The Perfect Pet You Can Place In Your Palm.
These tiny pets are highly in demand at the moment. But should we be encouraging the breeders in the supply and demand of the Exotic Sugar Glider? Delicate and extremely demanding I worry that these creatures are doomed to a very ugly fate. In the short term they are highly desirable. But in reality they need a huge amount of caring for.
Another short lived trend I feel and the future of the Sugar Glider as a domestic pet seemed doomed to failure. ~
- Great Resource for Sugar Glider Diet.
- Information On The Sugar Glider. Diet, care etc.
- Sugar Glider Info.
- Sugar Glider Care Page.
- SugarGlider.com
- Brilliant information on the sugar gliders.
Active message board and chat room.
What is a Sugar Glider?
The sugar Glider (petarurus briviceps), is taking the world by storm as the new 'Must have' domestic pet. But what on earth is a Sugar Glider you might ask?Well, the Sugar Glider is the most beautiful and unusual pet to be seen in quite a while. It's actually a small possum with the added bonus that it can fly! Well, glide actually, and it has the power to launch itself and glide for a good 200 feet. Quite a sight to be seen bombing around the house and a very novel domestic pet indeed. A great talking point with yours neighbours and visitors also.
Incredibly Noisy Sugar Gliders!
Baby Sugar Gliders (part 2)
The Latest Must Have Accessory ~
Celebrities are queuing up for these 'must have' pets, and many are seen sporting a pair of these nuzzled into their necks in pouches, whilst out shopping. Paris Hilton had one, but in certain states of the USA these creatures are considered 'Exotic pets', and she had to ditch her latest 'fashion accessory' fast, for a more suitable designer handbag.'Everyone' who is 'anyone' is after one of these divine and beautiful creatures. However, they do need very careful and sensitive owners, as these babies are so tiny that they fit into the palm of your hand. They will give you absolute loyalty and devotion if treated right. All they ask in return is to love and be loved, and by loved, I mean lots of it. These creatures will not thrive without constant attention and loving, and can die of depression and loneliness if they are at all neglected. The normal life span for the Sugar Glider is around 10-15 years, so you are in for the long haul, and with the right handling and attention to diet and nurture, these creatures will make an excellent and loyal companion.
A Mother With Her Young ~
The Animals Come In, Two by Two ~
The Sugar Glider is actually a marsupial, a species of small flying possum which is native to Australia and New Guinea. In appearance, the Sugar Glider is adorable. They have large appealing brown eyes and are a fluffy silver grey in colouring, with a white furry belly. They have a black stripe which runs from the top of their head to the tip of their tails. Their 'wings', for want of a better word, is actually a stretchy membrane called a Patagium which spans straight across their backs to their wrists and ankles, which they then extend into a kite for launching themselves into a glide, much like a flying squirrel with their legs and arms extended, using their tail, which is as long as their body, as a rudder.
In the wild, this action is used for flying between trees. The Sugar Gliders live in colonies of between 6-10 in their natural habitat and their daily routine would be spent searching for food.
The Glide ~
The actual glide can be up to 200 feet so be ready to duck if you see the sugar glider heading straight at you. Before they commence 'the glide' you will notice the creature swaying from side to side. Don't worry; it is just getting its bearings before it takes off. Their temperament is lively and inquisitive and they are also highly intelligent. Their normal behaviour includes climbing up the curtains, cheeping excitedly and general nosiness and noisiness. They also love their 'playtime' with their owners and like nothing better than a good game of 'Hide and Seek'. They also love climbing, hence the curtain activity and swinging. So it may be a good idea to put some form of net up,which will be great fun to watch as they scoot up the netting. The Bonding Process ~
When you first purchase your Sugar Glider you must immediately begin the 'bonding process, much like you would do with a baby. You can purchase a glider pouch, or make your own, which you will place the glider in and nuzzle it into your neck for long periods. The glider will get used to your scent and it will form a strong, lasting bond with you. The bonding process can take up to three months and in this time they will be happy to sit on you shoulder, or remain in the pouch, as you go about your daily routine. They love to curl up in their owner's hair or nuzzle into the warmth of their necks and shoulders.
The Sugar Glider is a nocturnal creature which some feel make it an ideal pet. Most people are at work during the day and feel that they can devote more time to the glider after 6'o'clock when the working day ends. These Gliders do 'bark' a lot and it will usually occur in the dead of night. So positioning of their cage is worth a good deal of thought. It certainly wouldn't be suitable in your bedroom, as they would keep you awake all night.
The Sugar Glider Diet ~
Your Sugar gliders will need a large cage much like an aviary, and in this there needs to be lots of places to hide. You can fill the cage with tubes boxes and such like, so that the glider can hide and sleep in comfort and seclusion during the day. A nesting box is ideal and this should be placed well away from sunlight. These creatures are very sensitive to sunlight so be aware of this when placing their cage. By night they will want to glide so that they can exercise and explore their territory.
When taking on a creature such as the sugar glider, be aware that this is a wild animal and cannot be contained within the cage 24 hours a day. They need their freedom and they need to receive the love they crave from their owners. Without constant attention, the Sugar Glider can become severely depressed, and can often die from sheer loneliness! They need to be nurtured and given lots of constant TLC.
The Vocal Qualities Of The Sugar Glider ~
These creatures are absolutely lovely, and very cute, but they are also very vocal. The noises that you will hear from your Sugar Gliders are of a loud barking and chirping nature. The chirping is when they are happy or excited and the barking is for attention it is thought, much like a baby when it cries.They also omit a mechanical whirring noise much like a blender, and this is to warn you off, and occurs usually when they are feeding, or when they feel threatened. This sound is referred to as 'crabbing'. They also 'purr' and sing' and hiss! They remind me of a Furby for their sounds. So all in all, these creatures do seem very entertaining indeed.
