What do sugar gliders not like

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.

Sugar Glider

Sugar gliders are palm-size possums that can glide half the length of a soccer pitch in one trip. These common, tree-dwelling marsupials are native to tropical and cool-temperate forests in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Their wings are made from a thin skin stretched between the fifth forefinger and back ankle, and they use their bushy tails as rudders as they soar through the air.

Often compared with flying squirrelsrodents with similar bodies that can also glidesugar gliders are more closely related to other marsupials like kangaroos. As nocturnal animals, they see well in the dark with their big black eyes. They have mostly grey fur but their underbellies are white, and their heads have black stripes.

Reproduction

Sugar gliders nest in tree hollows with up to 10 other adults. In addition to forests, theyve also been found in plantations and rural gardens. Females have one or two young, called joeys, at least once a year. The young stay with their mothers until theyre seven to 10 months old.

In parts of their range, winter temperatures can fall below freezing. To keep warm, sugar gliders sleep huddled together. That, along with short periods of reduced body temperature called torpor, helps them save energy on colder days.

Diet

Sugar gliders have a flexible diet that can vary according to location and season. They feed on nectar, pollen, acacia, and eucalyptus tree sap. Theyve also been observed systematically searching tree cones for spiders and beetles.

Though threatened by feral animals, bushfires, and land clearance for agriculture, sugar gliders are considered to have stable populations in the wild. Sugar gliders are bred and kept as pets.

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Do Sugar Gliders Smell? (6 Ways to Avoid Bad Odors)

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Do sugar gliders stink?

You may have read stories about how smelly these cute critters are (they even rank among the stinkiest exotic pets)

Well, there are reasons for that musky aroma and- thankfully- ways to prevent it, too!

Keep reading to find out why do sugar gliders smell and how to get rid of the foul odor.

Do Sugar Gliders Stink?

The short answer is, no, they shouldnt.

But due to factors like incorrect diet, unclean cages, and scent marking, some may have an unpleasant odor. I will discuss these factors in detail later.

What Do Sugar Gliders Smell Like?

Like all other animals, sugar gliders have their distinct smell, which is not that bad.

Its more of a mild musky smell which is often part of their physical and genetic makeup.

Both male and female sugar gliders have scent glands. Female sugar gliders, these glands are located at the pouch and genital area.

On the other hand, male gliders have scent glands in three areas; the head (appears as a bald spot), chest, and genital areas.

This explains why male sugar gliders may have a stronger smell than female sugar gliders.

Sugar gliders also have a unique foul smell as part of their defence mechanism.

When they are scared, they may produce this smell and a white fluid out of their private parts. But once you start bonding with them, this smell will disappear.

ALSO READ: How to Introduce Sugar Gliders to Each Other?

Why Does A Sugar Glider Stink?

Now lets see why your sugar gliders may stink.

#1 Not Litter Trained

Like everyone elses urine and feces, sugar gliders urine and feces do stink. The smell is even worse for baby sugar gliders since their digestive systems are still developing.

If you dont train them when and where to poop (more on this later), they may excrete in the cage, and it will be more challenging to clean, let alone get rid of the odor.

#2 Incorrect Diet

They are very sensitive to what they eat. Its one of those sugar glider facts.

Even though sugar gliders should be fed proteins, feeding them too much of them (meats, insects, eggs) could make them smell like ferrets.

Acidic fruits, such as bananas, are other foods that could lead to diarrhea and foul odors.

#3 Scent Marking

As mentioned earlier, male sugar gliders have more scent glands, and their musky smell tends to be more prevalent, especially during the breeding season.

Another reason their odor may be more prevalent is that they are over-marking.

When you clean sugar glider cages thoroughly, you may eliminate all of their scent from the cage.

This makes them feel like they need to do it often to show that thats their territory.

How To Prevent Sugar Gliders From Smelling

Below are some ways you can prevent your sugar gliders from smelling.

#1 Give them the proper nutrition.

When in the wild, sugar gliders often feed on pulp from trees like eucalyptus or acacia, nectar, insects, fruits, and pollen.

As you can see, its hard to replicate this diet for captivity-raised sugar gliders.

But that doesnt mean its not possible. What sugar gliders should eat or shouldnt eat is also a very controversial subject.

You need to consult your vet on what to feed your pet and how much to feed them, especially now when several complicated diets are gaining popularity.

In our guide to sugar glider food recipes, we suggested the Leadbeaters mixture, which combines boiled eggs, honey, apple juice, vitamin supplements, baby food, baby cereal, greens, and pellets.

But a diet that contains 50 to 75% approved pelleted food, at least 25% of fresh fruit or vegetables, and 25% of proteins (crickets, mealworms, eggs, cooked meat) would do.

Generally, a sugar gliders diet should have a calcium to phosphorus ratio of 1 to 2:1. WebMD also recommends that you should feed your pet 15 to 20% of its weight.

Also, make sure they have access to clean, uncontaminated water daily.

Foods to avoid

Like in horses or bearded dragons, you should avoid feeding your sugar gliders vegetables rich in oxalates.

