Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey. i just got a six week old sugar glider, tirrike, for my birthday and i have read some things. i do have a few questions though...

first of all -- i have had him for a few days but he does not seem to be drinking out of the water bottle. he seems ok and i am making sure to give him planty of moist food (strawberrys and apples mostly). i have made sure he can reach it and put the bottle near his food dish. i know that they are smart but i am worried that maybe he does not know how to work the thing...
any advice?

secondly -- he is just a baby. how old do they have to be to eat crickets? i have read that they are quite important to their diet.

and third -- i am worried that i may not be spending enough time with him. as soon i get home from work i take him out and play with him (or he sleeps in my pocket) untill i have to go to bed. i get home from work at 5 and i go to bed by ten. so about five hours a day i spend. i check on him through the night a few times and again in the morning. i would take him to work but there are lots of people, noise, and chemicals about. anyway -- am i spending enough time with him? i really want him to be alright and not get mean (i have met some friends with ill tempered sugargliders). again any advice?

Water: Use a water dish if he doesnt learn to use a bottle. Try the bottle at a later age. Or use both at the same time, who knows, he might like drinking out of the bottle better than a dish.

Crickets: Kill the crickets before feeding since the glider is only six wks old.

Time: You are spending a very good amount of time with it.