Cage: A sugar glider's cage should be as big as you can manage, although no smaller than 20x20x36 inches high for one or two gliders. Height is a very important thing with glider cages, as your glider feels safer the higher up it is. The wire bars of the cage should be no more than .5 inches apart. This spacing is commonly called budgie bars. It is better to have enameled wire, as galvanized wire is harder to clean and poses a severe health hazard. Do not use metal screening for your cage, because their nails can get caught in it in addition the potential health risks to using uncoated metal. Reptariums make wonderful cages for most gliders. They are large, light, and easy to clean. If your sugar glider is a chewer, you may want to consider something other than a reptarium.
Cage Location/Atmosphere: The location of the cage of you cage should be chosen carefully. Choose a location that isn't loud all the time. Sugar gliders should not be in a room with loud birds, as the sounds birds make will cause stress for your sugar glider. Gliders prefer the sensation of being high up, so if you cage is not a ceiling to floor cage, place it on a sturdy table. The cage should not be in direct sunlight, but should not be in complete darkness either. Room temperature should be between 65 degrees F and 75 degrees F. This is really convenient, as this is the average temperature of most homes.
Sleeping location: In the wild, sugar gliders sleep in hollow trees lined in leaves. Small nesting boxes designed for birds make a great slumber box. Offer fleece "blankets" or "strips" for them to build their nest. Wood boxed that are untreated will get dirty fast and begin to smell. If you use treated nest boxes for your sugar gliders, be sure that all chemicals and paints are animal safe. Some owners prefer to use sleeping pouches that mimic the comfort of being in their "mother's pouch". Sleeping pouches are generally made out of fleece, or other soft, natural, and breathable material. Be sure if using a pouch it is checked often, as pouches do wear out. Some sugar glider will "dig" in their pouches exposing seams and threads. Many sugar gliders have lost their lives by getting caught in loose threads inside the pouch. Which ever you choose, place the item high in the cage. This will make the glider feel safer.
Toys: Sugar gliders are very interactive animals. They should have enough toys in their cage to promote interest, curiosity, and movement. Most bird toys and some cat toys make wonderful toys for sugar gliders. A toy that I would highly recommend is a sugar glider safe wheel. Please don't use wire wheels, or wheels with crossbars as many gliders have gotten their tails caught along with various other injuries.
Branches/Perches: Add perches to your gliders cage, of different levels and sizes. Different perch and branch sizes allow your glider to exercise his feet muscles. Sugar gliders love natural branches, although if you choose to get them from outside, they must be sterilized by baking, or boiling. Never add a branch to your cage without doing this, as you could introduce many parasites to you sugar glider, and his home. Some good choices are elm and apple.
Feeding location: It is important with 2 or more sugar gliders, to have more than one feeding station when introducing them, or if you ever notice fighting or aggression over food. One sugar glider could become dominate and not allow the others to eat. Try to have them at different levels in the cage, and on opposite sides.
Toys or parts that should only be used during supervised playtime if used at all include but are not limited to:
How to find a lost Sugar Gliders
Step 1 -- Minimize Hazards
* Check to make sure all other glider cages are closed securely. You don't want to have any more gliders loose than you already do.
* Completely close all doors and windows in the entire house. A glider can slip through even a small tear in a screen, and your chances of finding him or her are far better in the house than they are outside.
* Secure any pets freely roaming around the house. Place them in areas which you've already checked for gliders.
* Close all toilet lids. Drain any standing water in sinks or elsewhere. Plug all drains in sinks and bathtubs.
* Turn off the stove, iron, curling iron, and any fans.
* Put away candles, air freshener, ant traps, soaps, or any other hazardous materials.
* Step and sit VERY carefully. Gliders have been known to hide in pillows, blankets, couch cushions, armchairs, etc. Watch where you're walking and drag your feet as you step.
* Do not recline any chairs or couches. A glider hiding in them could be killed by the mechanism.
* Check shoes before putting them on.
* Don't close any doors without first checking the frame and the top of the door iteself -- these can be favorite hiding spots.
* Alert everyone in your household and make sure they follow these precautions as well.
Step 2 -- Limit Access
* Make sure every door, closet, and cabinet in the house is closed. You want to narrow down the possible places your glider could go. If your doors have gaps under them, stuff towels in the spaces.
