Can you cuddle a sugar glider

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

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Do Sugar Gliders Like to Be Held and How to Bond With Them

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Do sugar gliders like to be held and how to bond with them? What do they want and need? Most New Sugar Glider Owners

Its difficult to think whether our domesticated furry friends like to be held or not because of how they behave.

So, in this guide, Ill give you the information you need about caring, bonding, and maintaining them!

Lets get started!

Do Sugar Gliders Like to Be Held and Cuddle?

Do sugar gliders like to be held and how to bond with them. Yes, in fact, these creatures are clingy and always want attention, but you must bond with them first.

Individual sugar gliders express their thoughts and emotions differently, even if theyre living in the same habitat.

My beloved glider seeks attention by biting or nipping its cage constantly.

The other glider I own is one of the most curious animals in the world. It usually taps its food bowl or other food dishes inside the cage to let me know that I need to open it.

Signs Your Sugar Glider Wants Attention

Like my gliders, yours too will give you signs when they want your attention. Some of the most common ones are:

They come closer instead of crabbing or shying away when you approach [1]
Nipping or biting you playfully
Chirping or making cute sounds

Social interaction is very important for sugar gliders mental health and they should not bekept alone!, says Amanda Zellar, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). [2]

Check this video out from Sugar Glider Diaries as she discusses the different ways you can bond with your gliders!

Do They Like to Cuddle?

Sugar gliders are social, clingy, and interactive creatures, and they wont appreciate it if you ignore their signs when they want you to take them out.

Theyre absolutely affectionate animals, so be sure to bond with them whenever they feel like doing so.

My personal routine for this is that when I take them out, I play and bond with them. I let other people in the house theyre comfortable with interact with them, too.

These times are what I consider perfect for removing rust from sugar glider cage bars, as well as spot cleaning all accessories inside the metal cage.

Theyre clean animals and ensuring their habitat is clean will get you a long way to winning them over.

How Can You Bond With Your Pet Sugar Gliders? How Long Does It Take?

Bonding with your gliders depends on their age in weeks and months. This means, there are things you can do with an adult male and female sugar gliders that you cant do with baby sugar gliders.

As sugar glider owners, you need to be well educated when it comes to your furry, loving, relatively low-maintenance pet.

So, heres a quick rundown of the activities I do (and suggest that you do too) to bond with your captive sugar gliders.

Baby Sugar Glider Bonding

Bonding with baby sugar gliders can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, so be patient. The best time for bonding with baby sugar gliders is when they are 8 to 12 weeks old.

This is the usual time when we purchase them from breeders or from pet stores or pet shops.

If its your first time bringing them home, do not try touching them for the first three (3) days. They need to settle into their new home.

I started holding and bonding with mine after a week of it staying inside its cage.

You can talk to them softly from time to time, while theyre trying to familiarize themselves with the new environment. For the first 2 days, your ONLY job is to give them food and water.

Start the process with these tips:

Study and follow their lead.
Give them snacks and treats frequently, but do not overdo it.
Place the cage for sugar gliders inside a room where they wont be bothered, but accessible enough for them to see you.
Talk softly, while facing them directly, but dont touch them dont even touch the cage.

I usually leave a new glider inside the cage at night so that it wont feel like Im forcing it to bond with me; this is where allowing them to take the lead comes into play.

Young Adult Sugar Glider Bonding

After about a month, try holding them while they are inside their habitats.

There are many cages for sugar gliders that have enough room for you to be able to hold and play with them while theyre inside.

Sugar gliders are social animals, and they love to hang out with both their fellow gliders and their human caretakers.

During their young adult period, their familiarity with you should already be above average. You can start holding and touching them for about 10 minutes per day, getting progressively longer.

Furthermore, you can also place your sugar glider in pouch if you want to bond with them without agitating them too much.

These are pouches you can purchase from pet stores and pet shops, as well as online stores dedicated to pets and domestic animals.

Adult Sugar Glider Bonding

When they start to grow older and become adults, then they should already be familiar with you. My pet glider already had its own daytime and nighttime routines when it was just 14 weeks old!

I did my best to get them comfortable with me and with other people inside the house by constantly engaging with them calmly and carefully.

Theyre nocturnal animals, so if you catch them sleeping during the day, dont sacrifice their sleep just so you can bond with them.

When you notice that theyre awake, be gentle and sweet just like how you please a 5-year-old child.

