Sugar Glider
Sugar
Glider Care
Deanne
Strat-Zenoni, DVM
Chicago
Exotics
Reviewed
2/11
Pictures
by Susan Horton, DVM
Sugar gliders are marsupials (warm-blooded animals
with a pouch like the kangaroo and wallaby). Gliders originate from
New Guinea
and
Southern Australia
where they spend most of their time living in the trees.
They possess a gliding membrane that stretches from their
wrists to their ankles and allows them to “glide” from tree to
tree. Sugar gliders are
nocturnal animals, which means they spend much of their active time
at night and sleep during the day.
They are omnivores i.e. they eat both plant and
animal matter. (see diet recommendations)
Male gliders have two scent glands used for marking
territory. One gland is located on their belly and the other on the
top of their head. They will mark objects by rubbing their bellies
back and forth upon the object. They will also mark any females in
their colony by rubbing the female's chin with their head.
Once neutered, these scent glands diminish. Female gliders
have a pouch located mid-abdomen. Most sugar gliders will begin
breeding somewhere between seven months to a year of age. Like
kangaroos, gliders have a very short gestation period of 16 days
after which they give birth to one to three hairless offspring that
are smaller than a bee. The
babies crawl up the fur of the abdomen, enter the mother’s pouch
and attach to a nipple where they remain for approximately two to
three months. Approximately ten days after emerging from the pouch,
the babies open their eyes and a month later they are ready to wean.
Note: A license is required to breed sugar gliders.
Housing
A wire cage is preferred and should be 20" X
20" X 20" or larger to provide plenty of space to climb.
The wire used is 1" X 0.5" welded wire. Gliders
enjoy chewing on wood. It
is important to provide natural wood branches in the cage for
chewing and climbing. Oak, fruit woods (cherry, apple pear etc.),
willow, and aspen are acceptable.
Do not use any branch that has been sprayed with
pesticides. You should
bake branches at 200 degrees for ½ hour if you bring them in from
outside. A nest box should be provided to give the glider(s) a dark
place to hide and sleep. The
box should be closed on all sides with a hole for entry/exit.
Exposure to bright sun can damage their sensitive eyes. Plain white
unscented toilet paper or paper towels, hay or aspen chips can be
used as bedding. Avoid
using cedar or pine shavings or shavings impregnated with
chlorophyll. These
bedding materials can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, throat,
lungs and skin.
Diets for Sugar
Gliders (Peters breviceps)*
Below are the most up to date diet
recommendations, but are frequently changed as new information is
obtained. There is no simple over the counter diet for sugar
gliders. The diets are multi-faceted and time consuming. There are
several websites that provide good information on husbandry, diets,
etc. These websites, while helpful, do not replace regular
veterinary care.
http://www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/
www.glidercentral.net
www.sugarglider.com
HPW
diet (High Protein Wombaroo Diet)
v
2 cups warm water
v
1 ½
cups honey
v
3 scrambled eggs
v
2 tbsp bee pollen
v
¼ cup High Protein Wombaroo
Powder (1/2 cup if breeding/pregnant)
(This
product can be found online)
1.
Cook eggs and set aside
2.
In large bowl mix water and honey. Stir
honey until dissolved. Add in HPW powder and mix well
3.
Combine ingredients; add egg, bee
pollen, and slowly add HPW liquid, blending thoroughly
4.
Pour into freezer safe bowl with
airtight lid. It should freeze to ice cream consistency.