These include collard greens, Swiss chard, and kale. Other foods to avoid include;

• Foods grown with synthetic pesticides
• Chocolate
• Pears
• Beets
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Dairy

#2 Clean Your sugar gliders cage

There are three ways to keep the sugar gliders cage clean;

1. Daily maintenance

This is where you clean the feeding bowls, get rid of food leftovers, and replace the water with fresh water.

Clean the bowls, trays, and toys with hot water and soap, and sterilize them at least every 3 months.

2. Line the cages

Place fleece, kiln-dried pine pellets, or any other safe materials in the bottom tray.

Doing this makes it easier to clean, and it also eliminates the odors in case your pets splash urine and feces in the cage. You can replace the linings every 2 to 3 days.

3. Deep Cleaning

This is a thorough cleaning that you should do once every two weeks. It involves cleaning the cages with vinegar and hot water and rinsing.

Some sugar glider owners have claimed to have used Clorox, bleach, or other chemicals.

I dont think thats a good idea since these chemicals may be harmful to your pet. But a little dishwashing soap is fine.

The fleece pouches and any other cloth-like items can be washed in a washing machine.

To prevent the over-marking issue I mentioned earlier, wash the fleece, toys, or pouches at different times.

As long as some of the items have their scent, they wont feel the need to do it again.

#3 Neutering Males

The only way to fix the strong smell of male sugar gliders is to get them neutered.

Unneutered males are more suitable for breeders.

#4 Litter Training Your Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders cant really be potty trained. Sugar gliders often have a schedule for going to the bathroom.

As long as you know their schedule, you will not have to deal with the odors.

For instance, sugar gliders go to the bathroom as soon as they wake up, and once they empty all the contents, they will not have to do it in the next 3 to 4 hours.

They dont excrete in their sleep.

If you woke them up and they dont want to go to the bathroom, you can stimulate them using baby wipes.

You do this by gently rubbing their genital areas with baby wipes. At first, they wont like it, but theyll eventually get used to it.

Your job is to train them that the only bathroom time is when you get them out of the cage or out of the pouch and at specific times.

You can even set a timer to alert you a few minutes before when you anticipate they might want to go to the bathroom.

Some sugar glider owners have reported being able to potty-train their sugar gliders by placing a litter box on one corner and placing some of the pets feces in it. You can go ahead and try that too and confirm if it works.

#5 Use an Air Purifier

Even though sugar gliders dont really stink, their poop will always stink.

So, there will often be a smell in the room where you keep your sugar gliders, especially during their bathroom time.

One of the ways to fix this is to get an air purifier.

This device helps remove contaminants and bad odors from your home, and they are very popular among dog and cat owners who may be allergic to dander.

A good air purifier for pet odor should have HEPA filters, which are very efficient in eliminating contaminants.

All you have to do is clean them or replace them after a few months. A good example is the LEVOIT air purifier.

#6 Use Pine Pellets For Odor Removal

According to Amy Worden, pine pellets are quite effective in eliminating pet odor. And they make collecting waste from pets easier.

However, if you have pine trees around your home, dont cut the leaves and twigs to place in the sugar glider cage.

This is because pine trees are toxic to sugar gliders, and they could harm them if they ingested them.

The reason the pellets are safe is that they are kiln-dried. Ensure the sugar glider cage has a grate or tray below it where you can place the pellets.

If it doesnt, you can place a pan below the cage, depending on the type of cage you have.

Do Sugar Gliders Smell FAQS

Why Does My Sugar glider Smell Like Skunk?

Your sugar glider could be emanating a foul smell due to feeding him/her the wrong foods. Secondly, if theyre not litter trained, they may pee and poo anywhere, causing them and their cage to stink. And lastly, male sugar gliders may be over-marking their territories.

Do Sugar Gliders Smell Like Ferrets?

Not really. Sugar gliders have their natural musky smell, which is tolerable. But feeding them a poor diet and failing to neuter the males may make them smell like ferrets, or even worse.

How do I stop my sugar glider from smelling?

Start by feeding them the correct vet-approved diet. If youre not planning to breed sugar gliders, its best to neuter the males. You should also make a habit of cleaning the cage, the pouches, toys, and all other items your sugar glider uses regularly.

Should I bathe my sugar gliders?

Can you give sugar gliders a bath? Sugar gliders are very clean animals, capable of grooming themselves unless theyre sick. So, bathing them regularly is not necessary. But if you note urine, feces, and other debris stuck in their fur, and they cant get it out, you can clean them with some warm water and baby shampoo.

Conclusion

Sugar gliders can stink really badly if you dont maintain them properly. But as weve established in this article, they dont have to stink.

Their natural smell is a mild musky odor that most people can handle.

Ensure you feed them the right foods, neuter the males, and keep the cages and all their items clean.

Does your sugar glider stink? What do you do to prevent it? Share with us your experience below!

Barry Stingmore

Barry Stingmore is a British content writer living in Fuerteventura, Spain. An animal lover at heart, he shares his home with a dog and four rescue cats and has a passion for writing about animals big and small.

Barry loves finding answers to your animal-related questions, the more research involved the better! You can rely on him to find the facts.

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