How aggressive are sugar gliders
All About Sugar Gliders
Sugar gliders are loving, interesting, energetic, and curious animals that have become popular pets. While they may look like rodents, they are small marsupials, closely related to kangaroos and koalas.
As a nocturnal tree-dwelling species, sugar gliders have large eyes to help them navigate in the darkness. These big-eyed marsupials get their name from a flap of tissue connecting their wrists and ankles, called the gliding membrane. This allows them to sail from one place to another.
Sugar gliders can make wonderful pets and bond closely with their human families if given the care, enrichment, and socialization they need for many years. Sugar glider lifespans can reach 12-15 years with proper care.
Gliders are very social and live in groups of five to 12 in the wild. They are quite vocal and are usually passive, but may bite when scared, stressed, in pain, or poorly socialized.
As pets, sugar gliders must be kept in groups,fed a special diet, and need an extra source of warmth year round. They are nocturnal, can be very noisy at night, and need specialized veterinary care.
Before taking one of these little critters home, its important to understand that they should not be impulsively adopted. Sugar gliders require unique care, and are a lengthy time commitment for a pet parent.
Sugar Glider Housing
Providing great care is key to a happy and healthy sugar glider. This begins with finding comfortable housing for your small companion.
Gliders are from Australia and New Guinea and are an arboreal species, meaning they live in trees. Imitating their natural environment allows your glider to be as comfortable as possible.
Cages for Sugar Gliders
These little creatures need housing that allows them to glide over distances. Aviaries are preferrable habitats for sugar glidersthe bigger, the better. Ceiling height is ideal.
However, if an aviary is not possible, cages should be made of PVC-coated wire with plenty of spots for gliders to climb and grab. The openings in the mesh shouldnt be bigger than 1 inch. Glider cages should be at least 3624x40 inches, with height prioritized over width.
Gliders are very active and will use their entire enclosure to exercise, play, and explore.
Sugar gliders enjoy toys and other items in their cage. Adding hide and nest boxes and poucheswill allow your gliders safety, comfort, and dark areas to rest.
Change the enrichment tools around your gliders cage often, including shelves, a solid running wheel, swings, and bird toys. Branches and plants are extremely important for gliders and will allow them room to leap and climb.
Use caution with any natural products to ensure youre not introducing pests or chemical sprays. Sugar gliders will chew on branches, so make sure only nontoxic plants and trees are provided.
Many veterinarians and pet parents recommend keeping two water bowls in the cage to prevent dehydrationa traditional hanging water bottle and a second water dish on the cage floor near their gliders food bowl.
Sugar Glider Bedding
Line the bottom of your gliders cage with paper towels, hay,or Carefresh bedding. Stay away from wood shavings, which may cause irritation and infection to the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system.
Its important to spot-clean the cage daily and perform a more thorough cleaning of housing, toys, and accessories every week. If you have multiple sugar gliders in one habitat, its important to do multiple cleans a week.
Temperature for Sugar Gliders
Dont keep your glider in bright sunlight as they are nocturnal. Sugar gliders thrive around7590 degrees Fahrenheit and should never be kept in environments lower than 70 degrees Fahrenheiteven at night. Pet parents need additional heat sources in the colder months to provide appropriate temperatures for their gliders.
Gliders should always have a section of their enclosure that is close to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This doesnt need to be the temperature of the entire cageone sleeping area will suffice.
What Do Sugar Gliders Eat?
A sugar gliders diet varies. As omnivores, they adjust their food choices based on climate and season. In the wild, food for sugar gliders includes pollen, insects, larva, spiders, sap, gum, plant blossoms, and nectar. Its difficult to reproduce this ever-changing diet in captivity, so domesticated sugar gliders frequently suffer from poor nutrition.
Home diets can sometimes provide the nutrients required to keep a sugar glider healthy, but theyre complicated and difficult to make. Speak with your veterinarian for help creating the most effective diet for your pet.
Kathy Johnson-Delaneys feeding protocol for sugar gliders can help give additional insight to your gliders health needs. Insects should be gut-loaded and dusted with a calcium supplement. Gut-loading means feeding these insects a nutritious diet for 2448 hours before feeding them to your sugar glider. By gut-loading, the insects are packed with vitamins and minerals that positively impact your glider.
Make sure to rotate all varieties of your gliders food. Dont feed your glider fatty or super sweet foods, pits, seeds, or too many insects or fruits. Sugar gliders may ignore other food sourcespreferring the sweet fruits or juicy insects and ignore nutrient-laden foods. This can lead to obesity and metabolic disorders.
