How to tell if a sugar glider is healthy
Sugar Glider Food & Diet: The Ultimate Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Babies
What About Feeding them Fruits, Like Apples...?
Now, if you only have one baby Sugar glider, cut them about an eighth of a slice of apple every day and leave the peeling on it but just be sure to cut the seeds out. For 2 Sugar gliders, give them two slices and treat the apple the same. We also suggest that you DO NOT dice these apples into small chunks because they dry out a lot quicker that way and your Sugar gliders wont get the full benefit of all that natural fruit juice. Once youve cut the apple, just put it on the floor of the cage. Keeping it down low like that will make it easy for your Sugar glider to find it especially when the babies are small, However.. once your Sugar gliders start getting a little older, its usually a good idea to start putting their food up on a shelf. By doing this, youll find that the food stays fresher LONGER because any toilet droppings they make wont accidentally land in their food.
I Keep Finding Food Everywhere, How Do I Keep the Food in Their Cage?
Now, another GREAT way to keep food in your Sugar gliders cage and keep their cage VERY clean all the time is just to make them what WE call a little FORMAL dining room! While it IS true that Sugar gliders never need a bath and they keep themselves impeccably clean when they eat, they DO tend to shake their heads from side to side quite a bit, which tends to leave small chunks of their food both in the cage and up to a couple inches AROUND it. Well, if youre like us and you want to keep things neat AND clean the cage as little as possible, the best thing to do is to make them this special place to eat.
Now, making your Sugar gliders their own formal dining room is a FUN little craft project that you can do with the WHOLE family, and it only takes about 5 minutes. Now, if youd rather just buy one thats already done, check in our online store at www.sugargliders.com, because I think were gonna start selling these pretty soon. However, if you just want to make one, weve put some pictures and step-by-step instructions together for you on our website at www.sugargliders.com/diningroom.
Basically, the idea here is to take some kind of clear PLASTIC bowl or box that has a sealable lid, flip it upside down, and cut a couple holes in it. Then, put their food bowl and all their food in it and whenever they want to eat, they will go inside. just like a little dining room.. To make one of these, all you need are TWO things. The first is a CLEAR piece of Tupperware or some other kind of clear plastic bowl or box with a sealable lid. The second thing is some kind of TOOL that will cut a couple holes in the plastic. When picking out the right plastic bowl or box, there are a couple simple things that you want to keep in mind. The first is that the bowl or box should be CLEAR and have a lid that seals into place. This allows you to easily see inside their dining room any time you want, so you can tell how much food they have and when it needs to be changed. The reason you want this container to have a sealable lid, is so that you can easily take the whole thing in and out of their cage any time you want without spilling anything.
The second thing to consider when picking out the right bowl or box is just the SIZE of it. Generally speaking, you want their dining room to be big enough that all your Sugar gliders can be easily be in it at the same time but it also needs to be small enough to fit in and out of the cage door. Also, when its laid upside down in the cage on its lid, you want it to be tall enough that your Sugar gliders can still sit on the side of their food bowl and eat without hitting their heads. Since the food bowl we give you in our PocketPets starter kit is about 1 inches tall, we usually suggest that your bowl be somewhere around 4 inches tall. Once you pick out the right container, just cut two holes in it one on each side with each hole being somewhere around 1 to 2 inches in diameter. You can easily do this with a knife, scissors or even a hole saw. Either way, you want the holes to be big enough that they Sugar gliders can easily come & go as they please and still SMALL enough that they stop any food from flinging around. Like we said before, you dont HAVE to build your Sugar gliders a dining room like this but it is a FUN, quick little project for the whole family it WILL dramatically cut down on the amount of cleaning their cage needs and your Sugar gliders will LOVE it. Also, as we mentioned before, if youre not the mechanical type dont worry. On the previous link to the dining room instructions, weve posted pictures of a few different dining rooms along with step by step instructions for exactly how to make one for yourself and again, if youd rather just buy one thats already made, check out our online store at www.Sugargliders.com . Now, once youve built your dining room, when its time to add or change food every day, just pull the whole container out of the cage, give it a quick RINSE, and set up the food just the way you want it. Then, pop the container back together set it back in the cage.. and thats about ALL there is to it!
How To Tell If My Sugar Glider Is Dying
Sugar gliders are delicate creatures, and their health can deteriorate quickly if they are not well cared for. If you think your sugar glider may be dying, there are some signs you can look into.
First, they will generally become less active and may even sleep more than usual. Additionally, their eating and drinking habits will change, and they may lose interest in food and water altogether. Finally, their fur will often become matted and they may start to lose weight.
In this article, we will talk about all the signs that your sugar glider may be sick, what can cause your sugar glider to die and what can you do to prevent it so that you and your little friendcan have a long and happy life together.
Signs that your sugar glider is very sick
There are some signs you can look intothat will help you tell if your sugar glider is very sick and is on the verge of dying.
Refusing to eat or drink
A sugar glider who refuses to eat or drink is a sick sugar glider. If your sugar glider has not eaten in 12 hours or more, then this is a sign that something is wrong. Sugar gliders need to eat every few hours to maintain their blood sugar levels.
