Flying Squirrels are amazing pets. Whether you have a Southern flyer or a Northern flyer, both generally need the same basic requirements. First and foremost before getting a flyer be sure they are legal in your area as many places either have made it illegal to own them or require a permit. Don't take the chance that your flyer will be taken away.
Housing
A flying squirrel requires a cage that is at least 18" x 18" x 24" tall and wire spacing must be no bigger than 1/2" or these little guys can potentially escape, especially if you have a weanling. The bigger and taller the cage the better. These guys also like some privacy, especially being nocturnal they enjoy a nest box (roughly one that is 5" x 5" x 5") and even little fabric pouches hung in their cage. Adding some cotton, aspen shavings, and even hay will make a nice cozy little place for your pet to sleep in. At the bottom of the cage it is best to place some aspen bedding, or even rabbit or rodent food pellets as they work as an absorbent bedding as well and will not hurt the flyer if he chooses to nibble on it. Other accessories to the cage should be a water bottle or dish, some food dishes, and a wheel preferably attached to the cage and without spokes. Branches, perches, hemp ropes and shelves will also help your little one get some exercise and being a squirrel they love to climb so they will gratefully use them.
Bonding
Give plenty of bonding and out of cage time to keep your flyer tame and friendly. Using bonding pouches during the day when he/she sleeps to carry him around and play time out of the cage in the evening when he's active will ensure a close bond. Starting young is the best way to bond, but older flyers can be tamed as well if they were captive born and raised (please do not ever purchase a wild flyer, pup or adult, it is not right to take these animals from the wild and many do not make good pets). Hand feeding bits of food can also help form a bond. Generally speaking a flyer bonds very well to their person and often enjoys some time spent on the shoulder or in pockets when not gliding or climbing around the room.
Gnawing Needs
Being rodents, flying squirrels have a need to gnaw and wear down their ever growing teeth. You must provide wood, cuttlebones, or mineral blocks or a variety of these to allow your squirrelly to do this. Providing in-shell nuts will help with this as well. Cuttlebones are another option for something to chew on and also provide calcium. Overgrown teeth are very uncomfortable and make it difficult to eat.
Feeding
Squirrels need a varied diet to get all of their required nutrition. For the pet flying squirrel many wild bird foods can make a base diet. Those such as the Nut 'n Berry and Pumpkin Delight, any that include in-shell nuts, corn, and dried fruits. Along with this base diet squirrels can eat dry noodles, dry cereals such as cheerios (no sugary cereals), various fruits and veggies, and insects such as wax worms, meal worms, crickets, moths, etc. Giant meal worms are not recommended as they are given a growth hormone, and are more for fishing bait than anything. Though as a squirrel your little pet will love nuts, these are high in fat and should only be a very small portion of the diet.
Flying squirrels commonly have calcium deficiencies and require the proper 2:1 calcium/phosphorous ratio. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of this perfect ratio and very nutritious. Other good sources of calcium are kale, broccoli, spinach, beet greens, kiwi, and strawberries. Any of your dark green veggies are excellent. Good sources of phosphorus are apples, dandelion greens, banana, pumpkin seeds, and yogurt. Foods to watch out for would be chocolate, macadamia nuts, onions, and pits from anything.
A calcium/phosphorous supplement can be given sprinkled on the food or in the water. Make sure it is a 2:1 ratio, two parts calcium and one part phosphorous. Reptile vitamins for food such as Reptocal and T-Rex have the proper ratio. Water soluble vitamins made for hamsters/gerbils such as L&M or Via-Sol can be used. Only use one or the other, sprinkled on food or if they won't take it that way, then drops in the water. On the food is the best way to go if possible as in the water it's possible they won't get it all and it can lose potency. Only add either supplement two or three times a week at the most.
Precautions
If you choose to take branches, nuts, or anything like this from the outdoors it is best to freeze or bake these because there are many parasites these can carry.
Make sure there are no other animals that will catch or chase your flyer when you let your flyer out to play; they are fragile little guys.
Always put toilet seats down (many flyers have drowned in toilets) and chemicals away if your flyer is even in the general area of a bathroom (some people only can use a bathroom for out of cage time).
Wood in any part of the house may be gnawed.
One closed off room is the safest for your flyer so he is not lost and has less he can potentially get into. Keep him in his cage when you can't watch him, flyers have been lost in a home or escaped out windows or doors.
The joys of owning a flying squirrel
Feeding is not too difficult, and even fun. Watching them as they glide, jump or climb from place to place or person to person is incredibly entertaining. Surprisingly, flying squirrels don't even produce much of an odor like many rodents, unless the cage is left dirty for a length of time. Flying squirrels are fun and entertaining pets, not to mention adorable. Care for them properly and they can live up to 15 years. They are one little pet you will never forget.