* Plug any heater vents or other holes.
* Do not let anyone go outside without thoroughly checking their clothes (hoods, pockets, etc.) for stowaways.
* Do not take the trash or any bags outside without checking them carefully.
Step 3 -- Narrow Down Possible Locations
* Make the house as quiet and dark as possible and use your ears -- you are more likely to hear the glider than to see it.
* Put a pouch and some treats in every room the glider may be in. Check these periodically to see if they've been touched.
* If every glider in the cage is loose, leave the cage door open. If not, hang the used pouch outside the closed cage -- the glider may try to go home on its own.
Step 4 -- Systematically Search
* Check EVERYTHING. Start with one room at a time and search inch by inch. Look in any small openings, behind items on shelves, in pockets and hoods of hanging clothing, in every drawer. Don't leave any item unturned. It's amazing sometimes the things gliders can squeeze themselves into for a nap. Pay special attention to high, quiet, dark spaces.
* Don't forget to search the closets and cabinets that you previously closed.
* Once you've finished searching a room, close it up and move on to the next room.
* Remember to be quiet and listen for little nails scratching around.
* If your glider is crabby, use it to your advantage. Do things that would normally get the glider to crab (such crinkling a paper), then listen!
* If your glider is not bonded, carry a towel and a treat with you to pick him/her up if you need it.
* If your glider knows the sound of the mealie container or treat can, carry that with you and shake it.
* If you've searched every room in the house, but still not found your glider, search again!
* If it is daytime, wait until it is closer to night time and then resume your search.
Good luck and remember to STAY CALM!
Cage Location/Atmosphere: The location of the cage of you cage should be chosen carefully. Choose a location that isn't loud all the time. Sugar gliders should not be in a room with loud birds, as the sounds birds make will cause stress for your sugar glider. Gliders prefer the sensation of being high up, so if you cage is not a ceiling to floor cage, place it on a sturdy table. The cage should not be in direct sunlight, but should not be in complete darkness either. Room temperature should be between 65 degrees F and 75 degrees F. This is really convenient, as this is the average temperature of most homes.
Sleeping location: In the wild, sugar gliders sleep in hollow trees lined in leaves. Small nesting boxes designed for birds make a great slumber box. Offer fleece "blankets" or "strips" for them to build their nest. Wood boxed that are untreated will get dirty fast and begin to smell. If you use treated nest boxes for your sugar gliders, be sure that all chemicals and paints are animal safe. Some owners prefer to use sleeping pouches that mimic the comfort of being in their "mother's pouch". Sleeping pouches are generally made out of fleece, or other soft, natural, and breathable material. Be sure if using a pouch it is checked often, as pouches do wear out. Some sugar glider will "dig" in their pouches exposing seams and threads. Many sugar gliders have lost their lives by getting caught in loose threads inside the pouch. Which ever you choose, place the item high in the cage. This will make the glider feel safer.
Toys: Sugar gliders are very interactive animals. They should have enough toys in their cage to promote interest, curiosity, and movement. Most bird toys and some cat toys make wonderful toys for sugar gliders. A toy that I would highly recommend is a sugar glider safe wheel. Please don't use wire wheels, or wheels with crossbars as many gliders have gotten their tails caught along with various other injuries.
Branches/Perches: Add perches to your gliders cage, of different levels and sizes. Different perch and branch sizes allow your glider to exercise his feet muscles. Sugar gliders love natural branches, although if you choose to get them from outside, they must be sterilized by baking, or boiling. Never add a branch to your cage without doing this, as you could introduce many parasites to you sugar glider, and his home. Some good choices are elm and apple.
Feeding location: It is important with 2 or more sugar gliders, to have more than one feeding station when introducing them, or if you ever notice fighting or aggression over food. One sugar glider could become dominate and not allow the others to eat. Try to have them at different levels in the cage, and on opposite sides.
Toys or parts that should only be used during supervised playtime if used at all include but are not limited to:
- Toys with openings that are small enough to have a glider become entangled by his/her limbs, neck, or tail.
- Jingle bells. It's best to use liberty bells or cow bells as gliders' nails may get stuck in the small openings of jingle bells.
- Small metal or plastic chain. Larger plastic chain would be best to use, but chain with openings of ¼ or similarly sized risks limbs becoming entangled.
