Sugar Gliders as Pets
Gliders are Unique Friendly Animals
Sugar gliders are unique friendly animals and make excellent pets. Many belief sugar gliders are a rodent, when actually they are marsupials and in the same basic family as koalas and kangaroos. These beautiful little creatures have many features that make them great pets.
One of the best benefits of these little guys and gals is that they're make good pets for anyone of any age. Gliders make a great companion for seniors who live alone and want a pet to love that is relatively low in maintenance. Sugar gliders are appropriate for children 6 years of age and up. It is probably best for children younger than 6 years of age to hold these pets with adult supervision.
Bonding With Their Owner
Different then rodents like gerbils and hamsters, sugar gliders possess the ability to bond with their owners. Most important factor when consider buying a sugar glider as a pet is their age. Gliders living in the wild live in groups of 10 to 15 gliders and start bonding when they are about 8 to 12 weeks out of their mothers pouch. This is the time when in the wild the young gliders instinctively start the bonding process. So this makes the process of bonding very natural at this time in their lives to bond with their owner.
The sugar glider has a lifespan of 10 to 15 years and after he has fully bonded with his family, these little creatures love nothing more than spending time with them. Sugar glider love to travel with their owners out shopping or running errands comfortably tucked away in a pocket or pouch. Once your sugar glider has bonded with you he will not run away or hide from you. It may interest you to know that these little creatures have about the same intellect as a dog and will respond to their name when called and you can even teach them tricks.
Gliders are Low Maintenance
Sugar gliders are very low maintenance. Gliders don’t transmit diseases, so you don’t need to vaccinate them, as you do with dogs and cats. In addition, they don’t get diseases like heartworm, so they don’t need ongoing veterinary care. Sugar gliders when fed a proper diet, have almost no noticeable odor. They are incredibly clean animals so they never require a bath.
Gliders Have Routines
While sugar gliders can not be potty trained, most gliders have established a routine which makes it easier to avoid accidents. Sugar gliders do not pee or poop where they sleep. So if you have one in your pocket or a pouch, you can be sure it will not make a mess. These little guys usually need to go potty every 3 to 4 hours and so like people they will need to go after a long sleep. Knowing this will make it easier for your glider to avoid accidents while playing with your glider. Just put your glider in a place where he can do his duty and then you can continue playing with him. Mice and gerbils on the other hand, have virtually no bladder control and relieve themselves no matter where they might be.
Gliders Don't Need to Chew
Sugar gliders don’t have that need to chew like rodents do. Rodents have teeth that grow continually and cause them to chew in order to keep them worn down. A rodent, such as the rabbit is not caged, but left to wander about the house you would probably find a chewed on couch or wall. Sugar gliders are not instinctive chewers, instead like to play when they get out of their cages - jumping and gliding from one piece of furniture to another, explains why they are called gliders.
How many gliders should you own:
Presented by: Dr. David M. Brust, DVM
President ASGV™
For more information go to:
www.ASGV.org
www.thesugarglidervets.org
Sugar Gliders For Sale
Rich Allyn