How to Care for a Sugar Glider

A sugar glider is a small marsupial originating in Australia and Indonesia. With soft mink-like fur and a black stripe the length of its body, it weighs 4 to 6 ounces when grown and is 5 to 6 inches long. A very social creature, it requires at least two hours of interaction a day, so consider the commitment needed to care for one. Read the following steps before making your decision.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Provide proper housing. A wire cage is best and the minimum recommended size is 30 by 18 by 36 inches. You need hanging food and water dishes and branches for perches. Gliders love toys and one of their favorites is an exercise wheel. They love to sit on ledges and hang on the top of the cage, making a glass enclosure a bad choice.

2. Plan on spending at least two hours a day with your glider. They love to sit on your shoulder or just ride around in a pocket. If you cannot spend this much time with your pet, get two gliders and they'll keep each other company. Make sure they're of the same sex, or, if not, get a neutered male.

3. Keep fresh filtered water available at all times. Take care to change the water every day and clean the bottle on a regular basis.

4. Feed with a variety of fresh fruits or vegetables. Fruits should make up 20 to 30 percent of their diet and vegetables 40 percent. Stay away from citrus fruits as they cause diarrhea. Protein--monkey chow, turkey, chicken, freeze-dried insects--should make up 25 to 50 percent and 15 percent needs to be low-fat, low-sugar bread and cereal. Remove any uneaten fresh food before it spoils.

5. Leave dry food out 24 hours a day for snacks. There are commercial products available for your sugar glider. Check online or at a pet or feed store.

6. Supplement your pet's diet with calcium and vitamins D3 and E, 1 to 2 times per week. Again there are commercial products available.

7. Clean the cage once a week. This is very important to your little pet's health and happiness.

Tips & Warnings

• The personal time you spend with your sugar glider is very important to its care and well-being. You should consider another type of pet, if this is a problem.
• Do not feed your glider candy, onions, wild insects, houseplants or distilled water. Also avoid cat or dog food, seeds or nuts, fatty foods and refined sugar.