Breeding Sugar Gliders
Breeding
Sugar Gliders are sexually mature at 12-14 months of age. Some may reach sexual maturity at around 8 months of age. Sugar Gliders breed year round and will mate often. The male will hold on to the female’s back with his front feet to keep her from moving during mating.
Sugar Gliders are sexually mature at 12-14 months of age. Some may reach sexual maturity at around 8 months of age. Sugar Gliders breed year round and will mate often. The male will hold on to the female’s back with his front feet to keep her from moving during mating.
Babies
Sugar Gliders can have two or three litters a year and a litter usually produces one or two babies. Gestation takes about 15 to 17 days. After the female gives birth, the extremely tiny babies will climb to the mother’s pouch. It takes about two weeks for the baby to be noticeable in the pouch. The baby will come out of the pouch in about 6 weeks. They will be ready to wean when their eyes have been open for 3-4 weeks and will then be ready to move to their own cage away from their parents. Once the babies have their eyes open, you can handle them for short periods.
Sugar Gliders can have two or three litters a year and a litter usually produces one or two babies. Gestation takes about 15 to 17 days. After the female gives birth, the extremely tiny babies will climb to the mother’s pouch. It takes about two weeks for the baby to be noticeable in the pouch. The baby will come out of the pouch in about 6 weeks. They will be ready to wean when their eyes have been open for 3-4 weeks and will then be ready to move to their own cage away from their parents. Once the babies have their eyes open, you can handle them for short periods.
Sexing
Sexing your glider is easy. Female gliders have a pouch on their stomachs and males will have a small furred scrotum. Males will also have a visible diamond shaped bald spot on the top of their heads. This is a scent gland and absent in the female gliders.
Sexing your glider is easy. Female gliders have a pouch on their stomachs and males will have a small furred scrotum. Males will also have a visible diamond shaped bald spot on the top of their heads. This is a scent gland and absent in the female gliders.
Cage and habitat for sugar glider
You want your sugar glider to be happy and healthy so you should provide him with the best possible home. A great home is safe, secure, and has plenty of room to eat, sleep, and exercise.
Cage
Sugar gliders need room to climb so the cage should be as large as possible. For one glider the cage should be at least 20″ x 20″ x 30″. Since sugar gliders like to climb and prefer their food to be placed high up, a tall cage is best. With your pet’s home, bigger is always better, so go with the largest cage possible. The cage should use wire mesh or metal bars. Tall bird cages often make excellent homes.
Sugar gliders need room to climb so the cage should be as large as possible. For one glider the cage should be at least 20″ x 20″ x 30″. Since sugar gliders like to climb and prefer their food to be placed high up, a tall cage is best. With your pet’s home, bigger is always better, so go with the largest cage possible. The cage should use wire mesh or metal bars. Tall bird cages often make excellent homes.
The cage needs to be in an area that is away from human traffic during the day so your pet can sleep. The cage should be in an area that gets enough light to distinguish between night and day, but avoid direct sunlight.
Nesting Box
Being nocturnal, your sugar glider will need a nesting box to sleep in during the day. The nesting box can be a cloth pouch with a slit in front and attached to the side of the cage, a wooden birdhouse, or even a plastic hamster house.
Being nocturnal, your sugar glider will need a nesting box to sleep in during the day. The nesting box can be a cloth pouch with a slit in front and attached to the side of the cage, a wooden birdhouse, or even a plastic hamster house.
Bedding & Substrate
Wood shavings, shredded plain paper, or bedding made from recycled paper can be used on the floor of the cage and will help to absorb urine, droppings, and dropped fruit. There are many suitable commercial beddings available. Whichever substrate you choose should be non-toxic, in case your pet eats it, and good at absorbing waste.
Wood shavings, shredded plain paper, or bedding made from recycled paper can be used on the floor of the cage and will help to absorb urine, droppings, and dropped fruit. There are many suitable commercial beddings available. Whichever substrate you choose should be non-toxic, in case your pet eats it, and good at absorbing waste.
Food & Water
Heavy flat bottom dishes or dishes that attach to the sides of the cage are best for food and water. Sugar gliders like to eat up high so containers that attach to the side of the cage often work best. A stoppered water bottle that attaches to the cage is an excellent choice for water.
