What do my gliders need?
A Glider Recommended Diet
We use OHPW diet here at Treetop Sugar Gliders. It is a very easy diet to prepare and our gliders love it! Other great diets for your gliders are BML and the Priscilla Price Diet. Please research and choose which of these diets are best for you and your gliders. Pellets are not a staple diet for sugar gliders. All diets should be fed with the recommended fruits, vegetables, and insects.
A Glider Safe Cage
As stated before, two sugar gliders would require at least a 24" by 24" by 36" cage. If you can get a bigger cage, that is ideal. The bar spacing can not be any larger than 1/2" wide or they will escape. We use HQ cages. We have the Large Sturdy Cage and the Sturdy Cage here at Treetop Sugar Gliders. They are very durable cages with strong bars and we have no trouble hanging lots of toys, ball pits, and their wheels in them. Some cages can have very flimsy bars, which won't allow for a side mounted wheel or heavy toys. Cheaper cages can also rust quickly, so keep that in mind before purchasing. Used cages are okay, but make sure everything is in great shape and there is no rust as it is toxic to sugar gliders. If your cage has any doors that slide open, please make sure to zip tie them closed or your gliders will get out.
Glider Safe Cage Sets
When choosing your set, make sure that it is made with a safe material and has as many hidden seems as possible. The stitching should also be as tight as possible without any decorative stitching. Sugar Gliders can easily get their nails caught, which can cause serious injury, if these guidelines are not followed. You should check your sets regularly to make sure that there aren't any holes, rips or loose thread. I like to have more than one set available for wash days and also just in case I find that one of my sets has become unsafe and needs to be thrown away.
A Glider Safe Wheel
All of the following wheels are great choices for your gliders: Stealth Wheel, Fast Track Wheel, Raptor Wheel or Custom Cruiser. Do not purchase any other wheel including the Wodent Wheel for your gliders. They can cause serious injuries.
Toys
Toys are very important to keep them happy. You'll be amazed at how smart they are too! There a lot of great vendors that sell toys or you can even make your own. Plastic parrot toys and baby toys work great for sugar gliders. Just be sure that there isn't anything toxic on them or anything they can get stuck in.
Bonding Tools
When your gliders first come home you should give them a couple days to adjust to their new environment. Every glider is going to be different as far as bonding goes. Some take very little time and some can take months. Don't give up! Some great ways to help with bonding are using fleece blankies, pop up tents, bonding pouches and treats. Fleece blankies can be placed in your shirt for the day and then put in their sleeping pouches. This will help them get used to your smell. Pop up tents, such as the Genji, are great for bonding and play time. Just sit in a corner and as soon as they're comfortable they'll be jumping and running all over you. Bonding pouches can be worn during the day with them sleeping inside. You can talk to them and rub the outside of the pouch. Eventually you'll be able to stick your hand right inside. TREATS, oh they love their treats! They can be a great form of bribery for everything from bonding to nail trims. Ours love their yogurt drops and mealworms!
Nail Trimmer
You will have to trim your sugar gliders' nails or they can become caught in their cage sets or toys. This can also cause serious injuries. Normally this should be done every 2-3 weeks, but you will also be able to tell by how sharp they are when they're climbing on you. Baby nail clippers or clippers with an angle are easiest to use. Leave your glider in their pouch with lots of treats to keep them busy. While your glider is eating you can pull one foot out of the pouch at a time to trim each nail.
A veterinarian that is experienced with sugar gliders
It is important to find a veterinarian that is experienced with sugar gliders not only for emergencies but for routine exams and fecals. You can find a list of veterinarians in your state at Sugar Glider Help. The link can be found above under our Helpful Links section. We use Dr. Hemenway at Minton Animal Hospital.