Sugar Gliders – To Have or Have Not
May 13, 2009 by Elizabeth
Filed under Animal Talk, Treat Me Right
Jay the Sugar Glider
Jay (above) is one of several gliders currently available for adoption at Petfinder.com.
Sugar Gliders are extremely cute little guys. With their tiny little bodies and their big round eyes, many people see them and instantly fall in love. One good thing that the Sugar Glider has going for them, is that they are not commonly found in every pet store. Some states even have regulation in place that prevent the ownership of them although, distressingly, there are disreputable (in my opinion) breeders who will actually ship gliders to you. But for many people, when they see that cute little face staring at them from within a cage at a rescue organization, it can be hard to turn away without taking them home.
The Legalities of Having a Sugar Glider as a Pet
It is not Federally illegal to have a Sugar Glider as a pet in the United States. Even so, many state or community jurisdictions have passed laws that prevent residents from keeping Sugar Gliders. The primary reason that so many states have laws that prevent Sugar Glider ownership in place, is because Sugar Gliders are not indigenous to the United States and are considered exotic and wild animals. The potential threat that they pose to native species of animals and plants are unknown, so some states have chosen to pass regulations and laws that prevent the ownership of one.
So why would this little animal pose a threat if it is being kept in your home in a cage? Well, the problem lies in the fact that Sugar Gliders are not very easy pets to keep, and can be quite unfriendly if they want to be. They also have some behavioral issues, such as being nocturnal and very noisy, that make people quickly realize they don’t want these little guys in their home. And when the owners tire of them and can’t find them a new home quickly enough, they just take them outside and let them go! Then the Sugar Glider does pose a threat to the outside environment.
Drawbacks of Having a Rescued Sugar Glider as a Pet
The drawbacks that surround having a Sugar Glider as a pet are the primary reasons why so many end up in need of adoption. If you find a Sugar Glider that is available for adoption consider the following reasons why you may not be able to handle their needs all that well.
Sugar Gliders require very specific housing and dietary needs. For such a little animal, they require a very, very large cage. This is because they are very active and are tree dwelling creatures, so they need a cage large enough to accommodate tree branches and other climbing items for them to enjoy. As far as their diet is concerned, Sugar Gliders are omnivores. This means that they eat both plants and animals. A Sugar Glider simply cannot maintain proper health if only given a pellet type food. So you must be willing to provide fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as insects such as crickets, grubs or mealworms. If you are squeamish around these types of insects, a Sugar Glider is not the pet for you, because they absolutely require them.
Other points to chew over before adopting a Sugar Glider are their noise level, activity level and high maintenance care and behavioral issues that can present themselves in abused and neglected Sugar Gliders, like biting and attacking. While these little animals may not seem as if they could pose such a threat, they have a bite that is extremely painful! So, before taking in one of these cute little guys as a pet, make sure you understand exactly what their requirements are, what problems may be involved in owning one, and whether or not they are legal to own as a pet where you live.
For more insight, listen to what this person has to say:
