How smart is a sugar glider

Complete Guide to the Leucistic Sugar Glider

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Are having trouble deciding whether a leucistic sugar glider is suitable for your household?

This article will offer you some clarity by discussing everything about these animals.

Itll make sure you know whether your family is ready for this responsibility.

Lets dive right in, shall we?

You may also like:How Much Does it Cost to Adopt & Own a Sugar Glider?

What is a Leucistic Sugar Glider?

Leucistic sugar glidersare an extremely easy variation to pick out from the pack.

These fun, little creatures will have an all-white coat and black eyes.

Not surprisingly, this color variation has led many people to call them black-eyed whites.

You might also notice faint yellowish marking in the areas where standard gray gliders would have black coloring.

This trait isnt a predominant one, but it does show up on some leucistic gilders.

Another distinct character trait would be having transparent or translucent ears, white feet, and white hands.

As you might expect, this all-white coloring makes leucistic gliders somewhat of a valuable commodity.

You dont often come across these types, and many consider them relatively rare.

ALSO READ: Names for Sugar Gliders

Why Do Leucistic Sugar Gliders Have All White Coloring?

Leucistic sugar gliders actually get their white coloring from a genetic defect. According to Merriam-Webster, leucism is.

an abnormal condition of reduced pigmentation affecting various animals (such as birds, mammals, and reptiles) that is marked by overall pale color or patches of reduced coloring and is caused by a genetic mutation which inhibitsmelanin and other pigments from being deposited in feathers, hair, or skin.

It results in a gilder having their entire surface or patches of their body surface not capable of making pigment. In other words, it turns their coloring white.

Sugar gliders arent the only animals known to have this condition. Its not too uncommon in species like the white buffalo, killer whale, and white stag.

Whats The Difference Between Leucistic Sugar Gliders and Albino Sugar Gliders?

Leucistic sugar glidersarent the only all-white color variation within this species.

These animals do come in analbinovariation that looks a lot like a leucistic glider would.

It has led many potential glider owners to mistake one variation for the other.

But theres a critical difference between the two that easily distinguishes one from the other, their eyes.

Albino sugar gliders will be all white with red eyes, while leucistic gliders feature black eyes. It makes telling them apart relatively easy once you have the right information.

If youre looking to learn more about Albino sugar gliders, heres acomplete guide to these fascinating animals.

Itll tell you everything a person might want to know about the variation.

ALSO READ: Sugar Glider vs Flying Squirrel Pet

How Long Will a Leucistic Sugar Glider Live?

A pet owner might assume leucism would affect a leucistic gliders lifespan negatively.

But this condition shouldnt have any effect on how long your favorite pet ends up living.

Leucistic sugar gliders should live as long as any standard gray or other variation would.

Their lifespan would be between3 to 9 yearsin the wild, depending on several environmental factors.

But pet sugar gliders tend to live much longer, ranging between 10 and 15 years.

These small marsupials should be in your life for a very, very long time and shouldnt be seen as a short term investment.

Getting a sugar glider isnt the same low responsibility level as other small pets, such as hamsters or guinea pigs.

I would suggest making sure youre ready for a decade long companion before getting one.

How Much Does a Leucistic Sugar Glider Cost?

If youre looking to buy a leucistic sugar glider, the price can fluctuate quite a bit.

Keep in mind that their rarity does make them more expensive than a standard gray or caramel glider would be to purchase.

Most of them will be available for around $450,but prices can reach as high as $1000.

Itll depend on the demand for them, your location, and the breeder.

Another thing to research would be each breeders certification.

Its imperative to make sure theyre certified by theUSDAbefore spending any money on a sugar glider theyre selling.

Honestly, Ive heard way too many horror stories about glider owners buying from lousy breeders.

It usually ends with them spending a lot of money on trips to the vet for various conditions.

Id suggest talking with other gliders owners whove bought one from them. Itll provide a better handle on whether this breeder is someone you can trust.

Is Adopting a Leucistic Sugar Glider an Option?

Yes, adoption is an option when it comes to exotic pets like sugar gliders.

In fact, Im always going to recommend adoption over buying any animal.

Theres plenty of sugar gliders withinrescuesand shelters around the country looking for homes.

As Ive said before, gliders are among the top 10 unique pets people cant stop adopting.

Since theyre so trendy- and look super cute on social media- way too many people buy them without doing research first.

Then, they realize that theyve bitten off more than they can chew, and these poor creatures end up getting sent off to a shelter.

