sugar glider

How to take care of a sugar glider

sugar glider

Have you recently become the proud owner of a sugar glider? This little marsupial is cute, affable, and very outgoing, which is why it makes a great pet. It is an omnivore and therefore requires a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and proteins. He should be placed in a tall cage and with many branches to sit in, but it is important that he play outside the cage as often as possible. Find out below to create a safe and fun environment for your Petaurus.

Bonding with an older sugar glider – How to socialize a sugar glider

Take time to bond with him. The need for socialization is one of its most characteristic features. He is very loving, and if you get along enough with the owner and treat him with respect, you completely trust him. He creates strong bonds and can become depressed if they break. So, before you bring it home, consider if you can keep it for a lifetime, which can be up to 15 years.

  • Although some breeders sell a single specimen, sugar gliders are more likely to live in pairs or groups. Buy them in pairs to have a better chance of living healthy and happy.
  • The gluing is simple: leave a little fleece between your body and your clothes for a few days; then put them in the sleeping bag, which, being a very scent-oriented animal, will begin to recognize it as a member of its colony.
  • Carrying it close to your body in a small carry bag is a great way to win his favor. He will sleep most of the time. Encourage him to go to the bag of snacks and carry it to his chest, being careful not to shake too hard. It will also help you get used to the smell.
  • Offer snacks, but not many! Do this only to wake him up before putting him in a carry bag or playing with him. This will help you understand why you shouldn’t be afraid of it.
  • It is useful to play with him in a small tent. This allows him to work freely, without worrying about the possibility of his penetrating into a small space from where you cannot reach him.
  • Those who do not have a tent can be taken to the bath. Remember to cover the door slot with a towel, insert a stopper in the tub drain, and lower the toilet lid.

Common diseases among sugar gliders

Watch for signs of common diseases among sugar gliders. Under the right conditions, caring for it is relatively easy. However, at some point, you may get sick due to lack of nutrients, lack of socialization, and other reasons. If you notice signs of feeling unwell, take him to your veterinarian immediately. Some of the most common diseases affecting the species are:

  • Calcium deficiency, which can cause paralysis, which can be prevented with a proper diet. In this regard, TPG, BML, and OHPW diets are the most effective.
  • Constipation or indigestion.
  • Open wounds from scratches or holes in sharp parts of the cell.
  • Obesity due to excessive consumption of fatty foods.
  • Stress caused by isolation or poor socialization.
  • A urinary tract infection is an easy-to-diagnose condition and the most common symptom of which is noise such as wheezing when needed.

What do sugar gliders need in their cage?

Buy or build a suitable size cage. The incredible property of a sugar paraglider is to stretch your legs and float in the air. To do this in captivity, you need a tall cage. While the seller will likely provide the cage at the time of purchase, it may not be large enough. The minimum dimensions are 90 cm high and 60 cm wide, with a maximum distance of 1.2 cm between the grates. If you have enough room, the larger (and higher) the nursery, the better. There are several cage stores online, and you can even search for one at your nearest pet store. Many sugar glider breeders purchase custom cages based on the space available.

  • Avoid using galvanized steel cages, the rust of which can cause urinary tract infections.
  • No need to worry about the direction of the rods. An animal with opposed thumbs, the sugar glider can scale both horizontal and vertical slats with ease.
  • Anyone looking to buy or make a wooden cage must make sure the wood is safe for Petaurus. Remember, wood is more difficult to clean and absorbs odors easily.

Place the cage on a large, lined mold. This way, food debris, and excrement will be absorbed by the pad, which can be easily replaced if dirty. The mold can be plastic or metal. Cover it with a paper rodent cage liner or another type of non-toxic liners such as cat sand or dog litter mat. Change the liner about once a week.

  • If you are going to use wood chip cladding, it must be made from dehydrated wood. Non-dehydrated wood oils can cause health problems for your pet.
  • And if you don’t want to buy any pads, you can use newspaper or whatever non-toxic material you find in the house.

What Do Sugar Gliders Eat

Originally from Australia, Indonesia, and some other regions, the wild sugar gland lives off wild products: juice, bird eggs, lizards, insects, and others. Taking care of food is more of a zoo keeper’s job than just opening a bag of food. There are several predefined sugar gland building diet plans such as TPG, BML, and OHPW, each of which follows very detailed instructions. You can read more about them at this link. Any of these diets must be supplemented with fruits and vegetables at night and must be strictly followed to get the proper proportion of nutrients. Thus, the marsupial will have the calcium it needs to prevent malnutrition and paralysis of the hind legs. Search the internet for which plan is most comfortable for you, as some are more restrictive than others.

  • At first, it may seem like cooking takes too long, but once you get the hang of it, you can cook an entire month’s meal in one day. It is important that the food contains a sufficient amount of proteins, sugars, and fats, as well as minerals that are lacking in sugar glider.
  • Do not use dog food, cat food, or any other food that is not associated with the sugar gland and does not contain the nutrients it needs.
  • Do not offer garlic, rhubarb, onions, or other vegetables from these families. Lima beans should never be offered fresh; they can be used to feed sugar glider if purchased frozen or cooked before serving.
  • Make sure there is always fresh water in the cage and serve food at night. Do this in a very heavy bowl, otherwise, the sugar glider may tip over. Always keep your bowl or water dispenser full. In the evening, serve only the set number of items.

Final Words The Warnings

  • The sugar gliders require some special care points. These points are
  • In horror, this marsupial animal can bite, but its bites cause just as much pain. When bitten, don’t insist on continuing to do the things that scare you.
  • On a sugar gland diet, you should limit your intake of fruits and eliminate grapefruit entirely. Too much acidic food can kill you.
  • Plastic bags scare the sugar gland. It is unknown why, but he is very nervous when he hears the rustle of plastic.

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