Sugar gliders are interesting little critters that can be adopted and kept in the home as a family pet. If the idea of adopting a Sugar Glider has crossed your mind recently, it's crucial that you take the time to read this article, and many others, to learn about this special animal and their needs before adopting one.
Keeping Sugar Gliders as pets mean you are prepared to always provide them with their specific nutrition needs, as well as to adapt to their personality and quirks. Sugar Gliders are not a low-maintenance pet, so also be advised that they probably aren’t the best choice of pet for a child unless you intend to be hands-on in their care along with your child.
Below you will find a list describing three of the major care points regarding taking care of Sugar Gliders. Care points that you need to be prepared for before going out to adopt. These care points include their sleep habits, nutritional needs, and much more.
They are Nocturnal
Sugar Gliders are naturally more active at night since they are naturally nocturnal animals. This means a few things for you, as their owner. One thing that will be considered is “Are you a night owl?” Will you be awake late with them to bond and interact? Or are you more of an early bird and tend to hit the hay early in the night.
Some Sugar Gliders can be taught to sleep during the night, but some Sugar Glider owners prefer that they sleep during the day for one reason or another. Often because they, the owner, are out of the house for the majority of the day. Therefore, their pet won't be awake and alone all day if they are asleep and can spend time together in the evening instead.
Sugar Gliders can actually be rather emotionally sensitive and can easily become depressed if they are awake at night and their owner is not there to interact with them regularly. This is important to understand before adopting a Sugar Glider, as they might call for a lifestyle change on your part.
You Need to Adopt Two
As previously mentioned, Sugar Gliders tend to be emotionally sensitive little creatures. Meaning, they can become depressed and anxious easily if they are alone for too long. They very much enjoy the company of their owner once they’ve bonded but having another Sugar Glider is something that should be taken into consideration before adopting even one of them.
On that same note, Sugar Gliders aren’t so interested in befriending other pets that might reside in the house. You might have a dog or a cat who get along just great, and you hope to have a Sugar Glider join into your little fur family. However, they prefer the company of another Sugar Glider in addition to the company of their owner.
Their Diet is Very Specific
A fun fact about Sugar Gliders is that their particular taste in food is that it is what landed them with the name of “Sugar” Glider. They are very fond of sweet-tasting foods and would probably only eat sweet foods if their owner let them.
The majority of their diet should actually consist of fruits and vegetables, preferentially the sweeter varieties. Some of the more preferred fruits and vegetables that Sugar Gliders love to eat include sweet potatoes, pineapples, peaches, apples, plums, oranges, and sweet corn, just to name a few options.
They, of course, need some protein incorporated into their diet as well. The ratio of fruits and vegetables to protein should be close to 75% fruits/vegetables and 25% protein. Some good protein options for your Sugar Glider include lean meats with no spices or sauce added, eggs, peanut butter, and even yogurt.
One other important thing to keep in mind about your Sugar Glider’s diet is that they are known to be picky eaters. Your vet may suggest that you supplement their diet with added calcium and vitamin D3. If you are still uncertain about what to feed your Sugar Glider, you can always ask your preferred vet if they could tell you all about Sugar Gliders as pets, so you can always do what is in their best interest while caring for them.
Conclusion
Sugar Gliders are adorable little kangaroo-like animals that can make a great household pet if the owner is knowledgeable about their care and specific needs. Such as how important it is to feed them the correct diet and not let their big adorable eyes win you over and trick you into feeding them an abundance of sweets. It’s also important to know about their socialization needs, and how important it is to them to have a Sugar Glider buddy to live with. They will grow to have a strong bond with their humans, but much like many other small pets, they also enjoy the company of another one of their own kind.
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