Sugar Gliders?!?

[Cavy]

Hi everyone. I'm trying to decide on a pet, and i'm having some troubles. I was reading through this forum and sugar gliders sound interesting so I want to learn a bit about them.

1) are they illegal anywhere? Well...are they illegal in Calgary, Alberta, Canada?

2) How much time out of the cage do they need daily?

3) how big of a cage do they need (preferably in inches please)

4) Is it fine just to get 1?

5) Are they more expensive than ferrets? how much do they cost to buy the sg it's self? how much on supplies did you spend on your first shopping spree for yours?

6) I also have guinea pigs, will they be okay (no in the same cage of course, they will be across my HUGE bedroom or in a diff. room)

7) Whats your favourite and least favourite things about sugar gliders?

8) what are some questions I should know before getting a sg?

9) do they often bite? if so how hard?

10) Do they like to be with humans? I don't want a pet that doesn't like human interaction, I want a social animal (although i know they won't love people until they're tame, that much I know!)

11) What are some common sicknesses?

12) where can i get a sugar glider?

I think that's it, but I'll probably think of more questions, do keep checking back!

Sorry for all the questions, but I need to be educated before deciding if I want one!

Thank you!

[SugarGlider9562]

1) are they illegal anywhere? Well...are they illegal in Calgary, Alberta, Canada?They are in some places

2) How much time out of the cage do they need daily?Pefer 2 hours

3) how big of a cage do they need (preferably in inches please)I think 24" by 16" by 16"
4) Is it fine just to get 1?Yes ut you need to spent time with it

5) Are they more expensive than ferrets? how much do they cost to buy the sg it's self? how much on supplies did you spend on your first shopping spree for yours?They cost different by color a cheap one is 150 you i spent about 50 on supplies

6) I also have guinea pigs, will they be okay (no in the same cage of course, they will be across my HUGE bedroom or in a diff. room)They might but let them get use to each other first

7) Whats your favourite and least favourite things about sugar gliders?thier friendly they make a little bit of noise

8) what are some questions I should know before getting a sg?THey need to be played with somethimes they can die if you leave them in thier cage & dont play with them

9) do they often bite? if so how hard?No and if they do not hard

10) Do they like to be with humans? I don't want a pet that doesn't like human interaction, I want a social animal (although i know they won't love people until they're tame, that much I know!)yes they love peoplethey will ride in your pocket but if you just play with it and take care of it. it might bit other people but not hard just a nip

11) What are some common sicknesses?
I dont know I have a book on it just in case
12) where can i get a sugar glider?
pets hub or glidercentral or look around
I think that's it, but I'll probably think of more questions, do keep checking back!

Sorry for all the questions, but I need to be educated before deciding if I want one!Its ok I was like that when i got one

Thank you![/QUOTE]

[suggiegurl]

Actually, as an experienced owner, some of SugarGlider9562's answers are not correct or accurate

1. Sugar gliders are not illegal to own where you live

2. Gliders need 4 or more hours of human contact per day

3. A single glider should not be housed in anything smaller than 48 inches tall by 24 inches wide and 24 inches deep. As with any animal though, larger is always better! The wire spacing should be no bigger than 1/2 inches and the wire should be PVC coated. (no "hardware cloth" ir galvinized metal)

4. 1 glider is fine if you spend ALOT of time with it (6 or more hours) they do better though in pairs!

5. A good, tame glider is around $200. A cage runs about $100, toys wheel and pouches are about another $100, vitamins are about $25, the fruits veggies and meal worms and supplies to make BML are another $30-$40, vet check was $35

6. they should be fine in the same room with the gunie pigs

7. Favorite: they are nocturnal like myself Least favorite: they bond closly to me and dont care for anyone else

8. Ask the breeder how many gliders they have, how often the glider has been halded and hopw long, what they feed (no dry foods or pellets) and ask to see there cages and such to make sure they are clean. Also ask about the parents health and if they have ever rejected any joeys.

9. Actually, gliders DO bite and it can be VERY hard! No matter how tame they get, if they get mad, want to be left alone, or even dont like the smell of you, they will bite and it hurts quite a bit! I have one who is a pit bull bitter and latches on and shakes his head when you try to get him off. I've had him a year with little to no progress in this area.

10. They do like interaction if you get one from a reputable breeder who handles them.

11. Commons illness is HLP (hind leg paralis from poor diet) UTI's (urniary tract infections from the wrong kind of cage materal)and self mutilation

12. To find a good reputable breeder, go to Sugarglider.net and they have a links section of breeders listed by country and city or providence.

[Cavy]

Thanks for the help guys.

Well, I'm thinking sugar gliders aren't the pet for me. I'm having a terrable time finding the perfect pet!

Thank again

[Cavy]

Do they really bite that hard? Ouch!

[suggiegurl]

They can bite that hard

[Cavy]

When do they usally bite? Just when they are scared? or when ever they want somthing?

[suggiegurl]

When scared, when they smell food on you, when they dont like the smell of you (perfums, lottne, ect) when you wake them, there are no real set offs for these guys...

[Cavy]

oh, I see, well I have a bit of a fear of waking up my pet and having it bite me, so maybe sg's aren't for me.

Aw, well. Thanks very much for your help and time!

[SugarGlider9562]

I was looking on a website and just got answers on thier I thought is was 4 hours a day myself