Sugar Gliders

Classification : Kingdom: Animalia      Phylum: Chordata      Class: Mammalia      Infraclass: Marsupialia      Order: Diprotodontia      Family: Petauridae      Genus: Petaurus      Species: P. breviceps     

Common English Names: Suggies, Sugar Glider, Lesser Gliding Possum, Arboreal Gliding Possum, and Sugar squirrel

In many ways Sugar Gliders resemble Flying Squirrels but are a vastly different species. Like Flying Squirrels they have a large gliding membrane called the patagium, and are able to glide up to 50 meters or more and it has been noted to be seen gliding to catch insects in flight. The Sugar Glider has plush thick, soft fur. The wild type is usually blue-gray with a black stripe running from its nose to midway down his back, and the underside are off-cream in colour. In captivity Sugar Gliders are available in numerous colours and colour patterns.

The average adult weight is between 80 -160grams with the females being a bit smaller than males. They are around 5 – 6 inches long from nose to tail or 11-12 inches long with tail.

In total they have five toes, their hind feet have a large, opposable big toe that helps them grip branches. Also on the hind feet, the second and third toes, which are partially fused together, form a grooming comb. With the exception of the opposable toe all of the other toes are equipped with short, sharp claws.

The Sugar Glider has somewhat of a prehensile tail, which is covered with long, bushy fur. They use their tails occasionally to carry twigs and leaves back to the nest. The tail is also used as a blanket and as a rudder that they use when gliding. The tail also helps the glider balance better when it is high up on thin branches in the under-story of the forest canopy.

The ears are relatively large, thin and hairless. They move independently of one another and are usually in motion listening for minute sounds made by insects and other disturbances in their environment.

Being that they are primarily nocturnal their large dark coloured eyes are slightly off centered which permits the animal to see better, especially at night.

Sexual Dimorphism: Males, testes are descended and the scrotum is visible. Females have a pouch on the mid-section on the belly, which is visible. A small, bald diamond shaped scent gland, located on top of their head, easily identifies mature males.

It is estimated that a glider could live 9- 10 years in the wild but they are likely to be preyed upon on before they have a chance to reach that age. When housed properly and fed nutritious diets, captive-raised Sugar Gliders can live 12 or even 14 years, but their average life expectancy is generally closer to 9- 10 years.

Gliders are mainly insectivorous. They feed primarily on insects, larvae, spiders, and small vertebrates for the most of the year. During the wet season flower blossoms, sap from eucalyptus trees, acacia gum, and nectar become a large part of their regular diet.

To view our feeding schedule for Sugar Gliders please go to the Sugar Glider Nutrition page.

Breeding age females are polyestrous and go into heat several times a year. Estrus is typically a 29-day cycle and they can reproduce at 8-12 months old. They are capable of reproducing until they are over 10 years old. Being a marsupial they are capable of embryonic diapause.

Males can breed throughout the year and are typically ready to breed between 12-14 months of age. In captivity they can start breeding as young as four to six months, but at such a young a age they may not be mature enough to care for their offspring.

Sugar gliders are polygamous. When kept in a colony, usually one or two older dominant males father the young. They do most of the territorial maintenance and scent marking. Both sexes take turns caring for their babies, which are called Joeys. Copulation usually occurs in the evening and is often accompanied by grumping chirps that I can only describe as complaining. Females have 2 uteruses and the males can inseminate one or both of the female’s uteri, because he has a bifurcated (two-pronged) penis.

Breeding season normally begins around June through late October but captive raised gliders can breed all year. Females can produce 3-4 litters with 1-2 (rarely 3) Joeys a year. Ideally in the wild, they may only have 1 or 2 litters a year and can breed until the are close to ten years of age. If you do plan on breeding, we suggest that you only permit your glider to produce 1 or 2 litters a year as not to burn her out.

Unless embryonic diapause occurs, after 16 days gestation (after mating) the fetuses are born and instinctively climb to the mother’s pouch where they remain, nursing for 60 to 70 days.

Joeys are dependent on the parents and other group members for quite a while. Typically they are weaned at 8 weeks (after it leaves the pouch) but should not be considered fully independent for another 4-6 weeks after they have been weaned.

In captivity there are many colour varieties available. The list of new colour mutations is growing every few months. Leucistic, Mosaic, Blonde, Platinum, are just a few of the most common colours being worked with, some of which we own ourselves. Some of the colour mutations are totally established while others are still in the working/ study phase. Unfortunately like other genetic mutations, colour genes can play havoc on the health and reproductive ability of an animal. Sometimes they even shorten life expectancy and can cause other health problems such as skin disorders, blindness, etc. If colour is the deciding factor for you, my suggestion  when deciding on what animal to purchase, to give lots of consideration and have a few discussions with a few different breeders and other people that are familiar with genetics.

Sugar Gliders can become calcium deficient and should be supplemented with foods rich in calcium. We provide ours with extra calcium and vitamins every other day. All animals can benefit from annual visits to a qualified Veterinarian. Be sure that your vet is knowledgeable about Sugar Gliders.

The costs to set up a suitable habitat can vary but you can expect to pay in the neighborhood of $300.00 or more for a reasonably decent setup (including the cage, a few toys, wheels, sleeping dens etc.). A pair of Sugar Gliders will likely cost around $350.00 and up, depending on colour, sexes, etc.

Ideally all pets should be purchased from a "Specialist Breeders". If you are planning to breed Gliders, buying your breeding stock from an experienced breeder will likely be worth the investment. They are usually proud of their own animals and can be a great source of information. Not all Pet Stores are bad, nor are all of the people who work in them, mean people. Actually some very knowledgeable people work in them. Unfortunately, they are paid to sell and they are a real business. That being said you’ll need to decide for yourself whether or not you feel comfortable buying pets from them.

Wherever you choose to purchase your pet from as long as you have done all of your research first and you are comfortable with the people that you are dealing with and feel that a Glider is right for you; then you will you be in a better position to make an educated decision and know what you are committing yourself to.

For some people having to make the decision to give up a pet may be one of the hardest things they will ever have to do. It can be very emotional and stressful for the caregiver and the pet. If you find yourself in an emergency situation and need to re-home your pet, try contacting the breeder to see if they can help. We believe that most ethical breeders will do their best to help. Often, in the case of a real emergency, most conscientious breeders will offer to take back the animal. This is a good habit that responsible breeders get into, not only does it prevent animals from ending up in shelters or sanctuaries it also makes people think twice before abandoning them in the wild.

People contact us regularly to see if we can help them sell their pet. PLEASE NOTE …We will not help you sell your pet! However if you ever find yourself in a position whereby you can no longer adequately care for your Sugar Glider or you feel that your pet Glider needs to be in a home with someone more experienced, you are free to call us. We do realize that every situation is different but we will do our best to suggest a few options for you to consider before you decide to re-home your pet. Occasionally, if we have the space and time, we will take in Gliders that are in need new homes. Just be aware that if we do commit to taking in your pet, we will keep them for as long as it takes to find them a suitable home. We will not keep them because we need to know the lineage and history on all of our animals in our breeding program. We do have a special needs page on our site for people looking to adopt/purchase animals in need of rehoming. If we can not personally accommodate another animal in our own home then we may be able to recommend someone who can.

If you are an experienced specialist breeder or a legitimate specialty club and would like to add a reciprocal link to our site please feel free to email us. Please note that we will not provide links to Rescue Organizations that are not open to public, unless we have the opportunity and time to personally inspect the "Rescue" organizations, first. Sorry to all of the people, who truly dedicate their time to legitimate animal rescue, unfortunately too often people misrepresent themselves pretending to be licit or scrupulous rescuers.