- Hamster running balls should be used with caution and only during supervised playtime.
- Cardboard toilet paper or paper towel rolls.
- Wire hamster wheels with an axle that could catch a limb, neck or tail. Also be aware that with these wheels the running surface spaces are large enough for a limb to slip through and become injured.
- Cardboard (Never use cardboard with glue).
- Soft plastic (even harder plastic for chewers).
- Bean bag stuffed animals or toys.
- Tennis balls or dog toy with tennis balls attached.
- Rope or rope perches that have frayed. This may include nylon, sisal, cotton, etc...
- Terry cloth, socks, long length fake fur. These can cause loops that could loop around toes, feet, legs, neck, body, etc...
- Wind Spinners are known to have a toxic substance that will make gliders ill.
- Cat toys sometimes have catnip on them or in them, which is toxic to gliders.
- “Edible” Huts - made for small rodents, check the ingredients. Some are made with Pine, which is toxic to gliders. Sadly, this recently was the cause of death for a glider here on GC.
- Hard plastic cat ball toy that has small beads inside and a feather sticking out of it. View more here.
- Glow-in-the-dark plastic.
- Aurora borealis coating (looks like an oil slick)
- WARNING: Blue PVC Coated Wire - made by Rivendale obtained through Klubertanz: coating is highly toxic to sugar gliders! Read more here.
How to find a lost Sugar Gliders
Step 1 -- Minimize Hazards
* Check to make sure all other glider cages are closed securely. You don't want to have any more gliders loose than you already do.
* Completely close all doors and windows in the entire house. A glider can slip through even a small tear in a screen, and your chances of finding him or her are far better in the house than they are outside.
* Secure any pets freely roaming around the house. Place them in areas which you've already checked for gliders.
* Close all toilet lids. Drain any standing water in sinks or elsewhere. Plug all drains in sinks and bathtubs.
* Turn off the stove, iron, curling iron, and any fans.
* Put away candles, air freshener, ant traps, soaps, or any other hazardous materials.
* Step and sit VERY carefully. Gliders have been known to hide in pillows, blankets, couch cushions, armchairs, etc. Watch where you're walking and drag your feet as you step.
* Do not recline any chairs or couches. A glider hiding in them could be killed by the mechanism.
* Check shoes before putting them on.
* Don't close any doors without first checking the frame and the top of the door iteself -- these can be favorite hiding spots.
* Alert everyone in your household and make sure they follow these precautions as well.
Step 2 -- Limit Access
* Make sure every door, closet, and cabinet in the house is closed. You want to narrow down the possible places your glider could go. If your doors have gaps under them, stuff towels in the spaces.
* Plug any heater vents or other holes.
* Do not let anyone go outside without thoroughly checking their clothes (hoods, pockets, etc.) for stowaways.
* Do not take the trash or any bags outside without checking them carefully.
Step 3 -- Narrow Down Possible Locations
* Make the house as quiet and dark as possible and use your ears -- you are more likely to hear the glider than to see it.
* Put a pouch and some treats in every room the glider may be in. Check these periodically to see if they've been touched.
* If every glider in the cage is loose, leave the cage door open. If not, hang the used pouch outside the closed cage -- the glider may try to go home on its own.
Step 4 -- Systematically Search
* Check EVERYTHING. Start with one room at a time and search inch by inch. Look in any small openings, behind items on shelves, in pockets and hoods of hanging clothing, in every drawer. Don't leave any item unturned. It's amazing sometimes the things gliders can squeeze themselves into for a nap. Pay special attention to high, quiet, dark spaces.
* Don't forget to search the closets and cabinets that you previously closed.
* Once you've finished searching a room, close it up and move on to the next room.
* Remember to be quiet and listen for little nails scratching around.
* If your glider is crabby, use it to your advantage. Do things that would normally get the glider to crab (such crinkling a paper), then listen!
* If your glider is not bonded, carry a towel and a treat with you to pick him/her up if you need it.
* If your glider knows the sound of the mealie container or treat can, carry that with you and shake it.
* If you've searched every room in the house, but still not found your glider, search again!
* If it is daytime, wait until it is closer to night time and then resume your search.
Good luck and remember to STAY CALM!