Sugar gliders are gentle and make great pets. Contrary to popular belief, sugar gliders are not rodents. They are marsupials in the same general family as kangaroos and koala bears. These amazing creatures possess many qualities that make them great pets, but the best thing about them is that they’re great for any person of any age. They make excellent full-time companions for seniors who live alone and want a loving, relatively low-maintenance pet to keep them company, and they are age-appropriate for children 6 years and older. Children younger then 6 can also handle these wonderful pets — with adult supervision.
Unlike rodents such as hamsters and gerbils, sugar gliders have the potential to bond with their owners. The most important factor to consider when bonding with a sugar glider is their age. In the wild, gliders live in groups of 10 to 15 and start the bonding process when they are about 8 to 12 weeks out of the pouch. This is the time in their lives when they instinctively want to bond with the group, which makes the process very natural for them when humans bond with them as pets. They have a life span of 12 to 15 years and once they are fully bonded with their family, they love nothing more than to spend time with them. Many sugar glider owners love to travel to the store with their pets tucked snuggly in a pocket. Sugar gliders will not run away or try to hide. Plus, they also have about the same intelligence as a dog, and have the capability of learning their name, coming when they’re called, and even doing tricks.
Sugar gliders are extremely low maintenance. They do not carry any known diseases, so they do not need vaccinations like cats or dogs. Plus, they cannot catch diseases such as heartworm, so there is no need for ongoing veterinary care. Plus, when fed the proper diet, they have almost no noticeable smell. They keep themselves incredibly clean and never require bathing.
Although sugar gliders cannot be “potty-trained,” they do have a set routine, which makes it easy to avoid accidents. Sugar gliders will never poop or pee where they sleep. So if they are hanging out in your pocket, you can rest assured that they are not creating a mess. They tend to have to relieve themselves about every 3 to 4 hours and are much like people in that they want to “go” after a long nap. This makes it easy to avoid accidents when spending time with your glider. Simply place the glider in an area where it can relieve itself, and then continue playing. Rodents, on the other hand, have little bladder control and are constantly relieving themselves wherever they are.
Since sugar gliders are not rodents, they do not have the constant need to chew. Rodents have teeth that are constantly growing, which creates their need to constantly wear them down. If a rodent such as a rabbit were to be left out of its cage, you would soon find nibbled couches or walls. Sugar gliders do not have this instinct, and instead love to play when they are out of their cages — jumping from furniture to furniture, showing off why they have the word “glider” in their name.
