Sugar gliders are not rodents but are a small gliding possum. They are marsupial and are endemic to eastern and northern mainland Australia. New Guinea and Bismarck Archipelego.
Sugar gliders measure around 12-13 inches with 5-6 of this being the tail. They have an eloganted body like a squirrel and very large eyes. The most common colour for a sugar glider is a blue-grey top coat with a black stripe across the spine and a lighter cream colour to the belly, throat and chest. In captivity they live around 10-15 years.
Sugar gliders are highly social, with a single glider prone to a depression that can even lead to death. They must be kept in at least pairs. Provided they have a good background and are acquired at a young age, sugar gliders have the potential to bond quite closely with their owners which has a very strong appeal. Sugar gliders are sometimes erroneously called flying squirrels, this term should actually relate to the Southern or Northern Flying Squirrel which are somewhat rarer in the pet trade.
Sugar gliders require regular handling, especially when young. Sugar glider bonding pouches can help your glider(s) grow accustomed to you and you can also leave a worn item of your clothing in their cage to get them used to your scent. A sugar glider that is unused to handling may display a behaviour known as "crabbing", a sound used as to display fear.
A Sugar Gliders diet is quite complicated and requires a lot of variation and forethought. It can be quite time-consuming and sadly poor nutrition and lack of time are a leading cause of Sugar Gliders health problems or rehoming. Insufficient calcium levels for example can lead to brittle bones and a very ill glider. The eat a range of items, including insects, various forms of nectar and saps, protein, vegetables and fruit. Many keepers follow a variation of Leadbeaters Mix and may prepare food on a weekly or monthly basis and freeze.
They are a difficult exotic for a beginner and require a lot of research before buying from a reputable breeder. Care should be taken to "glider-proof" your house for free-ranging, with one of the biggest dangers to a glider being an open toilet lid as they would drown due to being unable to climb out.
They are colloquially known as "suggies" and as you'd expect from a gliding animal will need a very large cage. Sugar gliders do need frequent cleaning and have quite a strong, musky odour. A large barred cage is best, such as an indoor aviary aimed at finches or other small birds. The bar spacing on most parrot cages is too wide for sugar gliders. Some arboreal vivariums can be adapted providing they are modified to add additional ventilation.
Colour variations
Colour variations include Albino, Black face, Buttercream (creamy brown with yellow/cream coloured head), Calico, Champagne, Chocolate Apricot, Cremino (Creamy Albino), Dark/light Cinnamon, Leucistic (White with black eyes), Lion (golden honey with dark brown/red features), Mosiac, Platinum and White faced (blonde/cinnamon/grey), White tip. Some variations are only available in America.
Further reading
- So you think you have the time and patience? - useful guide to the downside of owning gliders.
- Example glider cage setups.