Take a Look at Some Sugar Gliders' Photos

In the wild, sugar gliders dwell in forest trees. Eucalyptus trees, manna and acacia gum are some of their main source of food. The average life span of sugar gliders in the wild is about 4-5 years.

Insects are considered the main diet of sugar gliders in the wild. Sugar gliders' diet in the natural habitat relies on the varying conditions of seasons and the available sources of food. As they hunt for food, sugar gliders also include arachnids like spiders, ticks and mites as part of their diet.

Sugar gliders are marsupials or exactly small gliding marsupials, which females carry their young throughout early development. Just like kangaroos, koalas, and possums, female sugar gliders acquire a distinctive pouch. When a female sugar glider gets pregnant, it is almost unnoticeable until after the baby (joey) climbs into her pouch.

Male sugar gliders are generally larger than females with the length of about 24 to 30 cm long. On adult male sugar gliders, a bald spot can be seen on the front part. It also signifies their sexual maturity.

One thing that potential owners really need to know is that sugar gliders are nocturnal. It means that they are awake and active at night. Nightly, they would glide like bats through treetops potentially at distances of 50 - 150 meters in the natural habitat.

Sugar gliders acquire the ability to glide like bats, but they don't fly long distance. The membrane responsible for this is called patagium, which extends from the fifth finger to the first toe. With such gliding ability, sugar gliders' owners seriously need to consider longer and wider cage for flexible movement.

Baby sugar gliders are known as joeys. They will usually stay in their mother's pouch and cling to her for approximately 2 months. During this time, joeys cannot and should not be taken from their mother for the sake of healthy development.

Owners considering sugar gliders as pets should bring in at least a pair. It will make things easier since sugar gliders are known to be social with their own kind. They can occupy themselves at night while owners are asleep.