Can you have just 1 sugar glider

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

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She's not going to self mutilate or die just from being alone. Self mutilating is almost always due to an injury or illness.

Single gliders can do very well on their own, however they do need a little extra attention from their human and their cage to be very stimulating with toys and a glider safe wheel.

Without these things they can show signs of depression that some people mistake as "cute behaviour". Repetitive flips , circling the top of the cage, over grooming can be signs of underestimulation and loneliness.

You have messaged me on fb and i requested pics of your cage and wheel... Can you post them here or send them to me on fb?

You are fairly local to me, I'm in dover fla. If you are looking for a cagemate I can help you find one. I can also help with toys if you are in need of some and a good local vet with glider experience.

There is a " breeder" in Clearwater you want to steer clear of especially if your looking on Craigslist. She uses two names, Michelle and Shauna Gonzales. She is not a reputable breeder.

If you need help with your set up, food, nail trimmings whatever just let me know and maybe we can get together. I don't work so I'm always home, however I don't drive either so we will have to either meet on weekend or you can come here. I have access to a community wreck room so we could meet in more of a public setting.

Can a Sugar Glider Live Alone?

The simple answer to the question Can a sugar glider live alone is both yes and no. This answer relies heavily on interaction and the personality of your sugar glider. It also has everything to do with how comfortable they are just being with their owner.

A single sugar glider that is being looked after will learn to depend on its owner all the time. Since their owner is the only interaction they will have in their life, they will not know any better. In some cases, a sugar glider will do better with a buddy or two, but it all depends.

To understand the question of having one or two or more sugar gliders all depends on how much time you can devote to them. All of these issues will be covered in this guide for raising sugar gliders.

Can sugar gliders live alone?

In their native environment, sugar gliders live in colonies that share a nest of at least 10 others. They live and hunt in trees for most of their lives, but are continually hunted by predators. Since they live in a large nest with others for safety reasons.

A sugar glider raised by itself will more often than not miss the needed interaction with other gliders. It does not mean that it cannot be kept on its own at all. It just means that would need to be constantly around and with your critter, provided there are enough daily activities and interactions to keep them healthy and happy.

This is why you want to bond well with your glider from the very beginning. It can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of months to bond with your sugar glider, most of which time is spent handling them for a couple of hours for them to get used to you and your scent. The rest of the time is just keeping them busy as they are nocturnal critters and need a cage thats good for them.

So the real question you need to ask yourself is, do I really have the time and availability to mimic the interaction they naturally have with other gliders? Will I be able to give them enough playtime and entertainment to keep them happy every single day? Only you can answer that question, as long as you know the challenges you will be facing.

If you only have a single sugar glider and you are often away

In the case that you work a lot and have a job that keeps you from being at home, there is an immediate solution. Many sugar glider owners bring a travel cage that transports their sugar gliders everywhere they go. Some owners will go so far as to put them in a travel pouch so they can sleep during the day.

If you leave them at home a lot, you can tell they are unhappy if they are not eating, pooping, or being very active. You need to be worried if they stop eating or drinking, as this can lead to death. Remember that they need at least 2 hours of active physical interaction per day once they have bonded with you.

How long can a sugar glider be left alone?

If youve bonded with your little sugar glider, they want to be around you as much as possible. So the problem is that you cant leave them for long periods because they will become lonely and scared. Even with a buddy, the longest you can stay away from them is one day.

Gliders are marsupials so they need that warmth and comfort that will remind them of their mothers pouch. Putting them in a little sack you carry around will be normal for them, if you have to be away from home very often.

Since they are not able to live in the wild anymore, you need to give them continual loving care. In return, they will be content and live a long and healthy life at long as 12 years.

How do I know my sugar glider is happy?

You will know your sugar glider is happy when they easily jump onto your hands and want to be held. They will depend on you and desire to be around you all the time as a result of your bonding time. If they are playing games with you and being energetic, this is a sure sign they are healthy and happy.

As for sugar glider depression symptoms, it wont take much to see that there is something wrong. If they are not eating, a sugar glider could be upset or even depressed. Also, look to see if their skin is slouchy. You might want to take them to a vet if their symptoms dont improve.

Can sugar gliders die of loneliness?

To answer this question is hard since it depends on how neglected they might feel. If you cant give them enough time to keep them happy and active, they will get depressed.

This in turn will lead to them not feeding themselves as much as they should, and this can lead to death very soon. So sugar gliders do not die of loneliness per se, but they may die of the symptoms associated with their depression such as not eating and drinking. Because they are small animals, it doesnt take much neglect to see this happen.

