BASIC GLIDER KNOWLEDGE & CARE

Written by: TMarie - GA Owner/Admin

For first time owners and breeders as well as pet shops and shelters. For a printable version click here

Basic Glider Info

Sugar gliders are native to Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea. They are also nocturnal animals. The average life span in captivity is 12-15 years. Adults usually have bodies of about 5-6 inches in length and tails of equal size. They reach adult size around 6 months of age. Being social animals, they like to be with their human companion a lot and/or a glider friend. Although they may look like extremely cuddly up cute animals, they take a lot of special care.

Anatomy

Males and females are fairly easy to tell apart after they reach maturity. A male glider will have a "bald spot" on his head where his fur is matted from the scent gland there. He will also have a red stringy like "worm" which is his penis. His testicles look like a "pompom." Females won’t have any of this but will have a u shaped pouch. A good website to see pictures of anatomy is http://bmxglider.tripod.com/glideranatomy.html.

Health

Having a veterinarian that will treat exotic animals is vital. Wellness visits should be done once a year at least. A medical kit should be kept at home in case of a medical issue. Ask your vet for some common items to include in your kit. For some commons symptoms and tests to have run, visit http://www.glidersanonymous.com/symptom.html.

Housing

Gliders like to have room to jump and play and love high places. When deciding on cages always make it as tall as possible. The minimum size for a single glider is 2’x2’x3’. Since they are marsupials, they love to sleep in pouches and nesting boxes. Even a slipper will do if need be. Just try to keep it in a high place. Reptariums and bird cages work fine. Bar spacing should be no more than 1"x ½" for an adult and ½" by ½" for a joey. PVC or powder coated is the best as galvanized can cause Urinary Tract Infections (UTI).

Feeding

Gliders should be fed once a day at night. It is also important to take their food out in the morning so they don’t eat spoiled food. Gliders need good protein sources, vitamins, and fruits/veggies in their diets. Please do not feed a hard food without softening it as gliders are sap suckers. Here are four diets I recommend and their ingredients.

**Suncoast Diet – http://www.sugar-gliders.com/sugar-glider-diet.htm

Offer one tablespoon of each per 2 gliders.

A fresh protein source such as a fruit flavored yogurt (no aspartame), plain boiled chicken breast with no skin or bones, mealworms, or boiled egg

A fruit or veggie every night. Make sure seeds are picked out and feed citrus on a RARE occasion. Limit tomatoes also and lima beans should NOT bed fed.

Zookeepers secret (insectivore fare) as a staple food

Vitamin supplements. A pinch of both rep-cal w/out phosphorous and d3 and vionate each feeding

**Dr. Cathy Johnson-Delaney/ PML Diet

Pockets Modified Leadbeater’s (PML) Mix – 1 to 1.5 tablespoon per glider

     1 & 3/4 cup - of bottled water
     1 & 3/4 cup - of honey (honey amount can be lessoned to 1 & 1/2 cup if using Australian honey)
     2 boiled eggs shelled - recommend EggLand's Best eggs!
     1 ounce (30 grams) - of Wombaroo High Protein Supplement

Eucalyptus bee pollen and acacia gum can be mixed in as well (about 1 tbs)
Instructions: Warm water before mixing honey (no hot water); Place eggs/warm mix into blender, blend 1 minute,

then add HPS & blend again for 1 minute - then place in freezer-safe dish & freeze.

Insectivore Fare/Carnivore Diet – 1 tbs per glider - Insectivore Fare by Reliable Protein Products is a good choice

Fruits/Veggies/Treats - 1-2 tbs of fruits and veggies per glider should be offered. Neocalglucon can be offered weekly as well

**MacPherson Diet

Sample Diet:

Day 1: 1/4 apple, 1/4 orange, 1/4 small papaya, teaspoonful of dry cat food in apple juice.

Day 2: 1/4 apple, 1/4 orange, fig, dry cat food in apple juice

Day 3: 1/4 orange, 4 grapes, heaping tablespoon of yogurt, dry cat food in apple juice

Day 4: 1/4 ripe pear, 1/4 orange, pineapple chunks, dry cat food in apple juice

Day 5: 1/4 small mango, 1/4 orange, 1/8 medium size avocado, dry cat food in apple juice

Day 6: 1/4 orange, 4 raspberries, heaping tablespoon of yogurt, dry cat food in apple juice

Day 7: 1/4 orange, 2 one inch cubes of cantaloupe, 1/4 pear, dry cat food in apple juice.

Bonding and Playtime

Bonding and playtime are very important to having a tame and friendly glider. Bonding during the day should be done for at least an hour so the glider is used to being handled. Playtime should be done for an hour at night so that they can exercise out of the cage. Good toys can be found anywhere. Toys for birds and hamsters are good but avoid dyed wood. Also check out toddler toys at dollar stores and flea markets.

More Information

Feel free to contact me or check out info at these great forums:

GA: http://www.glidersanonymous.com/forums/

USGN: http://www.usgn.info

If you need to find a home for a rescue, please contact someone at GA or USGN as they have a list of rescue people available.

Help Database

The help database can be found at http://www.glidersanonymous.com/helpdb.html and may or may not be attached to this info sheet.

Notice

For additional information, please contact the person who gave you this sheet or me at 313-207-7186. This info sheet is available for anyone to hand down and pass on. If you would like to make changes, please contact me. Thanks.

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