Why does my sugar glider bark every night

Sugar Glider Barking: Why & How to Stop It?

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A sugar glider barking is like a dog barking; its one of their ways of communication. You just need to consider a visit to the vet if your sugar bears emulate chronic barking.

Is your sugar glider barking and youre not entirely sure whats causing this nuisance? If youre a new sugar glider owner and youre just learning the ropes of it, youre just in the right guide!

Dont worry, I wont just be babbling about the reasons why your sugar glider is barking. But I will also walk you through things like what it sounds like even the steps to get rid of it!

READ MORE: Sugar Glider Scent Glands and Smell

What Do Sugar Glider Barks Sound Like?

It can be alarming to hear sugar glider noises, especially if you are a new sugar glider owner. And if youre not familiar with them, you could find it confusing to identify what it sounds like.

A sugar glider barking is akin to how a newborn puppy barks, similar to that of a squeeze toy. Others sound like a Chihuahuayou get the point. Yes, your canines and sugar gliders share the same sounds. But do they bark in the same circumstances?

Check this video to hear how it sounds like:

Other Sugar Glider Noises

If you thought that its just barking, think again! Other common sounds they could emulate include hissing, purring, and scraping. So, what do these other types of sounds mean?

Hissing

Our friends hiss like a snake, too. And when they do, its their way of communicating with other sugar gliders they get a sight of. Depending on the intensity and duration of the hiss, it could be a greeting to other gliders, saying Hello, how are you? or even Out of my way.

ALSO CHECK: Why Do Sugar Gliders Bite?

Purring

Purring is another sound that our cute little friends make and dont put much thought into it. Just like cats, their purrs mean that theyre relaxed and theyre having the best time of their lives! Their purrs arent as loud as cats, though.

Crabbing

Dont be surprised when you hear a high-pitched noise in the middle of the night; its probably just your pet gliders crabbing. Other than sugar glider barking sounds, crabbing noises are also common with them. This noise is usually the sound they release when theyre not comfortable or not happy.

Out of all these noises, barking is the most common and thats the reason why many owners are concerned with it. So, what do these barks mean, and more importantly, how do we stop them?

Why is My Sugar Glider Barking?

Just like dogs, a sugar glider barking could mean many things, too. Theyre social animals that love interacting with their kind and others. Other than communicating with other sugar gliders, what other reasons could their barks mean?

Theyre Disturbed or Shocked

Dogs bark when they experience something they didnt expect; its the same with our pet gliders, too! When they hear something unfamiliar, like the voice of some visitor, breaking glass, and even loud television, they could bark to tell you that they know whats going on.

FUN FACT: When theyre close to a window, try moving them away from it. The sound of cars and people passing by could be new to them, triggering the sound theyre making.

Theyre Hungry

Other times, they could bark and let you know that you havent fed them yet. This usually happens out of nowhere or especially when youre just playing with them. Its always a good idea to give them food during the schedule youve set for bottle time.

FUN FACT: Our furry friends favorite food include fruits such as papaya, mango, blackberries, and raspberries.

Theyre Sick or Lonely

If you hear them bark, but with less energy, it could simply mean theyre sick. Barking accompanied by chewed off nails and white film on their eyes is an indication that they need medical attention.

A low-energy bark could also mean that theyre lonely and need company. This puts them at the risk of developing sugar glider depression. Try to get them company by getting them a cage mate.

They Want Attention

Of course, who doesnt want attention? With a physique as cute and as fluffy as them, theyd expect that you play with them all day. Most of the time, barking is just a sign that theyre longing for attention, so, be sure to give them that.

No Reason at All

It may sound like a no-brainer, but sugar glider aggressive behavior could actually be a random sound theyre making all to themselves. Barking is a natural sound that our furry friends emulate, and sometimes, it can actually be just something they want to do. They could just be giving a loud internal monologue that they should keep to themselves.

How Do I Stop My Sugar Gliders From Barking?

While barking isnt always a cause for concern, there are instances where their barks mean something.

You could induce a couple of remedies to it. These remedies are in line with the reasons why theyre barking. So, doing the following things will help you try to stop them from barking:

• Feed them. They could just be yearning for a snack; try giving them their favorite food.
• Play with them. Theyre social animals and they need interaction to run their lives.
• Get them a companion. They could be missing their family or any of their own kind. If you have a female sugar glider, get a male, and vice versa.
• Check on them. They could be telling you something (theyre sick, they dont feel good, etc.)
• Keep them at a safe location. If there are other people/animals around, they could be frightened.

