Do you feel proud as a new sugar glider owner? These tiny marsupials are adorable, adorable, and sociable-these three are characters that make wonderful pet sugar gliders! This animal is also an omnivore so it requires a balanced intake of fruits, vegetables, and protein. Sugar gliders live in high cages with lots of branches to climb, but they also love to get out of their cages and play as much as possible. Learn how to provide a safe and fun environment for your pet sugar glider.
However, be aware that in some areas, including Australia, New Zealand, parts of the United States, and provinces in Canada, it is illegal to own or maintain a sugar glider without a permit as it is considered an exotic animal.
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Part 1 of 4: Understanding Sugar Glider Care Basics
Step 1. Take the time to familiarize yourself with it
One of the most special things about this animal is its need to socialize. Sugar gliders can be very affectionate and if you spend time with them and respect them, they will trust you. These animals can build strong bonds and become desperate when those bonds are broken or broken. Before you take a sugar glider home and bond with it, make sure you are willing and able to keep it for the rest of its life (up to 15 years).
- Some breeders sell sugar gliders individually, but these animals actually prefer to live in pairs or groups. Therefore, it's a good idea to keep two sugar gliders to keep your pet happy and healthy.
- The familiarization process can begin by wearing a blanket or flannel (especially a bright color) for a few days and putting the sugar glider in his sleeping bag. These animals are very fixated on smells and this step helps them recognize you as part of their colony.
- Carrying him (while he is in his sleeping bag) during the day can also be the right way to familiarize yourself with sugar gliders. Usually, these animals are usually sleeping and you can coax them into getting into the bag with a treat. Hold him close to your chest and don't jump too high or too often. This way, he will get used to your scent.
- Give him a limited amount of treats. Offer treats when you wake him to coax him into his pocket or when you want to play with him. That way, he'll understand that he doesn't have to be afraid of you.
- One useful technique for playtime is “camping time”. By playing with him in the tent, he can roam freely and you don't have to worry about chasing him until he is in hard to reach places.
- As an alternative if you don't have a tent, take advantage of the "soaking" moment. You can sit in the soaking tub with him. Make sure you cover the gap under the door with a towel, plug the tub hole, and attach the toilet cover.
Step 2. Find a veterinarian who can handle exotic animals
Like dogs and cats, sugar gliders can get sick. Before bringing a pair of sugar gliders home, make sure there is a veterinarian who can specifically treat or treat sugar gliders in your city or neighborhood. Take your pet to the vet about once a year for a checkup and make sure it's in good condition and healthy.
- Sterilization of male sugar gliders is highly recommended, unless he has a lineage to prevent possible inbreeding if paired with a female animal. If you keep two male sugar gliders, it's a good idea to keep them both neutered to prevent fights.
- Try to find at least two backup or emergency veterinarians in your city/area and keep both their contact numbers in case an emergency occurs. Sugar gliders often look sick after normal working hours.
Step 3. Watch for signs of common ailments that sugar gliders can suffer from
These animals require relatively simple care when in good condition. However, over time he can suffer from illness due to lack of essential nutrients and playtime, among other causes. If you see any signs that indicate that he is sick, take him to the vet immediately. Below are some of the diseases that commonly infect sugar gliders:
- Calcium deficiency. This condition can trigger paralysis, but it can be prevented as long as you give the sugar glider the right kind of food. Some of the appropriate feeding patterns for sugar gliders include the TPG, BML, and OHPW patterns.
- Constipation or disorders of the digestive system.
- Open wounds due to scratched skin or stuck in sharp parts of the cage.
- Obesity due to excessive consumption of fatty foods.
- Stress due to lack of socialization or loneliness.
- Urinary tract infection. This condition is easy to spot. One of the signs is a hissing sound when he is urinating.
Step 4. Connect with other sugar glider owners in your city or area
It's definitely fun when you can connect with other sugar glider owners and share the joy. In addition, they can also be a great source of information when you want to ask a question. There are many online forums and chat rooms/message boards that focus on sugar glider maintenance.
