Sugar Glider owner's basic manual

Many people chose to adopt a Sugar Glider to be their pet because they are cute, cuddly and entertaining as well as exotic in nature.

Before thinking of having Sugar Gliders as pets, the owners to be are advised to have some Sugar Glider knowledge about these cute little pets. Do some research to know and understand its needs, characteristic, how they live and things that relates to them. Just like other exotic pet they tend to have their own unique requirements as they are not a domesticated pet like cats or dogs.

Sugar Glider is an omnivore also a nocturnal animal; they feed on plants and insects. In the wild they favored sweet foods like nectar, fruits, sweet sap such as from eucalyptus, acacia and gum trees, insects and small vertebrates. It’s active during the night gliding from tree to tree in search of foods and spends most of the daytime sleeping.

In captivity as a pet, Sugar Gliders’ diet need to be varied consisting of protein (meat, insect etc), fresh fruits and vegetables, and also supplement of calcium. Nowadays commercial dry and soft Sugar Glider pallets foods are easily available on the market, but it is not recommended that these become their staple food. It is always better to have fresh food source for your Sugar Glider in addition to commercial food.

Calcium is also crucial to Sugar Gliders’ diet; there are products on the market catered for them. The common problem of the Sugar Gliders’ health is the imbalance of phosphorous and calcium in their diet. Too much phosphorous leads to the blockage of other nutrients, this can cause malnourishment, foods that have calcium substance has always an equal amount of phosphorous. Food supplement that are rich in calcium is highly recommended to prevent diseases that are cause of phosphorous.

Sugar Gliders are social animals, in the wild they live in groups of 10 to 15 members. They love and get along the company of other Sugar Gliders very well. Due to this fact, owners should also consider adopting at least a pair when buying them. As a pet they can be very playful, it is also their social nature that allows them to develop bonds with their owners. In order to bond with their new Sugar Gliders, many owners’ carry them around in a bonding pouch for several hours a day. They need to have a social interaction and attention from their owners, they can get bored and lonely if left alone for a long period. They may usually become depressed, withdrawn, and defensive and may also refuse to eat. The more time you spend with them the stronger the bonds is.

In captivity a Sugar Glider can live from 12 to 15 years. They can be trained to perform tricks gliding from one place to another. Owners should be alert and be aware of their gliders when they are playing out of their cage.

Sugar Glider requires a tall cage rather than a wide ones, in the wild they are tree dwellers therefore they feel safer high up. The minimum height is about 30 inches, but some breeders and experts recommend using 24x36 inches cage which is a good size for a pair of Sugar Glider. In most cases the bigger the better it is, though the cage for Sugar Glider doesn’t focus on the floor so much but rather on its height. Owners should fill their cages with exercising wheels, toys, ladders, branches and ropes as to entice their glider to be active. Gliders are playful animal but if they are not active they tends to be obese and this creates problem to the owner.

It is recommended that they are allowed to play outside the cage for several hours in a glider safe room supervised by the owner. Sugar Gliders are cute and cuddly; children should be supervised by adults when they play around Sugar Glider.

Important Sugar Glider Info Every Owner Should Not Go Without

This pet appears to be among the most fragile creatures on earth, but this doesn't mean that children and adult cant handle them nicely. Always be certain that this animal should not be squeeze by your children by handling them. Always be careful while playing with them.

Given the factors that this pets are nocturnal, they can be easy to handle during the morning before they sleep or in the night after they wake up. This sugar glider info is true; it's hard to bond with them while they are asleep, owners should wait until they are fully awake before bonding with them. When the pet get along with their owners, they can be easier to play with.

Owners should also learn the sleeping habits of the sugar glider. Disrupting the normal sleeping habit can be irritable for them and may cause crabbiness that can turn to pinch you off. Doing this everyday would allow this pet to bond and be familiarized with their owner. This article can teach you the right knowledge on the right time to bond with this cute and cuddly animal.

Also, another important sugar glider info that would help you in dealing with this animal is getting them the right way out of their cage. When getting them out of their cage, don't harshly grab them. Pulling them out of their cage in a wrong manner may result to injuries, because, they may grab something inside the cage and hold them toughly. They could be hurt physically by pulling them hard. Always work with them with patience and gentleness when pulling them out of their cage. As time passes by, they learn to have a trust on their owner, this is the time were they can be easily pulled out of their cage, and sometimes, they may come out and go to the owners palm.

If the owner like to enjoy holding this gliders more often, take more time and work in learning how you could get along with them. The cage serves as their home, they don't like if it has been occupied. If the sugar glider insist by holding on to the cage, gently left its toes one over another. Persuading the pet is one thing that the owner should also try to let it out of their cage by using delights like mealworms and peanuts. After a time, they will run to get their treats and the owner can easily take it out.

Another sugar glider info that owners should keep in mind is that this pet loves to be cuddled. This is the reason why owners can easily put and carry them on their pocket and even on their shoulder. However, they should be ensured that they have the right place to be whenever they got tired and needs to rest

When the pet is really comfortable with the owner, sense its body warmth this will surely help to maximize your bonding with them. They may also jump from one person to another just to explore the surrounding. Watching them moves swiftly from one place to another is extremely fun.

Also, an important sugar glider info that can help not only you but also your pet is the harm that they may have from humans. Always remember that in the wild their nature is to glide from one tree to another, and also remember that humans are much larger and stronger, damaging them without even knowing inside or outside the house is possible. The best thing is to be always aware when they are out of their cage.

Joel Ashton is a sugar gliders expert. Discover The ULTIMATE Guide For Sugar Gliders Care And Learn The Secrets About Proper Sugar Gliders Care!

Discover more information about Sugar Glider Info, visit http://www.adoptsugargliders.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joel_Ashton

What is Sugar Glider

The Sugar Glider (petaurus breviceps) belongs to the marsupial family like kangaroos, opossums, wombats and also Tasmanian Devils. They can be found in the forest of Australia, Papua New Guinea and some part of Indonesia.

An adult Sugar Glider measures about 5 to 7 inches, with a tail almost of the equal length. They have a long, fluffy tail, slender long clawed toes and big eyes. They have are gray color with a creamy colored underside. A black stripe runs on the back in line with the spine from the top of the head to the tail.

Sugar Gliders are nocturnal; they sleep during the day and active during the night hunting for insects and small vertebrates. In the wild they dwell in tree tops gliding from tree to tree and they are very sociable and affectionate living in large groups of 10 to 15.

They got their name from their love for sweet foods and their ability to glide through the air. The sweet sap of eucalyptus, acacia and gum trees are favored by Sugar Gliders.

What unique about the Sugar Glider is their pair of skin membrane (patagia) down the side from the wrists to the ankles, when fully extended allowing them to glide through the air. Gliders also have opposable fingers and toes. Their front feet have five fingers with sharp scimitar shaped claws. The hind feet have a large opposable big toe.

The ears are large, thin and are constantly in motion, moving independently of one another to pick up the smallest sounds. Their eyes are very large and dark and allowing them for a wider field of vision.