Barking is normal, so dont stress yourself out too much about it. Try to group it in normal circumstances that theyre just trying to socialize.

But, when should I be worried, though? When do I know that a trip to the vet is what they need? Are there signs that I need to take note of?

Take a look at this video for additional tips:

How Do I Know if a Vet is What They Need?

You now know that our pet sugar gliders barks are normal and its not something that should drag us to the vet. But, when you notice that the barking is chronic and nonstop, take a moment and check.

Here are a couple of pointers you want to note before deciding to go to the vet:

• Check if theyre having a nasal discharge
• Try feeding them and see if their appetites are lower
• Check rashes/itchiness on the body
• Examine the body for unusual lumps and bumps

Any of this partnered up with a screeching sound of barking, the most ideal choice is to visit the vet.

FAQs on Sugar Glider Barking

Being a new sugar glider owner is similar to being a new dog owner. And to help you with it even further, here are some of the top questions asked in relation to the collective behavior and noise sugar gliders make.

Why Do Sugar Gliders Bark At Night?

Both male and female sugar gliders are nocturnal. This means they function more at night compared to what they are during the day. Over time, though, theyll learn to adjust to your schedule and will refrain from bugging you at night.

Do Sugar Gliders Scream?

Yes, they can scream, especially if theyre in a situation that theyre not very comfortable in. When the types of sounds theyre emulating are new to you or if they seem alarming, attend to them and consider taking them to the vet.

Are Sugar Gliders Noisy at Night?

Yes, since theyre nocturnal creatures, they tend to be more active at night. Its their way of communicating, especially if theyre alone. Dont worry, youll get over the fever of being a new sugar glider owner after a few days of interacting with them.

Why Do Sugar Gliders Crab?

Our social animals dont have a lot in their arsenal to tell us everything. The crabbing sound they make is often used in the wild and is for fighting or straying predators away from them. In captivity, though, the crabbing sound could mean that theyre frightened and that they dont feel safe.

How Do I Avoid Sugar Glider Depression?

Signs of sugar glider depression and stress are real and its something recognizable. The most common signs that you have a depressed sugar glider would be if they mutilate themselves if theyre starving on purpose, if theyre barking uncontrollably, or if theyre developing weird sleeping patterns.

Final Verdict

If you find your sugar glider barking and youre alarmed about it, dont be! Our guide is solid proof that barking isnt always necessarily bad. Do take note, though, of other things accompanied by the barking.

Sometimes, they could be health signals, telling you that the trip to the vet is long due. The majority of the time, though, theyre just looking for a companion or someone to spend their time with.

References:

• 1. Sugar Glider Noises and Sounds -and what they mean [Internet]. Available from: http://asgv.org/pdf/noises%202.pdf
• 2. Meaning Behind Your Sugar Gliders Noises [Internet]. Exotic Nutrition. 2020 [cited 2021 Dec 2]. Available from: https://www.exoticnutrition.com/meaning-behind-sugar-glider-noises.aspx
• 3. Food and Diet SUGAR GLIDER INFORMATION [Internet]. Nhsugargliders.com. 2013 [cited 2021 Dec 2]. Available from: http://nhsugargliders.com/estore/glider-information/food-and-diet.html

Have you heard your sugar glider barking? Let us know in the comments 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.

Find him on FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND LinkedinRead his latest ARTICLES.Find more about him HERE.

Sugar Glider Sounds and Noises: What Do They Mean?

Having pets is one of the great joys in life. They brighten our days with their love, reduce our stress levels with their playfulness and help teach our children about responsibility.

We get so much from our pets, and we want to be there for them when they need us. Being aware of what different behaviors, smells, sounds and noises your pet makes will go a long way in helping you recognize what your lovable friends need.

Before getting sugar gliders, most people havent been around them enough to know all of the noises and sounds sugar gliders make. If you dont know their regular sounds, how will you know when your sweet sugar gliders are telling you something is wrong?

This article will cover the common noises and sounds your pet sugar gliders will make. It will also discuss some problems your tiny pals might be dealing with, that theyre trying to communicate to you. Finally, well discuss some sounds and noises sugar gliders make that some people find unpleasant.

