1. What's the best way to bond with my new glider?

Earn its trust.  There is no black and white answer to the correct way to bond because each glider has a unique personality.  It is critical that you observe your glider and how it reacts to what you're doing.  If it runs away or appears upset, STOP.  Forcing yourself (or other gliders) onto the animal will only cause stress and teach it NOT to trust you.  You want to show your glider that your are safe.  Bonding takes time and not every glider bonds to the same extent as others.  Realizing that sugar gliders are unique individuals with likes and dislikes and respecting those preferences will lead to a much better relationship for you both.

2. Can my Sugar Glider play with my cat or dog?

Sugar gliders are prey animals and will be stressed by the presence of predators.  Your dog and cat, while considered domesticated, still retain the instinct to hunt.  Many gliders have been killed by "friendly" dogs and cats.

3. Can I keep my Sugar Gliders in the cage all the time?

Sugar gliders require out of cage playtime for both mental and physical well being.  An hour per day is recommended.  Out of cage time should be done in a glider-proofed room and under supervision.

Unsafe Foods for Sugar Glider

I've posted the list of fruits and vegies previously on this post 

This is a list of foods that you should NEVER feed to your sugar gliders.

• Baby foods that contain onions or garlic
• Canned food
• Cheese
• Chives
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Fried foods
• Garlic
• Insects that are not raised as small animal food
• Leeks
• Milk
• Millet
• Onions
• Peanuts
• Processed meat
• Raw eggs
• Raw meat
• Rhubarb
• Salt
• Scallions
• Soda
• Sugar
• Tea

When you first get your sugar glider, they will have to take some time to get used to you and the new environment. Bonding is a process that develops over time, and there are several things you can do to make it progress smoothly. When your glider is sleeping in its pouch, you can carry the pouch on you to keep it close to you. You can also leave a piece of suggie's blanket with your scent on it in the cage because gliders bond by scent.

suggie's jumbo yawning blanket

The more time you spend with your glider, the better the bonding process will be.
To develop a strong bond between you and your glider, make sure you play with your glider and letting it climb on you and around a glider-proofed room.

tips

Each and every suggie has their own individual personality.
They will respond in their own ways when it comes to bonding.

Bonding with your glider is based on the purest form of trust.
Don't do anything to break the trust or your suggie may never trust you.

You can't trick a suggie as they are quite smart and will test you from time to time.

Remember, NEVER yell at or smack your glider.

NEVER tap it for biting as this is an exotic creature that tasts things and the thing we consider a "bite" from them is actually them tasting what's near their face.

If your glider is a constant taster, what you can do is you can have apple sauce, some honey or flavored yogurt near and have it on your finger tip and your glider will learn to taste the yummy treat that you offer and will learn to look forward to seeing you everyday.

But keep the apple sauce, honey or yogurt handy for any glider that you are starting to bond with .

Believe me, bonding with sugar glider is a very rewarding experience.

Good luck!

misconception

sugar glider is the most beautiful pets and this small possum has the power to launch itself  and glider for 200 feet..yes..they glide!..not fly..they are not flying squirrel please :)

The sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) is a small arboreal marsupial that is found in the forests of Australia, as well as in Tasmania, New Guinea, and the neighboring islands of Indonesia. This little creature is a member of the same order that includes kangaroos, opossums, wombats and Tasmanian devils!

The sugar glider's head and body measures five to six inches with a bushy tail of equal length. The males are slightly larger. Like most marsupials, the female has a pouch in which the baby glider(s) are carried. One to two joeys is the norm.

In the wilds of their native habitat, the sugar gliders are tree dwelling creatures, often living in groups of 15 to 30. They are active by night when they hunt for insects and small vertebrates and feed on the sweet sap of certain species of eucalyptus, acacia and gum trees. Sugar gliders are so named for their preference for sweet foods and their ability to glide through the air like a flying squirrel.

To identify each other they rely more heavily on scent. Each glider has its own specific scent signature that other members of the group recognize. Males have a scent gland on their head which looks like a little diamond shaped bald spot in the middle of their forehead. There is another gland between their front legs on their chest. Females have scent glands near the genital area and pouch.

The sugar glider makes a fascinating and unique pet which becomes extremely friendly when provided daily interaction with humans. They bond rather quickly and learn to trust their human family.

The charming and loveable little sugar glider is fast becoming a popular household pet in North America. Indeed, they have many of the characteristics of the perfect pet in that they are clean, personable, attractive and relatively quiet. Their housing and dietary requirements are rather easy to cater to. They are hardy and don't have a lot of health problems and can live 10 to 15 years with the proper care and love.

safe fruits and vegies for suggie

click on image for larger view

sleeping pouch

 

This pouch is perfect for gliders coming home for the first time.  Sugar gliders need a safe sleeping area to feel the trust and security from the beginning.  Just hang the pouch open in the cage.  Show your sugar glider where it is.  Now prepare for lots of future games of peek-a-boo and know that your sugar glider is warm, safe and happy in a Sleeping Pouch.

Consider getting minimum two or three pieces of these products so you always have a clean one ready on pouch laundry day. Rotate Sleeping Pouch regularly to avoid infection.

6 introduction to make when you get home

Your Scent, Your Voice, Your Hand, Your Fingers, Your Face, Your Breath

Your SCENT
Place your new Sugar Glider into a pouch that you slept with, and add the blanket that he lived with up until pick-up day. ***See Hint Below***

Your VOICE
Leave your new Glider in his cage for 3 days undisturbed other than feeding & talking to him. On day 4, you can hold him in his pouch. If he crabs, comfort him by pressing the pouch against your body. You can start out talking gently & quietly then work up to the voice that you would like to use regularly.

Your HAND
When you’re able to hold the pouch with only intermittent crabbing . You can introduce him to your hand. Hold the pouch in your lap and place your entire hand in the pouch. It is very important to Be Deliberate as slowly "sneaking in" can scare a joey into thinking that you are a predator. Keep your hand there as long as you like. He will curl up next to or in your hand & fall asleep. ***See Note Below***

Your FINGERS
Now is a good time to offer treats. Ideally, you should hold the treat for him while he’s eating it. This will create trust very quickly. A 1/2 grape is ideal because a joey can spend 5 minutes eating it while you hold it for him. Continue talking to your Glider.

Your FACE
Start to coax him to inch out of his pouch gradually. A treat works best. Gliders are very intelligent - you’ll notice that he’ll look at you, at your hair, everything around him, and he will look you right in the eyes. A Glider will remember your face. Gliders are very aware. Their ears are like little radars.

Your BREATH
Now that your Glider is used to you in every other way, try talking to him closer to your face, and exhale a lot when you do it. Once you can do this without your Glider crabbing at you, You have created a strong bond. If you keep it up, YOU will mean the world to your Glider. Enjoy your new friend!

***HINT: Before you bring your Glider home, add some small “blankets” &/or Pouch to your bed, so you have something safe to offer that your new Glider will associate you.

***NOTE: If at any point he exit’s the pouch, this means he needs to eliminate. Place him into a container that he can’t get out of until he’s finished - this will take several minutes. I use a small aquarium for this. Most Gliders freeze in one spot until finished. When she starts to move around again, he’s done and you can show him the pouch & he’ll climb right back in.