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Now that you have discovered what a sugar glider is, you are probably left wondering whether or not a sugar glider is the right pet for you. Allow us to help make that decision by showing both the pros and cons of glider ownership. Lets begin with a quick quiz to help you start your evaluation. Please consider your answer to each of the following questions carefully. Quick Quiz
If you have answered no to any of the preceding questions, a sugar glider might not be the right pet for you at this time. You can learn more about sugar gliders as pets below. The
Pros & Cons of Having a Sugar Glider as a Pet It is easiest for me to liken the personality of a sugar glider to a cross between a cat and a raccoon. A glider can display both the loyalty and fickleness of a feline, choosing cuddle when in the mood and choosing to come when called only after evaluating the benefits the action may provide. At the same time, a sugar glider is capable of displaying both the curiosity and ingenuity of a raccoon, by examining everything closely and possessing an innate ability to get into just about anything. These traits, when coupled with an extreme need for companionship and a boundless interest in play, can leave potential owners either feeling overwhelmed, or with the promise of an exciting long-term companion. Sugar gliders have two basic means of self-defense, biting and scratching. Although sugar gliders are normally very social creatures and hardly seem shy when in familiar settings and among friends, they can become extremely timid around strangers or in new places. These unfamiliar environments can prompt a fear response that may cause even the friendliest sugar glider to resort to biting and scratching in an attempt to flee, hide, or protect itself if it feels threatened. A sugar glider’s nails are very sharp and need to be lightly trimmed on a biweekly basis. Routine trimming prevents them from injuring themselves by getting caught on clothing, bedding, or other fabric items. However, given the sugar gliders small size and wiggly nature, nail trimming can be a substantial undertaking for some owners. Sugar gilder’s nails have also been found to be extremely irritating to some humans skin. This problem can be remedied by wearing a long sleeved fleece of jean shirt when handling a glider; in addition to keeping its nails trim. A sugar glider’s lower incisors are very long and designed for stripping bark from trees. If forced to defend itself, a sugar glider can inflict a deep puncture wound. This is just one reason why a young child should not handle a sugar glider. Sugar gliders are intelligent, but as an arboreal creature by nature, they are unable to be “potty trained.” This downfall can be remedied by using one of two approaches: either let the glider exercise in its cage retrieve it after it eliminates, or remove the glider from its cage and gently stimulate the urogenital area with a moist cotton ball until it eliminates onto a paper towel strategically placed below. However, accidents still can happen. If that makes you squeamish, a sugar glider is probably not the right pet for you. Captive sugar gliders can make very healthy pets when they are supplied with the appropriate environment and their nutritional needs are met. They are unable to contract rabies and need no other vaccines. However, due to their small size, delicate physical structure, and relentless curiosity, sugar gliders frequently suffer traumatic injuries. Most traumatic injuries are a direct result of unsupervised activity, carelessness, or unsafe environments. An excited child could easily crush or injure a sugar glider that they were holding. This is another reason why sugar gliders are not recommended around children. Sugar gliders make excellent, loving pets when they are treated with patience and kindness. However, they can pose a nuisance to the household in several different ways: Barking- sugar gliders are social creatures and communicate in several different ways, one of which is barking. Unfortunately, barking usually takes place between 2 and 4 am in the morning. This tends to interfere with a good nights sleep. Barking can sometimes be remedied by leaving a small light on near the cage at night. Gliding- these tiny creatures glide by nature, thus their name the sugar glider. In a room that has not been glider-proofed this instinct can pose a problem to the owner and a health risk to the glider as well. To avoid any complications, all sharp, breakable, or unsecured objects should be removed prior to releasing the sugar glider. Marking- sugar gliders have scent glands that produce a slight musky odor. Male sugar gliders produce more scent than female gliders and religiously mark their territory. Any odor issues can easily be overcome by implementing routine cage cleaning, supplying fresh bedding, and using a good air purifier. A potential owner must consider if they even have enough space and time to provide the appropriate environment for a sugar glider in their home. The drawback here stems mainly from the large amount of attention and time they require their owners to spend with them outside of their cage. It is necessary that enough time be devoted to mentally stimulate them on a nightly basis or sugar gilders can fall into depression and suffer profound effects. An owner should expect to dedicate at least an hour or two nightly to their sugar gliders. Serving both fresh foods and offering playtime on a routine schedule. This can tend to conflict with school, work hours, vacations, and social lives. There may be a whole world outside for you, but to a captive sugar glider you become that world. It is a serious commitment. Sugar gliders can live 10-15 years in captivity and bond closely with their owners. Therefore, it is important to realize the level of commitment that is required. Sugar gliders can also pose an additional financial burden to its owner. These tiny exotic animals are fairly expensive to purchase, running an average of $150-$400 per glider. That cost is doubled if you consider that sugar gilders do better in pairs. Most dedicated breeders do offer discounts to encourage companionship. Start up costs typically run from $500-$1500 depending on the type of environment chosen. Sugar gliders also have specific nutritional needs that can get expensive as well, especially in the winter months when the price of fresh fruits and vegetables skyrocket. The average expense required to supply clean bedding and to provide proper nutrition, including fresh food, a staple, a supplement, and insects, for a pair of sugar gliders $60-$100 per month. The availability of experienced veterinary care and the price tag associated with it when necessary, can also pose a problem for the unprepared owner. Lastly, because a sugar glider is an exotic animal, many states, provinces, counties, cities, or townships have restrictions affecting the legality and ownership of sugar gliders. Landlords, scholastic institutions, and private community bylaws can also govern whether or not you may possess a sugar glider. If after seriously considering the downfalls of owning a sugar glider, you have determined that a sugar glider is still the right pet for you, please consider the benefits of pet ownership. Pets teach us patience, compassion, responsibility, sharing, and how to love. We can confide in our pets and they provide us comfort in return. Pets have been shown to improve our overall health by lowering our stress levels and boosting our spirits. Best of all, in exchange for the care we provide to them, our pets supply us with both a sense of accomplishment and their unconditional love. If you have decided that a sugar glider is definitely the pet for you, please visit or page on how to choose a sugar glider. However, if you need more help deciding whether or not a sugar glider might be the right pet for you, please visit the following links: Factors to consider: http://www.crittervillerescue.com/considerations/viewpoint.htm Regulations: http://sugargliders.org/regulations/alabama.htm |
