Sugar Gliders are not difficult to properly care for, but they are specific in what they need. Gliders are not rodents, therefore they will not survive on prepared seed/food mixes that are commonly bought for other small animals such as mice, rats and ferrets. Sugar gliders are marsupials and therefore need a specific diet, as well as vitamins/supplements to maintain proper health.

This is a basic introduction care sheet used to help new glider owners get a start on what needs to be done. If you are serious about purchasing a glider, we suggest researching as much information from as many different sources as you can. Knowledge is the key to successfully keeping your glider healthy and also important happy and in good spirits.

Sugar gliders are social animals and therefore in our opinion must be kept in pairs or more. Single gliders will often become very depressed over time and some will stop eating altogether. Multiple females or single male and multiple females do well together. Multiple males unless neutered do not do well together and will often fight and cause injury to each other. Even two males raised together since birth can become enemies during breeding.

Diet & Supplementation

Gliders need a wide variety of fresh fruit and veggies. In addition to these, they need a high protein source such as chicken and eggs, as well as mealworms, monkey biscuits and glider cereal. A proper assortment is essential to the long term health of your glider. Gilders often become bored with their meals and will usually not eat the same meal night after night for dinner. Again, variety is the key.

Diet: Daily diet should contain mostly fresh fruit and veggies with at least 30 to 50 percent protein mixed in. Mealworms should be offered about 3 times a week with weekly mixtures of baked chicken or hard boiled eggs.

Daily Staple: Monkey biscuits or Zoo Keepers Secret soft food sugar glider cereal.

Common Fruits: Apples, bananas, cantaloupe, seedless grapes, honeydew, kiwi, mango, oranges, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapple, plums, strawberries, tangerines and watermelon. Make sure to remove all seeds and fruit pits.

Common Veggies: Frozen mixed vegetable bags are often used. Shoot for high calcium to phosphorous ratios.

Protein foods: Hard boiled eggs, monkey biscuits, sugar glider cereal, mealworms, crickets and boiled or baked chicken.

Common Treats: Dried fruit treats such as Mango & Papaya, yogurt drops and raisins, unsweetened apple sauce, non-fat yogurt and non-sugar frozen fruit juices.

Items to Avoid: Cauliflower, chocolate, cottage cheese, nuts & seeds, onions. Avoid high sugar items and preservatives.

Supplements: Gatorade 3 to 4 times a week (contains nectar, electrolytes and sucrose that are important to your glider) and a daily multivitamin supplement sprinkled (not mixed) onto their food daily. We use "The Pet Glider Complete" Multivitamin for our daily supplementation.

Water: Fresh water in a water bottle should be available at all times. Do not use free standing water bowls. Gliders drown very easily.

Housing

Cages should be as large as you can afford and have space for. Gliders need a lot of room to climb and glide and they will not do well in small/cramped cages. Glass aquariums, plastic containers, or bare wire cages should never be used and are cruel to keep gliders in. Gliders need coated wire that prevents rusting that are spaced 1/2" or smaller.

The absolute bare minimum cage you should house a pair of gliders in would be a coated wire cage that measures 36" tall x 32" wide x 21" deep. Cages should be kept on stands and off the floor since gliders prefer the security of being high off the ground in the tops of trees. Here is a link to the cages that we use to house our gliders in Glider Cage. We feel that these cages work well for a pair of gliders and should be the minimum size cage to go with.

Bedding: Should be wee wee pads, newspaper or CareFresh. Stay away from cedar or pine shavings they are toxic to your glider as colored print can be. Make sure your glider cannot come in contact with the bedding.

Sleeping Pouches

Gliders sleep in soft cotton and fleece material called sleeping pouches. Pouches are a critical item your glider must have at all times. It's often good to offer several pouches, tunnels, cubes or hammocks to give your gliders a variety to choose from. Pouches should be thoroughly washed and cleaned on a regular basis to prevent sickness and disease. Here is a link to the pouches we use for our gliders. We prefer the Peek-At-Me Pouch.

Toys

Gliders are very curious and inquisitive animals. They require activities and toys that stimulate their minds and problem solving curiosity. They really enjoy rope toys and pieces of string/rope tied into knots that they can untie. Provide your gliders with as much stimulation as possible.

Toys: Pouches, tunnels, cubes, hammocks, rope toys, bird toys, bells, Wodent Wheels are a must, manzanita branches, bird perches, cat toys (no catnip) and feather teasers. Rotate toys out weekly to help avoid your glider getting bored.

Breeding & Sexual Maturity

Female gliders sexually mature at around 8 months of age, while male gliders sexually mature at around 6 months. It's important not to put young females in with older males until the female has reached maturity. Male gliders will relentlessly breed female gliders.

It is often a good idea to keep one male to every two female gliders. Pairs of females get along well as do most male and female pairs of maturity. Two mature male gliders will often fight and become very territorial. It is not a good idea to keep two males together unless they are neutered.

Female gliders on average will have 1-2 babies twice a year and will breed year round. Do not remove the male from the female once she is pregnant. The male will play a vital role in raising the joeys. It's very important to feed pregnant females extra vitamins, calcium and protein. Once gliders reach six years of age they should be retired from breeding. Gliders can live up to fifteen years with proper care. Care must be taken when purchasing gliders as pets. They are a big responsibility and will offer you years of entertainment and friendship.