by Charlotte Mielziner

Created on: February 27, 2009

Sugar gliders leap into your heart for life with their beautiful dark eyes and plush fur, but their housing needs are specific and not any cage will do. Because they are a highly active arboreal (tree dwelling) animal, their cages should be as large as possible and tall rather than long. A wire cage at least three feet tall and thirty inches in width is the minimum. Most experts recommend a four foot tall cage. Wire sided cages are preferred so the little acrobats can use the wires for leaping and climbing. The spacing of the wires should not be over one half inch wide to prevent a tiny escapee from running rampant.

While sugar glider cages are available, flight cages designed for finches and other small birds are usually roomy enough to accommodate a glider and may be easier to find. Make your glider more comfortable by putting the cage on a stand or small table for added height. Hamster, guinea pig or ferret houses are not appropriate for a glider on a life long basis.

Inside the cage, use small food bowls and a hamster type water bottle that can attach to the side of the cage. Make sure the bowls are small enough that your glider doesn't sit in them and soil their dinner.

Hang ropes and branches in the cage for glider gymnastics like jumping and climbing. Gliders may chew the branches as a way to clean their teeth, so they need to be made of a natural material without preservatives. Be careful of the type of branches you use since some can be toxic. Safe woods include: apple, willow, poplar, beech and sassafras. Unsafe woods include: pine or fir, cedar, red maple, black walnut, almond, apricot and cherry. If you have a question about the suitability of the wood, check with your veterinarian.

The bottom of the cage should be lined with about an inch of litter. Avoid pine or cedar shavings and litter since it is toxic to your glider. Cornhusk or recycled newspaper litter is recommended. Puppy pee pads can be placed under the litter and just tossed when the cage is cleaned. It's a good idea to put a mat under the stand to catch debris the glider kicks out of the cage.

A nesting box or pouch is necessary for your sugar glider to sleep in during the day. The box should be placed high in the cage for your gliders comfort and to prevent him from sitting on top and soiling it. Gliders scent mark their boxes, so having a couple of boxes and pouches to change out for cleaning is helpful.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT

Environmental enrichment is just a long term for how to entertain

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