Why not to buy sugar gliders

Everything You Need to Know About Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders are fascinating and adorable creatures that have been gaining popularity as pets in recent years. If you are considering getting a sugar glider as a pet, its essential to understand everything about them to ensure you can provide the care they need. In this article, we will cover the origin and natural habitat, physical characteristics, lifespan and health of sugar gliders, as well as their pros and cons as pets, necessary care and maintenance, and dietary requirements. Additionally, we will delve into sugar glider behavior and socialization, legal and ethical considerations of ownership, and how to find a reputable sugar glider breeder.

Understanding Sugar Gliders

Origin and Natural Habitat

Sugar gliders are small marsupials native to Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. They are arboreal animals, meaning they live predominantly in trees. In the wild, sugar gliders inhabit forests and woodlands, where they glide from tree to tree using the patagium, a thin membrane of skin that stretches between their wrists and ankles.

These nocturnal creatures spend their days sleeping in tree hollows and emerge at night to forage for food. Sugar gliders are social animals and live in groups called colonies, which consist of one male, multiple females, and their offspring.

Physical Characteristics

Sugar gliders have a distinct appearance that sets them apart from other small mammals. They are about the size of a squirrel, with a body length of approximately six inches. Their fur is soft and covers their body in a pattern of gray to brown shades, while their belly is lighter in color.

One of the most unique features of sugar gliders is their large, gliding membrane. When extended, the patagium allows them to glide for impressive distances, which helps them traverse between trees and locate food sources.

Lifespan and Health

In the wild, sugar gliders have an average lifespan of seven to nine years. However, with proper care, sugar gliders can live up to 12-15 years in captivity. Ensuring a healthy diet, regular veterinary care, and a safe environment are crucial in promoting their longevity.

Like any pets, sugar gliders are prone to certain health issues, including nutritional deficiencies, dental problems, and obesity. Its important to provide them with a balanced diet and regular exercise to prevent these problems. Additionally, finding a knowledgeable exotic veterinarian who specializes in sugar glider care is essential for their overall health and well-being.

Sugar Gliders as Pets

Pros and Cons

Deciding whether or not to get a sugar glider as a pet requires careful consideration of the pros and cons. On one hand, sugar gliders are incredibly cute and can form strong bonds with their human caregivers. They are highly social animals and enjoy interacting with their owners.

However, sugar gliders require a significant amount of time, attention, and commitment. They have specific dietary and environmental needs that must be met to ensure a happy and healthy life. Additionally, their nocturnal nature may not be suitable for everyone, as they are most active during the night.

Necessary Care and Maintenance

Providing proper care for a sugar glider involves several key considerations. First and foremost, they require a spacious cage that allows them to climb, glide, and explore. The enclosure should include branches, toys, and hammocks for enrichment.

Additionally, sugar gliders need a balanced diet consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, protein sources, and a specialized pellet mix designed specifically for them. Its crucial to avoid foods high in sugar, such as chocolate and processed snacks, as these can be harmful to their health.

Dietary Requirements

To ensure that your sugar glider receives proper nutrition, its important to provide a balanced diet that replicates their natural feeding habits. The majority of their diet should consist of fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apples, oranges, carrots, and leafy greens.

Protein is essential for their overall health, and it can be supplied through cooked chicken, eggs, or commercially available insect-based diets. Additionally, offering a variety of live insects can provide mental stimulation and mimic their natural foraging behaviors.

Sugar Glider Behavior and Socialization

Common Behaviors

Sugar gliders exhibit a range of interesting behaviors that contribute to their unique charm. They are highly energetic and agile, spending their waking hours climbing, gliding, and exploring their environment. Gliding allows them to cover large distances effortlessly, making it a fascinating sight to behold.

Another notable behavior of sugar gliders is their ability to bond with their owners. They form strong attachments and enjoy interactive playtime. They are also known for their vocalizations, including chirps, barks, and hisses, which they use to communicate with one another.

Socialization Needs

Due to their social nature, sugar gliders require regular interaction and bonding with their owners. Its important to spend dedicated time with them each day, engaging in activities that stimulate their minds and bodies. This can include providing toys, playing games, and allowing them to explore outside their cage in a safe, supervised manner.