This is the time when you can use a bonding pouch, twice (2) a day for about ten (10) to fifteen (15) minutes and play with them regularly.

Place Them in a Larger Cage With Another Sugar Glider

One thing that can increase the trust your sugar glider has in you is to add other healthy gliders inside the cage.

For this, youll need a larger cage than the one you already have (if its just for a single glider).

The habitat I used when I increased my gliders to two (2) and then three (3) is a 20 x 20 x 30 metal cage (20 inches deep), and it has since been effective in keeping my furry friends sane.

I was able to recycle an old one, and I maximized some of my used sugar glider cages and reassembled them. Which was a great way to keep costs down.

FUN FACT: Sugar gliders usually like balling up inside a shirt pocket because of their warmth, comfort, and coziness.

3 Tips to Get Your Gliders to Warm Up to You, Bond, and Trust you

While not all sugar gliders bond and interact the same way, here are three (3) helpful foolproof tips Ive picked up in my years of experience to let your gliders warm up and be comfortable with you.

1. Respect Their Actions

Do they shy and crab away from you when you approach? If they do, respect their actions. Refrain from forcing them to bond with you whenever they do not feel like it.

Wait for them to initiate the cuddling it shouldnt take them long anyways!

2. Spend Time Around Them

Even if they dont want to cuddle, you can make your presence known even while your gliders are inside the metal cage.

Make it a habit to treat them like a friend or a baby. Talk to them softly and be sure that theyre seeing you most hours of the day.

3. Always Offer Treats

Lastly, give them treats to let them know theyre doing a good job! When Im starting with a new addition, I always offer treats to my gliders when they:

Dont shy away when I approach
Do not bite or nip my finger when I try to interact with them
Drink and eat their entire portions from their bowls

You can do the same thing or set up a different reward method. Regardless of what it is, make sure that theyre recognizing it as a reward.

Nothing Works, My Glider is Still Uncomfortable, What Should I Do?

As I mentioned above, not all sugar gliders are bred and nurtured the same way.

There are those that could just take a few days to be comfortable with their sugar glider owners, while there are gliders that can take weeks even months.

I was lucky to have playful, sweet, and charming gliders early in our relationship. They sent signs of warmth and comfort during the first two (2) days of living in their new home.

When they do progress, play with them, interact with them, place them inside a bonding pouch and carry them around treat them like a baby.

Dont worry, though, taming your sugar glider is a marathon, its not a sprint. The slower and more stable you go, the better and healthier your relationship will be.

Lianne McLeod, DVM, said that you need to be wary of your glider for the sounds it produces.

Theyll usually give audible warnings when theyre angry, agitated, or afraid. However, you should always refrain from waking them up during sleep. Editor note: source of this quote is not linked/cited and I cant find it

Heres a video from sugarglidervet explaining the best ways of handling sugar gliders.

ALSO READ: Removing Rust From Sugar Glider Cage Bars Tutorial

FAQs

Need more help with your furry friends? Here are some of the most asked questions about it.

Are Sugar Gliders Clingy?

Yes, they are. In fact, theyre one of the clingiest and neediest creatures Ive met and they rarely want to be alone.

This is why its important to keep them company by adding another glider inside their habitat.

Can You Carry Sugar Gliders Around With You?

Yes, you can do so if you curl them up and put them inside your pocket or if you use a bonding pouch.

Do Sugar Gliders Like to Be Held and How to Bond With Them?

Yes, gliders like to be held after youve bonded with them. Start the process slowly by talking to them gently without touching them. Then when they are comfortable increase the contact.

Conclusion

In case you want to know how to bond with them or if youre looking for an answer to the question do sugar gliders like to be held, then this guide was for you. Bonding is the key.

Ive included all the things you need to know to make sure that you keep your glider healthy, socially responsive, and psychologically engaged.

How do you bond with your glider?

How did you bond with your sugar glider? Let us know in the comment section below!

