Do sugar gliders like dogs

Sugar Glider

The Sugar Glider is a small species of marsupial. These creatures are similar to flying squirrels in that they glide by using flaps of skin between their legs. However, these pocket-sized marsupials are not closely related to squirrels, or any rodent.

Surprisingly, these little mammals in the possum family have more exotic relatives. Researchers classify these mammals as marsupials. Because of this, their closest relatives are other possums, koalas, kangaroos, wombats, and other marsupials. Read on to learn about the Sugar Glider.

Description of the Sugar Glider

Wild Sugar Gliders have brownish-grey fur, large eyes, long tails, and a large flap of skin between their legs. Their fur is darker around their eyes, ears, legs, and in a stripe down their backs. Their underbellies and chests are white or cream in color.

As possum species go, Sugars are relatively small. They measure between 9 and 12 inches long, and weigh around 4 or 5 ounces. Males of this species are usually larger than females.

Interesting Facts About the Sugar Glider

These cute little marsupials live as pets in many households across the globe. What makes them so interesting? Learn more about what makes Sugar Gliders unique below.

• Whats in a Name While the glider part of their name might be understandable by now, what about the sugar? The name comes from their dietary preferences. Sugars like to eat sugary foods, and nectar in particular is a favorite.
• A Whale of a Tail The Sugar has an incredibly long tail. In fact, its tail is usually as long as its entire body measuring about six inches long, while its body measures five or six inches!
• Rudder That long tail comes in handy when youre gliding through the air. These critters use their tails to steer when gliding from tree to tree, so they can land in just the right spot.
• Sugar Glider Breeding As pets, these little mammals come in a variety of colors. Breeders have developed them in albino, cream, white, silver, mahogany, and more.

Habitat of the Sugar Glider

This species relies on forested areas where they can forage for food and glide from tree to tree. Their habitats also must have dense vegetation to protect them from predators. Some of the different habitats that they occupy include eucalyptus forests, woodlands, rainforests, plantations, scrub forests, and more.

Distribution of the Sugar Glider

In their native range, Sugar Gliders inhabit northeast and eastern Australia. They live relatively close to the coastline throughout Australia. You can find them in the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.

These marsupials also live in New Guinea, and some of the surrounding islands. You can also find Sugars as pets in households worldwide, though in some places it is illegal to own one as a pet.

Diet of the Sugar Glider

Despite their name, this species doesnt only eat sugary foods, though it does have quite the sweet tooth. Sugar Gliders are omnivores, which means that they eat both plant and animal matter. Their diet varies based on the season and what foods are available.

During the spring and summer, this species feeds mostly on invertebrates. Some common prey items include spiders, beetles, insect larvae, moths, and more. As fall arrives their diet shifts to plant-based foods, like tree sap, pollen, honeydew, and more.

Sugar Glider and Human Interaction

Thankfully, human activity has not heavily impacted Sugar Glider populations. Even though habitat destruction poses a problem, their numbers are high and their populations are healthy. The IUCN lists Sugar Gliders as Least Concern. Sadly, some of their close cousins that live in the same regions do not fare as well.

Domestication

Though humans keep these marsupials as pets, we have not domesticated them in any way.

Does the Sugar Glider Make a Good Pet

Sugar Gliders can make good pets, but you should always do your research before adding any pet to the family. Even though they are small, Sugars need plenty of room to climb and explore. Though they are about the same size and a hamster, their needs are relatively intensive.

Sugar Glider Care

As pets, these creatures need lots of climbing space, so large enclosures are a must. They are social creatures, so you should not keep one alone unless you plan on interacting with your pet multiple times per day. You must also feed them a special diet to ensure they receive enough calcium and other vitamins and minerals.

Behavior of the Sugar Glider

This species is nocturnal, and most active at night. Though they spend their days sleeping, they are incredibly agile and active overnight. They live in groups, and each group protects a small territory from other groups. They use saliva, urine, and gland secretions to mark their territories.

Reproduction of the Sugar Glider

As marsupials, Sugar Gliders have short gestation periods and carry their underdeveloped offspring in a pouch after birth. After approximately two weeks, females give birth to a pair of young, known as joeys. The joeys climb to the pouch and stay there until they are about two months old. At around three months old they become independent.

This is a question that we get a lot, and we think that the answer will surprise you!

Despite what some might find hard to believe,our experience in selling gliders to families with other pets it that, if introduce in the right way, sugar gliders and your pets can form a close bond.

The key to how this works, lies in the fact, that Sugar Gliders are marsupials, not rodents. Their distinctive scent and behavior do not trigger the instinctive predatory response in most cats and dogs. Instead, other pets are often curious and intrigued by their presence.

Introducing, Sugar Gliders to other pets is best when done the correct way. We have created a simple method that we can teach you upon adoption.This gradual approach create an environment where your pets can get acquainted and establishan harmoniousrelationship.

Once familiarized with each other, Sugar Gliders and other household pets often form close bonds. They may eat, sleep, and spend time together, creating heartwarming companionship.

While Sugar Gliders can bond with most household pets, it's essential to be cautious with reptiles like snakes, as this could lead to potential harm for the gliders. Additionally, they may initially be wary of certain large bird species due to their natural instincts from the wild.

We do recommend that you supervise your sugar gliders, when with other pets, due to the gliders being such small animals.

Here are a few photos to of Sugar Glider's hanging out with their family pet buddies.

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

Sharing is caring!

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.