So you Want to get a Sugar Glider: Where to Start Your Search

Written by: Cyndiekb

Download printable version here

In this article I will list some pros and cons to purchasing gliders at flea markets, pet stores, and from breeders. In the end I hope you can make an educated decision as the final choice will be yours and yours alone to make.

Flea markets

As you will find most people will give the flea market a bad rap. You can find mega breeders going to flea markets to sell off their joeys for a fast impulse buy. Many of the joeys are too young to be away from their moms and can end up with health problems or passing away from this alone. If this is not bad enough the sellers often do not give you the right information on how to care for the new joeys so again you can end up losing you new pet to improper care.

Now for the pro spin on this idea. I was one to buy my glider at the flea market. Yes, it was an impulse buy as well. I had never seen one before so I took home a beautiful 6 week OOP male. I fed him all the wrong things like I was told to do until I got online to see just what I had gotten into. I found a good diet, made a copy, and took it back to the flea market with me. The woman I bought from now feeds BML to her crew, is working on her USDA license, and does not sell joeys less than 8 weeks OOP. All of the information I shared with her was used to help her gliders and now she passes it on to anyone who stops to ask about gliders. So, no not everyone that sells at a flea market is bad. Had this person not been there I would not be the happy owner of a dozen gliders so I cannot say never buy there, but rather just try to make sure the joeys are being cared for correctly.

Pet Stores

Yes, you will find good and bad in this situation as well. When you go into a pet store and see a sugar glider in a small fish tank, next to a light, with out a pouch, wheel, or toys, bells should go off in your head. This is not the correct way to keep a suggie. Bird food is not a glider diet, nor should all ages of gliders be in the same cage. If you find these things, chances are the people in the pet store have no idea what a glider really needs. They can in turn have heath problems from improper care. Also, it can be near impossible to tell if you are getting related gliders or not.

Okay so sugar gliders do not really belong in a pet store being woken up at all times of the day, then left alone all night with out bonding time. So can I find a pro to this setting? You bet! I know first hand of a family pet store that has gliders. They have pictures up, of their pair playing. Sleeping, and eating. When people inquire they are given a spiel about the family and what it takes to care for them. The gliders are in the store but not out for every one to see.  If they do have babies they offer a late night visit. All the gliders go home with this man and his wife at the end of the day. (Must be nice to have your own store huh) Now I will say it can be a very stressful place for a glider to be, but if you know your animals and you do look out for their best interest why would the store be any different than your own home.

Sugar Glider Breeders (SGB)

You can find SGB almost any place. There are a few illegal stats that I hope you do not find a breeder in and if you do find one, they will not be USDA licensed. Does the USDA license make a difference? Yes since breeders with more than 3 females are required to have a USDA license by law. It does not how ever guarantee you will be getting a healthy joey. Some breeders will pull the babies to hand raise them. Many think this is the only way to make them tame. Whenever possible the parents should raise their young. The number of gliders can also be an issue. You can have small hobby breeders or mega /mill breeders. Most mills are in this for the almighty fast buck; too many gliders to properly handle the parents let alone the babies. A few mills have been located recently. The problems with these are the fact they have so many gliders dieing. One report even said they found dead babies on the floor every day.

Are all big breeders like this? No, some staff their facilities with a glider knowledgeable staff to help care for the animals, finding time to interact with each pair a few times a day. As well as handle the joeys to prepare them for their new homes. A facility that has the man power to clean up behind a large group of these animals and get proper vet care if need has my awe. I am a small breeder just 2 pair and that is enough for me. I have a few friends that breed. Their glider numbers range for 6 pr to around 15 pr.  These are the people that I prefer to buy from and send my friends to. They put there love of this remarkable animal first. Most of the breeding pairs are pets first then breeders. Most can be held with out problem and all the babies get doted on unmercifully (because we think they are so darn cute). These are the breeders that keep their babies with the parent until weaned, some times as long as 12 weeks. Mind you, not all of them are USDA licensed but their animals still come first. The paper does not make the breeder so research your breeder and ask questions the more you can find out the better. A good breeder has nothing to hide.

So now if I have not totally confused you, you are ready to go get your baby. Or are you? My advice is to question everything. Go with your gut. Most importantly, please do not take a baby too young. It will set you up for heartache if some thing did happen to it, because it was pulled to early. Always feel free to call someone for a second opinion and if you find despicable conditions PLEASE save a life, report it.