Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a few questions. I keep 4 ferrets, parrots and a bunch of herps. I was wondering if sugar gliders are handelable. Can you put them down and pet them or is there always worry about it running away like a little mouse would? Also whats the normal diet?

Well,
I have had gliders for about 7 years now. And the gliders behavior all depends on the person who raised it from a baby, and how you continue rasing it.
If the person you got it from hand raised it, took the time and care it deserves, and you continue to do so, you can have a pet that will never ever run from you. the person must have hand raised it and you must hold it every day. If possible carry it in a pouch around your neck, or in a shirt pocket every day, all day. The glider will then bond to you so closely that you can take it outside in the open, put it down, and it will do everything in its power just to get back to you, crawl up your leg and get back into it pouch or pocket. HOWEVER, if you do not have this kind of time for it, as you may not with all the other pets to care for, then it will not bond to you as closely and will not let you pet it, hold it, and it will run all over the house. If you didn't have other pets and you supervised it, this wouldn't be a problem since they are usually easy to follow and usually go up curtains or any other high spot in the house. We have several we rescued that are not used to being handled, but we let them out anyhow supervised. They love to jump and climb all over the house. you would need to make sure your ferrets and birds are in their cages and in a different room as well. A glider can climb the cage and the ferret or parrots will grab them and kill them instantly. They are quite fragile. A friend of mine left her glider in with a BABY rat one day. She was trying to see if they would bond since the rat was so young and the glider was only 4 months OOP. She left for 5 minutes she says, to get some food for the glider. CAme back and the baby rat had bitten the glider on the neck and it died within minutes.
It only takes a second for another animal to kill your glider.
so before you get one, be sure to seriously ask yourself if you have this kind of time for comitment and if you can keep them safe from your other pets. I myself have Coatimundi, gliders, A Green Anaconda, rats, and rehabilitate birds of prey and squirrels in my house. Yet I still have the time and can give my gliders the safety they need. So yes, it is possible if you can do it. Hope that helps some.
Sarah
zooanimalsgirl@yahoo.com

If you raise the glider from a baby and you play with it everyday, it wont leave you. You will be it's dad/mom protector/tree. For diet go to http://sandmanssugargliders.com/diet.html because it is a really good page.
-Drew drewman1990@comcast.net

Haha Drewman, that is so true. You are like its giant tree! Put it on the ground and it will cahse after you, jump on you, and scamper all over you like a tree.