What in the World is a Glider?

Written by: TMarie - GA Owner/Admin

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There are many types of gliders. The glider I am referring to, however, is that cute, cuddly sugar glider. Sugar gliders, or Petaurus breviceps, are native to Australia. Gliders are also nocturnal. Most also ask me what they look like, and it's really hard to explain. It's somewhere of a cross between a hamster and a flying squirrel. The best description is a picture though. In the corner of my page you can see a picture of my one pair, Zack and Slater.

What do they eat?

Since gliders are a fairly new pet, there isn't much you can buy at a pet store that will be good for them. The three diets I recommend the most (in order) are the Suncoast diet, the Sugar Glider Exotic Diet, and Darcy's diet. I use the Suncoast diet with all of my gliders. Sugargliders.org is a great site to get the information on these diets as well as other proven ones.

Will they make good pets?

A lot of factors play into seeing if a glider is a good pet for you. They can live up to 14 years in captivity, which makes them a long-term pet, and not one you can just give away. Also, since most people know little about them, it makes it hard to find them the right home. It also takes patience to bond and tame a glider. This is a skill I developed only after I received my first glider. Finding a vet that will treat your glider is not only hard, but important. Lastly, gliders are very social animals. This means you need to spend a lot of time with them, and is sometimes best to have them in pairs.

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