Whether you currently own gliders or you are just preparing to bring gliders home, housing is a major concern.  A single glider or glider pair should have an enclosure with dimensions of no less than 2’w x 3’h x 2’d.  Height is especially important because sugar gliders are tree dwellers by nature and love to climb, so the taller their enclosure, the better it is for your gliders. 

Aquariums do not make suitable enclosures because they have poor ventilation and deprive your glider of the ability to climb.  A cage is the favorable form of housing.  Make sure that the metal surfaces are coated with either a vinyl coating or powder coat paint finish in order to prevent heavy metal poisoning.  The cage bars should be securely welded with a bar spacing no greater than ½ inch so your glider cannot escape.  Other security issues can result from non-latching doors.  Removable drop trays are a great feature for easy maintenance, but when the systems are poorly designed, these too can provide a route of escape to your glider.  Extremely large enclosures may be more cost effective to build, but small to moderate size enclosures can be purchased at a reasonable price and many times offer more beneficial features than a handmade cage with less hassle to you.

 Cage bedding should be chosen carefully as well.  Sometimes the least expensive option may pose a health risk to your glider.  Bedding material should be absorbent, non-toxic, and dust-free with no perfumes or aromatic oils.  Choices such as paper litter, or reclaimed cellulose fiber is good bet.  However, inexpensive pine or cedar beddings expose your glider to dust and aromatic compounds that can lead to respiratory illness, skin disorders, or other complications for your glider. 

Easy clean cage cups should be used, keeping both food and water elevated to reduce excretory contamination.  At least two (2) sleeping bags or boxes should be provided in your gliders enclosure along with toys for stimulation and additional items that promote exercise.  Please visit our Environment link for important additional information and tips on how to setup your glider’s new habitat.