Sugar gliders

Fred

New Member
Well I got 2 sugar gliders from the vets office yesterday a male and a female about 1 1/2 years old. Any suggestions on biting? The lady that gave them up said they will bite alot until they get used to ur scent????:(
 
1. wear a crappy shirt that you dont have a problem cutting up. and put cut stips in their pouch with them.

2. Make sure you have a big cage for them. Mine is 4ftx2ftx2ft and has a lot of toys for them to play with. A stimulated sugar glider will bite less than a bored one.

3. Sugar gliders that aren't handled daily will not be tame. get a seperate pouch and let them stay in it when they are with you. Get little yogurt treats from a petstore and while they are in the pouch try to get them to come out and take one from you.

4. Uhmmmm, if they crab at you every time you open the cage let them get used to their new environment.

5. Dont try to get them to "fly" they glide and not very well unless they are realllly high.

6. Make sure every opening to the cage is latched good. My girl is like an escape artist. She finds ways out and way into pizza boxes >.< the only time she would be missing from the cage is when we had pizza and you would find her in the pizza box chowing down.

7. always handle them in the pouch until they are comfortable with you. the pouch is probably the most important thing for captive sugar gliders. it is their only way to hide and feel safe.

mine was realllly rude for a while because she wasn't handled well, but eventually she came around and is an amazing pet, gluck
 
I would like to add that 260 gallon reptariums make really good glider housing.

Also, get that special glider wheel that looks like a hubcap. They love it and it will keep them busy and exercised. Wodent Wheel? I think....
 
Thanks!!! They came with a 2 level cage, but I would say its probably not tall enough, and it has 4-5 bird like toys, and that exact wheel Kenya was talking about. The lady who owned them "seemed" to care for them very much and stated she took them everywhere with her. She also gave us the pouch that hangs around your neck (I forget what its called) I didn't realize with all the reading up I did that they bite! I mean, I'm no dummy most animals are capable of biting and when feeling threatened it is instict, but she made it seem like a natural occurrance with having them!! I'm afraid of Fred biting me ( and he's NEVER tried, and I watched him bite the vet like 10 times and hes so small it never even left a red mark!!!!) So its hard to think about!! I heard gloves are a no-no because they won't learn your sent. What if u slept with the gloves (like cotton or knitted- not latex or leather) under ur shirt for 1 week?? Wouldn't they have your scent then? Sorry I know I'm being a wussy!!!! (Pinch biting is one thing but drawing blood!!!!??? AHH!! Oh, another thing concerns me, she has NEVER fed them ANYTHING live says that is what gives sugar gliders a musky smell. I read protein is a very important part of their diet?
 
Protein IS an important part of their diet and live insects are vital for important foraging activity. Sounds like you have a lot of reading to do.
 
Yes, that is why I'm pointing it out, everything I've read says this, but she has raised them for a year and a half without ever doing this!!! So I am concerned about introduction of this "new" thing. I'm hoping instinct will kick in!! But has anyone ever heard that before?????(nothing live keeps musty smell away?)
 
I like the BML diet. I used to make large batches of it, and then put it in ice cube trays and freeze. That way you can take out and defrost it as needed. :) http://www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/leadbeat.html There is a link to the recipe.

I also agree with cutting up a shirt you have worn. I took a shirt I had slept in, cut into strips, and then put it in their pouch. Switched the strips out as needed. Seemed to help.

Is the male neutered? I don't miss that musky smell, pew! :p
 
sugar gliders are really fun once they get used to you. I rescued my tipsy from a bad environment. her tail was bit off so she didnt have the full tail :( but she was still amazing with half a tail.

We usually give her fresh fruit and super worms. When you bring a super worm around her she goes nuts and grabs it out of your hand and bites the head off then starts eating it. it's pretty funny
 
they have nothing in common with bats >.<

they are actually marsupials and have pouches (related to kangaroos) but they are basically like a flying squirrel
 
I like the BML diet. I used to make large batches of it, and then put it in ice cube trays and freeze. That way you can take out and defrost it as needed. :) http://www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/leadbeat.html There is a link to the recipe.

I also agree with cutting up a shirt you have worn. I took a shirt I had slept in, cut into strips, and then put it in their pouch. Switched the strips out as needed. Seemed to help.

Is the male neutered? I don't miss that musky smell, pew! :p
Yes the male is neutered!! But the lady I got them from has NEVER fed them ANYTHING live!!! She seems to think that is what gives them a "MUSTY" smell. They got their first dusted crickets today and LOVED them!! I carried them around quite a bit today in the pouch in between two shirts ( outside shirt was a tight cotton baby tee) so it gave them the pouch feeling, they did very little crabbing. I still haven't braved getting bitten yet, when I want them I put the pouch in there and when they get in it I zip it up and off we go. I figured I would give them a few weeks of smelling the tshirt strips and me giving treats before I brave it!!
 
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