Resources

Jess, Author Dr. What Is Sugar Glider Crabbing? Vet Explains Pets, 6 Oct. 2020, vetexplainspets.com/sugar-glider-crabbing/#:~:text=Crabbing%20is%20just%20a%20big. Accessed 3 Apr. 2022.
Zellar, Amanda. Sugar Gliders Petaurus Breviceps. pinetreeveterinaryhospital.com

Alina Hartley

Alina Hartley is a small-town girl with a ginormous love of bearded dragons. It all started with Winchester, a baby bearded who was abandoned at the shelter by his former owners because of a birth defect that caused one front leg to be shorter than the other. Alina originally went to the shelter looking for a guinea pig, but one look at Winchester and it was love at first sight. From that day on, Alina has dedicated her life to learning everything she can about bearded dragons. She loves helping new beardie parents start their incredible journey with these magnificent reptiles.Follow her on:LINKEDINTWITTER.Read her latest articles HERELearn more about her HERE.

Sugar Glider Behavior: Everything a Glider Owner Should Know

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Sugar gliders are basically the cutest little animals youll ever find in the world. Theyre furry, fun-loving, and playful as well.

But in order to make them a part of your family for a long time, its important that you know all their little habits, quirks, unique traits, and qualities.

To take better care of the cute little creatures, you need to understand sugar glider behavior. And I have all the info on sugar gliders you need here, so lets dive in.

Understanding Sugar Gliders Behavior

What is there to know about sugar glider behavior? Id say everything.For instance, did you know gliders are nocturnal mainly to avoid predators? Dr. Robert Ness, a veterinary expert, calls them night owls for a reason (1).

Lets take an in-depth look at how pet gliders behave in different settings.

Sugar Glider in the Wild Behavior

Gliders in the wild have vastly different behavior from captive gliders. For instance, little marsupials in the wild live on trees where they can glide from tree to tree.

Your pet sugar glider cant get that benefit since your house doesnt have trees( does it?

Wild gliders mark their territory using their saliva. So, youll find that gliders only walk or live in certain parts of a tree trunk. Youll find them living in tree hollows theyve marked out with their scent glands.

The dominant male has scent glands on their forehead and chest. Thanks to the unique scent, the little marsupials recognize each other.

Gliders are like humans are social animals. Therefore, they live in groups. Each group has its leader, a dominant male glider. They can live in an area spanning an acre of forest land.

According to National Geographic (2), gliders in the wild live in groups of up to ten members. Living in groups comes in handy when temperatures are low since the gliders huddle together when sleeping to beat the cold.

Check: Sugar Glider Treats Recipes

Captive Sugar Gliders Behavior

Captive sugar gliders will behave differently from their counterparts in the wild. Thats normal since they live in different environments. But there are some behaviors common with both types.

For example, your critter still craves the social group typical of all native species in the wild. So, if you have a glider, youll have to dedicate several hours per day to be with them.

Another thing you can expect from your critter is for it to continue with the nocturnal behavior. So, you cant feed it using human mealtimes.

Its therefore advisable to leave fresh food for them before you go to sleep.They will eat and be awake at night, then sleep for most of the day.

They will also continue with their climbing behavior. Thats why their house or cage should have climbing structures.

Adult male gliders, even in captivity, will still want to mark their territory.The territory can be their cage or even you.

The most apparent behavior wild and captive gliders share is the love for sugary foods.

Although they can eat a wide range of foods, like children, sweet foods are their favorite. Now that weve seen how your glider will behave in captivity lets see how it will show its love.

Do Sugar Gliders Show Affection?

My cat rubs himself against my body to show affection whenever I prepare his food. Sometimes hell come and sleep next to me. He doesnt say it, but I know thats how the little arrogant tin-god shows his love.

Gliders, too, show their affection for their owners. They do it in the following ways:

Purring

Did you think its only cats that purr? Think again. Even your glider will purr too. But unlike cats that purr to show theyre happy, gliders purr to show their affection.

While communication in sugar gliders varies, this is one of many ways they will communicate their love.

Trying to Get Your Attention

If someone loves you, theyll try everything to get you to notice them. The same applies to your little marsupial. It will either produce some common sounds or come to you each time you open the cage.

The Glider Will Groom You

Yes, your glider loves you if you see it attempts to groom you. The grooming can be by scraping their teeth against your body or giving you little bites. Dont worry; the bites wont hurt you.

They Will Mark You

Remember earlier we mentioned that gliders often mark their territory with their scent? Thats what theyll do to you when they are showing affection.

Your critter knows you and sees you as a friend, thus marking you to have you to itself. How adorable!

If you see any of the above signs, then youve gained the trust of your little furry friend, as this video explains.

How Do You Know When Your Sugar Glider is Bonded?