Leucistic gliders arent an uncommon sight at these facilities, either.

So, please reach out to local shelters or rescue groups before contacting breeders.

Im quite confident that youll be able to find one of these beautiful gliders to rescue if you look hard enough.

Leucistic Sugar Gilders Care and Temperament

If you plan to be a new sugar glider owner, there are a few things to know before getting one.

As far as overall care and personalities go, leucistic gliders arent any different than the other sugar glider colors, which are: standard grey, red sugar gliders, and so on.

We covered pretty much everything you need to get started in our easy guide to sugar glider care for new owners.

Some covered topics include best diets for sugar gliders, health care tips, finding a vet, and much more.

If you follow this articles information, you should have no problem figuring out whether youre ready to be a sugar glider pet owner.

I hope We answered all your questions about leucistic sugar gliders. If you do have a few more, please let us know Below.

Ben Roberts

My name is Ben Roberts, and I absolutely love animals. So, naturally, I love writing about them too! As far as my animals, I have a Pit-bull, a Beagle-lab mix, a Chihuahua, and one old cat. Each one of them provides me with a new adventure every day. And the best part is theyre all best friends. Well, except the cat when he gets a little annoyed.FIND HIM ON: FACEBOOK and TWITTER.Read his latest ARTICLESLearn more about Benhere

Are Sugar Gliders Smart? (How Intelligent Are They?)

Sugar gliders are adorable exotic animals native to the forests of Australia and New Guinea. Due to their adorable appearance and easy to tame nature theyve become quite popular as pets, with many people adopting them into their homes and taking care of them. Most people know that these tiny marsupials are quite intelligent, but how smart are sugar gliders really? Today, were going to find out.

Of course, we cant exactly ask our gliders to take an IQ test, but there are alternative ways in which we can estimate just how smart these creatures are.

Are sugar gliders smart?

Sugar gliders are relatively smart animals. Theyre lively, intelligent, and inquisitive animals that enjoy exploring their surroundings. In addition, sugar gliders are also capable of learning tricks and bonding with their owners. In fact, sugar gliders can even learn their name and come up to their owner when theyre called.

These are definitely signs of intelligence. Less intelligent animals are not capable of such feats, which means that sugar gliders definitely have at least a baseline of intelligence that should not be underestimated.

Just how smart are gliders?

While we know from observing them and anecdotes that sugar gliders are definitely smart animals, theyve never been observed and studied to determine their exact levels of intelligence. However, when compared to other animals Id place them somewhere between a rat and a hamster.

Just like rats, sugar gliders are social animals. In the wild, they live in groups of up to 10 adults and their babies. In these groups, they have a relatively complex, strong communal structure with 1 dominant male.

In order to build such social structures, sugar gliders have to be quite intelligent. After all, they have to be able to pick up on social queues such as barking and non-verbal communication. Evidence suggests that being a social animal requires a higher level of intelligence because teamwork requires higher brain capacity.

As such, sugar gliders are more intelligent than hamsters, since hamsters are solitary animals. However, theyre probably less intelligent than rats because rats are among the smartest animals on the planet.

Some people also believe that sugar gliders are on the same level of intelligence as a dog, but theres no evidence to support that.

Can sugar gliders recognize their owners?

Yes, pet sugar gliders can definitely recognize their owners. After all, if they wouldnt be able to recognize their owners they wouldnt be able to form bonds with them.

However, sugar gliders recognize people and other gliders in different ways than we humans recognize other people.

While humans rely mostly on sight, sugar gliders actually rely much more on scent and sound to form bonds. Because of that, sugar gliders respond much more to your scent and the sound of your voice than the sight of you when youre trying to form a bond with them.

Can sugar gliders learn tricks?

One of the most common ways that people determine the intelligence of animals is their ability to learn tricks because this shows a capacity for learning that other, less intelligent, animals do not have.

Sugar gliders are definitely capable of learning tricks and commands. For instance, you can quite easily teach your sugar glider to stay on top of you while you walk around, and you can even teach them to glide towards you.

Some commands that they can learn are come, no, or get down. Some people also attempt to potty train their gliders, but this does not work out very often because its simply not in their nature. Similarly, some people try to teach their gliders to stay awake during the day and sleep at night. This does not work because it goes against their nocturnal nature.

So, while sugar gliders are capable of learning certain commands and tricks, these things have to be within their nature. Theyre capable of learning a lot of things, but they have to be within reason!