Sugar Glider Crabbing

One of the main methods sugar gliders have to verbally communicate is by crabbing. Odds are when you first adopt sugar gliders the first sounds you hear them make is crabbing.

What Does a Crabbing Sugar Glider Sound Like?

Some sugar gliders crab so loud and fast that it can be slightly alarming to those who havent heard it before. Its difficult to describe exactly what a crabbing sugar glider sounds like, though some say it is similar to the noise locusts make when they rub their wings together. You can judge for yourself:

Video of a Crabbing Sugar Glider

Why Do Sugar Gliders Crab?

As you can imagine, sugar gliders dont have many ways to fight off predators. While sugar gliders are nocturnal and are able to glide great distances, they also do their best to act intimidating.

Sugar gliders know they dont stand a chance against most other animals, including humans. However, when they dont have any other choice, they will stand up to appear as big as possible and crab.

When kept as pets, this means that when a sugar glider is crabbing they are generally frightened, anxious or in some other way feel unsafe. After you have bonded with your suggies, they will usually stop crabbing at you. Though dont be surprised if they crab when you startle them!

How to Make a Sugar Glider Stop Crabbing

Since sugar gliders crab when they are scared, there is no way to train a sugar glider to never crab again. Some sugar gliders crab much more than others and it may drive you a little crazy.

Remember, sugar gliders use crabbing in the wild to try to scare away other animals. Pet sugar gliders might try this on you too! Its best to not let them think it is working on you. Otherwise, they may keep doing it again and again.

To get your sugar glider to tone down the crabbing, the number one thing you can do is make sure it is bonded with you. Once bonded, your sugar glider will feel secure while youre around and should not crab much at all.

Sugar Glider Barking

When you hear the word bark, dogs are probably the first animal to come to mind. However, many other animals bark too. Monkeys, deer, mice and yes, sugar gliders all bark. In fact, barking is another major way sugar gliders talk.

What Does a Barking Sugar Glider Sound Like?

A sugar gliders bark sounds close to other small animals bark. The bark of a small, yappy dog is probably the closest example that most people are familiar with.

Some sugar gliders have a softer bark than others, and some can be quite loud. This might be something to consider if youre a light sleeper!

While most sugar gliders dont bark all night, you can imagine that a few of them together could still make quite a racket:

Video of a Sugar Glider Barking

Why do Sugar Gliders Bark?

Like dogs when sugar gliders bark it can mean several different things. Being so small, sugar gliders need to constantly be aware of possible danger. As social animals, sometimes a sugar gliders bark is to alert other sugar gliders about a dangerous situation.

Sugar gliders need activity and do best when they live with other sugar gliders. If your sugar glider is lonely, its bark may mean they want you to come play with them.

Other times, your lovable friends might bark to get your attention for another reason. When sugar gliders are hungry or want out of their cage to play, they may bark for you.

While a sugar gliders needs should be met, youll need to determine why they are barking and not train them to beg. Some sugar glider owners try giving their suggies a treat to stop the barking.

That can result in training them to bark when they want a treat. Being woken up nightly by a barking sugar glider requesting a treat isnt an ideal situation!

Sugar Gliders Barking at Night

We just went over some reasons your sugar gliders might bark at night. Some people dont mind their sugar gliders barking at night, but what if you do? Many people dont keep their sugar gliders in their bedroom just for this reason.

If the barking is loud enough to keep you up at night, try getting a night light. Some sugar glider owners report that their noisy but adorable friends stay a lot quieter when there is a night light on.

You dont want anything too bright, or you may risk throwing off their sleeping patterns. While youll never stop all barking, a night light or two may quiet down your sugar gliders.

Sugar Glider Hissing and Sneezing

Like many animals, sugar gliders also make a hissing sound. Unlike other animals, the reason sugar gliders hiss usually isnt because they are frightened or angry. The hissing sound sugar gliders make is also referred to as sneezing.

Why do Sugar Gliders Hiss / Sneeze?

One of the reasons sugar gliders hiss or sneeze is because it is a noise they make while they are grooming. To give themselves a bath, sugar gliders will spit into their hands and use the saliva to clean up.

When they spit the sound is a lot like short bursts of little hisses. Now you know why the hissing sound is also referred to as sneezing!

Another time youll hear your sugar gliders hiss is when they are playing with each other. Getting rowdy and chasing each other around can be all it takes to set off a bout of hissing.