Heavy flat bottom dishes or dishes that attach to the sides of the cage are best for food and water. Sugar gliders like to eat up high so containers that attach to the side of the cage often work best. A stoppered water bottle that attaches to the cage is an excellent choice for water.
Decor
Sugar Gliders love to climb, so climbing branches should be provided in the cage area. Make sure you use non-toxic wood. When your pet strips the bark on the branches or the branches become soiled replace them with fresh branches.
Sugar Gliders love to climb, so climbing branches should be provided in the cage area. Make sure you use non-toxic wood. When your pet strips the bark on the branches or the branches become soiled replace them with fresh branches.
Toys
Sugar Gliders like to play and will enjoy bird toys, ladders, chew toys, tunnels, and bells. Solid exercise wheels and run about balls can also be exciting toys for your pet sugar glider.
Sugar Gliders like to play and will enjoy bird toys, ladders, chew toys, tunnels, and bells. Solid exercise wheels and run about balls can also be exciting toys for your pet sugar glider.
Health and Illness of a sugar glider
Sugar Gliders that have been fed a proper diet, have a good home, and receive all the attention they need are healthy and happy pets. But even with proper care, sometimes illness or injury can occur. Some of the more common health concerns are listed below.
Calcium Deficiency
Symptoms of calcium deficiency are lameness, paralysis, and difficulty moving. To prevent calcium deficiency, feed your glider calcium rich foods and provide a calcium supplement.
Symptoms of calcium deficiency are lameness, paralysis, and difficulty moving. To prevent calcium deficiency, feed your glider calcium rich foods and provide a calcium supplement.
Constipation
Sugar Gliders may become constipated if not fed enough roughage in their diet. Symptoms are a hard distended stomach, difficulty defecating, and hard dry stool.
Sugar Gliders may become constipated if not fed enough roughage in their diet. Symptoms are a hard distended stomach, difficulty defecating, and hard dry stool.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea can be from eating too much citrus fruit, stress, or other causes. Your pet can quickly become dehydrated and die if the problem persists and is left untreated.
Diarrhea can be from eating too much citrus fruit, stress, or other causes. Your pet can quickly become dehydrated and die if the problem persists and is left untreated.
Injury
Your sugar glider may receive open wounds, torn claws, or broken bones from accidents and other unforeseen events. Veterinarian aid is advised for any severe injuries.
Your sugar glider may receive open wounds, torn claws, or broken bones from accidents and other unforeseen events. Veterinarian aid is advised for any severe injuries.
Obesity
Gliders fed a diet of fatty foods may become overweight. If your pet is overweight, reduce the amount of fatty foods in his diet. Sugar gliders of proper weight live happier and healthier lives.
Gliders fed a diet of fatty foods may become overweight. If your pet is overweight, reduce the amount of fatty foods in his diet. Sugar gliders of proper weight live happier and healthier lives.
Parasites
Parasites common to the sugar glider are ticks, mites, fleas, lice, roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm. Advice from a veterinarian is helpful in determining the correct treatment depending on the type of parasite.
Parasites common to the sugar glider are ticks, mites, fleas, lice, roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm. Advice from a veterinarian is helpful in determining the correct treatment depending on the type of parasite.
Stress
Stress can be caused by a poor diet, illness, dirty cage, a small or overcrowded cage, over-handling, loneliness, boredom, excessive heat or cold, or one of many other possible reasons. Symptoms may be loss of appetite, excessive eating, excessive sleeping, or frantically circling the cage..
Stress can be caused by a poor diet, illness, dirty cage, a small or overcrowded cage, over-handling, loneliness, boredom, excessive heat or cold, or one of many other possible reasons. Symptoms may be loss of appetite, excessive eating, excessive sleeping, or frantically circling the cage..
Food and Diet for sugar glider
Food & Diet
Your sugar glider’s diet should contain a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and about 1/4 of its food should have protein. Gliders tend to prefer fruits and vegetables that have a sweet taste. Gliders should not be fed raw sugar, sugar substitutes, candy and never give your glider chocolate. If possible, all fruits and vegetables fed to your glider should be fresh and not canned. Below are some of the items you could feed your pet.
