What does a sugar glider's habitat look like?

Sugar Glider Habitat/ Housing

copied from Suncoast Sugar Gliders http://www.sugar-gliders.com/glidervet-4.htm

Exotic Pet Vet
What Dr. C Says On... Housing Sugar Gliders
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By Dr. C., of course!

In one of our past newsletters we discussed how important nutrition is to sugar glider health. Another equally important aspect of good animal husbandry practices concerns housing considerations and the environment created for your sugar glider. An inappropriate habitat can adversely affect the health of your pet.

Sugar gliders are very active, arboreal (tree dwelling), nocturnal, and social animals in the wild - and these attributes need to be accommodated in captivity. For these reasons they need large cages, especially in the vertical direction to facilitate climbing. I recommend cages constructed of wire or PVC coated wire. If the wire is painted, the paint finish should be powder coated or some other finish that contains no zinc or lead. While it hasn't been demonstrated in gliders, other species like birds have become ill/toxic from chewing various types of metal screening, bars, etc. When you choose the cage material for your gliders, make sure that it has been demonstrated to be a safe material for these animals.

The minimum size cage should be roughly three feet high, with bigger (as in taller) being better. The width of the cage should be a minimum of 24 to 30 inches for a single glider and 30 inches or better for multiple gliders. The larger the social group of gliders, the larger the cage should be. Other considerations to keep in mind when choosing housing are bar spacing width. Sugar gliders are able to escape if the spacing exceeds ½ inch. The ability to lock and fasten doors is also important as sugar gliders are clever enough to open doors and let themselves free, thus exposing themselves to the possibility of danger. Some cages tend to snag or injure toes and toenails. Keep these issues in mind when selecting the right habitat for your pet.

Having a tall vertical cage outfitted with branches, vines/ropes for climbing, as well as toys will provide the necessary environmental enrichment to keep your glider active and entertained. Toys with holes in them are very good for the exploring nature of the sugar glider. Remember, in the wild sugar gliders will nest in tree hollows. Changing the location and variety of vines, ropes and toys will create additional stimulation and will help prevent boredom, especially if you have only one glider.

Also it is very important to provide at least one nesting box and/or pouch, but I recommend two or more as the sugar gliders naturally enjoy moving their sleeping quarters from time to time. The actual setup of the environment is referred to as environmental enrichment and it is a primary consideration at zoological institutions when creating new animal habitats.

An active glider is less likely to become obese. Obesity is a major cause of health problems in sugar gliders. As with humans, excess weight can lead to joint, heart and kidney problems, as well as causing the glider to tend towards lethargy. Feeding and watering stations or platforms should be located at various locations in the cage to encourage exercise.

I do not recommend aquariums since it is difficult to obtain a vertical structure of the appropriate dimensions. Additionally, sugar gliders cannot climb on glass walls. Restricting their access to lots of climbing can cause a multitude of problems with sugar gliders, including inappropriate joint use, which could eventually cause damage to the joints.

Cages that are smaller or even near the minimum recommended sizes should include exercise type toys, like the Wodent Wheel for example. If the cage space does not well accommodate the active nature of the sugar glider, then utilize the space in a manner that will still provide ample access to exercise by outfitting the cage with movement type toys and accessories.

Sugar gliders are nocturnal and many activities take place in the dark. Outfitting the cage with a red light, which you turn on at night will allow you to observe the gliders without disturbing them with "white light" (i.e. room lighting). This is the same technique used in nocturnal houses at zoological institutions.

To keep your pet healthy you must keep the environment clean. A full cage cleaning, including toys, branches and bedding should take place at least weekly and more if the enclosure is on the smaller side. Food bowls and water bottles should be cleaned daily.

I send my wishes for good health to both you and your sugar gliders. I'll see you again next month!

Dr. C.

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