Sugar Gliders belong to the family of Possums and are small omnivorous tree animals. They can glide on trees and through the air like flying squirrels. They have derived their name from their eating habits as they have a liking towards sweet food like nectar and sugar. You can call them “Possums with a sweet tooth”. Unlike what many people think they too can make excellent pets.
Can Sugar Gliders make Good Pets?
Origin Of Sugar Gliders
Their scientific name is Petarus Breviceps which in Latin mean “small headed dancers” which describes their nature as they are quite agile and acrobatic. They can be found in the northern and eastern plains of Australia and is also found in certain parts of Tasmania along with certain islands of Indonesia. They are nocturnal creatures and sleep in nests made mainly on Eucalyptus Trees. Being omnivores they hunt for their food at night, which include insects and small vertebrates. They also prefer the sugary sap of trees like the eucalyptus, gum tree and acacia.
Structure of Sugar Gliders
The structure of their body varies among males and females as males are considerably larger than the females of their species. They look a lot like tree squirrels with long furry tails and their size varies from 24-30 cms in length. They have a thick furry coat which can be bluish grey in colour or yellow or beige. It has large eyes which enhance its night visibility helping it find its prey easily. Like kangaroos, female Sugar Gliders have a pouch near their belly to carry their little ones.
Contrary to popular belief Sugar Gliders make good domestic pets.
Advantages of Petting Sugar Gliders
- Since they feed on insects, it keeps your house free from them
- They can breed better when in captivity with proper diet as in the wild they suffer from lack of food in the winters
- They are quite clean and do not need any special nesting or housing arrangements
Can Sugar Gliders make Good Pets?
Disadvantages of Having A Pet Sugar Glider
- This is one pet that needs a license permit to be bred as a pet in most countries and some states in the US and Australia do not allow them to be kept as pets
- They have sharp nails which have to be constantly trimmed to avoid getting hurt
- They are quite fast and are not easy to be trained
- Though social by nature they need a great amount of time and your patience to be trained into being a cuddly pet
- They often suffer from calcium deficiencies while in captivity hence a substantial dosage of calcium in their diet is essential
Tips to Care for a Pet Sugar Glider
- Sugar Gliders should be ideally kept in pairs as being alone is not how they are created for by nature
- They should be allowed ample time to get accustomed to the ways of the humans when acquired as a pet
- They need a good deal of companionship of their own breed as well as the owner
In spite of being good potential pets, sugar gliders are best being in the wild. They are one of those creatures who are illegally sold in the pet trade markets of many countries barring a few. They are directly taken away from their natural habitat and are relatively much less compatible with human companionship.
