Sugar Gliders are not terribly difficult to properly care for, but they are specific in what they need. Gliders are not rodents, therefore they will not survive on prepared seed/food mixes that are commonly bought for other small animals such as mice, rats and ferrets. Sugar gliders are marsupials and therefore need an atypical and specific diet to survive and maintain proper health.
This is only a basic introduction care sheet used to help new glider owners get a start on what needs to be done. If you are serious about purchasing a glider, we suggest researching as much information from as many different sources as you can. Knowledge is key to successfully keeping your glider healthy in body and mind.
Sugar gliders are colony and social animals and therefore must be kept in pairs or more. Single gliders will often become depressed and can stop eating or exhibit other disorders such as self-mutilation. Unmodified females or unmodified males do well when caged with their single gender. However, when you start to mix the sexes, you start to have problems. Neutering males is an absolute must and certainly helps to allow a cage of males to live together better, but it does not guarantee that.
Diet & Supplementation
Sugar gliders need a wide variety of fresh food for a healthy diet. Frozen mixed veggies is often used as a main feeding staple and is supplemented with 50% of the feeding being protein source and the rest being variable items such as fruit, other veggies, yogurts, nectar mixes and so on. Many people come up with blender mixes and nectars that are supposed to help with supplementation and offset the lack of a natural diet, and it is yet unclear how much and if any of that is needed. Many sugar glider colonies have been kept healthy with a fresh food only diet perhaps with the caveat being that there exists a calcium-rich source to help prevent a malady known as hing leg paralysis syndrome (HLP).
A high protein source can easily be turkey, chicken, eggs, shrimp, beef, mealworms, ... Pre-made items such as kibble, monkey biscuits, glider cereal, nectar mixes are not necessary and much debate is still happening over these additional diet items.
A proper variable assortment is a great way to ensure the long term health of your glider. Gilders often become bored with their meals and will usually not eat the same meal night after night for dinner, so variety is the key.
Common Fruits: Apples, bananas, cantaloupe, seedless grapes, honeydew, kiwi, mango, oranges, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapple, plums, strawberries, tangerines and watermelon. Make sure to remove all seeds and fruit pits where possible.
Common Veggies: Frozen mixed vegetable bags are often used. Shoot for high calcium to phosphorous ratios.
Protein foods: Hard boiled eggs, mealworms, crickets, boiled or baked chicken. turkey, beef.
Common Treats: Dried fruit treats such as Mango & Papaya, yogurt drops and raisins, unsweetened apple sauce, non-fat yogurt and non-sugar frozen fruit juices, sunflower seeds, honey, agave nectar.
Items to Avoid: Cauliflower, chocolate, cottage cheese, onions, high sugar items, preservatives and ANY artificial sweetener.
Supplements: homemade or purchased calcium powder added to yogurts or nectar mixes.
Water: Fresh water in a water bottle should be available at all times. Do not use free standing water bowls. Gliders drown very easily.
Housing
Cages should be as large as you can afford and have space for. Gliders need a lot of room to climb and glide and they will not do well in small/cramped cages. Glass aquariums, plastic containers, or bare wire cages should never be used and are cruel to keep gliders in. Gliders need coated wire that prevents rusting that are spaced 1/2" or smaller.
The absolute bare minimum cage you should house a pair of gliders in would be a coated wire cage that measures 36" tall x 32" wide x 21" deep. Cages should be kept on stands and off the floor since gliders prefer the security of being high off the ground in the tops of trees.
Bedding: Newspaper under the drop grate works well. Stay away from cedar or pine shavings they are toxic to your glider. Make sure your glider cannot come in contact with the bedding.
Sleeping Pouches: Gliders sleep in soft cotton and fleece material called sleeping pouches. Pouches are a critical item your glider must have at all times. It's often good to offer several pouches, tunnels, cubes or hammocks to give your gliders a variety to choose from. Pouches should be thoroughly washed and cleaned on a regular basis to prevent sickness and disease.
Toys: Gliders are very curious and inquisitive animals. They require activities and toys that stimulate their minds and problem solving curiosity. They really enjoy rope toys and pieces of string/rope tied into knots that they can untie. Provide your gliders with as much stimulation as possible.
Toys: Pouches, tunnels, cubes, hammocks, rope toys, bird toys, bells, Wodent Wheels are a must, manzanita branches, bird perches, cat toys (no catnip) and feather teasers. Rotate toys out weekly to help avoid your glider getting bored.
Breeding & Sexual Maturity
Female gliders sexually mature at around 8 months of age, while male gliders sexually mature at around 6 months. It's important not to put young females in with older males until the female has reached maturity. Male gliders will relentlessly breed female gliders.
It is often a good idea to keep one male to every two female gliders. Pairs of females get along well as do most male and female pairs of maturity. Two mature male gliders will often fight and become very territorial. It is not a good idea to keep two males together unless they are neutered.
Female gliders on average will have 1-2 babies twice a year and will breed year round. Do not remove the male from the female once she is pregnant. The male will play a vital role in raising the joeys. It's very important to feed pregnant females extra vitamins, calcium and protein.
Once gliders reach six years of age they should be retired from breeding. Gliders can live up to fifteen years with proper care. Care must be taken when purchasing gliders as pets. They are a big responsibility and will offer you years of entertainment and friendship.