Some examples of healthy food choices to feed on regular rotation with your sugar glider include:
Insects:
Crickets
Mealworms
Superworms
Waxworms
Vegetables:
Squash
Cucumber
Bell pepper
Carrots
Sweet potatoes
Bok Choy
Jicama
Fruits:
Papaya
Oranges
Bananas
Strawberries
Cantaloupe
Mango
Kiwi
Peaches
Its never appropriate to feed your sugar glider a diet made for cats or reptiles. Avoid chocolate, dairy products, grapes, and raisins. Fruits and treats should not make up more than 5% of your sugar gliders diet.
Food should be provided in the afternoon or early evening when sugar gliders are naturally feeding. Remove all uneaten food in the morning.
Sugar Glider Medical Needs
Before adopting a sugar glider, its important to understand that it can be difficult to find a veterinarian that specializes in their care. Find and secure a vet before getting a glider.
Sugar gliders should receive routine veterinary care annually and as needed. Your glider may require bloodwork, fecal analysis, and routine dental checkups.
Healthy sugar gliders are alert, with clean, clear eyes and a smooth, soft coat. Their nose, eyes, and mouth should be clear of any discharge or discoloration.
Males have two scent glands that can be confused with bald spots. One is on the top of their head and the other is on their chest. Healthy sugar gliders are active and inquisitive with no signs of breathing difficulty or malaise.
Sugar gliders may develop medical issues throughout their life. The most common conditions include:
Malnutrition: causing paralysis, blindness, lameness, and seizures
Obesity
Parasites: causingloss of appetite or changes in bowel movements
Hair loss: may be stress-related, especially with un-neutered males and poorly socialized individuals
Respiratory issues: causing increased breathing rate and effort
Trauma
Dental disease: facial swelling, drooling, or decreased appetite
Cancer: obvious tumors or lethargy and weight loss
Metabolic bone disease: most sugar gliders dont receive appropriate levels of protein and calcium, which causes metabolic bone disease and may show as decreased appetite, weight loss, lethargy, tremors, and lameness due to broken bones
Infections: skin, pouch, and tooth infection can cause fever, lethargy, pain, swelling, and discharge
Blindness and cataracts: hazy eyes and incoordination
If your sugar glider has any physical abnormalities, is behaving or eating differently, is lethargic, or you have any other concerns, contact your vet as soon as possible.
Sugar Glider Cleaning Needs
Sugar gliders keep themselves clean. They dont require water, dust, or shampoo baths, unless prescribed by your vet.
All food and water dishes should be cleaned daily. Spot-clean the cage for any messes daily. Fully clean the entire cage every week.
Cages should not be cleaned when gliders are inside, as the chemicals may be irritating to eyes, nose, and lungs. Vinegar cleaning products and diluted bleach are all safe to clean the hard items in the cage.
Once everything is completely dry its safe to place your fur baby back in their habitatthough depending on the humidity and temperature of where you live, this may take a few hours. Make sure it has had time to completely air out before returning your sugar gliders.
Sugar Glider Handling and Behavior
Sugar gliders can be difficult to handle, especially if they are young or poorly socialized. They should never be scruffed (held by the back of the neck) or held by the tail. Many sugar gliders respond well to being carried in a zippered, fleece pouch.
Sugar gliders should have socialization with their human at least one or two hours a day. They are highly social animals and prefer spending time with other sugar gliders. Therefore, they are usually happier in groups of three or more.
If they dont have enough emotional and environmental enrichment, sugar gliders may self-mutilate, causing hair loss, pain, and infection. Neutering males may help ease this behavior. Speak with your vet about any behavioral issues your glider may be having, and how to best solve them.
Well-socialized sugar gliders are rarely aggressive. However, when they are frightened or defensive, they may stand on their back legs, make loud noises, possibly charge, and may bite.
How to Pick Up Your Sugar Glider
Pick up your sugar glider by safely and calmly placing one hand on the top of its back and chest, near its arms. Use your other hand to gently scoop from below. They may feel more secure on your shoulders or in a pocket. Eventually, as they get comfortable with their surroundings, gliders will want to explore.
Exploration is a wonderful way for humans to bond with their sugar gliders and provide them with enrichment. However, due to their highly inquisitive nature, sugar gliders can easily injure or otherwise hurt themselves, so always supervise your glider when they are outside their cage.
Featured Image: iStock.com/LKR Photography
References
Brust DVM, David M. VIN.com. A Quick Reference Guide to Unique Pet Species - Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) Pet Care. January 2011.
Strat-Zenoni DVM, Deanne. Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital. Sugar Glider Care.
