SUGAR GLIDERS

By Patricia Garber

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Scientific Name: Petaurus breviceps• They live about 10-15 years in captivity.• Sugar Gliders are about 5-6 inches long,

and the tail is another 6 inches. They only weigh 4-5.5 oz

• Sugar Gliders are indigenous to Australia, Papua New Guinea and parts of Indonesia

• Because gliders are such social animals, they will do fine in a colony of one if the owner is able to provide plenty of attention. They bond well with their owners.

• Sugar gliders are nocturnal but they are content with just spending the day in their owners pockets or a bonding pouch napping.

• However, if owners cannot spend as much time as possible with their pets it is best to get at least two gliders.

• Sugar gliders are marsupials• The babies are born immature and grow

in a pouch. Sugar gliders have furry membranes that extend from their wrists to their ankles (called a patagium) which allows them to glide through the air.

• In the wild they move from tree to tree by gliding. Their hind feet have a large, opposable toe that helps them grip branches

• The second and third digit forms a grooming tool.

Things to avoid• Cedar shavings, use shredded newspaper, aspen

or fir instead.• Chocolate and sugars.• Toxic plants and branches such as Autum Crocus,

any form of the onion family, and dandelion roots to name just a few.

• Pesticides.• Processed human food.• Preservatives.• Excessive amounts of fat.• Dairy products• Dogs and cats (Sugar Gliders are expensive

snacks!).• Small children.

Male Glider

• Male gliders naturally have a bald spot on the top of their heads, it appears when they reach sexual maturity.

• It is actually a scent gland that the male uses to mark his female and offspring as well as his territory such as the cage.

• There are two other scent glands on the male, one on his genital area and another on his chest which causes color change in the fur or another bald spot.

Female Glider

• The female glider also has scent glands. One is located in her genital area as well as her pouch.

• Both males and females give off a sweet musky odor.

Feeding in the wild

• Sugar Gliders require 75% fruit/veggies and 25% protein. Excess fat in the diet can cause problems later and effect any offspring.

• It is very hard to feed captive sugar gliders the same diet that they would consume in the wild.

• In the wild they eat eucalyptus gum, sap, insects, nectar, and honeydew as well as bird eggs, lizards and small birds.

Captive Feeding

• Zoo quality diets• Insects such as crickets, mealworms,

wax worms, spiders, and moths. These must be fed in a variety to avoid boredom and the insects must be fed richly (such as Gut Load) or dusted.

• Fruit and veggies are a great snack, however, nothing canned because canned food has preservatives and refined sugar.

Housing• Gliders are climbers, they need a cage

that is at least 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall.

• They need things to climb on and toys to play with.

• Their water should be changed daily and in a plastic dish hooked on the side of the cage along with the food dish to avoid contamination.

• The cage should be cleaned at least once a week.

• A nest box or hide box should also be placed in the cage as well.

Healthy Sugar Gliders

• Should be:• Active, alert, and

sociable• Eat and drink

normally • Have healthy fur• Clear eyes• Walk normally

• Shouldn’t be:• Lethargic• Cloudy eyes• Matted fur• Vomiting• Diarrhea

Most common problems

• Malnutrition• Self-inflicted

wounds- i.e.. Boredom

• Intestinal parasites• Trauma• Pneumonia• Diarrhea• constipation/

impaction• Gastroenteritis

• Stress-related diseases: coprophagia hyperphagia, polydipsia

• Hind leg paralysis-associated with calcium deficiency

• Blindness• Cataracts

Physical Exam

• The PE may be done with minimal restraint, however anything more must be done under anesthesia

• Anesthesia used is isoflurane, the glider is masked down with a soda bottle and surgical glove

Dentals

• Gliders also get tartar and dental disease

• If the teeth are really bad, the glider’s diet must be changed as well.

• The teeth are too small to do normal dental work on them such as fillings so they must be monitored for infections or extracted.

Tartar at the bottom of the lower incisors.

Diseases

• Aflatoxicosis- this is where a glider eats a cricket that has injested food contaminated with toxic metabolites from fungus.

• Symptoms may include: loss of appetite, anemia, jaundice, bowel problems, and lethargy

• It is treatable but the animal can die within hours if not brought to the vet. To prevent this from happening again, change the food source and research where the crickets or the food comes from before feeding it.

Diseases continued…

• Giardiasis- caused by Giardia lamblia. It can remain dormant in a sugar glider for up to 6 months until the glider becomes stressed.

• Symptoms: behavioral changes, diarrhea, lameness, vomiting, jaundice, green tinge to feces, and dehydration.

• Treatment: bring to a vet, disinfect everything, cages, toys, water and food dishes and test other gliders in the colony

…

• Lumpy Jaw- impacted salivary gland, most common cause is bacterial introduction by dental abscess

• Symptoms: a hard lump appears on face, neck or chest; draining eye; weight loss

• Treatment: bring to vet for prescription and soften food with water, do not feed low quality foods.

Stress

• Causes:• Actual danger• Loneliness • Death of the owner or fellow glider• Illness• Improper diet• Thyroid problems• Daylight when glider is sleeping• Sudden changes

Stress

• Symptoms:• Self mutilation• Repeated back flips • Vomiting• Diarrhea• Pacing• Tremors or trembling• Anorexia• Sleeping patterns change

Treatment of stress

• Seek vet help• Spend lots of time with the glider• If glider is new, bring something old that

is familiar to it, and slowly change the cage over time

• If changing the diet, just like other pets, change it slowly

Look how cute they are!