Its worth noting that sugar gliders should not be housed alone, as they thrive in the company of other sugar gliders. When considering sugar glider ownership, it is recommended to get at least two gliders to ensure their social needs are met.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Legality of Ownership

Before deciding to bring a sugar glider into your home, its essential to research and understand the legal regulations regarding their ownership in your area. While sugar gliders are legal to own as pets in some countries and states, there are restrictions in place in other regions.

Its crucial to check with local authorities, such as wildlife departments or pet ownership committees, to ensure that you can legally and responsibly keep sugar gliders as pets. Violating ownership laws can result in legal consequences and potential harm to the gliders themselves.

Ethical Implications

In addition to legal considerations, there are also ethical implications to owning sugar gliders. Due to their high maintenance needs and specific environmental requirements, some argue that keeping sugar gliders as pets may not be suitable for everyone.

Its important to assess your ability to meet their needs and provide a suitable home before committing to ownership. Additionally, its recommended to adopt a sugar glider from a reputable breeder or consider rescuing one from a sugar glider-specific rescue organization to ensure ethical sourcing.

Finding a Sugar Glider Breeder

What to Look for in a Breeder

When searching for a sugar glider breeder, its crucial to find a reputable and responsible breeder who prioritizes the health and welfare of their gliders. Look for breeders who have a good reputation in the sugar glider community, participate in glider associations, and provide ongoing support and education for new owners.

Additionally, a reputable breeder will ensure that their gliders receive proper veterinary care, are well-socialized, and have appropriate lineage records. Avoid breeders who prioritize quantity over quality, as this may indicate a lack of care and knowledge regarding proper breeding practices.

Preparing for Your Sugar Gliders Arrival

Once you have chosen a reputable breeder and are ready to bring a sugar glider into your home, its crucial to prepare adequately for their arrival. This includes setting up their enclosure with the necessary supplies and creating a safe and enriching environment.

Ensure that you have a suitable cage or enclosure, along with toys, perches, and bedding materials. Stock up on the appropriate food items, including fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as a high-quality pellet mix. Its also beneficial to establish a relationship with a knowledgeable exotic veterinarian who can provide ongoing healthcare for your new pet.

By taking the time to research and prepare, you can ensure that your sugar gliders transition into your home is smooth and that they receive the care and attention they need to thrive.

Conclusion

Sugar gliders are captivating pets that require a comprehensive understanding to provide them with a suitable home. From understanding their origin and natural habitat to considering their dietary requirements and socialization needs, its crucial to prioritize their well-being at every stage.

In addition to the necessary care and maintenance, its important to be aware of the legal and ethical considerations of owning sugar gliders. By finding a reputable breeder and preparing adequately, you can embark on a rewarding journey with these unique and enchanting creatures.

How Much Do Sugar Gliders Cost? And Where to Buy Them?

Beady eyes, long tails, cute paws, and a tiny size have made Sugar Gliders one of the most sought after exotic pets in a number of countries. These tiny marsupials, with their fuzzy feel and absolutely adorable looks, have been reigning the territory of our hearts ever since weve laid eyes on them.

If you ever saw a Sugar Glider at a friends place or on that busy Subway while walking to your office, you may have thought you could use a companion as chocolate some as a Sugar Glider.

Since these are exotic pets, you obviously know they arent going to come off cheap, and they are nowhere next to inexpensive when it comes to taking care of them.

So, here is a manifested guide to know how much Sugar Gliders cost to buy and take care of

How much do Sugar Gliders cost?

Considering both buying and petting expenses, Sugar Gliders are pretty premium priced. Since these pets arent available in just any pet shop down the lane (unless you are thinking of backyard breeders, which we HIGHLY discourage), buying a Sugar Glider from a professional breeder or an exotic pet shop if your city has one can cost you anywhere between $300 $800 dollars.

The drastic gap in the range is mainly dependent on the age of the Glider and the reputation of the breeder or the exotic shop. For an old Sugar Glider (over 12 weeks), you can expect to pay about $250- $300 on average; however, the babies that are 8 to 12 weeks old are sold for over $400.

The cost of the SG also depends on its health, color, temperament, or physical attributes; thus, if you want to buy a Sugar Glider, contact multiple breeders (licensed, and we cant stress enough about it) or shops before settling the deal with one.

These creatures do not come on the cheap, and just in case you found a breeder that offers you an unbelievably low price, its not your lucky day. There are high chances that the animal is inbred or illegally imported (remember what we said about the plastic bottles) or carry some diseases or health issues, which is why the breeder is trying to get rid of it as soon as he can.

