Gem's Gliders

Dedicated to information and content about Sugar Gliders!

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I think Hallow and Wisp like the new guy!

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A video of the little girl we’re getting in December eating her first yogurt drop!

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Our new baby! His name is Specter and he is a ring tail mosaic!

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This little mosaic was so sweet that he almost became glider #3 for us.

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Visited my sugar glider breeder and played with some really adorable joeys!

Look at those sweet, little cow ears!

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He smells papaya and he is awake. :)

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Why ?!

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Sugar gliders LOVE papaya! It’s a sugar glider super food! :D The taste is great, and it’s a great source of calcium (which is important for sugar gliders, because they can easily develop brittle bone issues)! 

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I’m thinking about getting a pair of gliders in the future and I’m reading about them and their general care... I saw that PP isn’t the best place to adopt gliders from but what about The Pet Glider ? Do you have recommendations on where I should adopt ?

The Pet Glider has a very good reputation, and their products are all top notch. I especially like their Raptor Wheel. If you find you have to adopt from a larger group, then I definitely recommend The Pet Glider.However, my first recommendation is always local breeders. :D The primary reason for that is that a local breeder is willing to let you meet gliders and educate you about their care in person. If you can’t find a breeder, then try to touch base with someone who has gliders who might let you meet. The hard truth is: You cannot research enough to be ready. You can get close-ish, but there’s going to be a steep learning curve once you bring them home.  Sugar gliders are an unusual pet. There are so many little things that you’d never even think to know (like how easily those tiny hands open cage doors - that biting is an unavoidable social phenomena - how to deal with the smell - which types of water dispensers wont get unscrewed and flipped over - or how easily they can get an infection from cat saliva ). I researched for YEARS before I was finally ready to get gliders, and one trip to a breeder a few towns over told me that I wasn’t nearly as prepared as I thought I was. :D My glider shopping list completely changed. I think that breeder visit was the best decision I could have possibly made, and I really highly recommend it.

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Happy Mother’s Day to all the Suggie Mommas!

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Eucalyptus is a favorite treat!

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Little glider smiles!

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Surprise Ending: He jumps on my phone!

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The majestic pink nose.

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He smells papaya and he is awake. :)

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Do you have any tips for bonding with my gliders? They don't really trust me and I'm not exactly sure how to gain their trust, whenever I try to touch them they run away or nip at my fingers.

Some gliders are easier to bond with than others. It would be good for me to know whether they try to bite you only in the cage or also in the pouch. If a glider is pouch protective, it can take a lot longer to bond. A lot of bonding happens in the pouch. It’s good to wear it on your person while they sleep, and it’s a great idea to reach in and hold them when you can. If your gliders are pouch protective, they wont allow you to touch them, and you’re probably afraid that they’ll run away from the pouch.Generally, gliders don’t make a run for it from the pouch (I know this was a concept that was difficult for me at first), but you should still be careful (perhaps try a bonding pouch with a zipper).  If your gliders are pouch protective, you can gain trust in two ways:1.) Treats - Be super liberal about the treats. Give them treats all the time (it’s okay if they gain a little weight in the name of making friends). Try to give them treats at the opening of the pouch at first. When the start getting used to your fingers, give them something that they have to lick off (like honey or applesauce). As they start becoming less afraid of your fingers, get them further into the pouch until you can touch the gliders without upsetting them.After that, sit with your hand in their pouch as often as possible while they’re sleeping. They’ll become accustomed to your scent and you should be able to handle them (I would be careful about other people handling them).2.) Tent Time - The absolute best way to make friends with a human-shy glider is tent time. :D You can get a simple, mosquito net tent (with a bottom) on Amazon for less than $20. They can’t escape these tents, so you can set on up with a bunch of toys (and whatever you need to keep yourself entertained) and turn them loose. While playing, they’ll have to crawl over you, and may seek to hide in your clothing. Wear a hoodie and thick socks to avoid biting incidents while giving them places to hide. A lot of tent time can prove to your gliders that you’re not dangerous pretty quickly, and you’ll get to see the little guys up close and in action right away. I hope that’s helpful, elenaisvamp! If that doesn’t quite answer your question or you need a more personalized answer - feel free to message me and tell me a little more about your gliders. :DI always try to remember that gliders are very smart and very curious during bonding. A new type of treat or toy will make them more interested in what your hands can do. 

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One of those was supposed to be for his sister! Look at him - double fisting the treats and hiding at the top of the pouch so Wisp wont see. What a little monster! :3

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Hi! Thank you sooo much for answering my last ask about sugar gliders!! I really want some but I’m also worried about the bad smell I keep reading about. Is it really that bad? What if I only get females? And does it spread through the house or is it contained in the room the cage is in? (For example the basement) Thank you so much for your time, I really appreciate everything!!

I love answering this questions! Thanks so much for sharing these with me! How is the smell?Well, they do have a distinct smell! :D It’s not bad or strong. It’s a very subtle musk. Gliders with a poor diet are said to have stronger smelling fur, but you probably wont have an issue with that. Females and neutered males smell the same. They are scent-based animals, so they will mark things with their scent. Un-nuetered males are totally different. They scent mark a lot and it can really stink. (It’s basically the same as female/neutered cat vs un-neutered male cat).As for the cage smell, I don’t think it’s especially noticeable. :D You have to stick your nose in a pouch to smell anything as long as you regularly clean the cage. I do recommend wiping their wheels down fairly often (because they got to the bathroom while they run). My glider room doubles as a guest room, and none of my guests have noticed any real smell. :D So, it doesn’t even dominate a room provided that pouches and cage covers are regularly laundered. 

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Hi! I was wondering if sugar gliders can get fleas? I don’t own any pets but I’m thinking about getting sugar gliders! The main issue is because I have a compromised immune system and fleas are bad for me. I used to have indoor cats but they still got fleas somehow and we had a horrible infestation I’m worried sugar gliders can have the same issue. Also, is it okay to buy from PP? Thank you so much for your time!!

Can sugar gliders get fleas?Hi! I can’t say for absolute certain, because I’ve never put a flea on a glider, but I’ve heard they can’t get them at all. They have extremely dense fur, like a chinchilla, so fleas are likely to suffocate. :D Gliders are also hypoallergenic. A lot of people find that if they can’t have cats or dogs, they can have gliders. They’re also very clean (grooming constantly), which might be helpful for you.Is it okay to buy from Pocket Pets?I always try to discourage people from purchasing from them. Pocket Pets is a mill breeder, and there are a lot of horror stories about PP gliders in the glider communities (mostly about them arriving with with parasites and health problems). I’ve also heard that joeys are often taken from their parents too early when the come from Pocket Pets, which makes very very nervous gliders. (Between 10 - 12 weeks is a good time for baby gliders to come home). Also, Pocket Pets is really expensive!:D The average, local breeder will deliver a classic colored glider with lineage information and a health check somewhere between $300 - $350.As a bonus, they’re usually happy to educate you about their care, allow you to meet gliders before you decide to get one, and you’re often able to visit and play with multiple joeys before you decide which ones are right for you. Having an experienced breeder made a lot of difference for me. :D And I felt a lot better about getting pet gliders after meeting some gliders in person.