I'd like to hear some information and personal experiences people have had with sugar gliders. I've always wanted a Kinkajou but in the area I live in, they are impossible to come by. I recently started reading about sugar gliders and I'm really intrigued. Does anyone own one of this adorable creatures?
Sugar Gliders?
- Thread starter KristaM92
- Start date
look into flying squirrels... I have read many stories of people having both but preferring flying squirrels. I had FS it would climb into a sock I would put it in my pocket(for sanitary reasons) and just go to class, go to my different student clubs, and what not. He bonded instantly(ok it took a week) to the point he wouldn't run away I could take him out and walk around and if I put him on some one elses shoulder he would jump back onto me. He died unexpectedly, in hind sight I suspect I didn't have him on a balanced diet, almonds and raisins function well as snacks but I had a hard time getting him to eat any actual food and so I think that dietary deficiency was his end. Otherwise they are much easier to keep that SG from what I've read but are similar in all the ways that matter. FS bite less, and don't require a second FS like SG do.
Thanks! I looked into flying squirrels but it seems I would have to do some traveling to get one. In the northern part of Wisconsin where I'm at, ferrets are as exotic as it gets. The reason I'm asking about sugar gliders is that there's a person near by selling one. In what ways do you think sugar gliders are harder to keep? There's a lot of conflicting information about them and I'm trying to figure out what is true and what's not. I've heard from a lot of people that they're mean and bite all the time. I've also heard that they're extremely affectionate and love attention. However, my school of thought is that if I ignored my dogs for days at a time and neglected to take any time to train them, they would have behavioral issues too. As with most exotics, they often get into the hands of the wrong owner. Do you think sugar gliders are any different? It took a couple months for my hedgehog to bond with me. Some would say he's a useless pet, but I like him. 
He only has 4 loves in life; crickets, his wheel, baths, and sitting on my shoulder eating my hair. I have a lot of patience (especially with animals) but I also don't want to get in over my head.
He only has 4 loves in life; crickets, his wheel, baths, and sitting on my shoulder eating my hair. I have a lot of patience (especially with animals) but I also don't want to get in over my head.
From what I understand about sugar gliders is they are really really really social animals and they sleep when we are awake. A single one will bond better but also never be right in the head. Single gliders have shown to have shorter lives and are also more prone to acting out. Sugar gliders are also said to need more room than flying squirrels. I had a great experience with my flying squirrel and if I thought it would fit into my life I'd have another. I had my flying squirrel in an up ended large dog crate that was about 4 ft tall on end and 2' x 3' I'd open the top and he'd run up my arm or if I had a sock right into the sock. If it was evening or night though they are MUCH more rambunctious, weather you think you can handle it or not is up to you, lol. Its like a switch flips and they just want to run and jump endlessly. We put up a camping tent in our house for an evening and let him go crazy inside he basically just runs amuck.
If someone is moving a SG at a fair price try em out. I can't say they are less preferable from personal experience. my brother had a hedgehog growing up and it was great.
If someone is moving a SG at a fair price try em out. I can't say they are less preferable from personal experience. my brother had a hedgehog growing up and it was great.
Okay, thanks. I had no idea that it was best to keep more than one. The fact that it's active at night does not bother me at all. Due to odd work shifts, my boyfriend and I are up very late pretty often. We're a little nocturnal ourselves. lol But I think I'll hold off for awhile before I make a big decision like that. Being an animal with so many particular needs, I rather get one when I know I'm fully prepared. I'm also unsure of how my dogs would react. Although I know it can be done, it's going to take a lot of time for them to finally accept it. For the first month or so, they would need constant supervision and I'm not so sure I'm up for that just yet. lol
I like SGs, my sister had a pair that I used to play with and help take care of when I was younger. And I have a few friends who have them currently. They're cute and interesting, I do like them a lot, but they have a very distinct odor. I work with a lot of animals, I'm used to smells, but these guys definitely have an odor to them. And from what I've heard, when they're on a diet that has excessive vitamins and proteins and if they decide to mark things, it's worse. Not the end of the world, but something to consider. Same reason many people end up not getting ferrets and similar animals.
I think i read here once a member who had them said they pee a lot... And like marking territory?
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I was once very interesting in keeping SG, But like others have said. I did some research and found that they do best in Groups, Require a lot of attention, Their diet is dreadful, and they pee a lot.
That being said I rescued a Raccoon and nursed him until he was strong enough to be relocated by the local ASPCA. Then I got into Ferrets. I currently have 5 Ferrets and funny thing is I had contractors in my house once and they were literally working in the same room as my ferret cage and all I did to block the ferrets from view was drape a sheet over 85% of their cage. The contractor asked my what I was hiding when they were done so I uncovered the cage and he was shocked. Because he had not smelled anything for the 3 days that they had been working in my house.
Mike
That being said I rescued a Raccoon and nursed him until he was strong enough to be relocated by the local ASPCA. Then I got into Ferrets. I currently have 5 Ferrets and funny thing is I had contractors in my house once and they were literally working in the same room as my ferret cage and all I did to block the ferrets from view was drape a sheet over 85% of their cage. The contractor asked my what I was hiding when they were done so I uncovered the cage and he was shocked. Because he had not smelled anything for the 3 days that they had been working in my house.
Mike