I would like to get a sugar glider but have a few questions?

Question

hey, so i plan on getting a sugar glider in a few weeks when i get back from vacation. im 18 and about to enter pre vet schooling so im very responsible with animals, im just very un- familiar with sugar gliders. I read that it is important to keep them in pairs, but personally i would only like one. she would get alot of attention, but i do also work full time durring the summer days, and she may or may not be allowed in my workplace.

i would probably be fine with purchasing one and keeping her with me for about 3 months and then purchasing a companion i just feel that i need to bond with one first..

please leave me any comments and tell me what i need to know.. thanks!

Answer 1

I think that getting one to start with is a grand idea, but keep in mind, bonding with two at the same time is much less hassle.



Many apartments do not allow gliders as pets - nor dorms. They require a rather large cage and a complex diet along with a few hours of human interaction per day.



Another reason that you should get two at the same time, is you won't have to deal with quarantine (so as long as they are bought from the same person) and they are nocturnal animals. It sure would suck to be in your home, alone, night after night, no one to talk to or interact with that understands you, right? Think of the furball! =P



Also - gliders can live up to 15 years with proper care and nutrition.



Feel free to email me with any other questions you have!



[e-mail]

Answer 2

It does not matter how much attention you can provide to the sugar glider -- it is cruel to keep them as singles. Think of it this way, even if you can spend 12 hours a day with her, there would be12 hours that she'd be alone. Also, if you got one now and decided to get another in a few months you run into a few problems.. 1. The new sugar glider would need to be quarantined for thirty days -- this means you'd need a second cage, a second wheel, second toys, pretty much everything that you need for your first glider, you need to have doubles of. 2. There is no guarantee that your old glider will accept the new glider.. Yeah, usually intros go okay, but not always.



In my opinion, as a pre-vet student with a full time job,sugar gliders are not right for you.



But glidercentral.net is a great place to find information.

Answer 3

3 months is an okay bonding period. As long as you don't go much longer than that you will be alright. I honestly think that only having a single glider is kinda cruel because it changes them from their natural habitat so much. In the wild gliders live in large packs of 7 adults and all their young, so even only having 2 or 3 must feel very foreign to them. Good luck!

Answer 4

Sugar gliders are one of the more labor intensive pets you can own. They require special feeding regimens (there are no balanced 'sugar glider' foods) and careful housing, they frequently mutilate them selves, and they are nocturnal so they are up all night and sleep all day. For goodness sakes, pay attention to your schooling and your work and if you must have a pet get a pair of mice or gerbils or something EASY so you have time for it!

Answer 5

Vet school is FULL TIME!!!



You will be busy 12 hours a day just for school. There is 8 hours of instruction per day, and at least 4 more in study groups. Sometimes more if you have to prepare labs, or supplies, or what all.



Finals will take up every waking hour for at least a week with surprising regularity.



Then you're going to want to socialize and party. YES, yes, yes you will!!! That's part of college!



You have NO TIME for a sugar glider. They are a labor intensive pet that need lots of attention.



PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE reconsider getting a sugar glider.