Should You Keep Sugar Gliders As Pets At Home?

Sugar gliders are small, exotic animals that are native to Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea. They have become popular pets in recent years thanks to their cute and cuddly appearance and ability to bond with their owners. However, before deciding to keep a sugar glider as a pet, there are several factors that you should consider. This article discusses the pros and cons of keeping sugar gliders as pets and whether they are suitable for you.

• Despite their rodent-like appearance, sugar gliders are marsupials, much like kangaroos but also koalas. In the wilderness, they can slide between branches thanks to skin folds that extend from their forearms to their sides and sacks that they use to transport their offspring.
• As nocturnal creatures, sugar gliders are more than busy at night and typically weigh somewhere between 2.5 and 5.5 oz. The “traditional” and wild sugar gliders get an unmistakable black dorsal line and a white abdomen, but captive-bred gliders may sport a wide variety of fur hues and designs.
• Sugar gliders in the wild are highly sociable creatures that stay alive for an estimate of between six and seven years. They typically reside in clusters of six to ten. You can buy sugar gliders from rescues, pet shops, and breeders all over the country.
• They make wonderful unusual companions. They are compassionate, sociable, and inquisitive creatures that frequently develop strong, enduring ties with their families.

The veterinarian’s advice is that people take time to understand sugar gliders but also their needs before choosing to carry one home because they are companions that demand a lot of attention and maintenance.

But What Requirements Do Sugar Gliders Have?

Pros of Keeping Sugar Gliders as Pets

1. Bonding: Sugar gliders are social animals and can form strong bonds with their owners. Sugar gliders can become affectionate and playful pets with proper training and socialization. They are reputed to be loving and entertaining with their caretakers, and with proper training and socialization, they can become quite attached. This bond can be incredibly rewarding for pet owners who are looking for a close relationship with their pets.
2. Low Maintenance: Sugar gliders are relatively low-maintenance pets. They do not require frequent bathing and grooming, and they are self-cleaning animals. They also do not need a lot of space, making them ideal for small apartments or homes.
3. Unique and Interesting: Sugar gliders are unique and interesting pets that can provide a fun and exciting experience for pet owners. They have unique behaviors, such as gliding and making vocalizations, and climbing, which can be entertaining to observe. They are also known for their social intelligence and playfulness, which can be entertaining to observe.

Cons of Keeping Sugar Gliders as Pets

1. Specialized Care: Sugar gliders require specialized care, and it can be challenging to find a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about their care. They have specific dietary requirements, and they need plenty of space to exercise and play. They also require regular veterinary check-ups, which can be expensive.
2. Social Needs: Sugar gliders are social animals that require a lot of attention and interaction from their owners. They can become depressed and develop behavioral problems if they do not receive enough socialization. This means that they require a significant amount of time and effort on the part of their owner to ensure that they are happy and healthy.
3. Nocturnal Nature: Sugar gliders are nocturnal animals and are most active during the night. This can be problematic for pet owners who prefer a regular sleeping schedule and may be unable to interact with their pets during the day. This can also be difficult for people who live in small apartments or homes and may be disturbed by the noise of the sugar gliders at night.
4. Legal Restrictions: Some states and countries have restrictions on keeping sugar gliders as pets. Before deciding to keep a sugar glider, it is important to research the laws in your area to ensure that it is legal to own one. Even if it is legal, you may still face challenges finding a reputable breeder or seller in your area.

Sugar Gliders Are Untamed Creatures

Since sugar gliders are classified as wildlife, people are not tamed and do not co-evolve with people. These tiny animals may put up with people, but they still require the same things in confinement as they would in the wilderness. If done properly, the living area we occupy with our canines and cats could be adequate to satisfy their physiological and behavioral needs. Still, for untamed creatures like sugar gliders, this isn’t the situation. Wild creatures can only survive and flourish in their natural environment. This is the situation for the sugar glider in the woodlands of Papua Newer Guinea, Indonesia, and Northeastern, Eastern, but also Southern Australia.

Pet sugar gliders are not recommended. They are feral creatures whose intricate requirements can never be satisfied in confinement. A companion that has been forced into a household life of isolation will struggle, be miserable, and be unhealthy.

Sugar gliders are nocturnal animals

You presumably won’t perceive sugar gliders unless you stroll through their natural environment in the daytime. Sugar gliders seem to be night owls; they are dormant in daylight and awaken at dusk. Unless sugar gliders are visible throughout the day, they probably have a health issue. 

1. Sugar gliders’ slumber and rest cycles will be disturbed by interactions with humans when they are awake, which frequently stresses the animal out. Ultimately, this will affect their physical well-being if the commotion is regular and consistent enough.
2. Maintaining busy nighttime creatures can be demanding for the caretaker as well. For instance, sugar gliders produce sounds while traveling and also use barks, screeches, and buzzes to interact with one another.

Additionally, they will produce noises described as “crabbing” when anxious or frightened, which have been compared to “metal trapped in a shredding machine.” In addition to vocal contact, sugar gliders also use a variety of biochemical and pheromone signals that most humans would perceive as a very disagreeable smell.

Is a sugar glider the right pet for you?

If you are considering keeping a sugar glider as a pet, it is essential to evaluate whether they are suitable for you. Sugar gliders require a significant time commitment and specialized care, which may not be feasible for everyone. 

• They also require plenty of socialization and interaction, which may not be suitable for pet owners who work long hours or have other commitments.
• It is also essential to consider the financial cost of keeping a sugar glider. Sugar gliders require specialized diets, and they need a lot of space to exercise and play. The cost of a proper enclosure, food, and veterinary care can add up quickly.
• In conclusion, sugar gliders can make unique and interesting pets for the right person. They require specialized care and plenty of socialization, and they may not be suitable for everyone.
• Before deciding to keep a sugar glider as a pet, it is essential to research its care requirements thoroughly and evaluate whether they are the right pet for you.

If you are willing to commit the time, effort, and resources necessary to care for a sugar glider, they can make a loving and entertaining pet that can provide years of joy and companionship.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are sugar gliders challenging to care for?

Pet sugar gliders are difficult to maintain. They demand endurance and close scrutiny. Although they can live contentedly in confinement, which would help to lessen some of the pollution, they are not readily taught to use the toilet. They also need to take special care of their food to keep well-balanced nourishment.

2. Are sugar gliders touchable?

The lifespan of a sugar glider is between 12 years, probably longer. Your pet could indeed lead an extended and contented life if given the right nourishment, housing, and company. Although they are delicate animals, sugar gliders are manageable. Before allowing a kid to manage a Sugar Glider, make absolutely sure it is accustomed to being handled and doesn’t bite.

3. Is a sugar glider’s attack harmful?

A number of hazardous bacteria, along with Enterobacter, Citrobacter, multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae, but also Aeruginosa, have indeed been discovered in sugar gliders, which are known to be zoonotic illness carriers.

4. Sugar gliders, are they noisy?

Begins to sound like: low-pitched creaks and teeth gnashing combined together, half-purring, half-chirping, such as a guinea pig. Reason: Joyful, satisfied, and frequently relishing a preferred meal.