There are high chances of inbred or unethically bred Sugar Gliders to carry Salmonella or suffer from genetic diseases that they will never be able to recover from in the future.

To be succinct, DO NOT SEEK TO BUY A SUGAR GLIDER IN CHEAP!

How much does it cost to take care of a Sugar Glider?

Buying a Sugar Glider isnt where your responsibility ends. They are equally premium-priced when it comes to their maintenance and care.

A Sugar Glider needs to jump, run, glide, climb and do everything that it usually does in the wild to stay healthy. This means it needs a large space and an expensive gigantic cage when its not roaming around in the house.

It also has a specialized diet and needs to be left under a professionals watch if you are going out for a while. The additional vet bills again spike up the price of petting and taking care of a Sugar Glider.

How much does a cage for a Sugar Glider cost?

Considering the fact that we are talking about large vivariums and not a typical guinea pig cage, a medium-sized cage to provide ample space to your Glider can cost around $40 $60 dollars, but the prices can escalate if you opt for a mammoth-sized cage (which wouldnt be so mammoth for your Glider).

To eradicate the monotony from simple four-walled confinement, it is suggested to add accessories and toys to the cage, such as hiding holes, hammocks, and climbing posts. These additional accessories can be purchased from any pet shop and cost an extra of $10 $25.

Whether you pet a Sugar Glider or not, these marsupials are better left alone in their natural habitat amidst the rustling leaves and the grassy grounds where they can not only live like an animal deserves to but also grow up and interact with their own pack.

How much does it cost to feed a Sugar Glider?

Given a ball-park estimate, it costs about $5 dollars a month to feed your Sugar Glider, a diet that contains only veggies and fresh fruits. However, in order to provide daily meals of high nutritional density, you also need to pack in protein in their diet, either plant or animal-based, which makes an additional cost of $15.

The Sugar Glider also needs to be provided with calcium multivitamins so it doesnt fall prey to bone fractures and health issues associated with calcium imbalance. These supplements can cost $8 $10. A special pellet for Sugar Gliders, ideally Glider Complete, costs $31.99 for 5 lbs and can be an easy and highly nutritious meal for your Glider that rounds up all nutrients in one.

What are the additional vet bills that you may have to incur for a Sugar Glider?

A one-nighter emergency room in a hospital for a sick Sugar Glider is charged at approximately $400. A five-day intake program, on the other hand, can cost anywhere between $1000 $1500, which includes a 24-hour watch on the sick Sugar Glider and emergency treatments.

What should you feed a Pet Sugar Glider?

The Sugar Gliders diet should compose meals that contain calcium and phosphorus in the ratio of 2:1. They should consume 15-20% of their body weight daily, and an ideal Sugar Glider food consists of pelleted kibbles that make up of their meals, Leadbeater mixture, or any nectar or sap mixture that gives them enough nutrients without balancing out on the phosphorus.

Since calcium is one of the most crucial minerals that an SG should never be deficient in, it should be given a calcium-based multivitamin supplement daily. Apart from this, the meal should comprise fruits and vegetables that are preferably not canned and fresh. You should also keep some special kibble made just for Sugar Gliders available for them at all times.

They should always be given a treat of insects rich in protein or powdered with protein every other day.

What fruits to feed your Sugar Glider?

Ideally, you can feed your Glider a mixed fruit meal of apples, avocados, figs, grapes, mangoes, pineapples, and pears. Mixing these up refrains the Glider from picking out a favorite fruit.

Peaches, oranges, and cantaloupe are also equally great options for an SGs meal.

What vegetables to feed your Sugar Glider?

Sweet potatoes, sugar corn, tomatoes, DSLVs, or dark green leafy vegetables make for great meals for a Sugar Glider.

Hard-boiled and shelled eggs are the best and easiest options for a protein-rich diet for a Sugar Glider. Yogurt and cottage cheese can be relatively inexpensive protein options. Sugar Gliders, being omnivorous, also enjoy feeding on cooked lean meat cut into slices.

Tofu is a great replacement for cottage cheese to fill the protein requirement of Sugar Gliders.

If you are trying to go for easier alternatives, say, dog, or cat food, wed stop you right here. Dog and cat foods may be a high source of protein, but they are sparingly designed to be consumed by Sugar Gliders and do not check into all the nutritional requirements of these tiny marsupials.

