinations of any kind.  They also require none of the monthly Vet care treatments common to other house pets like cats and dogs.   As with any pet, an annual “checkup” is always a good idea, and any small mammal veterinarian will be familiar with these popular little animals.

1. NEVER buy Sugar Gliders from the Internet     2. ALWAYS meet the people you are buying from in person.                   1.  This is an “all-or-nothing” question.  The breeding of Sugar Gliders is strictly regulated by the Federal Government, and the USDA imposes high standards of health and safety on those who qualify to get a breeder’s license.  Due to an outbreak of unscrupulous internet merchants disguising themselves as small  “mom & pop” breeders, many states are now requiring that owners can only purchase Sugar Gliders directly from a USDA Licensed breeder.  If the person you’re talking to can’t show you a physical copy of their USDA License, walk away.           2. ”  Any reputable breeder will already have a formal “after-the-sale” education program in place for all its new parents.  The best ones include a wide range of written material covering every topic related to the animal’s care and well-being, and a convenient way for you to contact them whenever you have a question.         3. This is the best possible way to tell if the people you are talking to really know what they’re doing.  Any reputable breeder will gladly let you hold any of their adult animals without hesitation.  The animals should be friendly, tame, and affectionate.  They should demonstrate obedience without being tied to a leash or restrained in any way.  Also, check to see if the animal has a strong odor.  Healthy Sugar Gliders (when fed the correct diet) should not have an offensive smell.  If the one you’re holding does, then they are probably not being fed a healthy diet, and you should walk away.  NOTE: Reputable breeders normally will not let strangers hold young babies.         4. The correct answer to this question is somewhere between 8 and 12 weeks out of the pouch.  The “bonding phase” of a Sugar Glider’s life takes place primarily at this age, and it becomes much more difficult to bond with an animal if the process has not at least started by this time.  QUICK TIP:  The best way to tell a Sugar Glider’s age is to look at its tail.  It should be “bushy”, not slick or flat.         5.  Any reputable USDA Licensed Breeder will already have a written health guarantee and replacement policy.  The industry standard consists of: 1) a short “free” replacement period (usually 2-3 days) if the animal dies for any reason, PLUS  2) a slightly longer “reduced cost” replacement period if the animal happens to die after that (usually an additional 1-2 weeks).          6. ”  The average female Sugar Glider only has 2-3 babies per year.  Combine that with the fact that Sugar Gliders have become so popular in the last few years – and it’s pretty easy to see why most people have never actually seen one in person before.  That being said, it’s not at all unusual to have to “order” your animals and then have them hand-delivered a few weeks later.  If the people you are speaking with have babies right there that you can take home with you great, but if not, ordering them directly from a Federally-Licensed USDA Breeder helps ensure that you’re dealing with reputable people, and quality animals.           7. The correct answer to this question is that they will be “driven” in and hand-delivered.  Again, there are many hidden health and safety problems associated with shipping Sugar Gliders on airplanes, so don’t risk it.