Step 5. Be careful when you take it outdoors
Even if they are familiar or bonded with you, sugar gliders can escape to explore their surroundings, and the animals around them put them at risk. Therefore, it is not recommended that you take him outdoors unless you know and are sure that he will not escape.
- Keep an eye out for other pets and loud noises that can startle the sugar glider and make it climb into a tree or into a drainpipe. This animal can run away very quickly.
- Do not attach bridles or chains to the sugar glider. Accessories like these can cause serious injury to the patagium, neck, or spine.
Step 6. Play with him as often as possible without worrying too much about him
Sugar gliders are social animals, but as long as you have at least two, it's okay to only play with them once a week.
Don't stop using all the familiarity techniques and keep playing with all the sugar gliders you raise, even if the two of you are really getting along with each other. Even after getting to know each other, the two sugar gliders still want your presence
Part 2 of 4: Preparing the Cage and Keeping It Clean
Step 1. Buy or build a large cage
One of the advantages of the sugar glider is its ability to spread its legs and fly through the air. In order to fly, he needs a large and tall cage. Usually, cultivators will give you a free cage as a purchase “package,” but the cage may not be large enough. The minimum cage size for a pair of sugar gliders is 90 (height) x 60 (length) centimeters, with a distance between the bars of less than 1.3 centimeters. If there's still room in the cage, the bigger (or taller) the better. You can find sugar glider cages online or visit a pet supply store to see what options are available. However, there are many sugar glider owners who make customized cages to meet their needs.
- Avoid cages made of galvanized steel because they can rust and trigger urinary tract infections in sugar gliders.
- You don't have to worry about the direction of the blades or bars. Sugar gliders have opposite thumbs and can climb both horizontal and vertical blades with ease.
- Check if the wood used is safe for sugar gliders when you are making or buying a wooden cage. Keep in mind that wood is more difficult to clean and can absorb odors.
Step 2. Place the cage on a large tray that has been lined with the cage mat
The cage mat is useful for absorbing dirt and food residue. You can also throw it away easily when the bottom of the cage is very dirty. As a base for the cage, you can use a plastic or metal tray. Use paper cage mats (eg CareFresh) or other non-toxic available bedding (eg old newspapers, cat litter, or puppy pads). Change the bedding about once a week.
- Only use bedding that has been dry in the kiln. The oil content in the base of the cage made of other wood can trigger health problems in sugar gliders.
- If you don't want to buy bedding, use newsprint or other non-toxic material available at home.
Step 3. Provide a pocket or “swing”
Sugar gliders are nocturnal animals that sleep in trees in their natural habitat. To bring that atmosphere or experience into the cage, place a wooden birdhouse (usually made of safe wood such as manzanita or eucalyptus), or a flannel or wool bag with openings in the sides. Attach the birdhouse or bag to the lattice or bars of the cage using plastic hooks. Make sure the bag is sewn specifically for the sugar glider with small, hidden seams to keep the nails from getting caught. There are many sellers on the internet that offer pouches and cage sets for sugar gliders.
- It is important that you make sure the nest box is made of non-toxic materials. Wool, flannel, or 100& cotton bags (on the outside only) are good choices. You can also use birdhouses made of manzanita wood, apples, or eucalyptus that have not been treated with chemicals. However, it would be better if you buy an aviary and a wool bag so that his life is more “colorful” and cheerful.
- A perforated coconut shell can also be another popular option. Provide some shells as a variation.
Step 4. Add a safe perch and toys to the cage
Sugar gliders are intelligent animals and need an interesting environment. Stimulate his brain with interesting things to see, touch, sniff, and climb.
- Provide eucalyptus tree branches. Attach branches to the walls of the cage to imitate their natural environment or habitat, reduce unpleasant odors, and provide objects for sugar gliders to bite.
- You can buy toys for sugar gliders from the internet or use baby toys and plastic chains. Always make sure the selected object is secure, and does not have any parts that could get caught or pinched.
