Sugar Gliders...

[Gerbilistic Pal]

I know it isn't very relevant but by accident on a search engine I saw a species called 'Sugar Gliders'. Can someone tell me what they are? From what I can gather they are like a flying squirrel with the face of a bat but they are so cute! I know they is no way I can get one but someone tell me more about them please....

[PyscoFalcon]

There quite common over in the states and are extrmely hard to keep etc and are baiscally a cross between a squirall and an aye-aye (well that's what they look and act like)

There very rare over here so expect to pay over £500 just for 1 never mind there enclosure etc.

[Gerbilistic Pal]

Ouch £500!! I'd like one but that's too much. What with bills and the house needing repairs it'll have to wait...

Jo

[PyscoFalcon]

Yeah - I think you need a liscance too as there exotics. A bit like you need a liscance for Birds of Prey and monkeys etc.

[Gerbilistic Pal]

There are breeders in the UK. But I'm looking at 500 plus not inculding cage, branches (treated) toys, Wheel, Water bottle etc.
With all of that I'm looking at around about 1500 plus which in my circumstances is a no-no. Not forgetting that like gerbils they have to live in pairs so I'd have to get two. Does it surprise you that there's only one breeder in the UK? It doesn't with me. I research every animal I'm looking at getting even if it looks impossible to get lol. My boyf doesn't want another exotic animal after what happened to the iguana (sorry about spelling - lack of sleep...Zzzz) Put it this way I hate his dad for what he did... He visits my boyf every 2 weeks (his dad I mean) His lguana was ill and had problems getting food and bathing we were going to get him to the vet he might have died eventually we probably could of saved him. But his dad presumed he was dying and while he was still alive he threw him in a skip. :bawling: God... when I found out I was so angry :argue: but it was too late it died of the cold by the time we'd woke up. (His dad did it 2 hours before we woke up) :bawling: I miss that Iguana that was 6 months ago. :bawling:

[PyscoFalcon]

Poor thing - sounded like a lack of calcium etc.

It wouldn't surprise me at all to only have 1 exotics breeder for the whole of UK as there too demanding to keep etc.

[keh02008]

it's a little late, but sugar gliders for a pair are normally 300 dollars not 500 and their food is fruits veggies and nuts. the cages are the simplest things to make. me and my family are getting some and it cost uo 35 dollars to build a cage. i'm earning the money for the gliders now

[BCmom514]

A girl i used to work with at a petstore, who was the reptiles and small animals specialist, used to buy sugar gliders in New York, not sure exactly where. She has 4 of them and loves them. I do remember her saying that when you buy them very young, you have to carry them around ALOT so that they bond with you. She used to bring hers to work everyday in a pouch that went around he waist with a little cloth inside to keep them cozy. They are really bonded to her and are really neat if you have the time for them.

[PyscoFalcon]

keh02008 - read it properly. I was talking in POUNDS not dollars.

[keh02008]

oh i'm sorry i didn't see the word pounds and i'm not used to the uk's system of money.

[HedgieAndDegu]

most petstores around me have sugar gliders, except for one that ONLY buys animals that they can really care for. (see my post... I think it's #7, 8, or 9 on "should I get a gerbil?") I don't buy them because I pretty much only like supporting the only store in my area that truly cares for their animals.

[Kayl]

Sugar Gliders are an interesting animal. I'm in America, so I can't help with costs, but I've researched'em a lot (wanted to get one, decided it had better wait till I have a house).

They need a tall cage, b/c they love to climb, and branches and leaves, etc. They're diet's kinda difficult too b/c they have specific requirements as to how much protein, fruit, veggies, etc. One thing I can say do not do is feed'em fruit cocktail as their staple diet. I knew someone who got one and the petstore told them to feed it that and he died within a year. I told him he was a dork, but meh. >.<

There are quite a few websites up about caring for Sugar Gliders--I'd suggest going to Yahoo (that's what I use) and typing care of sugar gliders into the search engine. I found a lot of really good sites.