Sugar gliders are intelligent, social marsupials that require specialized housing, nutrition, and daily interaction to remain healthy and happy. Their unique needs make proper husbandry essential for their long-term health and wellbeing.
Sugar Glider Facts
The Sugar Glider is a marsupial native to New Guinea and Australia.
Interesting facts about sugar gliders include:
- Average lifespan of 12–15 years
- Nocturnal (most active at night)
- Naturally live in colonies of 6–10 individuals with one dominant male
- Males mark territory using scent glands
- Females have a pouch where they raise their young
- Adult males weigh 100–160 grams
- Adult females weigh 80–130 grams
- Possess a patagium (gliding membrane) that allows them to glide distances of up to 50 meters
Housing
The larger the enclosure, the better.
The recommended minimum enclosure size is:
36″ × 24″ × 36″
Choose a cage constructed from:
- PVC-coated wire
Wire spacing should not exceed:
1.0″ × 0.5″
Maintain enclosure temperatures between:
75–80°F
Provide multiple:
- Food dishes
- Water dishes
These should be positioned high within the enclosure.
Include several fleece sleeping pouches placed high in the cage.
Provide plenty of enrichment, including:
- Natural branches
- Exercise wheels (without open rungs)
- Shelves
- Climbing opportunities
Do not use wood shavings as bedding.
Diet
Feed a pelleted sugar glider insectivore diet along with Gliderade®, a vitamin-enriched nectar supplement.
Sugar gliders require:
- Vitamin D3
- Balanced nutrition
Several times each week, supplement the diet with gut-loaded insects, including:
- Crickets
- Grasshoppers
Growing, pregnant, and nursing sugar gliders require additional calcium supplementation.
Fruits and vegetables should make up no more than 5% of the overall diet.
Excess fruits and vegetables may contribute to:
- Obesity
- Metabolic disease
Socialization
Sugar gliders are highly social animals and should not be housed alone.
They should be kept in:
Groups of two or more
The ideal time to begin socialization with people is:
8–12 weeks out of the pouch
Spend at least:
2 hours each day
interacting with your sugar glider.
Sugar gliders communicate using a variety of vocalizations, including:
- Crabbing when frightened
- Barking when lonely or playful
- Purring when content
- Sneezing or hissing while grooming
Common Medical Problems
Malnutrition and Obesity
Most nutritional problems can be prevented through:
- Proper diet
- Regular exercise
Nutritional Osteodystrophy
Nutritional osteodystrophy is commonly associated with inadequate:
- Vitamin D3
- Calcium
Providing a balanced diet helps reduce the risk.
Gingivitis and Tartar
Dental disease may be minimized by regularly feeding insects.
The insects’ exoskeletons help reduce tartar accumulation during chewing.
Self-Mutilation and Hair Loss
Stress-related behaviors can often be prevented by:
- Housing sugar gliders in compatible groups
- Providing a large enclosure
- Offering plenty of enrichment and opportunities for exercise
- Daily social interaction
Eye Injuries
Monitor your sugar glider for signs such as:
- Squinting
- Eye discharge
Prompt veterinary evaluation is recommended if these signs occur.
Preventive Veterinary Care
Neutering male sugar gliders is recommended to help reduce:
- Aggression
- Self-mutilation
Routine veterinary examinations are recommended every year.
Annual wellness visits should include:
- Physical examination
- Fecal parasite testing
Regular preventive care helps identify health problems early and supports a long, healthy life.