Step 5. Always make sure you have wheels that are safe for sugar gliders as wheel products sold at pet stores are usually not safe for these animals
There are a variety of manufacturers that provide safe wheels (some of the most popular include the Raptor and Stealth). Try changing the toys and changing the placement of the equipment in the cage periodically.
- Get advice from the internet about creating or providing the best habitat for sugar gliders. Sugar glider forums are a storehouse of toy ideas and other interesting elements you can add to your cage.
- If your sugar glider isn't getting a lot of stimulation, it will feel stressed. This condition can trigger long-term health problems.
Step 6. Don't clean the cage too often
Because this animal is fixated on smells, it will mark any object if it doesn't have a smell, so the smell from the cage will be stronger or more pungent.
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Clean only the cage the first week, the sleeping bags the second week, and the toys the following week. This way, the sugar glider won't mark things in its cage too often (and trigger bad odors).
You can use baby wipes (unscented) to clean the dirty parts of the cage
- Use a mixture of vinegar and water with a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil to clean the cage and sugar glider toys. Sleeping bags and other fabric objects can be washed manually (by hand) or in a washing machine. Make sure you use a small amount of unscented detergent and/or 240 ml of vinegar.
- Check for loose or loose parts or seams in the cage, sleeping bag, and toys during cleaning. After that, repair or replace the item if necessary.
Part 3 of 4: Feeding Sugar Glider
Step 1. Provide healthy food
Sugar glider or wupih sirsik is native to Australia, Indonesia, and several other regions. These animals survive by eating tree sap, bird eggs, lizards, insects and other foods in the wild. Feeding sugar gliders actually feels like feeding animals in a zoo, and not just unpacking pellets. There are several types of food available, such as TPG, BML, or OHPW. They all include a step-by-step guide to feeding sugar gliders. The feeding pattern is accompanied by the provision of fruits and vegetables at night. Make sure you follow the guidelines carefully so you don't confuse the ratio of ingredients or nutritional intake. Both the types of foods mentioned above as well as fruits and vegetables can provide the calcium intake needed for sugar gliders so that they do not experience malnutrition and hind leg paralysis (HLP). Do an internet search to find suitable feeding patterns, and some patterns are more restrictive than others. Also, never give pellets as a main meal. Although they can be given as a snack or emergency food, pellets are not a good type of food. Pellets don't contain much protein and actually have too much filler.
- While the food preparation process may seem time-consuming, once you get the hang of it, you can prepare enough stock for a month in one day. What's important is that you need to maintain the right ratio of protein, sugar and fat, and make sure the sugar glider gets the minerals he needs to stay healthy.
- Do not give dog food, cat food, or other types of food that are not formulated for sugar gliders. This type of food does not contain the nutrients that sugar gliders need in order to survive and thrive.
- Do not give garlic, rhubarb, onions, and other types of food. You also shouldn't give fresh/raw kratok nuts to sugar gliders. Actually, it's fine if you serve frozen kratok beans, but otherwise, the beans will need to be cooked before serving.
Step 2. Always provide snacks for sugar gliders
These animals love treats, and snacks alone can be a medium to familiarize themselves with them. One of the sugar gliders' favorite snacks is mealworms. However, this animal has a high fat content so it needs to be given in a limited way. Watching your beloved pet enjoy the mealworm can make you forget the disgust for the larvae. After all, pet stores usually provide some sort of plastic pincers for removing the larvae.
- Other snacks you can offer include fresh fruit, dried papaya and coconut (unsulfurised), yogurt, pinecone (in a limited way), and peas. You can also provide snacks to lick, such as yogurt, applesauce, or baby food (banana, chicken, and apple-flavored baby porridge is usually a sugar glider's favourite).
- When choosing a snack, avoid products that contain artificial sweeteners and dyes, as well as other artificial ingredients.
- Never give sugar, candy, or chocolate to a sugar glider because it can trigger health problems. The only type of chocolate that is safe to give is white chocolate, while other types of chocolate are dangerous or toxic.
