I've been the proud owner of a female sugar glider named Koko for almost a year now. For those of you not familiar with the sugar glider, these beautiful animals are usually 6-8 long and weigh 5-9 ounces. They are most famed for the flaps of skin under their arms that enable to glide and their long and graceful tails that allow them to steer themselves during "flight." Most are grey with a white stripe running from nose to tail. The are nocturnal and play and eat during the night hours. However, while many people agree that sugar gliders are absolutely darling, several overlook how difficult it is to care for an exotic animal. Owning a sugar glider is worthwhile, but difficult, endeavor and there are many important considerations to make before investing time and money into these wonderful little marsupials.
First, sugar gliders are expensive by traditional pet standards. A standard grey and black glider will set a new owner back a couple of hundred dollars. More exotic colors such as cinnamon and coffee will cost significantly more because they are less commonly bred. Because it sugar gliders are community-based animals, many reputable breeders will not sell gliders individually. Most will only sell gliders in pairs, making the initial purchase cost much more expensive.
Second, a prospective glider owner must consider several elements about his or her own lifestyle before committing to a sugar glider. Gliders live 8-12 years and need specific living and social arrangements. The owner must consider if there is room in the home for a glider cage. Gliders have flaps of skin under their arms that allow them to glide several hundred feet at time. The glider cage needs to be tall and wide enough for the glider to have adequate room to glide and frolic about. Koko's cage is 6" high, 5" across, and 4" wide. Proper cages will take up a considerable amount of room. The prices of cages can vary considerably. Raw materials to build a cage can be inexpensive, but buying a pre-built cage can cost several hundred dollars. Gliders need nesting material such as tee shirts or towels to wrap themselves up in to keep warm. As mentioned before, gliders are also very social animals. While it is recommended they are kept in pairs, a glider can be kept alone if the owner is willing to spend significant amounts of time with their new pet. During the early stages of a glider's life, the owner needs to spend many hours a day with the glider to ensure bonding between animal and human. It is during this time that the glider will learn to trust its human. After the initial bonding phase, the owner still needs to spend a large amount of time with the sugar glider. They are curious and social animals that require places to play and people or other gliders to play with. If these conditions, can not be met, don't bother considering a glider as a pet. Without proper socialization, gliders can be ornery including biting.
Third, sugar gliders also have dietary requirements that may seem unusual to a novice owner. While the diet can flexible to a certain point, the standard diet requires roughly 25% protein, 25% fruit, and 50% vegetables. Most gliders require a rotation of food to prevent boredom, although there are several excellent glider foods to use as a dietary staple. There are literally hundreds of advice columns on the proper glider diet and only a significant amount of research will ensure that the glider is getting his or her dietary needs met. Gliders, like other animals, also need a fresh water source available to them at all times. A hamster-like water bottle in the cage is sufficient for most gliders.
Fourth, sugar gliders are not legal in every state. The laws regarding glider ownership vary state by state and a responsible would-be owner needs to check the local laws before considering the purchase of his or her new friend.
These are the very basic requirements for owning a sugar glider. Like every other individual pet, individual sugar gliders will have specific temperaments and personality quirks unique to each pet. However, if an owner can meet these requirements, they will be rewarded with a unusual and very loving pet.