Read articles about sugar gliders in the wild, glider illness, finding a vet, raising insects, special needs, and so much more! We add new articles periodically, so check back often!

Please read through our policies before applying to adopt a joey. We also have our Sugar Shop polices in this section

What are sugar gliders!?? Can sugar gliders fly? What do they eat? Find answers to the most commonly asked sugar glider questions.

See what the people that have adopted joeys from us have to say. We also have comments from people that have ordered form our Sugar Shop.

Find out exactly how our gliders are housed and cared for. Also see pictures of our glider room, cages, and gliders!

 

Preparing For Your New Gliders

If you are someone that has decided to make sugar gliders your new pet, this page is for you. If don't know if sugar gliders are right for you, please read our Are Gliders Right For You page.

 

Preparation Check List

There are eight parts to this class...

1) Reasearching Gliders

2) Owning Gliders Legally

3) Finding A Veterinarian

4) Preparing A Habitat

5) Preparing A First Aid Kit

6) Choosing A Diet

7) Choosing A Breeder

8) Bringing You Joeys Home

 

Researching Gliders

Lots of information is available. Places we recommend researching include:

The Glider Pouch - Classes

Glider University - Online Courses

Suz Sugar Gliders - Glider Info

Glider Central - Forum

Legally Owning Gliders

Before you consider owning glider, be sure that they are legal to own where you live. Here is a link to a site that has the status of several states listed - Glider Laws.

Finding A Vet

You should find a vet in your are before you bring your gliders home. When a glider shows signs of illness, time cannot be wasted searching for a vet - please be prepared. Because gliders are exotic animals and are still rare as pets, finding a vet can be difficult. Call all of the vets in your area, and ask if they accept gliders. If they do, talk to the veterinarian and ask him how many gliders he/she regularly sees. Glider University has a sugar glider vet listing, but not all vets that treat gliders are included. We are located in St. Louis, MO, and we go to Clarkson Wilson Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Doug Pernikoff and Dr. Tim Sullivan are our Doctors.

Setting Up The Habitat

If you read our Housing Gliders page, you will know everything about preparing your gliders' habitat. We prefer pvc coated cages because they are softer on tender glider feet, and easy to keep clean. Because gliders are gliding marsupials, they need a large cage. Our glider pairs are housed in 30x30x60 cages. The minimum size cage that a pair of gliders should be housed in is 24x24x36.

First Aid Kit

You should keep certain things on hand in the case of an emergency. Your vet's number should be memorized or on hand at all times. If you vet doesn't see patients other than regular hours, have an emergency number on hand of a doctor that could treat your glider 24/7. Be prepared for haveing a family energency - and have numbers on hand of people that could watch your gliders. Suz Enyedy has a great list of supplies to have on hand - here.

Choosing A Diet

Choosing a diet and sticking to it is important, so that your gliders are getting the proper balance of calcium/protien/carbs...etc. I believe that the best diet formulated to date is The Exotic Sugar Glider Diet developed by Priscilla Price. Her vitamins are specifically designed for gliders. Her vitamin has been used over three years with a 0% diet related illness rate, and a 0% joey rejection rate. What other diet can say that!? Here at The Glider Pouch, we are proof of the excellence of this diet - we have never had any joey rejections. Read our Proper Diet and Nutrition page to learn more about glider nutrution.

Choosing A Breeder

If you want a healthy, tame, pet quality glider, choosing a reputable breeder is important. Ask the breeder if they handle their breeding gliders and joeys. Ask about the tameness of the joeys you are considering. Ask the breeder what diet they use. Don't feel bad asking questions - a good breeder won't mind. Look at the breeder's website (if they have one). Is the information on their site good? Ask people that have adopted from the breeder about their experience. Don't ever buy a glider at a flea market or pet store. Even though you may be "rescuing" them, you are just funding more abusive practices, and mill breeding.

Bringing Your Joeys Home

When you first bring your joeys home, they will need some time to settle in. The new sounds, smells, and people can be overwhelming. Let your glider settle for at least a day or two before trying to handle them too much. Stay on the diet that the breeder used when your joeys first come home so that you aren't adding more changes. If you are planning on using a different diet, switch it slowly - preferable once the joeys have been home for at least a week. Reading our Bonding with Gliders page will help you know how to build a relationship with your new gliders.

 

 

 

Written by Lauren Way, owner and operator, The Glider Pouch 2007