Sugar Glider: Facts and Care

Sugar gliders have become increasingly popular, allowing us to learn more about these adorable marsupials. The Latin name Petaurus breviceps means "short-headed rope-dancer."  

Lifespan

Sugar gliders live about 12 to 15 years in captivity so they are long-term pets.

Size

A sugar glider's body is about five to six inches long, with a tail adding another six inches, acting as a rudder during gliding. They weigh just four to five and a half ounces (80 to 160 grams). 

Origins

Sugar gliders are native to eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Tasmania, surrounding islands, and parts of Indonesia. They inhabit rainforests, gliding from tree to tree, and nesting in tree hollows. They rarely touch the ground. 

Anatomy

Sugar gliders are marsupials, meaning their young are born very immature and grow in a pouch for 60 to 70 days on the mother's abdomen (like a kangaroo or opossum). Sugar gliders have furry, thin, stretchy, membranes that extend from their wrists to their ankles (the membrane is called a patagium) that allows them to glide up to 150 feet through the air. In the wild, they move from tree to tree by gliding, not flying. Their hind feet have a large, opposable big toe for gripping branches, and the second and third toes form a grooming comb. Other toes help them grab insects and connect the patagium.

Large eyes are characteristic of sugar gliders and help them see while gliding and triangulating launch and landing locations. These eyes also aid in food search since they are nocturnal hunters. Both sexes have various scent glands, sharp teeth, and extremely soft fur.

Temperament and Behavior

Sugar gliders are highly social and require companionship, bonding well with owners, especially with bonding pouches. However, a single sugar glider is not ideal, despite lots of attention. They communicate in their own language and live in colonies of up to 30 in the wild. Housing a lone sugar glider can cause behavioral, mental, emotional, and physical problems for your pet. Consider keeping multiple gliders in a flight cage, as humans cannot replicate their natural socialization, vocalizations, grooming, or bonding.

Diet

In the wild, sugar gliders consume various foods depending on the season, as they are omnivores. As pets, they typically require diets recommended by experts and zoos, incorporating various foods. The diet base should be an insectivore pellet for rounded nutrition and dental health. Supplement this with baby food, honey, fruits, vitamins, fresh produce, and insects. Formulated, pre-packaged insectivore diets are available at pet stores and online, often used by zoos to feed sugar glider colonies. As we learn more about sugar gliders, our understanding of their dietary needs evolves. 

Health

Sugar gliders, like other exotic pets, can suffer from various ailments. Common issues include metabolic bone disease from poor nutrition, injuries from getting stuck and gliding, diarrhea from excessive fruit consumption, dental disease, and parasites.