Step 3. Always keep fresh water in the cage, and feed it at night
Use heavy food bowls to prevent the bowl from being kicked or tipped over. Also make sure the water bottle or container is always full. However, you should only give him a set amount or amount of food each night. Feed him at night when he wakes up, then remove the bowl and leftovers from the cage in the morning.
You can provide a tablespoon of cereal (if possible, try to find a special marsupial cereal) in the cage during the day in case your sugar glider wakes up feeling hungry
Part 4 of 4: Learning Facts About Common Misconceptions About Sugar Glider
Step 1. Sugar gliders no lamps or heating stones required. These animals can regulate their own body temperature like humans.
In cold weather, try installing a heater in the room where the sugar glider lives and providing a cage cover or a piece of wool/flannel in his sleeping bag as a blanket
Step 2. Understand that he needs special types of food
Sugar gliders are exotic animals that have special nutritional needs. If his diet is not nutritionally balanced, he can get sick and eventually die.
Pellets should not be part of his diet. Although it can be a snack or emergency food, pellets should not be the main type of food in his diet
Step 3. Sugar gliders can marry his brother. This mating pattern can cause birth defects or disorders in the baby, and encourage the mother to eat the baby with the defect.
- If your pets don't have a bloodline to show that they're not blood related, you shouldn't breed them.
- If you have two sugar gliders, sterilize them both to prevent fights or fights.
Step 4. Understand that sugar gliders need friends
Sugar gliders are colonists who like to socialize, so without their friends, they will feel depressed and "mutilate" themselves. Therefore, it is not wise or good if you only keep one tail.
- When under stress, sugar gliders may over-cleanse and pluck their own fur. It may also stop eating or run on its wheels, and sometimes bite its tail until it needs to be amputated eventually.
- Even if you spend a lot of time with the sugar glider (if you only keep one), you still can't speak the language, cuddle in his sleeping bag during the day, and wash each other's body like sugar gliders do in groups. Therefore, he needs a "friend" cage.
Step 5. Refrain from buying sugar gliders that are sold in malls, fairs, or surprise markets
Places like this are similar to dog or cat “farms”. Usually, sugar gliders that are sold are very young and sometimes sick. The price offered is also more expensive than the price of sugar gliders sold at cultivators or animal rescue centers. In addition, these sellers also usually offer equipment that is unsafe or even dangerous, such as chains, wire or hamster wheels, small cages, and the like. They will also "force" sugar gliders to eat only pellets.
- Try adopting or rescuing a sugar glider. There are many people who buy these animals on impulse because of their adorable appearance, then regret the decision when they realize that caring for them requires a lot of effort. However, you can find people willing to sell their pets on Facebook or similar forums. Usually, the price offered is relatively lower than when you buy a baby sugar glider from a cultivator.
- Also, buy animals from reputable cultivators. Farmers usually offer prices that are more affordable than sugar glider sellers at malls, fairs, or surprise markets, but slightly more than prices at animal rescue or adoption centers.
Tips
- Make sure you keep an eye on him if you let him roam around the house as he could get lost or get caught.
- Sugar gliders are marsupials, not squirrels. Therefore, do not give him nuts.
- Try adopting a sugar glider. There are many people who buy these animals on impulse, then regret it when they realize that their care requires a lot of effort. Often, you will need to put in additional effort to build trust and bond with the adopted animal, but the effort will be worth it.
- Make sure the sugar glider is a pet and is not considered an exotic animal in your area. Sugar gliders are sometimes referred to as "pocket animals".
- Make sure there is enough space in the cage for the sugar glider to jump and fly.
- Sugar gliders love warmth when they sleep. Try providing him with a warm sleeping bag made of wool or flannel to keep him warm while he sleeps.
Warning
- Sugar gliders will bite when frightened, but this bite feels like a pinch. Don't do or continue what scares him.
- Limit the intake of fruits and do not give gedang limes. If given in excess, acidic foods can kill sugar gliders.
- Sugar gliders are afraid of plastic bags. No one knows why, but your pet will be startled and frightened at the sound of a plastic bag.