What treats to give to your Sugar Glider?

Earthworms, crickets, and other live insects that are easily attainable make great treats for your favorite exotic pet. Keep in mind to not feed your Sugar Glider an insect caught outside in your lawn or one that has been feeding on pesticides.

Insects should only be used as treats on a gap of 2-3 days because of their high-fat content, which can be counterproductive if fed daily.

There are insects, and then there are NUTS that are the star-treats of Sugar Gliders. Unsalted and raw nuts are ideal treats for Sugar Gliders.

What supplements to give to your Sugar Glider?

Any calcium-enriched multivitamin supplement would be good to go for a Sugar Glider. However, a reptile multibit supplement is a preferably better option for Sugar Gliders.

No, Carol, they are not reptiles!

Is it Illegal to own a Sugar Glider?

Well, the legality depends on where you stay.

Native to Australia, Sugar Gliders are banned as pets in all parts of Australia, the simple reason being the fact that they are wild animals and shouldnt be kept captive. Making them peer at the outside world where theres lush, and branches from within a cage are utterly inadmissible and immoral, which is why the Australian government doesnt allow the export or sale of Sugar Gliders as pets.

In the U.S., Sugar Gliders are considered novelties and can be kept as pets legally in almost all cities and parts, except for the states of Alaska, California, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania.

There are special regulations in Georgia, New Mexico, and a few other states that you should read through and abide by before you venture out to buy a Sugar Glider. Some cities such as California, Minnesota, NY, and St. Paul have also banned their residents from keeping Sugar Gliders as pets.

The United Kingdom, on the other hand, has been seeing surging demand for Sugar Gliders as pets. With almost no prohibitions or license required to buy or pet Sugar Gliders, it is easier to consider buying Sugar Gliders as novelties in the United States.

A number of countries have illegalized the owning or buying of Sugar Gliders, and some have made it only borderline legal to enjoy Sugar Gliders as pets in your home.

With all that said and done, why is it so hard to find a pet shop selling Sugar Gliders? Due to regulations on the import of Sugar Gliders, myriad countries have banned the export of these beady-eyed marsupials, which is why they are sporadically found in pet shops.

Apart from this, the neglect and abuse of Sugar Gliders in the U.K. or the U.S. result in the banning, hefty fine, or prison sentence of a certain timeframe, which is why most breeders and sellers do not risk themselves with these novelties (for good).

How to check the legality of Sugar Gliders as pets in your state?

Laws for breeding, selling and petting a Sugar Glider or any other exotic pet for that fact keep varying from year-to-year and place-to-place. If you want to buy a Sugar Glider in your state and you arent sure if they are legally sold or allowed to be owned by your state government, heres what you can do:

• Look up online, and if you are still in ambiguity, wanting to know further, call local government agencies and ask them about the legalities. You can call the city hall or county office to request further details on whether you can own a Sugar Glider where you live.
• The best and the easiest way to be sure is to go to a local pet shop and ask them if Sugar Gliders are legal around the place. If you feel misled, you can contact a local official and find out more.
• If you are still unsure (you shouldnt be to this point), scrutinize and contact your province or state government or get in touch with a state official who can inform you of the jurisdiction of the state and legalities regarding Sugar Gliders or any other novelty pets.

Why Should You not Buy Sugar Gliders?

1.Most Sugar Gliders are bred and sold with cruelty.

No, its not about the legalities, its not about the affordability or the adaptations, but in the end, it all boils down to how they are farmed and bred. Due to legal issues and regulations levied on their import, export, and handling, many breeders resort to illegal and immoral methods to breed these pint-sized adore balls.

According to PETA, a significant portion of Sugar Gliders live in hellish conditions before being sold to the owner, and a lot of exporters bottle them, literally, in plastic bottles before selling them in some dodgy backyard sale.

When these breeders should be reported for cruelty and mishandling, a number of novelty-obsessed people buy Sugar Gliders from breeders like these, which eventually leads to increasing demand and freedom to treat these delicate marsupials like stuffed toys.

The relatively low production of Sugar Gliders because the females give birth only once or twice in the whole year to only one to two baby SGs, leads to unethical breeding of Sugar Gliders.

