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If you have done your research and have decided on a sugar glider as your pet, you should have all the supplies necessary before bringing them home. Please remember Sugar gliders must have a cage buddy. They are colony animals and require another glider companion to maintain a healthy disposition. Gliders are nocturnal and when left alone become depressed and will display adverse behavior. A safe and enjoyable home will help you have happy and healthy sugar gliders. This care sheet will provide you with some useful information.

 

Habitat
A properly cage should be no smaller than 36 inches tall  x 33 inches wide x 22 inches deep. This size can house 2 - 3 Gliders comfortably. The bar spacing should be 1/2 inch wide (made specifically for small mammals like Sugar Gliders) and the wire should have a finished professional powder coating that is a animal-safe finish. When choosing a cage, it is recommended that you choose the largest size that you can afford. It is also important to consider being able to clean it efficiently, but remember that larger is always better. Sugar gliders require plenty of room to jump around and play. Here at the SugarCrib, all of our (spoiled) Gliders are in Congo Cages that measure 52 inches tall (67.5 inches tall on the stand), 32 inches wide, and 21 inches deep. Can hold 3 - 4 Gliders comfortably. As an added safety precaution, it is a good idea to zip tie the side doors shut as Gliders are escape artists! It is important to secure all loose doors to prevent escape because Sugar Gliders cannot swim. A toilet can be deadly to your furbaby. We learned that the hard way here at the Crib. This lead us to design and create our "Toilet Bowl Reminder" sign to remind family and friends to close the lid in case of an unforeseen escape.
 

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Sleeping pouch

A proper pouch for your babies to sleep in and feel safe, is imperative. The pouch also serves to keep your babies warm during winter months. There are many sites and breeders that recommend heat rocks and lamps as source of heat. This is extremely dangerous for your pets as Gliders are natural 'chewers' and could fray and damage cords which will result in certain death. Added fleece squares or fleece puff balls can be added for those really chilly nights. The pouch should be made from 100% double layered quality fleece or cotton all seams and enclosures should have tight hidden stitches. This prevents little fingers and toes from ever getting caught!  Sugar Gliders love other fleece cage accessories such as fleece corner hammocks, fleece bridges. ( check out our line of custom cage sets for your gliders needs. Located under Crib Gear). 

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Water Bottle/Food Dish

Proper water bottles (It's best to provide two water bottles in your cage in case one fails or becomes empty+. I recommend having water available in a small, non tippable bowl as well as in a water bottle. Do not take away the water bowl until you have seen your joey use the water bottle. Gliders can become dehydrated quickly which could lead to death. When feeding nightly, always check the level in the water bottle and ensure it's fresh. The food dish needs to have a flat bottom and be heavy enough that the gliders won't tip it over.

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Toys

Toys provide entertainment for your babies when you're not there.  It is important that you have sugar glider activities to encourage physical activity and mental stimulation. Foraging toys keep those inquisitive gliders active and offer a marvelous way to peak the natural curiosity of gliders. Remember it is equally important to buy safe glider toys. There are many safe approved vendors that make glider toys with the gliders safety in mind.  It is important to know that when purchasing glider toys , toy parts need to be hard plastic with safe plastic C-links to hang your toys. If zip ties are used during fabrication of the toy, make certain that all tips are melted to prevent accidents. All weight bearing items should be secured with either zip ties or large C-Links to ensure nothing breaks or falls during playtime. The Sugar Crib is proud of our 5-Star rating on both our Etsy Store and our Facebook Page. We have achieved this rating by not only creating playful and stimulating toys, but by making certain that your Glider's safety comes first.

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Glider Safe Wheel

I can't express enough how important a safe wheel is for your new babies. Unsafe wheels can cause amputation of your babies tail causing great pain and loss of their tail.  Safe wheels are great exercise and important part for keeping your gliders active and healthy. Gliders absolutely love their wheels so they really do offer great entertainment for your babies. Here at the Crib we highly recommend the Raptor Wheel. Click here the arrow for more information on how to purchase your raptor wheel:

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Diet

Many common disease conditions in sugar gliders are the direct result of improper diet. Choosing an approved diet in combination with lots of fruits, vegetables and protein will allow your gliders to flourish and prevent many of the common illnesses due to improper diet. A good ratio is 50% Vegetables, 25% fruits and 25% protein. Fruits and vegetables should either be fresh or frozen, never canned. It is also important to read the ingredient labels on any foods that you will be giving to your gliders. Avoid those with garlic and/or onions, as these can be toxic to gliders. A good source of protein is boiled chicken (no seasoning) and boiled eggs. Here at Crib, we strive to maintain a diet that is very diverse and rich in calcium. Along with the fruits, vegetables and protein, your Gliders will require an approved diet that will provide them with all of the additional nutrients needed for proper health and growth. I have used the HPW Original Diet plan for years successfully. It has been my experience that this diet ensures that our gliders have beautiful coats, proper weight balance, and they absolutely love the taste. The Powder itself has a Calcium: Phosphorus Ratio of 2:1 and Contains Omega 6 & 3 Fatty Acids including Flax seed Oil! Smells like Sweet Vanilla. This ensures that the Glider maintains the healthy 2-to-1 ratio that prevents many diseases such as Hind Leg Paralysis. As important as a diet rich in Calcium is, the Phosphates provide other necessary nutrients. In addition, it should be noted that too much Calcium is just as harmful as not enough. When too much Calcium is given to a sugar glider, the result can be crystals in the urine, kidney stones, gall stones and/or Calcium deposits on the joints, and bones, muscles and organs. The HPW diet ensures that they have a well balanced overall diet. It all sounds very complex, but when you refine it to a nightly routine, it becomes second nature and your gliders will get active when they hear you getting their food ready. This has been my experience over the past 8 years of loving and caring for my Glider family. Should you have any questions or concerns about your current diet, or if you are doing research prior to becoming an owner, please don't hesitate to contact me.

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