These adorable household pets will take some time to get used to their owners. It is just like humans when they meet new people. So how do you know that your pet glider has taken to you?

1. It is not afraid of you

Gliders will often take time to get used to new owners. So, in the early days, it will be afraid of you. But once it bonds with you, it stops being afraid of you.

2. Youll be Inseparable

It is common to see a sugar glider owner go everywhere with the pet comfortable in their pockets. Sometimes theyll be perched on the owners shoulders. That tells you the glider has bonded with the owner.

3. They Will be friendly

Rick Axelson, a veterinary doctor, says a glider can bite you if they deem you strange to them (3). New glider owners often wonder, do sugar gliders bite?

They do, especially if you havent bonded with them yet. The bites wont be that painful.

How Do I Know If My Sugar Glider is Happy?

Besides having ways to show their affection, these cute pets also show you when they are happy.

According to veterinary experts at Long Island Bird and Exotics veterinary clinic, purring is the first thing youll see with a happy glider.

Purring is normal sugar glider behavior for both baby and adult sugar gliders. The purring Im referring to here isnt the loud sound you hear from cats. Instead, it is quieter and fainter.

And oh, they wont only purr for their human caregivers. They also purr when with their fellow gliders. Thats a further testament to the love of gliders for their social group.

Dogs can bark out of fear, show affection, or alert someone of an intruder. But why do sugar gliders bark? If they are happy, they will purr. But when you hear barking, they are simply seeking your attention.

A baby sugar glider will bark to get the attention of its mother. Therefore, barking is a form of communication for your furry pets, just as it is for dogs.

How Do You Get a Sugar Glider to Trust You?

Did you know if your glider doesnt trust you, it could feel lonely? Steve Dale writing for the Chicago Tribune, says loneliness can lead to sugar glider depression.

Depression affects their mental health and could even kill your critter!

So how do you get your sugar baby to trust you? Here are several ways that worked for my friends:

Tone Down on the Love Bombing

The first few weeks after they come home, take it slow. Dont rush to cuddle or snuggle them. Gliders are attractively cute, and the temptation to snuggle them will be high.

But its better to ease them into their new environment by holding back love bombing them.

Use Snacks

Although the critters have vast nutritional requirements, you cant go wrong by giving them some sugary snacks. Sweet fruits will get them to trust you fast.

Quality Time

A critter cant trust you if it rarely sees you. You need to create time out of your daily schedule and spend it with them.

Get a Bonding Pouch

A glider cant bond with you if it doesnt trust you. So how about getting a bonding pouch that will encourage the sugar baby to start trusting you?

How Do I Get My Sugar Glider to Calm Down?

Certain times the glider will lose its cool. An anxious glider is a problem, especially for an owner that doesnt know how to calm it down. Here is what you can do when that happens:

First, gently rock them as you hold them against your chest. You can rub them slightly like you would a baby till they calm down. Its easier and faster if you have a bonding bag like this video explains.

Why Is My Sugar Glider Crying?

When you see your sugar glider crying, it can be for a few reasons. They could be afraid, want your attention, warn an aggressor or show their fear.

Whenever you hear your glider crying, check on it to see if its any of the above reasons or if they are merely agitated.

FAQs

Can sugar gliders learn their name?

Gliders are pretty intelligent and can learn their name with time. The name needs to be simple enough for them to know it. After some time, theyll learn and come when you say their name.

Do Sugar gliders recognize their owners?

Yes, a glider will recognize its owner, especially if bonded to them.

Conclusion

Hope you now understand sugar glider behavior to take better care of your cute little pet. What other sugar glider behavior have you seen in your furry friend but dont know what it means?

Share with us in the comments, and lets help you interpret it.

What do you think of the sugar gliders behavior? Let us know below!

Resources

1. Archive VA, feed G author R. SUGAR BABIES: WANT TO OWN THE NEWEST EXOTIC PET? THINK AGAIN [Internet]. New York Post. 2003 [cited 2022 Apr 22]. Available from: https://nypost.com/2003/03/09/sugar-babies-want-to-own-the-newest-exotic-pet-think-again/
2. Sugar Glider Facts [Internet]. Animals. 2018. Available from: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/sugar-glider
3. Sugar Gliders Owning [Internet]. vca_corporate. 2009. Available from: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/sugar-gliders-owning

Alina Hartley