Feed :
1 ½ tbsp HPW thawed
1 tbsp fresh or frozen fruit
1 tbsp fresh or frozen veggies
Insects (4-6 crickets OR 4-5 mealworms OR 2 superworms
OR 6-8 waxworms)
* Note all insects should be gut loaded and dusted
with
Rep
Cal
Wax
worms are fattening and should not be a regular part of the diet
Rotate
insects
DO
NOT feed lightening bugs
*Be careful with fruit and veggie choices, goal
should be a 2:1 Ca:Ph
ratio
Do not feed pits, seeds, +/- skins (pesticides)
Avoid grapes and raisins since enough is not known
about the effect on the kidneys of sugar gliders
Rotate fruits and veggies,
do not be surprised if their tastes change frequently
BML
diet (Bourbon’s Modified Leadbeaters
diet)
v
½ cup honey (do not use honeycomb, raw
or unfuiltered)
v
4oz Premixed Gerber juice with yogurt
(mixed fruit or banana)
v
¼ cup wheat germ
v
1 tsp Rep Cal Herptvite
(blue label)
v
2 tsp
Rep
Cal
non phosphorus w/ Vit D3 (pink label)
v
2 2 ½oz
jars Stage 2 chicken baby food
v
1 hardboiled or scrambled egg
v
¼ cup Apple Juice
v
½ cup dry baby cereal (rice, mixed or
oatmeal- many like rice w/ banana flavor)
1.
Mix honey and juice/yogurt mix and blend
well
2.
Add wheat germ, vitamins, chicken baby
food, egg, blend well
3.
Slowly add Apple juice and baby cereal
4.
Blend well for 5 minutes
5.
Pour into Tupperware bowl or ice cube
trays and freeze to ice cream consistency
6.
This mix will feed 1 glider for a month
Feed:
1 tbsp BML
1 tbsp fruits
1 tbsp veggies
Insects (4-6 crickets OR 4-5 mealworms OR 2 superworms
OR 6-8 waxworms)
* Note all insects should be gut loaded and dusted
with
Rep
Cal
Wax
worms are fattening and should not be a regular part of the diet
Rotate
insects
DO
NOT feed lightening bugs
*Be careful with fruit and veggie choices, goal
should be a 2:1 Ca:Ph
ratio
Do not feed pits, seeds, +/- skins (pesticides)
Avoid grapes and raisins since enough is not known
about the effect on the kidneys of sugar gliders
Rotate fruits and veggies,
do not be surprised if their tastes change frequently
There
are other diets out there that people use, including some that allow
for a “pelleted” diet. In general they should get 33% protein
and 67% fruits and veggies in their diet.
Acacia
gum allows for a good enrichment tool that can be placed in small
drill holes in branches or toys. It can be fed 3-4 times a week.
Another good option is a nectar supplement made specifically for
gliders.
Good
examples of fruits and veggies include: papaya, oranges, bananas,
strawberries, cantaloupe, mango, kiwi, peaches, honeydew melon,
cucumbers, squash, bell peppers, carrots, sweet potatoes, bok
choy, jicama,
green beans.
Health Concerns
v
HLP (Hind Limb Paralysis, Metabolic Bone Disease, Hypocalcemia)
The
most common problems seen in gliders are associated with dietary
deficiencies of protein and calcium. These deficiencies result from
feeding the improper diet. Calcium deficiency may present as loss of
appetite and weight loss, lethargy/weakness, tremors, lack of
coordination, limping, abnormal heart rate and rhythm, and lameness
due to broken bones. Fractures of the spine may occur resulting in
paralysis. If changes associated with low calcium are recognized
early and treated appropriately with dietary supplementation and
correction these pets may recover to normal. Failure to correct the
problem usually results in death.
v
Other diet deficiencies
Protein
and vitamin deficiencies can result in poor function of the immune
system, cataracts, seizures, star gazing, loss of appetite and
weight loss to name a few.
v
Trauma
Trauma
associated with cat and dog attacks is common and can be fatal. In
addition, due to the small size of your glider, it may easily escape
in to small under cabinets, appliances and under doors to the
outside. Monitor your pet closely when outside of the cage.
v
Self Mutilation
This
may result from stress, injury, other and can be very difficult to
control. Early intervention is tantamount to preventing this from
becoming a chronic concern.
v
Parasites
Intestinal
parasites are common and are most often protozoal.
Your veterinarian may prescribe appropriate medications. Regular
fecal exams are recommended.
v
Cancer
v
Infection
v
Dental Disease
Pictured above is one obese sugar glider. It
is important to balance their diets and provide adequate
environmental enrichment to prevent this disorder.
We do see neoplasia in sugar gliders.
Pictured above is an oral tumor. Abscesses can have a similar
appearance. If you are seeing anything like this in your sugar
glider, you need to call us!
847-329-8709
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