In 2018, people started buying sugar gliders for pets left and right. It’s easy to see why—they’re cute, small, and an interesting pet compared to other caged animals like hamsters. They’re still popular today, and if you’re wondering how to take care of a sugar glider, then we’ve got a handy guide for you.
How to Take Care of a Sugar Glider
Food
Sugar gliders are omnivores, and they need a pretty strict diet that’s based on their age and activity levels. Make sure to check in with your veterinarian before assuming that you’re feeding your sugar glider right.
There are two essential parts you need to have in your sugar glider pet’s diet: nectar and sap. For homemade recipes, most people use calcium, honey, and baby cereal to make nutritious meals. You can also spice things up by adding in fresh fruit, but make sure it’s not something you use every day. Too much fruit can be bad for your sugar glider.
Housing
Sugar gliders live in cages. Even if you plan to have your sugar glider out for most of the time, it’s still important that your sugar glider has a home cage to look forward to. One important thing to note is that a sugar glider cage should never be set in direct sunlight, and you’ll need to regulate your house temperature to stay above 70 degrees.
Setting up a sugar glider cage can be tricky, so make sure you follow the instructions that come with your cage or online guides.
Behavior
Sugar gliders are loving pets, and people are attracted to them because they’re also really cute! However, they can have temperament problems. Spending time with your sugar glider can help. Another way you can avoid having behavior issues in your sugar glider by having more than one sugar glider.
It might sound contradictory, but sugar gliders need social interaction with other sugar gliders. You generally want one male and then a few females. Also, it’s important to remember to not let your sugar gliders out with your other pets.
Common Health Issues
Sugar gliders are nocturnal animals that can become stressed out incredibly easily. If you take them out of their cages in the daytime or you’re keeping them in areas that are too cold, sugar gliders will actually start to hurt themselves.
When you notice your sugar glider biting itself, try looking for other things that could be stress—oftentimes, this is due to caging conditions.
Sugar gliders are also prone to parasites and other similar issues. Make sure to have check-ins with your vet frequently. Keeping a healthy diet for your sugar glider pet is another way of preventing this problem as well.
What About Other Exotic Pets?
Now that you know how to take care of a sugar glider, you may be interested in other types of exotic pets. You may just want something different from a cat, dog, or hamster, and that’s understandable!
Check out our other blogs to see other pets you might not have thought about.