How to introduce a second sugar glider

So you waited too long to add a second sugar glider to your habitat, and now you want to introduce a younger one. How to introduce a new friend all depends on how old the first sugar glider is compared to the newest one. These little ones mature in 7-10 months, so the age difference is relevant.

The mature one will be more aggressive and dominant, so you have to have separate cages that are raised side by side. Give them time to get used to each other, but not in the same cage.

Slowly let them interact after the first week with gradual interaction. Its not like they will kill each other, however, the more dominant older one may try to show who is boss.

What is a good number of companions?

There is no special number they prefer since its all up to how many you want to take care of. If you want half a dozen, raise half a dozen of them as you like. But be sure to separate those that arent neutered, since sugar glider breeding is another ballgame altogether.

In general, the basic number is two or three as a group. Two females and one male is good, so you dont have two males fighting for the only female. They will find ways to entertain and interact with each other when they are awake at night.

Do I have to get two babies?

If you prefer to get them when they are young, be sure to get two babies that are 8-12 weeks old at the youngest. This is the best time you can start to get them used to being handled and bonding times are faster. With two babies, there isnt any period they need time to get used to each other.

They will both get used to you or more than one owner. At this age, they will start to learn which owner they prefer more, but single owners wont experience this. Any babies you raise will accept and bond with you over a short period.

You dont have to get two babies at the same time, but theres a long introduction process if you wait longer, since older sugar gliders can be territorial.

Wrapping Up

You can raise a single sugar glider if you are responsible enough to know they are going to crave being near you all the time. If they arent sleeping in your hand, they will be inside a sleeping pouch. They will come out when its time to wake up in the evening hours.

This makes it ideal if you have a long day shift or a swing shift. Until you get home and return your sugar glider to its cage, it will be comforted by having been around you all day long. As long as you do this every day without changing these habits, they will be perfectly fine.

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10 Things to Expect When Owning Sugar Gliders

Welcome to my series featuring pocket pets, birds and reptileswhere guest experts will give you the pros and cons to help you decide if a particular pet is a good fit for you. Todays guest poster is myfriendEmily Hall who will betelling you about sugar gliders. I have been involved in rescuing relinquished and confiscated sugar gliders and know first-hand how adorable they are and the challenges they present.

10 Things to Expect When Owning Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders those adorable pocket pets that seem to be growing in popularity as of late. Yes, they are squee cute, and yes,they are lots of fun. I always tell my cats I wish I could put them in my pocket and carry them around with me everywhere; with my gliders, I can, and I do! They play, they snuggle, they fly, lets face it, they are just plain cool. I absolutely love my two sugar gliders; however, I will be the first to admit to you that they are high maintenance.

You may be thinking, Are they really that much different than having a cat, dog, rabbit, hamster, etc? Yes, they are.Sugar gliders are considered to be an exotic pet,which means they have special needs and considerations. They are not for everyone. What makes them so different? Read on to find out

1. They are nocturnal.

Yep, thats right sugar gliders are nocturnal animals, meaning they are most active during the nighttime hours. That doesnt mean you cant interact with them during the day though. My sugar gliders usually wake up around 8pm and go to sleep around 8am, but I carry them around in abonding pouch or in my shirt when Im home during the day and even take them with mewhen I run errands. They usually justsleep through it all.

Warning: Because of their nocturnality, I wouldnt recommend keeping their cage in your bedroom if you are a light sleeper. They do make a lot of noise during the night scurryingaround their cage, running on their wheel, and eating. They also chirp, hiss, crab, and bark!

2. They live a long time.

Sugar gliders have an average lifespan of 12-15 years similar to a cat or dog. That is considerably longer than most pocket pets though. If you add a sugar glider to your family, you are in it for the long haul, so be sure you are committed before bringing them home!

3. You cant have just one.

People joke and say you can never have just one cat (Ill attest to that I have six!). With sugar gliders though, it is absolutely true. Sugar gliders are colony animals, which means they belong in a group. Lone sugar gliders will often become depressed and start over-grooming, refusing food, and even self-mutilating. Sugar gliders should always be kept in pairs, at least. As much as you may hang out with your glider, human interaction is no substitute for the companionship of another glider.

4. They have very specific nutritional needs.

Sugar gliders get their name because they glide like a flying squirrel, and they LOVE sweet things.If they had it their way, they would eat nothing but sugary foods. However, they actually require an extremely balanced diet of protein, fruits, and vegetables. An unbalanced diet can cause health problems such as avery smelly glider tohind leg paralysis. Unfortunately, there is no commercial sugar glider diet available that meets all of their nutritional requirements. To be sure that sugar gliders aregetting a diet that meets their needs, it is recommended that they eat what is known as a homemade staple diet. You can find the recipes for these diets at www.sugie.info.I personally feed the Pet Glider Exotic Diet (TPG) to my gliders. It takes me about 45 minutes to an hourto make a months supply and is very easy and inexpensive to prepare.

