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!

 

Housing Gliders

You will need to buy a sugar glider cage and set it up before you bring your sugar glider home. Here is some information that will help you make these important decisions.
 

Choosing a Type of Cage
It is best to buy a cage that is made specifically for sugar gliders.  Don’t ever buy a cage that is not pvc coated or powder coated. An un-coated cage will cause urinary tract infection in male gliders when they are scent marking their cage.  Also, uncoated cages can rust, and they are very difficult to clean. We sell some of the cages that we recommend in our Sugar Shop.

Cage Size
The bigger the cage is, the better. In the wild, sugar gliders are under a treetop canopy in the rainforest, so keep it big, keep it tall, and let them have gliding room. For one pair of sugar gliders, we recommend a cage at least 24x24x36. If you are not going to have much out of cage time with your gliders, the cage should be bigger. Our gliders are housed in 30x30x60 pvc coated cages. They are very durable, and last a long time. Also, the pvc is soft on the gliders' feet.

Setting Up the Cage
Gliders are nocturnal, and will sleep in a "pouch" (fleece sack) all day. You can make your own pouches - but we also sell pouches in our Sugar Shop. Toys can be made also. Branches and rope can be purchased at Petsmart or Petco, or in our Sugar Shop. Baby links make great toys. Gliders like to play with beanie babies too. When putting toys in your gliders' cage, be sure not to over crowd it. Every glider needs and exercise wheel. Not only are wheels fun, they are also an excellent way to get exercise. We use eight ounce glass water bottles for our gliders. Ask the breeder that you adopt your gliders from if they are already bottle trained. Additionally, you will need a dish for glider cereal (if you use it), and fresh food.

Substrates for the Bottom of the Cage
Paper Towel, newspaper (black and white), carefresh litter, puppy training pads, or fleece make good, safe substances for the cage bottom. Don't use cat litter, cedar or other wood shavings, or any type of plastic as a litter. We use fleece to line the bottom of our cages - it is easy to shake out and wash, and the gliders don't play with it as much as some other materials.

Cleaning the Cage
The tray at the bottom of the cage needs to be changed every week.  Pouches should also be cleaned at least once a week.  Depending on the size cage your gliders are in, you should wash the cage every 1-3 weeks. The larger the cage, and the fewer gliders housed in it, the less often it needs to be washed. You should remove everything from your gliders’ cage to be washed. The pouch can be washed in the washing machine. The toys can be washed in the dish washer, or in soapy water. The cage should be taken outside and hosed down. After letting our cages soak, we spray them with windex. After a powerful hosing, the cages are dried. Once the cage is dry, you can replace the toys and pouch. Also replace the tray with one of the acceptable materials mentioned above.

 

Misc. Housing Information:

• Keep your gliders’ cage out of direct sunlight
• Keep your sugar gliders’ pouch high in the cage.
• Don’t have the cage in an area where it could be disturbed by other animals or children.
• Re-arrange the toys or rotate toys in your gliders’ cage every week to keep your sugar gliders interested.
• Place the food dish high in the cage so that it won’t be soiled easily.
• Keep your sugar gliders’ cage in an area where the temperature will not fluctuate and will remain between 70 & 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Keep in mind that your sugar gliders will throw their food.  Using a pet igloo, or placing something on the wall will help. 

 

 

 

 

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