Are Sugar Gliders the Right Pet For You?
Sugar gliders are an exotic pet. They are small marsupials that originated in Australia. These small, but mighty exotic pets will wrap their long, tails around your heart forever! But are these cute, bug-eyed, pets right for you? Read this article to find out.
The Rise of Sugar Glider Pets
Over the past decade, the popularity of sugar gliders being kept as pets has exploded. The growing trend of owning sugar gliders as pets can be attributed to the cute videos found on social media.
Unfortunately, many exotic pet owners have discovered sugar bears are not as sweet as social media has made them out to be. In short, many of the videos of sugar gliders doing cute things to their owners or cage mates are due to the dedication and time spent taking care of these tiny creatures.
I was blessed to have three wonderful girls who wanted to kiss, snuggle, and play all the time. On the other hand, they also made a huge mess, got aggressive at times, and could leave a nasty bite.
But their bite was not as painful as the day they left this earth. Just like other pets, these babies leave a mark on your heart forever.
Why Are They Called Sugar Gliders?
The name “sugar gliders” comes from the delicate flaps of tissue that connect their wrists and ankles. The flaps of tissues are referred to as “gliding membranes”. They allow sugar bears to glide across treetops, rooms, and inside their cages.
It should be advised to NEVER grab a sugar glider from around their gliding membranes. They can become easily damaged.
Additionally, you should NEVER apply a harness to a sugar glider. Number one, a harness is not necessary. Number two, you can inflict pain or damage on their tiny bodies by hurting their delicate gliding membranes.
One or Two Sugar Gliders?
Some sugar glider experts claim you can own just one sugar glider. While that is true in rare cases, you should always own at least two gliders.
Sugar gliders are “colonial animals”. This means they need one or more cagemates besides themselves for adequate socialization.
Lacking proper socialization can lead to stress, depression, and death. Sugar gliders do not handle loneliness well.
Most breeders will not sell one sugar glider. You will often have to buy them in pairs. However, this can also help you avoid the stress of introducing two different gliders to each other.
When there are two gliders from different families, it can be harder to get them connected. Oftentimes, it can be a lengthy, and nerve-wracking experience for everyone involved.
How Much Do Sugar Gliders Cost?
This can be a difficult question to answer. For one thing, the cost of your sugar gliders will vary on the breeder, rescue, and markings. The more unique a sugar glider looks, the more money it can cost.
Typically a set of sugar bears costs $250.00 to $2,000. In some cases, they can cost more. As mentioned above, the cost depends on the breeder, their experience, and the coloring/marking a sugar glider may have.
Equipment and Supplies
Cages
The cost of a good sugar glider cage will cost about $100 to $400 depending on the cage. Ideally, you want a cage that:
- Is made from epoxy coating. This cage material is safe for gliders. Many types of wood and other metal cages are made from are not ideal for sugar gliders.
- A bird cage that is at least 36 inches tall, 24 inches wide, and 24 inches deep. Typically, most large bird cages are ideal for gliders. Plus, larger bird cages are easier to clean, and give your gliders room to play and explore.
Cage Sets
A cage set consists of beds, pouches, tubes, and toys safe for sugar gliders. They provide warmth and enrichment. Cage sets are made of safe material (fleece only) to prevent your sugar glider pet nails from getting caught, avoiding string snares that can be swallowed by sugar gliders.
A handmade, decent cage set ranges from $45 to $100. They come in many colors and patterns. When I had my 3 girls, they were rocking a Nightmare Before Christmas set.
Water Bottles
Most exotic vets recommend getting two glass, hanging water bottles and one non-tip bowl kept near their food on the floor. This setup keeps your sugar gliders hydrated, preventing organ failure, and dehydration.
An adequate hydration station will cost around $45.00.
Diet
Sugar gliders have a very specific diet. If they do not get the right diet, or their meal is skipped, they can become very sick. In addition, they can also develop hind leg paralysis which shuts down their back legs and eventually shuts down their body.
Luckily, a balanced diet is easy to make.
Many diets on the market are ideal for sugar gliders. However, I recommend using the TPG diet.
The TPG diet is admired by many exotic vets, suggie owners, and breeders. It combines all the necessary nutrition to ensure happy, healthy, gliders.
Foods to Avoid
DO NOT under any circumstances feed your glider the following foods:
- Chocolate.
- Seeds of any kind.
- Breads.
- Candies.
- Cat food.
- Dog food.
- Any food with artificial sweeteners or excessive sugar.
While sugar gliders live up to their name, too much sugar can lead to tooth decay, organ damage, and diabetes.
On average, an adequate sugar glider diet costs $50 to $75 every month,
Veterinary Exams
Sugar gliders do not require any shots, and are mostly clean animals. However, they still need to be brought in every year for labs and an exam.
A veterinary exam for a sugar bear can be costly. Exotic vets may not be available in your area meaning you can look at a higher fee for having to travel out of your city, or state.
For a basic sugar glider exam, you can expect to spend $300 to $500 annually.
Total Sugar Glider Cost
In total, your first year of owning a sugar glider can be anywhere from $5000 to $10,000.
Things to Consider Before Owning Sugar Gliders
Before you decide to adopt a couple of gliders, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Socialization – Sugar gliders are social creatures. They need attention from their cage mates and their owners. On average, you’ll need to dedicate at least five hours per day to feed, care, bond, and play.
- Longevity – Sugar gliders live 12 to 15 years depending on care and health. Their lifespan is pretty long.
- Children – Young children aren’t a good fit for sugar bears. Children under the age of 15 should only be around sugar gliders if accompanied by an adult. Oftentimes, young children do not know their strength and can risk harming a sugar glider.
- Finances – Every pet costs money. However, exotic pets like gliders cost considerably more than a dog or cat.
- They Aren’t Housebroken – Sugar bears cannot be trained to use litterboxes or potty stations. Therefore, you should prepare yourself, your family, or your guests for accidents.
- They’re Nocturnal – if you have a job that requires you to work mornings, a sugar glider may not work out. They are lively creatures at night who bark, chirp, and play against the metal cage.
In conclusion, sugar gliders make a wonderful pet that enjoys playing, bonding, and being close to their cage mates or owners. Setting aside finances, time, and dedication will give your suggies a long, healthy life.