5. They require a stimulating environment.

Sugar gliders can easily becomebored which leads to depression, so it is important to provide them with a lot of mental stimulation and exercise. A sugar glider-safe exercise wheel is a must have item. You canalso provide them with foraging toys (toys that you can hide treats and food in) and special treats like eucalyptus leaves and branches. In the wild, sugar gliders are tree dwellers, soit isalso important to invest in a large enclosure that hasa lot of vertical space (minimum dimensions of 2 feet deep by 2 feet wide by 3 feet tall) so they have plenty of room to jump and climb.

6. They require an exotic veterinarian.

Unfortunately most regular veterinarians do not treat sugar gliders, so you will want to make sure you have an exotic vet nearby before you bring your gliders home. You wouldnt want to get stuck in an emergency situation and not have a vet to take them to. Exotic veterinarians are also usually a bit more expensive than a regular vet, so be prepared for a larger bill than for your cat or dog.

7. They will not be your best friend right away.

One of the biggest reasons sugar gliders get returned or turned over to a rescue is because many people dont understand how much time, work,and patience goes into bonding with them. They expect for their sugar gliders to love them instantly, and when that doesnt happen, they think something is wrong with the gliders. Sugar gliders are exotic animals and are not naturally trusting of humans. Bonding with themis a slow process that can sometimes take up to a year. It took a few weeks before my gliders would even let me touch them; a few months before they would climbinto my hand; several months before they would let me pick them up. Patience is definitely key if you try to rush the bonding process, you can do more harm than good. This is definitely a case when the old adage Slow and steady wins the race is absolutely true.

8. They are not legal everywhere.

The legality of owning sugar gliders varies from state to state. Some states ban them entirely, while others ban them only in certain cities. Some states require you to have a permit to own them, while others require no documentation at all. Below is a list of the places in which there is some type of law regulating sugar glider ownership:

Sugar gliders are completely illegal in California, Hawaii, and Alaska.
Sugar gliders are illegal in the cities of New York City (NY), Salt Lake City (UT), and St. Paul (MN) but are legal in the rest of the state.
New Mexico, Utah, and Pennsylvania require that you have a special permit to own sugar gliders.
Georgia requires that sugar gliders must be purchased from aUSDA licensed breeder.

9. They should not interact with your other pets.

Believe me, I know how tempting it is to want to try to get your gliders to bond with your cat/dog/other pet. I imagine all the time how adorable it would be to see my two gliders snuggling with my cats. In reality though, that would be extremely dangerous for the gliders. Gliders move quickly and suddenly,which can trigger the prey instincts in cats and dogs. They are also very small and fragile, so even a playful swat or nibble from a cat or dog could be deadly to them. On the flip side of the coin, sugar gliders have been known to kill other small animals such as rats, gerbils, birds, etc. Of course you will find photos online of sugar gliders with other pets, but any responsible glider owner will tell you that it isnt worth the risk. Ive heard plenty of horror stories of gliders who had been friends with a cat/dog/bird/you name itfor years, and then in a matter of seconds it all came crashing to a halt. Just dont do it. Better safe than sorry, I always say!

10. You willbecome addicted.

Yeah, so sugar gliders are a little more high maintenance than the average pet. They are also loads of fun, absolutely adorable, and will steal your heart. The more time you spend with them, the more you will fall in love, and the more you will want MORE! Trust me. They are worth every bit of hassle that they may be and once you get used to taking care of them, none of it even seems like a hassle anymore. It is all worth it to have a couple of little creatures that want nothing more than to be on you all the time. You will find yourself carrying them around with you all day, not wanting to leave the house without them.

So, do you think you want a couple of sugar gliders?

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Emily Hall is the bloggerbehind Kitty Cat Chronicles a blog focusing on life with her six crazy cats, her dog, and her two sugar gliders! Writing about anything from special needs animals, to traveling with cats, to feline health and wellness, to product reviews, to the daily antics of her crazy fur-gang, Emily aims to entertain and educate. Stop on by to say Hi to Emily, Delilah, Sampson, Sophie, Sassy, Caster, Kylo Ren, Lucy, Jubilee, and Sydney (and her husband, Bobby)! Besides on their blog, you can find them all on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.