Are they hard to care for? *Not at all! I make my food in bulk (currently on theTPG diet ) and then freeze it in ice cube trays. I thaw them in the refrigerator a half hour before feeding and they are thawed out. The first few months they do require a lot of daily handling and attention to acquire a bond. Once the bond is secure, it is easy sailing :)
Are they expensive to care for? *The start up cost, as for any animal, is the most expensive part. Purchasing the glider(s), the cage, the toys and all other supplies needed can be pricey. The good news is that once you have all of this established, the price to feed them daily is not very costly. They also do not require shots or monthly preventatives like the common household pets.
What type of cage do you suggest? *I highly suggest a sing or double critter nation cage. You can do a single or double unit depending on how much you want to spend and how much space you want. Whichever cage you use, the space between bars must not be more than 1/2" spacing. Please do not risk it! They will get out. A FERRET NATION will NOT work, so be careful when looking at cages.
What type of wheel do you suggest? *I love the stealth wheels and so do my gliders! I order them from www.atticworx.com. I currently use the 12” X-mount stealth wheel. You can also use Large Flying Saucer. Do sugar gliders really fly? *No. Sugar gliders do not have wings so they cannot fly. They do have membranes of loose skin that allows them to glide as they jump from object to object.
Can I have just one sugar glider? * No. Please do not be selfish. NO! Sugar gliders are colony animals. The more in their colony, the happier they are. A lot of people think that they, as a human, can be their companion, but this is not true. Sugar gliders are nocturnal. They play at night time when most humans sleep. Even if you are a late party animal, you are not going to be the best ONLY companion for your sugar glider. I will always work out a deal to guarantee my babies have a mate to pair them with so they can go together. Do not hesitate to ask about pairing discounts.
If I have to have two sugar gliders, how do I go about choosing them? Choosing a sugar glider is much like any other animal. Look for signs of sickness first. Be sure that the glider has a "coat" that does not have a lot of cracking in it. This will ensure that they are being fed a nutritious diet. When choosing a pair, I suggest two females, a female with a neutered male or two males (either intact or not but if NOT- no females can be present or they will fight). Can I let my sugar glider roam the house? *Sugar gliders are small animals and can get into small spaces. I would not suggest leaving them unattended for any reason.
How long do they live? * 12-15 years
How do sugar gliders bond? Will they only bond to me? *Sugar gliders bond by scent. I suggest having a bonding pouch that you wear with your sugar glider in it. Walk around the house and do your daily routine and chores. Open the pouch often and offer a "licky" treat (yogurt, applesauce, honey). Allow them to see that your presence brings a positive treat :) Your glider will not only bond to you, but your family as well beings you live in the same home and share many of the same scents. You may notice they are more drawn to the person who handles them the most though.
You socialize your sugar gliders daily so can I expect them to love me and bond right away? This is the most common misconception. The sugar gliders that leave my home are handled by myself and my three children. They are use to our smells, our voices and the sounds of our home. Everything in their new atmosphere will be very different. This is okay though. The excellent news is that I have started the bonding process for you by just handling them. They will be much more comfortable with human interaction since they have been handled by human hands since the first day out of pouch (OOP). They will be use to hands sticking in/out of their pouch to check on them and to offer them treats. My daughter/son really wants a sugar glider, is it a good pet for her/him? *This is always a hard question to answer. I would not suggest buying a sugar glider for a child under the age of 12. As the parent, please understand that you will be the sole caregiver of this animal. I am a mom of three and the sole responsibility always falls back on us. Just think about that before taking on this commitment.
Are they as cool as everyone makes them out to be? *Not only cool but absolutely adorable! If you are committed, you can have the sweetest sugar glider babies that serve as an amazing companion. They are so much fun to play with and you can even sit back and watch them play together. They are very curious and playful!