Hope for Gliders | Gliders 101

Housing
Though many breeders will give you a cage with your purchase, it likely won't be big enough. Minimum cage size for a pair of gliders is 3 feet high by 2 feet wide with no more than 1/2 inch bar spacing. There are several sources for cages online, but shipping can be really expensive. You can shop bird cages at your local pet store, but one of our favorite suppliers for both price and quality is Lois's Birds at Trader's Village. Avoid galvanized steel cages because they can rust and cause urinary tract infections in male gliders.

Sugar gliders are intelligent and need an engaging environment. You need to stimulate your gliders mind with interesting things to look at touch, smell and play with. If your glider is neglected in this area you may have health issues along with behavior problems. Make sure you provide your glider with playtime and toys. Most toddler toys are glider safe including, fun rings, barrel of monkeys, small plastic beads, empty spools of thread, safe glider wheels. Our gliders really like the Fisher Price Little People barns, boats, and houses, so we have them in all of our cages. Suzanne Enyedi has some easy to make no-sew cage accessories on her site at Suz Sugar Gliders.

Reptariums are large travel cages. Reptile Haven has good prices on the reptariums large enough for gliders.

Bonding and Socialization
One of the most special things about sugar gliders is the need for socialization. Though some breeders will sell single gliders, we've seen over and over that gliders do much better in pairs or colonies. You may have heard the fallacy that if a glider bonds to another glider it will not bond to you. Untrue! Gliders are capable of a lot of love and if you spend time with them and give them respect, they will grow to love you. An important thing to consider is that gliders form strong bonds and can become despondent when the bond is broken. A glider's life span is 15 years. Before bringing home a glider, you will need to consider if you are offering them a forever home.

We often tell people that night time is for playing and daytime is for bonding. Snuggling your sugar glider and petting them when they are sleepy in their pouch is a great way to connect. Another useful technique is "tent time." Playing with your gliders in a tent allows them freedom to roam without a mad dash somewhere you can't coax them out of. We've found some great tents made just for this purpose at Stitches Glider Haven.

Choosing a Great Breeder
When you choose a breeder ask questions, look at the breeders cages and inspect, ask to see their license. Some red flags that should send you running from the are:

Not allowing you to see where the gliders are kept.
Feeding a cheap unhealthy and unproven diet.
Pulling joeys early to make a sale. Gliders that are under 8 weeks oop (out of pouch) should not be adopted. If you question the age of the glider ask to see its records.
Seeing gliders that are underweight, have open sores, eye infections, or have hair loss. Watery stools are often common due to unsanitary habitats, or disease.
Seeing gliders kept in small cages. Often the cages are empty except for a pouch or index box.
The breeder is unable, or unwilling to answer your questions or give you a vet referral.
The breeder is unwilling or unable to give you references of customers happy with their gliders.
The breeder says he can neuter the animal himself to save you money. This may be done with no pain medication and unsterile instruments. Ask to see where the neutering will be done, how it will be done, and who will be doing the procedure. If you see this going on, report it to your local police department, ASPC and the USDA.

If you feel uncomfortable, run, don't walk away from the breeder. . Please contact us if you need a referral to a wonderful breeder and we will help.

Neutering Male Gliders
Having your male glider neutered reduce the number of offspring and the need for males to scent mark. The cost for neutering varies by vet. In the metroplex, it runs from about $45 - $75 and is a day surgery. Young gliders are usually good as new in 24 hours. Older gliders may need 36 hours. We've learned to be suspicious of breeders who offer to neuter their male gliders for you and prefer to use a reputable veterinarian.

Glider Anatomy
One of our owners thought something was definitely wrong with her male glider the first time she saw its bifurcated penis. If you want to learn more about your glider's anatomy, or if you aren't sure if you have a male or female, visit this site.

Caring for a Rejected Joey
Most of the time, the parents care for their young and teach them all they need to know. However, sometimes a joey is rejected. For our advice on caring for a rejected joey, click here.

Caring for a Glider Colony
Caring for a Glider Colony (more than a pair of gliders) can be a lot of fun. For more information, click here.

Glider Vets in the DFW Area
We have a network of vets that we work with in the area. Contact us for a referral.

List of Toxic Plants
Gliders are curious and sure to check out your houseplants, yet many are toxic to gliders. Visit this link for the toxic plant list.

Forums to ask questions and get more info...
Connect with other glider owners at Glider Central or WSGN.

Diet
One of the biggest areas of misinformation concerns diet. Though there are several proven diets available, Hope for Gliders is a big believer in BML—the Bourbon's Modified Ledbetter diet . Many of the gliders that come to us are malnourished, and BML has never failed to get them healthy. We also find that it is the easiest to prepare and feed. Though it may take a bit to get the hang of it the first time, once you've done it, it becomes a snap. The best part is that one batch can feed two gliders for a month. To link to directions for making it, click here.

Gliders love snacks and snacks can be a great resource for bonding. One of the most nutritious is live meal worms. Seeing how much your little guy loves mealies will help you get over the "ick" factor (most pet stores sell plastic tweezers). We order mealies from the worm man. Other snacks include fresh fruit, dried unsulfured papaya, dried unsulfured coconut, yogurt drops, pine nuts (in limited quantities), peas, and "lickey treats" which could be yogurt, applesauce or baby food. (Hawaiian Delight and chicken with apples are favorites.) When choosing snacks avoid all artificial sweeteners, colors or other non-natural ingredients.