Pet Gliders
Sugar Gliders are exotic pets and take great love and care to raise. These unique and wonderful animals require daily care and play time. Before purchasing a sugar glider, you should do extensive research to ensure that a glider is right for you; and that you are right for the glider. Several sugar gliders end up in rescues when the owner tires of them, or decides they can no longer afford them. They can live up to 15 years in captivity, so this is a long term commitment. Please be sure you are ready for the responsibility and can provide all the love these little ones deserve!
General Information
The Sugar Glider (Petaurus brevicep) is around 5 to 7 inches in length, with a tail almost as long as the body. The most distinctive features of its anatomy are the twin skin membranes, called patagiums, which extends from the fifth finger of the forelimb back to the first toe of the hind foot. Gliders use this membrane to glide.
Gliders are typically grey with a rich cream colored underbelly, and have a dark stripe running down the length of their body. Their tails are fluffy to help them balance while they move around. Ears are large with little to no hair. They have large eyes positioned on the side of their heads for a wider field of vision, and being nocturnal, are able to see in the dark. Other color variations/characteristics exist, such as White Face, Leucistic, Platinum, Lion, Black Beauty, Mosaic, Albino and Creamino.
Sugar gliders are marsupials, therefore have pouches. The females are pregnant for approximately 16 days, at which time the babies, called joeys, crawl to the pouch where they will stay for about 2 months. The joeys latch on to one of four nipples and nurse until they are mature enough to emerge from the pouch. Joeys nurse from the mom for approximately 6-8 weeks. The dad participates in raising the joeys. In captivity, joeys should remain with the parents until they are 8-10 weeks out of pouch (OOP). Once they are fully weaned (eating, drinking, and eliminating on their own) they are then ready for their new home.
Sugar gliders are native to Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. Studies have shown that our captive pets may have originated from an island off of Papua New Guinea. Sugar gliders live in the forest canopy of Eucalyptus and Acacia trees. Each colonies territory is approximately 2 square miles where they roam and forage nightly. Sugar gliders are scent driven animals which allows them to recognize their territory and colony mates, locate food, and sense the presences of predators.
Gliders are typically grey with a rich cream colored underbelly, and have a dark stripe running down the length of their body. Their tails are fluffy to help them balance while they move around. Ears are large with little to no hair. They have large eyes positioned on the side of their heads for a wider field of vision, and being nocturnal, are able to see in the dark. Other color variations/characteristics exist, such as White Face, Leucistic, Platinum, Lion, Black Beauty, Mosaic, Albino and Creamino.
Sugar gliders are marsupials, therefore have pouches. The females are pregnant for approximately 16 days, at which time the babies, called joeys, crawl to the pouch where they will stay for about 2 months. The joeys latch on to one of four nipples and nurse until they are mature enough to emerge from the pouch. Joeys nurse from the mom for approximately 6-8 weeks. The dad participates in raising the joeys. In captivity, joeys should remain with the parents until they are 8-10 weeks out of pouch (OOP). Once they are fully weaned (eating, drinking, and eliminating on their own) they are then ready for their new home.
Sugar gliders are native to Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. Studies have shown that our captive pets may have originated from an island off of Papua New Guinea. Sugar gliders live in the forest canopy of Eucalyptus and Acacia trees. Each colonies territory is approximately 2 square miles where they roam and forage nightly. Sugar gliders are scent driven animals which allows them to recognize their territory and colony mates, locate food, and sense the presences of predators.