Sugar gliders can go about 3 days without food, and only 12 hours without water. So, if you observe that your little pet gets close to this amount of time without eating or drinking, it is an alarm that something is not right.
Sugar gliders who refuse to eat or drink become very weak, lethargic, and weight loss is common. If your sugar glider has any of these symptoms, then you should take them to the vet immediately.
Lethargy
Lethargy is when your sugar glider feels tired all the time and does not have the energy to move around or play. If your sugar glider is not their usual playful self, and you notice they are sleeping more than usual, then this is a sign that something is wrong.
Weakness
If your sugar glider is weak, they will not be able to move around as much as they usually do. You may notice that they are not able to climb as high as they used to, or that they are not jumping as much.
Moving slow is a sign of weakness in sugar gliders.
Shivering
Shivering is when your sugar gliders body trembles. This is a sign that your sugar glider is cold, and it is a sign that their body is shutting down.
When cold, sugar gliders can enter a state of torpor. Torpor is when sugar gliders lower their body temperature to save energy. This is a survival mechanism, and it is not something that should be happening.
Mood change
If your sugar gliders mood changes, this is a sign that something is wrong. Sugar gliders are very active and playful animals. If you notice that your sugar glider is not as playful as usual, or if they are aggressive, then this is a sign that something is wrong.
Sugar gliders who are sick will also make a chattering noise. This is a sign that they are in pain, and it is a sign that they are dying.
Difficulty in breathing
If your sugar glider is having difficulty in breathing, then this is a sign that they are not getting enough oxygen. This can be caused by a number of things, but the most common cause is respiratory infection.
Respiratory infection can happen when sugar gliders are exposed to cold temperatures or the little pet caught a virus or has a bacterial infection.
Vomiting or diarrhea
If your sugar glider is vomiting or has diarrhea, then this is a sign that their digestive system is not working properly. This can be caused by a number of things, but the most common cause is dehydration.
What kills a sugar glider?
There are a number of things that can cause a sugar glider to die. Sure, the most common cause of death in sugar gliders is not getting enough to eat or drink, but there can be other causes.
Exposure to chemicals
One of the most common causes of death in sugar gliders is exposure to chemicals. This can happen if the animal is left in a cage that has been treated with pesticides or other chemicals. It can also happen if the sugar glider comes into contact with something that has been treated with chemicals, such as a carpet that has been treated with insecticide.
Sugar gliders are very sensitive to chemicals, and even small amounts can be deadly. If you think that your sugar glider has been exposed to chemicals, then you should take them to the vet immediately.
Toxic food
Another common cause of death in sugar gliders is eating something that is toxic to them. Sugar gliders are very curious animals, and they will put anything in their mouth. This means that they are at risk of eating something that is poisonous to them.
There are a number of things that are toxic to sugar gliders, including:
- chocolate,
- coffee,
- tea,
- avocado,
- garlic,
- brussels sprouts,
- high amount of nuts.
Also, tap water can be toxic for your little glider friend, as it contains chlorine and other chemicals. Make sure to give them only distilled or bottled water to drink.
Lack of oxygen
This can happen if the animal is left in a cage that is too small, or if the cage is not well ventilated. Sugar gliders need a lot of oxygen, and if they dont have enough, then they can die. This is why it is so important to make sure that their cage is big enough and that it has good ventilation.
Disease
There are a number of diseases that can kill sugar gliders. The most common is respiratory infection, but other diseases, such as cancer, can also be deadly.
Aging
Of course, like all animals, sugar gliders will eventually die of old age. The average life span of a sugar glider is about 10-15 years.
If you think that your sugar glider is dying, then the best thing to do is to take them to the vet immediately. This way, the vet can determine what is wrong and whether or not there is anything that can be done to save the animal.
How to prevent your sugar glider from getting ill
The best way to prevent your sugar glider from getting ill or dying is to take care of them properly. This includes:
Providing them with a large cage that has good ventilation
Its important that your furry friend has enough space to move around and that the cage is well ventilated.
Giving them a diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals
A healthy diet is important for all animals, and sugar gliders are no exception. You should give them a diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals, as well as a variety of different fruits and vegetables.
Making sure they have access to fresh water at all times
Its important that your sugar glider has access to fresh water at all times. Tap water can be toxic to them, so make sure to give them only distilled or bottled water to drink.
Keeping their cage clean and free of debris
A clean cage makes a happy pet. Make sure to clean their cage on a regular basis and remove any debris that might have accumulated.
Taking them to the vet for regular check-ups
Just like all animals, sugar gliders need to see the vet for regular check-ups. This way, any health problems can be caught early and treated accordingly.
Sugar gliders are delicate creatures, and they need to be taken care of properly in order to stay healthy. If you follow these tips, then you can help to ensure that your sugar glider lives a long and healthy life.
Wrap up
In conclusion, it is important to take care of your sugar glider properly in order to prevent them from getting ill or dying. This includes providing them with a large cage that has good ventilation, giving them a diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals, and making sure they have access to fresh water at all times.
Additionally, you should keep their cage clean and free of debris, and take them to the vet for regular check-ups. If you follow these tips, then you can help to ensure that your sugar glider lives a long and healthy life.