Housing
What is needed for housing a sugar glider?
A sugar glider cage should be a minimum of 2 feet wide, by 2 feet deep, by 3
feet high. Some of the these measurements can be substituted by changing
others: make it a foot and a half deep and increase the height or length by 6
inches. Wire spacing should be no more than 1" x 1/2". Anything smaller and
the glider will be able to squeeze through. PVC, vinyl coated, or powder
coated cages are preferable to bare wire cages. They are easier to clean. As
for food and water bowls remember that gliders potty where-ever they want
to, even in their dishes. Allowing them to drink out of a bowl they have just
urinated in is cruel. A small animal water bottle is preferable. Sugar
gliders live in trees in the wild, rarely coming down to the ground. Any
food and water dishes should be kept near the top of the cage. Branches and
shelves near the middle to the top of the cage will help make them more
comfortable. Sugar gliders like to have a hiding place to sleep. A ferret
cage pouch, bird nesting box. Something along those lines where they can curl
up during the day to sleep. Try and stay away from socks, towels, pot
holders, etc. These are woven with loops that can catch the glider's nails.
The glider struggles to get loose often pulling the loops out until they are
big enough to catch around a foot, or even the neck. Place the glider house
high in the cage also. There should be some sort of bottom to the cage
allowing droppings and old food to fall through to a catch pan/ tray keeping
it away from the glider. Here are some things that are ok to line the bottom
of the cage with: newspaper (with non-toxic ink), care fresh bedding, paper
towels, recycled newsprint pellets. Stay away from pine, cedar, and wood
shavings as bedding. It is full of dust, and when wet with water or urine it
relapses toxins their primitive repertory systems can't handle. Most bird toys
without small chains are ok to use for gliders. Their little nails can get
caught on the chains so try and stay away from them. Small cat toys can be
good too as long as u think of the nails getting caught before placing it in
the glider's cage.