Sugar gliders also use hissing to communicate with each other. Some sugar glider owners take any hiss directed at another sugar glider as an angry or bossy command. However, the truth is we dont exactly know what sugar gliders are trying to say to each other when they hiss from across the cage.

Video of Sugar Glider Sneezing While Grooming

Youll want to turn the volume up loud to hear this one!

Video of Sugar Gliders Hissing While Playing

When Sugar Glider Hissing and Sneezing Can Be a Bad Sign

While hissing is normally not a sign of an angry sugar glider, they have been known to hiss at each other when fighting or otherwise not getting along. Youll need to observe them to make sure you dont have a situation that could cause this, such as not enough feeding areas.

Sugar gliders can get respiratory illnesses. If your sugar glider is making a sneezing sound that sounds closer to wheezing than normal, you might need to take them to the vet.

There have also been cases of sugar glider owners discovering their sweet pals were having medical problems due to hissing. For instance, if your sugar glider is hissing every time they urinate or defecate, they may have a problem.

Hissing and sneezing in different ways and at odd times can be one of many signs or the only sign your sugar glider is in distress. Please consult your exotic pet veterinarian before coming to any conclusions.

Sugar Glider Happy Noises

Sugar glider happy noises are some of the best sounds they make! Whether they are chirping, purring, whistling, or chattering, youll love hearing your sugar gliders make these noises. Sugar gliders will not only make these sounds to each other but after youre bonded, theyll do it to you too!

Why do Sugar Gliders Purr?

Unlike a lot of barking, or loud crabbing, when your sugar glider purrs, youll know everything is right with their world. This is what sugar gliders do when they are feeling blissful. The only downside to a sugar gliders purr is that it is so faint you wont hear it from afar and it is very hard to get on camera to give you an example.

What is Sugar Glider Chirping and Chattering?

When sugar gliders chirp or chatter its another sign you have a happy pet. When a sugar glider chirps and chatters, youll hear a sort of slight clicking sound. Often it is also accompanied by a faint purr as well.

This is the sound many sugar glider owners look forward to the most because many believe it is their lovable pals way of saying I love you!.

Sometimes sugar gliders will even mix in a little whistling or squeaking. This is especially adorable.

Sugar gliders will also make these noises while chowing down a favorite food.

Video Featuring a Chattering and Whistling Sugar Glider

Sugar Glider Singing

When people talk about sugar gliders singing, they arent referring to their suggies creating a beautiful melody thats easy on the ears. Rather, when a sugar glider sings it sounds closer to the tsk-tsk-tsk of a rotating water sprinkler than a song.

Why do Sugar Gliders Sing?

Female sugar gliders sing to their joeys when they are nursing. While they may also be expressing love and adoration for their new offspring, more often they are trying to adjust a nursing joey to a more comfortable position.

After nursing for a while, sugar gliders nipples get sore and a little joey twisting or pulling the wrong way can be painful. Youll often hear a sugar glider sing accompanied by some light squeaking and shaking while she tries to move her joey.

Sometimes youll hear your momma sugar glider singing before you even get to see her joeys.

Video of a Sugar Glider Singing While Nursing

Sugar Glider Crying

Sugar gliders dont have a single sound that is identified as crying. Though they will make noises that sound strained or like a whimper when theyre trying to tell you something is wrong.

We went over crabbing and barking early in this article because sometimes new sugar glider owners confuse those noises with crying. If you havent already, check those videos above.

Summary: Sugar Glider Sounds and Meanings

As you can see, sugar gliders make a variety of sounds each with certain meanings.

When a sugar glider is crabbing it sounds like locusts. Sugar gliders crab when they are scared. Youll never stop a sugar glider from crabbing completely, but when they are bonded to you, they wont crab much at all.

A sugar gliders bark can mean several things. It can be a warning to other sugar gliders, a playful sound, or an attention getter. Dont give your sugar glider a treat every time it barks, or theyll learn they can boss you around.

Sugar gliders making a hissing sound as the clean themselves. They also hiss while playing, and to communicate with each other. If a sugar glider is hissing different than normal or the hissing sounds more like wheezing, they may have a medical problem.

Sugar gliders make a variety of noises when theyre happy. Youll love it when your sugar gliders purrs, chirps, and chatters.

A singing sugar glider doesnt sound much like singing at all. Singing is a noise sugar gliders make when they are nursing.

Knowing why your sugar glider is making their different sounds is an important part of being a responsible owner.