Final words

Sugar gliders are quite intelligent. These little marsupials fall somewhere between a hamster and a rat in intelligence. Their inquisitive, playful, and social nature means that theyre definitely intelligent. In addition, the fact that theyre capable of learning tricks and commands means that they have at least a certain level of intelligence.

Part of the reason why these little critters are so smart can be explained by their social nature. Science has shown that animals that live in groups tend to be smarter than solitary animals because working together requires more intelligence than living in solitude.

Vitakraft VitaSmart Sugar Glider Food Review

Vitakraft VitaSmart Complete Nutrition Sugar Glider Food is an excellent choice for your sugar gliders daily diet. It is a high-quality, tamper-proof food formulated with a balanced protein and Omega-3 formula. It is also rich in vitamins and minerals that support the digestive system and promote skin and coat health. Read on to discover more about this product. The following are some of its key benefits:

Contains high protein formula

This specialized food is fortified with vitamin B12 and folic acid. It is also available in pellet form for your sugar gliders convenience. Its produced in the United States. For your confidence, the food comes in a massive 28 ounce container and is guaranteed to be safe for your pet. When youre planning to breed sugar gliders, you may want to consider buying a product with the highest protein content.

Sugar gliders diet should contain 75% protein. You can feed your sugar glider Glide-R-Chow or Glide-R-Gravy. You can also supplement their diet with 25% fresh fruits and vegetables. It is best to start with apples. In addition to commercial food, you can also feed your sugar glider a calcium-based multivitamin supplement every other night.

Has omega-3s

Sugar gliders need balanced nutrition, and Vitakraft VitaSmart Complete Nutrition provides a complete meal thats full of essential nutrients for overall health. This high-quality food is enriched with vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed, and natural oils, and is great for supporting digestive health and shiny coat. Provide fresh water at all times. Store in a cool, dry place.

To choose the proper sugar glider food, experiment with a variety of foods. Record how your pet reacts at each feeding to determine which ingredients are most effective. If your glider does well on one kind of food, you can increase the amount by 5% every day. Try feeding your glider treats no more than two pieces per day. In addition to commercial sugar glider foods, your pet will also enjoy supplemental whole food snacks.

Is tamper-proof

You may have wondered, Is VitaSmart Sugar Glider Food Tamper-Proof? You can trust this brand because it uses human grade ingredients in its treats and pellets, and is packaged in a tamper-proof 5 x 7 food bag. The seal is resealable to ensure that your glider will not eat anything that is not fresh or safe. The 1.5 lbs. pack is tamper-proof, so there is no worry about spills or messy accidents. This glider food is also a great choice if your glider isnt able to chew pellets, as it is available in a fruit flavor. This food is also filled with premium nuts, vegetables, minerals, and vitamins.

The VitaSmart sugar glider food mix is made with special ingredient that gives your pet a well-rounded diet. These pellets contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help your gliders heart, brain development, and vision. Another healthy diet for sugar gliders is Glider Complete, which contains high-quality protein pellets and eight different varieties of pure fruit chunks.

Is chalky in texture

Many people are concerned about the texture of a sugar glider food. But what is the best option? If you are unsure about what is best for your pet, you can always check the KISS method. The KISS method was developed by sugar glider expert Dr. David Brust. During his research, he worked closely with other leading nutritionists in the world. He also dedicated countless hours to learning about sugar gliders and educating owners on the proper care.

It is possible that your sugar glider is allergic to a particular food ingredient. If that happens, you may want to consider trying a different one. Try introducing your pet to various kinds of supplemental whole food snacks. Try introducing a small amount of each at a time and observe how your pet reacts. If your pet seems fussy, try switching brands to find one that suits your glider.

Is available in a whole meal plan

This natural diet for sugar gliders contains all-natural ingredients that promote growth, including vitamins, minerals, and crude fiber. These are fortified with natural flavors that are safe and tasty for your pet. All Vita Smart products are free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. The 1.5 lbs pack comes in a resealable package to keep food fresh. The resealable seal prevents messy spills. Using the dry food does not require mixing. To provide behavioral and physical enrichment, you can soak the pellets in fruit juice before feeding them to gliders.

Besides pellets, your sugar glider can also eat two to four different fruits or vegetables. For the best results, feed your glider at dawn. This will keep him from getting hungry during the night. Make sure to remove the uneaten food before you leave, and clean the feeding dish before each feeding. In addition, you should always provide fresh drinking water, clean the feeding dish after every feeding, and dispose of any food that is not completely digested.