Sugar Glider Pictures - Information - Supplies

Housing Sugar Gliders

Living Quarters

Typically, sugar gliders are kept in cages.  The cage should be a MINIMUM of 36 inches tall and in a cage that small no more than 2-3 gliders should live in it. The most important information to look for in a cage is the wire spacing which should be 1/2 inch or less, and the wire has to be pvc or powder coated.  Uncoated wire are an irritation to their feet and can lead to injuries.  Another issue with uncoated wire, is the combination of urine and food deposits on the wire itself will cause toxins that are dangerous to sugar gliders. Aluminum is also not good for gliders.

For those of you wanting to build your own cage, you need to consider what kind of wood you will be using.

Walnut wood should never be used for a cage because of how toxic it is to gliders and humans;

Cedar should not be used because a primary irritant in cedar is plicatic acid and western red cedar contains the highest concentrations although eastern white cedar and Japanese cedar also contain it. Pine DOES NOT. Exposure to plicatic acid can cause or exacerbate asthma, rhinitis, or conjunctivitis in humans and animals, and damage can be progressive.

Pine is great to use because it is readily available and the PRIMARY irritant in PINE (family Pinaceae), is known as Abietic acid, sometimes called sylvic acid. Pine products include pine resin, also known as rosin or colophony, which is widely used by pool players and mountain climbers. Pine resin is also used in adhesives, paints an varnishes, inks and sizing for paper, paperboard and fabrics (Sadhra 1994). ABIETIC ACID ITSELF ELICITS VERY WEAK, SO NO ALLERGIC RESPONSES, however, a number of compounds formed by air oxidation and creation of large amounts of molded dust particles of abietic acid are potent contact allergens.  So shavings and dust of pine would be an issue, but solid wood used in a cage is fine as long as it has been coated with shellac!

HOWEVER!  If you do make a cage from Pine or another type of safe wood, you need to coat it with shellac!

The way to shellac wood for a cage:

Sand the wood very well and then coat it with shellac, and let dry  for 24 hours.  Using 1500 grit sandpaper you want to lightly sand it down and then apply another coat of shellac.  Repeat this until you have 7-8 coats of shellac completed.  This will keep any food and bug juices as well as urine from soaking into the wood and staining or smelling it up.  It also is much easier to clean if this process is used. 

To coat items not regularly used inside the cage but used for holding toys or playtime only, use this method instead:

Use Minwax Polyurethane (high gloss or semi gloss, whichever you prefer) and do one coat and let dry for 24 hours.  Using 1500 grit sandpaper, lightly sand down and repeat this process 3-4 more times.  This works out great for toy boxes and other play items but please do not coat toys or pouches with this... only wood!

Ready Made Cages

The cage below is one that I purchased off of EBay.  Unfortunately, the seller (jmexotics) sent a broken cage & did not send parts or return payment so I had it repaired by a friend.  Buyer beware!! I also made some changes, by taking out the perches and putting rabbit cage corners where the top 4 bowls are, and used the ladder part of the rabbit corner/ladder set to make walkways.  I filled it with lots of toys and branches from my butterfly bush (**please if you get something from outside, make sure it has not been sprayed with a pesticide!) and they just love to climb on it.

30x18x55"H

Traveling Quarters

I do a bit of traveling.  Not a lot, but weekends here and there and sometimes a two week trip.  I try to do whatever I can to keep my gliders from getting stressed.  That can be pretty simple to do.  BEFORE you go on a long trip be sure to take them for a test drive in your car for a few hours just driving around in stop and go traffic as well as on a freeway, etc.  If your glider gets car sick then chances are that they will not do good on a long trip and you should find someone to take care of them while you are gone.  Mine do fine since I drive all over with them in my bra.  Another thing to do is to bring bowls and toys from their regular cage as well as their sleeping pouch that they always use. This gives a familiarity and causes less stress.  Be sure to feed them relatively the same thing you do at home and they should be fine.  The cage you take should be tall enough for them to be able to jump and play in.  A highly recommended cage is a Reptarium.  They are more tall than wide but it gives them a good deal of space to still be able to jump and glide.  If it's only for a weekend where I am able to take them out and play with them, then I use this cage below.

21.25" x 12.75" x 18"

If I am going to be gone and in an RV which I usually do for 10 days to 2-3 weeks, then I need something more roomy for them to be in while away from home.  This cage is one I got that suits the purpose well and happened to fit under the table of the RV, and it was very easy to clean.

24.5"L x 12.5"W x 24.5"H

Runabout & Potty Break Quarters

The type of cage I use for this is very small.  It's simply large enough to put them in, let them go potty and then back into a pouch or bra.  A small plastic reptile cage is perfect for this and they are not expensive at all.  I keep mine in the trunk and have another for inside my house that sometimes I take with me if I'm going for an extended visit.  This is the one I personally use.  It's small and fits 2-3 gliders only for the purpose of having them in there to go potty, or get a quick drink and something to eat mid day when they are napping and will not be playing much.

12.5"L x 8" W x 7.5" H

Playtime Quarters

There are three ways to fix up a place or places in the home where you can spend time playing with your gliders. 

First, best and easiest, is to pitch a child sized tent in a room.  They cost about $20.00 and are perfect to let them completely run around you and get used to playing with you.  Bring toys in to hang from the tent itself and other toys that you can use to play with, and some paper towels for their little messes. 

Second, is to "glider-proof" a room for them to play in.  You have to consider that these little cuties can squish rather flat.  You have to put a towel down under any doors, close any drains if you are using a bathroom, and if you do use a bathroom be absolutely sure to close the toilet and supervise them very carefully.  Many drownings have happened in the porcelain bowl of doom. Look under any cabinets that might have cracks or openings that they could get into and possibly get poisoned or injured should they get in the cabinet itself.  Make sure that outlets are covered with child protectors, and that wires are put up so they can't chew them.  Also make sure they can't get out any windows or other opening that might be an issue.  In a kitchen is a very bad idea due to the stove and refrigerator.  They can go underneath and get injured very easily.

The best way though is to have a "glider room".  To set up a room for their cage, their playing time which probably would include a jungle gym as well as lots of toys and things closed off so that there is no way they can accidentally escape.  Red tract lighting can easily be put around the room so that you can see them more easily and not bother their nocturnal eyesight. Just be sure all exits are covered well, they are intelligent animals, and they will find a way if there is one!

Here are some links to cage sites that I recommend:

http://www.cagesbydesign.com/

http://www.martinscages.com/products/cages/sugar/

http://www.sugar-gliders.com/store/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SSG&Product_Code=9019&Affiliate=Osgcg

http://www.pet-shop.net/html/crcage.html

http://www.exoticnutrition.com/SUGAR%20GLIDER%20CAGES%202.htm

http://www.buycages.com/sugar.html

http://www.qualitycage.com/sugarglider.html

http://stores.ebay.com/Demsond-Pet-Depot_W0QQsspagenameZl2QQtZkm