SUGAR GLIDERS

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SUGAR GLIDERS

• By Patricia Garber

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GENERAL INFORMATION

• Scientific Name Petaurus breviceps
• They live about 10-15 years in captivity.
• Sugar Gliders are about 5-6 inches long, and the
  tail is another 6 inches. They only weigh 4-5.5
  oz
• Sugar Gliders are indigenous to Australia, Papua
  New Guinea and parts of Indonesia

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• Because gliders are such social animals, they
  will do fine in a colony of one if the owner is
  able to provide plenty of attention. They bond
  well with their owners.
• Sugar gliders are nocturnal but they are content
  with just spending the day in their owners
  pockets or a bonding pouch napping.
• However, if owners cannot spend as much time as
  possible with their pets it is best to get at
  least two gliders.

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• Sugar gliders are marsupials
• The babies are born immature and grow in a pouch.
  Sugar gliders have furry membranes that extend
  from their wrists to their ankles (called a
  patagium) which allows them to glide through the
  air.
• In the wild they move from tree to tree by
  gliding. Their hind feet have a large, opposable
  toe that helps them grip branches
• The second and third digit forms a grooming tool.

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Things to avoid

• Cedar shavings, use shredded newspaper, aspen or
  fir instead.
• Chocolate and sugars.
• Toxic plants and branches such as Autum Crocus,
  any form of the onion family, and dandelion roots
  to name just a few.
• Pesticides.
• Processed human food.
• Preservatives.
• Excessive amounts of fat.
• Dairy products
• Dogs and cats (Sugar Gliders are expensive
  snacks!).
• Small children.

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Male Glider
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• Male gliders naturally have a bald spot on the
  top of their heads, it appears when they reach
  sexual maturity.
• It is actually a scent gland that the male uses
  to mark his female and offspring as well as his
  territory such as the cage.
• There are two other scent glands on the male, one
  on his genital area and another on his chest
  which causes color change in the fur or another
  bald spot.

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Female Glider
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• The female glider also has scent glands. One is
  located in her genital area as well as her pouch.
  
• Both males and females give off a sweet musky
  odor.

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Feeding in the wild

• Sugar Gliders require 75 fruit/veggies and 25
  protein. Excess fat in the diet can cause
  problems later and effect any offspring.
• It is very hard to feed captive sugar gliders the
  same diet that they would consume in the wild.
• In the wild they eat eucalyptus gum, sap,
  insects, nectar, and honeydew as well as bird
  eggs, lizards and small birds.

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Captive Feeding

• Zoo quality diets
• Insects such as crickets, mealworms, wax worms,
  spiders, and moths. These must be fed in a
  variety to avoid boredom and the insects must be
  fed richly (such as Gut Load) or dusted.
• Fruit and veggies are a great snack, however,
  nothing canned because canned food has
  preservatives and refined sugar.

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Housing

• Gliders are climbers, they need a cage that is at
  least 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall.
• They need things to climb on and toys to play
  with.
• Their water should be changed daily and in a
  plastic dish hooked on the side of the cage along
  with the food dish to avoid contamination.
• The cage should be cleaned at least once a week.
• A nest box or hide box should also be placed in
  the cage as well.

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Healthy Sugar Gliders

• Should be
• Active, alert, and sociable
• Eat and drink normally
• Have healthy fur
• Clear eyes
• Walk normally

• Shouldnt be
• Lethargic
• Cloudy eyes
• Matted fur
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

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Most common problems

• Malnutrition
• Self-inflicted wounds- i.e.. Boredom
• Intestinal parasites
• Trauma
• Pneumonia
• Diarrhea
• constipation/impaction
• Gastroenteritis

• Stress-related diseases coprophagia hyperphagia,
  polydipsia
• Hind leg paralysis-associated with calcium
  deficiency
• Blindness
• Cataracts

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Physical Exam

• The PE may be done with minimal restraint,
  however anything more must be done under
  anesthesia
• Anesthesia used is isoflurane, the glider is
  masked down with a soda bottle and surgical glove

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Dentals

• Gliders also get tartar and dental disease
• If the teeth are really bad, the gliders diet
  must be changed as well.
• The teeth are too small to do normal dental work
  on them such as fillings so they must be
  monitored for infections or extracted.

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Tartar at the bottom of the lower incisors.
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Diseases

• Aflatoxicosis- this is where a glider eats a
  cricket that has injested food contaminated with
  toxic metabolites from fungus.
• Symptoms may include loss of appetite, anemia,
  jaundice, bowel problems, and lethargy
• It is treatable but the animal can die within
  hours if not brought to the vet. To prevent this
  from happening again, change the food source and
  research where the crickets or the food comes
  from before feeding it.

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Diseases continued

• Giardiasis- caused by Giardia lamblia. It can
  remain dormant in a sugar glider for up to 6
  months until the glider becomes stressed.
• Symptoms behavioral changes, diarrhea, lameness,
  vomiting, jaundice, green tinge to feces, and
  dehydration.
• Treatment bring to a vet, disinfect everything,
  cages, toys, water and food dishes and test other
  gliders in the colony

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• Lumpy Jaw- impacted salivary gland, most common
  cause is bacterial introduction by dental abscess
• Symptoms a hard lump appears on face, neck or
  chest draining eye weight loss
• Treatment bring to vet for prescription and
  soften food with water, do not feed low quality
  foods.

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Stress

• Causes
• Actual danger
• Loneliness
• Death of the owner or fellow glider
• Illness
• Improper diet
• Thyroid problems
• Daylight when glider is sleeping
• Sudden changes

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Stress

• Symptoms
• Self mutilation
• Repeated back flips
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Pacing
• Tremors or trembling
• Anorexia
• Sleeping patterns change

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Treatment of stress

• Seek vet help
• Spend lots of time with the glider
• If glider is new, bring something old that is
  familiar to it, and slowly change the cage over
  time
• If changing the diet, just like other pets,
  change it slowly

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Look how cute they are!