Frequently Asked Questions About Owning a Sugar Glider

In the U.S., a popular exotic pet is a palm-sized possum known as the sugar glider.

While these adorable little mammals share some similar features with flying squirrels, they actually are more related to marsupials such as kangaroos.

Are you interested in owning a sugar glider but what to learn more first?

Let’s check out the most commonly asked questions about these cut little gliding marsupials.

Do Sugar Gliders Make Good Pets?

The answer to this question is: it depends. Basically, for some people, sugar gliders make amazing pets. For others, they’re unideal.

This is because sugar gliders require a lot of attention. Don’t get confused and assume that having a sugar glider would be similar to having a hamster or a gerbil. These are high energy creatures that need social interaction quite frequently.

Where Do Sugar Gliders Live?

In the wild, sugar gliders live in the cool-temperate and tropical forests of Indonesia, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.

In your home, you’ll want to have a cage for your sugar glider that’s as big as possible. You especially want to make sure that the cage is as tall as you can get it, so they have plenty of room to climb around.

How Long Do Sugar Gliders Live?

On average, a sugar glider pet lives between 10-12 years. Somewhere in the 5-7 year range, they are considered geriatric pets.

Do Sugar Gliders Die Easily?

Many sugar gliders live long and happy lives with their owners. However, there are a number of medical problems that can occur for a sugar glider.

There are a number of accidents that can occur in a home that can lead to your sugar glider’s death. Injuries from other pets, broken bones, toilet drowning, strangulation from strings, unsupervised playtime, getting claws hung up, and much more, are all potential hazards.

Sugar gliders also can become dehydrated very quickly. If they go without water for as little as 12 hours it can kill them. Dehydration can also be a symptom of another health problem.

Other health problems that sugar gliders can experience are giardia, parasites, bacterial infections, calcium deficiency that leads to hind leg paralysis, infections, and more.

What Do Sugar Gliders Eat?

Sugar gliders have a relatively complex diet in the wild which is challenging to recreate in captivity.

It’s recommended that you feed sugar gliders a combination of Leadbeater’s mix (recipe below), fresh produce, insects, and nuts.

Leadbeater’s Mix Recipe

1/2 cup apple sauce or apple juice

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup baby rice cereal (dry)

1 boiled egg, shell included

1 teaspoon Vionate (a small bird/animal supplement)

Mash all ingredients with a fork or blend in a blender.

How Much Does a Sugar Glider Eat in One Day?

The general rule of thumb is that sugar gliders should eat about 15-20% of their body weight each day. They should be given food in the evening. Since they are often messy eaters, some people use a shoebox to make a feeding area inside their cage.

It’s important that there is always fresh water available and that it is changed every day.

Check out this guide on treats to learn more about how to safely treat your sugar glider.

Can Sugar Gliders Die of Loneliness?

There is a common notion about sugar gliders that they can die from loneliness. Is this true?

Well, it’s hard to say. What we do know is that sugar gliders, like most pets, are much happier if they have another member of their own species to play with.

They are also colony animals, which means that in the wild they live in groups of 6-15 sugar gliders. They are therefore very social by nature.

There are certainly many households that have one sugar glider as a pet and they seem to live quite happily. In these circumstances, the owners are typically spending one to two hours per day directly interacting and playing with the sugar gliders.

Sugar gliders can be susceptible to boredom and can even suffer from depression. They are not a good pet to leave alone at home for long periods of time. Lack of appetite, remaining motionless for long stretches of time during the evening, and fur-pulling, excessive living, or self-mutilation, are all signs your sugar glider is depressed.

What’s the Difference Between a Sugar Glider and a Sugar Bear?

These are just two different terms for the same thing. You might also hear them referred to ask sugar babies, suggies, and honey gliders.

Can Sugar Gliders Be Potty Trained?

Unfortunately, no. Luckily, though, their fecal matter and urine has basically no odor and is quite small in size/quantity.

Can You Teach Them Tricks?

Sugar gliders are very smart. They are very capable of learning some tricks. This will, of course, take quite a bit of patience on your part, however.

Are They Nocturnal?

Yes, sugar gliders are nocturnal. If you leave them in their cage during the day, they will mostly sleep. However, they’ll be psyched to play anytime you take them out from their cage. It is common for owners to leave them in their cage overnight since this is when they’re the most energetic.

Owning a Sugar Glider Is a Responsibility Like Any Other Pet

It’s important to learn as much as possible before deciding to take on the responsibility of any pet. Sugar gliders are low-maintenance in many ways, but it can be harmful to their health if they don’t receive proper care. If you aren’t much of an animal person or won’t have much time to give them attention, this might not be the right pet for you.

Did you find this article on owning a sugar glider helpful? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more informative content!