How to Hand Tame a Sugar Glider
Sugar gliders are nocturnal marsupials that can live up to 15 years. Small and furry, these critters are the embodiment of a pocket pet, but they can also glide up to 50 yards. Sugar gliders are social and can bond with their human friends. By taking time out of every day, you can hand tame your sugar glider to sit on your shoulder, ride in your pocket and play with you.
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Instructions
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Give your sugar glider time to become accustomed to you. Don’t start trying to pick him up the first day you bring him home. Give him a few days to familiarize himself with his new home.
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Speak to your glider often so he will learn your voice.
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Begin giving him a treat through the bars. When he accepts treats from your hand, start putting your hand in the cage and offering him a treat. When he finally starts coming to your hand when you put it in the cage, begin trying to pick him up.
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Pick up your sugar glider slowly, don’t reach in the cage and grab him quickly.
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Teach him to glide to you by placing him somewhere high. Hold a treat close to him so he steps onto your hand for the treat. Continue doing this while moving your hand away from him a little at a time. Eventually, he will begin to make small leaps to you. Continue distancing yourself from him and encouraging him to glide to you.
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Stay consistent. Sugar gliders learn at different rates and the key is persistence.
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Tips & Warnings
Create a positive environment. Sugar gliders do not respond well to dominance. Don’t yell or hit at them. Ignore bad behavior and reward your sugar glider when he does something good.
When working with your glider, secure the room in case he gets away from you.
Work with sugar gliders in the daytime, as they are easier to handle when they are sleepy.
Many cat toys will entertain sugar gliders. Gliders also love climbing and hanging from ropes.
Never let your glider wander unsupervised.
Handle sugar gliders with care; their delicate bones break easily.
Don’t go near trees with sugar gliders; they like to climb up and might try to get away from you to climb a tree.
Don’t take your glider out in direct sunlight; this might damage their eyes. Take them out on cloudy days or after the sun sets.
Never leave sugar gliders alone with other house pets. In or out of cages, they are often mistaken for prey or toys.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images
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Comments
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seraphinak
Apr 22, 2010
'Work with sugar gliders in the daytime, as they are easier to handle when they are sleepy.' yes, excellent idea! disrupt their natural sleep cycle for the benefit of your own selfish amusement! the exotic trade in sugar gliders as domestic pets in the Unied States has sickened Australians. You people are not 'animal lovers'. you are ignorant.