Pollock DVM, DABVP, Christal. LafeberVet. Basic Information Sheet: Sugar Glider. February 2010.
Wikipedia. Sugar glider. May 2022.
WRITTEN BY
Lauren Jones, VMDVeterinarian
Dr. Lauren Jones graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2010, after receiving her bachelor's degree...
Behavioral Issues in Sugar Gliders: Understanding and Addressing It
Behavioral issues in sugar gliders can be confusing, often presenting challenges to both new and seasoned pet owners. These behaviours, unique to this endearing species, require our understanding for effective intervention.
Taking good care of sugar gliders as a pet is a rewarding experience as these behaviors are unique to them.
With this guide, our goal is to enable a nurturing environment for these wonderful marsupials and foster a rewarding pet-owner relationship.
Overview of Sugar Glider Behavior
If you are interested in owning a sugar glider as a pet or are a new caretaker, the first thing to understand is their typical behavior. This knowledge provides a significant baseline to identify deviations in their behavior patterns, indicating potential issues.
Normal Behavior
Sugar gliders, known for their playful, affectionate nature, entertain their caregivers with their spirited antics. A healthy sugar glider displays high energy levels during their awake hours and indulges in a variety of physical activities like jumping, climbing, and gliding.
Furthermore, sugar gliders are big on social interaction, whether its with another glider or with humans. Bonding pouches are their favorite because its time for cuddling with their loved ones.
Behavior As Illness Indicator
At times, changes in behavior signal an underlying physical ailment. For instance, lethargy, lack of appetite, and unusual aggression may be associated with diseases. Observing their behavior closely is crucial because early detection of health problems can prevent further complications.
Common Behavioral Issues in Sugar Gliders and How to Address Them
Understanding how to tackle behavioral issues efficiently can go a long way in ensuring a happy and healthy life for your sugar glider.
Aggression
Though naturally social, sugar gliders display signs of aggression when they feel stressed or threatened, or if they have not been socialized properly.
If your sugar glider starts nipping or biting, it might be an outlet for expressing discomfort. Spend more time handling and interacting with your pet, maintain a comfortable living environment, and if required, take them to the vet to rule out any health issues causing the aggression.
Overeating
Overeating is another common behavioral issue that sugar gliders face, mainly if they are bored or anxious. A crucial step in managing this issue is providing a balanced diet and not filling their cage with excess food. Incorporate play sessions to keep them engaged and happy.
Use toys that make them work a little for their food, simulating a natural foraging behavior, which can divert their attention from overeating.
Lethargy
Lethargy is a significant behavioral issue that needs immediate attention. If your sugar glider seems less enthusiastic about their daily activities, you must first consult with a vet to rule out any illnesses.
Additionally, providing them with a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and proteins, and limiting processed foods can boost their energy levels. Mental stimulation, provided by toys, puzzles, or training sessions, can also alleviate lethargy.
Prevention Strategies for Sugar Gliders Behavioral Issues
Remember that prevention is better than cure. Besides treating behavioral issues, here are proactive strategies to prevent them from arising.
The Crucial Role of Diet and Exercise
A balanced diet featuring fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can boost your sugar gliders physical health and regulate their behavior.
Its crucial to refrain from giving them human processed foods as they lack nutritional value and can harm your pet. Regular exercise is also important.
Play sessions and free-roaming periods under supervision contribute to their physical well-being and tires them out, reducing the possibility of issues like aggression.
Regular Vet Check-ups
Routine vet check-ups are instrumental in preventing behavioral issues, enabling early detection of potential problems. Make sure to schedule regular vet visits, where the professional can monitor weight and health and offer dietary or behavioral advice as necessary.
Mental Stimulation
Sugar gliders are curious creatures. To keep them mentally healthy and content, integrating a variety of interactive toys and foraging activities in their routine is key.
Regular interactions can build up a bond with your glider, enrich their life, and decrease harmful behaviors.
Socialization
Sugar gliders are social animals. Regular interactions with their caregivers create a robust bonding crucial for their well-being. Developing a trust relationship with your pet through daily handling and bonding can help reduce behavioral issues.
Wrapping Up
Understanding and appropriately managing behavioral issues in sugar gliders is at the heart of responsible pet ownership.
An observant and knowledgeable caregiver who is responsive to their pets behavior plays an invaluable role in ensuring their sugar gliders bright spirit, joyfulness, and overall health.
Remember, commitment, patience, and persistence are key to deal with your sugar gliders behavioral issues, and in case something appears out of your handling capability, never hesitate to consult a vet.