Fruits & Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables you could feed your sugar glider are apples, avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, carrots, sweet corn, figs, grapes, grapefruit, mangoes, oranges, peaches, pears, pineapples, sweet potatoes, and many others.
Fruits and vegetables you could feed your sugar glider are apples, avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, carrots, sweet corn, figs, grapes, grapefruit, mangoes, oranges, peaches, pears, pineapples, sweet potatoes, and many others.
Protein Foods
Small pieces of cooked lean cuts of meat or poultry without any additional spices or sauces are good sources of protein. Hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, and tofu are also other protein options.
Small pieces of cooked lean cuts of meat or poultry without any additional spices or sauces are good sources of protein. Hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, and tofu are also other protein options.
Dry Cat Food or Dog Food
Dry cat food and dog food can be used as a source of protein but should be used sparingly. These foods are not designed for sugar gliders and may not fill the nutritional needs of your pet.
Dry cat food and dog food can be used as a source of protein but should be used sparingly. These foods are not designed for sugar gliders and may not fill the nutritional needs of your pet.
Treats
Sugar Gliders love live insects. Crickets, mealworms, and earthworms are easily attainable insects. Don’t feed your glider insects that have been collected outside where they may have been contaminated with pesticides. Although great sources of protein, insects should only be used as treats due to their high fat content.
Sugar Gliders love live insects. Crickets, mealworms, and earthworms are easily attainable insects. Don’t feed your glider insects that have been collected outside where they may have been contaminated with pesticides. Although great sources of protein, insects should only be used as treats due to their high fat content.
Nuts are extremely popular treats with sugar gliders. The nuts should be raw and unsalted and be given out sparingly. Although loved by gliders, nuts are high in fat.
Supplements
Sugar gliders can sometimes be picky eaters. Even with a well balanced diet your pet may be lacking in important vitamins and minerals. Reptile multivitamin and calcium with D3 supplements can help make sure you have a happy healthy pet. Even though sugar gliders aren’t reptiles, the reptile supplements are convenient, affordable, and supply the needed dietary vitamins and minerals.
Sugar gliders can sometimes be picky eaters. Even with a well balanced diet your pet may be lacking in important vitamins and minerals. Reptile multivitamin and calcium with D3 supplements can help make sure you have a happy healthy pet. Even though sugar gliders aren’t reptiles, the reptile supplements are convenient, affordable, and supply the needed dietary vitamins and minerals.
Water
Even though sugar gliders drink very little and get most of their water from food, fresh water should always be available for your pet. A stoppered water bottle is a great way to keep water available.
Even though sugar gliders drink very little and get most of their water from food, fresh water should always be available for your pet. A stoppered water bottle is a great way to keep water available.
Sugar Glider
Sugar gliders are native to Australia, Tasmania, Indonesia and Papua-New Guinea. Their descriptive name comes from their love of sweet foods and a membrane that allows them to glide. Sugar gliders are marsupials which means that they raise their young in a pouch on the mother’s belly. They are small mammals and adults weigh between 4 and 5 ounces.
Sugar gliders have gray fur and a cream colored chest and stomach with a black stripe running the full length of the spine. They have large, hairless ears that move independently of each other and are in constant motion to pick up sounds.
The tail of the sugar glider is used for stability and balance. During gliding it acts as a rudder to control the direction of flight. A membrane of skin reaches from the wrist to the ankle and it is this membrane that gives them the ability to glide.
Sugar Gliders As Pets
Sugar gliders recognize the people that handle them and express affection and displeasure. They are social animals and do better in pairs. Sugar gliders can be very vocal and loud and bark much like a small dog.
Sugar gliders recognize the people that handle them and express affection and displeasure. They are social animals and do better in pairs. Sugar gliders can be very vocal and loud and bark much like a small dog.
Sugar gliders can live up to 15 years in captivity. They do need fresh fruit daily and a reasonably larger cage is necessary for their home. Although they do require some work, sugar gliders can make fun, enjoyable, and loving pets.
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