Sugar Glider Chinchilla

Sugar Glider Chinchilla

chinchilla or sugar glider?

I am considering a new pet for my 17th birthday. I am considering a chinchilla and a sugar glider. Which do you prefer? Which are easier to feed and take care of? What are the pros and cons of both? How big of a cage do you need? If you could give me some websites to look at that would be very helpful.
Male or female? one or two? what do they both eat? how tame can they become?

Salutations, Yes sugar gliders are cute. They are a very small marsupial about the size of a chipmunk. The name sugar glider means short headed rope dancer. They come from Australia and Indonesia. Before purchasing a glider, you need to first call or write the State Fish and Game, Wildlife Dept. to learn the state and local laws and regulations regarding the legalities of obtaining, owning, and breeding gliders. There are many laws and license or permit requirements and they vary in each state. Gliders are an exotic animal and are not legal in some states. Sugar gliders are a very special marsupial, and are not for everyone. Gliders are very social creatures and require interaction daily to avoid depression which can be fatal. It is recommended that they be kept in unrelated groups of at least 2 gliders. Or if kept alone, they receive no less than 2 hours of human interaction daily. They are like having a baby with a 15 year commitment. It takes a lot of patience and time to bond with a glider. They do smell until you learn how to feed them correctly. But the odor isn't like others as it has a sweet odor verses an ammonia odor. They do not like the smell of perfumes, lotions, other chemicals, nor other animals. And will bite if they smell any of these on you. They can be expensive to care for properly. Calcium/Phosphorus ratio in the diet of a glider is very important. The basic diet consists of fresh vegetables, fruits, and proteins including live and dried bugs, also pollen, nectar, and sap. A 25% to 50% proteins 75% fresh fruits and vegetables. They need fresh eucalyptus or safe fruit tree branches that are free of pesticides to chew on for healthy tooth and nail wear. Gliders are territorial and scent mark everything they come in contact with including their owners. They are not potty trainable as far as I know. They make several sounds such as barking (at 4am), hissing, chattering, and crabbing which sounds like a pencil being sharpened. Did I mention that they are up all night and sleep all day? You would also need to find a knowledgeable vet that cares for exotics since gliders are considered an exotic animal. Not all vets handle gliders, and since gliders are up all night, it's important to have a vet that is available in those night hours. Sugar gliders don't bond with everyone, and are never to be left unattended especially with kids, because when gliders land they grab the object they are landing on. They have small sharp nails that usually scratch. They may land on a bare shoulder, or side of face accidentally catching an eyelid, or lip, and kids tend to react physically, which can lead to injury to the glider. Traveling can be stressful on them and that's another lengthy topic in its self. Granted they are cute, sweet looking, full of pep, and curiosity. I've had many animals in my life including squirrels and I must say that it is a full time job being owned by sugar gliders, and there is much to be learned. Please ask yourself these simple questions. Are you willing and able to commit to a 15 year 24 hour full time relationship. Will college, sports, children, career change, room mates, change your lifestyle? If so Will you still keep your gliders? With all the new things you will be doing, would you have the time to give them the attention they need and deserve? Do lots and lots of research before deciding. I have found a fun and educational game online called what if… When you get a chance it’s worth the checking out. The site is listed below.
I hope this info is of assistance to you in making this important life changing decision. I am owned by three gliders.. two of which are rescues due to misinformed owners.
Ltiggergrr

For Sugar Glider Chinchilla Deals Click The Blue Links Below

You need to keep your Sugar Gliders cage area clean for the both of you. Numerous things cause odors that you may smell, and the most common is from the break down of urine & feces. When the fecal matter breaks down, ammonia is created. Another odor is caused by toys or other objects that you have in the cage area. The final odor would be that of a typical Sugar Glider marking odor.

To control odor, you can do several things. The most obvious is to change the bedding frequently. Some types of bedding will not require changing as often as others. The best way to maintain bedding is to completely change the bedding at least one a week while spot cleaning on a daily basis, more often if you have more than one Sugar Glider. It helps to use bedding that absorbs the scent. DO NOT use chemically treated materials since the Sugar Glider may chew or carry these items in their mouth and can ingest the toxins into their system.

There are different types of air freshener on the market to help keep your air clean. Some just make the air smell better by adding a fragrance to the air thus covering up the odor. Some actually neutralize the smell in the air. An Enzymatic odor remover from your local pet store will neutralize any odors in the cage. You can spray this on the cage, branches, or anything else that your pet might come in contact with.

Try different things, but the best way to make sure that everyone is happy is to make sure there is adequate air flow, change their bedding often, and use something to neutralize the odors. Check to see if what you buy is harmful or toxic to animals before you spray it in the air you and yours Sugar Glider will breathe.

Michael Bolden has been caring for sugar glider for more than 15 years now. To learn more about sugar glider care be sure to visit his website at: http://www.sugarglidertips.com

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