Overbreeding often results in trauma, shortened lifespan, stillborn offsprings, and infertility in the mother Sugar Gliders. The baby Gliders born through overbreeding or inbreeding are highly vulnerable to mental instability, genetic disorders, dwarfism and increased risk of diseases, the fracturing of bones, and a weak skeletal structure.

Think of this as pedigree dog breeding.

Buying exotic pets or Sugar Gliders accelerates the rise of such breeders who, in order to make some hard cash, treat animals with sheer harshness and cruelty. However, if you still want a Sugar Glider, one way to go with this would be to only purchase from professional and licensed breeders who guarantee the safety of both the parents and the offspring.

To put a stop to the cruelty that these marsupials are met with, we encourage adopting a Sugar Glider from someone in close vicinity or a shelter instead of buying them.

2.Sugar Gliders are expensive to buy and pet.

Do you know what is synonymous with exotic? For us, its a truckload of money (just an analogy). Earlier the chinchillas and now Sugar Gliders, the demand for exotic pets keeps changing, but the one thing that remains constant is the -burn-a-hole-in-the-wallet price tag that comes attached to them.

Not only are Sugar Gliders expensive to buy, but they are also expensive to keep. There are multiple reasons to such as:

• A specialized diet
• A specialized vet care
• A huge place and access to a gargantuan cage
• An additional partner (not necessary, but SGs like to live in colonies, and if not a colony, they love a partner SG)

3.They are nocturnal animals.

Sugar Gliders are nocturnal marsupials who prefer to sleep during the day. If they are unable to adjust to your schedules, they will keep lazing and slugging around during the day and forage for their toys and make all the noise they can in the world at nighttime.

However, just like cats (that too are nocturnal), Sugar Gliders can be trained to sleep at night and possibly bless you with some good-night sleep instead of doing acrobatics in the house. If you do not train your Sugar Glider to transform its sleep mechanisms, it will possibly be asleep during the day and look for darker and quiet environments to sleep.

If they are not given a dark and quiet environment to sleep in the day (unless trained), the disturbed sleep pattern can seriously affect their health.

What can you do? The best that you can do is carry these pint-sized babies in your pocket where it isnt just dark but also snuggly so they can catch some zzzs.

If youre worried about them pooping or peeing in your pocket as you sit in a restaurant or visit a friends home, let us tell you that they are super clean animals who do not like to mess up where they sleep or eat. Though they cant be potty-trained, they surely keep themselves squeaky clean by not defecating in their cafe or your pocket, for that fact.

PS: They may urinate or defecate if they are frightened or injured while you carry them, so theres that.

4.They are highly social and active animals.

There are social butterflies, and then theres the Sugar Glider. Sugar Gliders are extremely social animals who need attention more than your dog does (no offense!). Just like other pets who yearn for attention, except for the cold and desolate ones, Sugar Gliders, if left unattended, fall into depression, which can lead them to fall sick often or potentially die a premature death.

A lot of pet owners are completely oblivious to the fact that buying an exotic pet or ANY pet isnt where it ends; giving them ample attention and nurturing them with care is of paramount importance to keep them healthy and happy. Sugar Gliders are no exception.

If you work a 9 to 5 job or have chores that exhaust all your time, you should not consider buying a Sugar Glider. These, apart from care, also need specialized attention in terms of diet, sleep, and health, which is often looked over by many owners that eventually induce illness or even death to the poor animals.

If you can not provide enough attention to your Sugar Glider or you do not have an alternative to leaving it on its own for extended periods, locked up in a cage, you can buy an additional Sugar Glider, so they can keep each other company.

What we mean to say is, If they cant buy your attention, you have to buy them a companion.

In the wild, Sugar Gliders live in packs or colonies; thus, isolating a Glider from its natural habitat and pack is somewhat unjust. However, there is no hard and fast rule that you have to have a pair when you are buying a Sugar Glider. It can do well on its own, but in that case, it will need a significant portion of your attention.

There are certain signs that say your Sugar Glider needs a companion:

• It doesnt eat its food.
• It keeps sleeping all the time, whether the days burning bright or during the night.
• They do not move a lot.
• They keep sitting in one place instead of playing at times when they were usually the most active before.

If you notice any of these signs, its highly probable that the Glider is depressed and is in need of a companion.

This means putting a dent in your pocket and buying another exotic pet. So, what do you do? Dont buy the first one, to begin with!

5.They need massive space to live and play.

This is a hard pill that most Sugar Glider owners can not swallow. Just because Sugar Gliders are small, it doesnt mean you can make a snuggly home for it in a worn shoe-box that you found in the basement.

No! Sugar Gliders are marsupials who jump and climb branches, gliding from tree to tree in their natural environment. In the wild, they reign their own kingdom and have stellar space to play and live in.

These little acrobats, as mentioned, are highly active and should not be refrained from jumping, climbing, and of course, GLIDING and running within their own space.

When they are locked up within the four walls of your home, we arent going to advise you to write your houses deed in their name (just a joke), but they do need ample space to be able to live comfortably without feeling claustrophobic.

This translates to the fact that Sugar Gliders need cages that arent just the regular rat or degu cages. Sugar Glider owners, who care enough about their pets, should build an indoor cage resembling an aviary or large vivariums that are at least 4 feet high and double up in width. Its simple the larger space, the happier the Glider.

Since most households can not offer this much space to their Gliders, it is highly advisable to not buy them and confine them in a small apparatus, which in turn is a great compromisation to not just their play but their health in general.

6.Sugar Gliders have a specialized diet.

In the wild, Sugar Gliders consume eucalyptus gum, sap, and nectar. They also feed on a substantial amount of honeydew, and these omnivores regularly feed on bird eggs and small insects rich in protein.

In proportions, Sugar Gliders consume 75% gums, sap, and nectar, including honeydew. The rest, 25%, is composed of insects and flesh, which translates to baby birds or eggs of small birds.

With such a refined spectrum of diet, it is almost impossible to reiterate and duplicate their diet in captivity. If the nutrient requirements arent met, the Gliders suffer from a number of health conditions.

Improper diet makes Sugar Gliders prone to diseases and bone fracture.

So, maybe you thought missing out on a proper meal (weve discussed what proper meal is for Sugar Gliders in captivity on the top) one fine day would really do nothing to your Glider. Maybe you craved an all-junk Sunday, abandoning a clean diet, and you thought maybe your Sugar Glider could use some fast food too.

THATS WHERE YOUD GO WRONG!

An improper diet, one potentially rich in phosphorus and low in calcium, can lead to the leaching of calcium from the bones of the Sugar Glider. Scientifically speaking (yes, Einstein), Sugar Gliders, if deprived of Calcium in their food and fed with more phosphorus, will have softened bones which will be highly vulnerable to fractures.

Apart from susceptibility to fractures, Sugar Gliders, if fed an improper diet, are prone to metabolic bone diseases and innumerable other problems that come in parallel with calcium and phosphorus imbalance.

With that many troubles that come stringing behind the absence of a strategic meal diet, you do not only have to be utterly careful and cautious, but you also cant leave them to just anybody else when going on that much-dreamt trip to Hawaii.

Unless you are in contact with a professional watcher to take care of your Sugar Glider while youre away, forget going on holiday!

Fun Facts about Sugar Gliders

1. Sugar Gliders lean back and emit chattering sounds in order to warn their opponent when they get angry, and they strike the opponent with full force if the warning attempt is unsuccessful.
2. A Female Sugar Glider can simultaneously produce two types of milk in each nipple suitable according to the ages of two different Joeys or baby Sugar Gliders.
3. Sugar Gliders have a unique mechanism that helps them to move freely between trees; they have a gliding membrane between their wrist and ankles, which during a flight, which they can control in aspects of shape and size. This allows them to change the position of limbs and glide in the direction they want to.
4. A Sugar Glider can glide up to 45 meters, and with the help of their sharp claws, they cling onto nearby branches after finishing the glide.
5. Male Sugar Gliders have a special scent gland that is found on their forehead and chest; they use their scent to mark the members of the group for identification.
6. Sugar Gliders have a wide variety of vocalizations, and they can produce barking, crabbing, chattering, and hissing sounds to communicate.
7. With the help of their 180-degree flexible ankle bone, the Sugar Gliders can easily climb down vertical tree trunks headfirst.
8. Sugar Gliders have a grooming comb made up of two webbed toes located on their hind limbs.
9. The Sugar Gliders got their name because of their love for sweet foods (not refined sugar), which includes honey, sap, and acacia gum. Their gliding membrane forms the other part of their name.
10. Sugar Gliders are nocturnal marsupials; their large eyes help them to see at night, and their ears help them to locate prey in the dark.
11. During the daytime, they sleep in their personalized nests made of leaf twigs.