Please Think Carefully ~
So, if you are contemplating buying a pair of Sugar Gliders please do your research and think carefully. There is already strong feeling that these pets will soon outgrow their novelty value and become a trend which will have a short life, and thousands of these poor creatures will be given up and left at the wayside as they are simply too much trouble and high maintanence. Take a look at this youtube video http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8mlwzf_bqVI to see what I mean.
The Sugar Glider bonds for life and giving up on him could quite possibly result in their severe depression and ultimately their death. This is after all a wild animal, and in Australia where they originate from, Sugar Gliders are forbidden to be kept as household pets.
So this cute little marsupial, in the female case, with its Joey pouch, needs careful thought and consideration before you embark into a 10-15 year relationship with it. Like all exotic pets, I'm not so sure at all that we should be taking these creatures from their natural habitat, and placing them in the confines of a domestic home. - Only time will tell.
A Sugar Glider is for Life - Not just for Christmas! and certainly not just a whim of fancy.-
Christianna Garrett-Martin
Stumble It! Great Stuff on Amazon
Sugar Gliders (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/04/2008) 
Sugar Gliders: Living with and Caring For Sugar Gliders Is this the Right Pet for You? (Is This the Right Pet for You?)
Amazon Price: $17.09 (as of 12/04/2008)
Sugar Gliders As Your New Pet
Amazon Price: $15.96 (as of 12/04/2008)
Sugar Gliders (Early Bird Nature Books)
Amazon Price: $26.60 (as of 12/04/2008)
The Guide to Owning a Sugar Glider (Re Series)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/04/2008)
A Perfect Pair!
Robb & Bry's Sugar Gliders (flying squirrel honey possum)
We've had our pair of sg's for about six weeks now and ... we obviously adore them. They get up at 10:00 or 11:00 and we have an hour or so with them before we nod off. Their names are Bismarck (the adventurous one, named after the archipelago) and Wewak (the shy, younger one named after a town in New Guinea). I do not recommend these as pets for kids...they are a delicate little, late-night only and needy pet. From Robb McCaffree & Bryan Harrison.
~ Sugar Glider Information ~
- Woman reports valuable flying squirrels taken from her home
- The woman said she believed the man took her two sugar gliders, a type of flying squirrel, and fed them to his snake. The sugar gliders were valued at $500.
- Mangalya Prarambh works well
- Free Glider (Gautam), Cindy Girl (Shobhan) 55.5, 600/42.5. They strode out well. Star Speed (P. Woods) 58.5, 600/44.5. Moved on the bit. ...
- Jervis Bay - Places to See
- There are great gliders high in the tree canopy, tiny feathertail gliders (featured on the old one-cent coin), sugar gliders with their distinctive yapping ...
- Creatures blessed, great and small
- In between were numerous dogs, a few cats, several chickens, some parrots, a rat, a crab, a desert tortoise and a pair of sugar gliders. Sugar gliders? ...
Sugar Gliders ~
P1030358.JPG
P1030357.JPG
Seven and Twenty-two...
Seven
Breakfast
Seven and Twenty-two
Seven
Seven and Twenty-two
Twenty-two
Seven and Twenty-two
Seven
Seven
Twenty-two and Gwend...
Seven and Twenty-two
Seven and Twenty-two
Seven
Shiva, Parvati, and...
Seven showing off
~ Sugar Glider Care ~
In The Amazon Spotlight ~ The Essential Owner's Manual ~
Sugar Gliders (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/04/2008)
I need Lots Of Love!!
~ My Sugar Glider Guestbook ~
BethErickson wrote...
This is amazing. I never seen this kind of animal before. It's really very cute. I hope this animals won't become endangered. Lovely lens. 5 stars. :)
Posted October 20, 2008
LaraineRose wrote...
Where have I been .. I have never seen these adorable little fellows and never known anyone with one. I don't think I'll be getting one because I have a "Ziggy" cat and he might not like it. 5 stars for a super lens. Lensrolled, favorite and fan.
Posted October 17, 2008
OldGrampa wrote...
Sugar Gliders are so cool! My sister has one of them, they really are beautiful. Hers is very shy and will only let certain people handle it. 5*!
Posted October 14, 2008
daria369 wrote...
I sometimes feel sorry for all the puppies people purchase on Saturday morning and then by Monday leave for work and those young dogs are crying in the cages, all alone... Most pets need lots of care, attention and especially love, they are not toys and once we have them, they are like another family member - and we are responsible for them!
Sugar gliders are really cute - and different.
Posted October 13, 2008
BFuniv.com wrote...
As a child I remember other kid's getting chicks as part of their spring celebrations. Those cute little chicks didn't last long. Unless an adult is willing to take responsibility - sugar glider pets will probably have a short, brutal life. At least they stay cute instead of growing up into an aggressive rooster.
Posted October 12, 2008
StephenC wrote...
Those are something else! Very interesting lens!
Enjoyed the visit!
Posted October 08, 2008
nancydodds1 wrote...
Very cute. Wow! Such a small creature as a pet. 5*. Feel free to check doggie lens PetHotels. Thanks.
Posted October 08, 2008
dreamsgate wrote...
What an absolute cutie! I can understand why so many would want one, but I think it is a shame to tame a wild creature just to amuse yourself.
Posted September 29, 2008
dreamsgate wrote...
What an absolute cutie! I can understand why so many would want one, but I think it is a shame to tame a wild creature just to amuse yourself.
Posted September 29, 2008
