1.       Are there any criteria’s that I should look for in a breeder? Yes, we actually follow standard criteria’s by Glider University.  You can view the criteria’s and other useful information at http://www.glideruniversity.org. 2.       What does a hand-tamed sugar glider mean? A hand-tamed sugar glider should not bite and should be able to be controlled.  Even if you do have a hand-tamed glider, you cannot just leave him/her in a cage forever without spending any time with it because it will become upset and possibly depressed.  It’s just like anything else, if you don’t continue to handle them, they will become mean. 3.       I want to purchase a sugar glider but the breeder/owner can’t control the sugar glider, should I still purchase it? No, if the breeder or owner can’t handle it then it is untamed.  It is not recommended to buy wild caught sugar gliders, untamed sugar gliders, or sick sugar gliders.

4.       Is there a difference between a nip and a bite? Yes, a sugar glider may nip you if you have food on your hand or if you have some type of fruit scent such as different types of lotions or if they do not want to do something like go back into their cage but it will not hurt and not break skin.  A bite is when a sugar glider is aggressive and bites you so bad that you bleed. 5.       Does a female sugar glider need to have a set of babies in order to live up to 15 years? No.  Any glider can live up to 15 years whether it is a boy or a girl as long as they have a healthy diet.  The 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorous is the most important thing in their diet. 6.       Can I purchase a sugar glider from a Pet Store? You may purchase a sugar glider from a Pet Store as long as they are USDA licensed.  Generally, if a Pet Store is licensed, you will have more of a chance of having that glider healthy.  But this does not mean that the sugar glider will be hand-tamed.  Always ask a Pet Store for their USDA license number, if they do not give it to you, most likely they are not licensed.

7.       If a sugar glider is mean, can I tame it? Yes, but there are different ways to tame it and you will need lots of patience.  This is not recommended for first time owners and it is not guaranteed that you will be able to tame it or how long it will take. 8.       Can a sugar glider be trained? Yes, a sugar glider can learn the word “No”, “Come”, “Get Down” and a few other things but they cannot be potty trained.  It is up to you, as an owner, to train your sugar glider. 9.       My sugar glider smells even though I keep his cage clean at all times.   If a sugar glider smells, generally it is because they may have too much citrus in their diet.  Try to give them foods without citrus for a few days and see if the smell improves.  This is not always the case and you should call your vet to schedule a fecal appointment to see if there is anything wrong with the sugar glider.

10.       How often should I clean my sugar glider’s cage? You should spot clean your glider’s cage every day.  This means that you take any uneaten food out of the cage, wipe down any bars that may have food on it, and any urine blotches that are in the shavings.  This will insure that your glider does not eat any leftover spoiled food that he/she may find on the bars or anywhere in the cage and it will also help control any smells.  Also, be sure that the area that your cage is has proper ventilation. 11.       What does Sugar Glider Petshop feed their sugar gliders? We have a special diet for our sugar gliders that we give to our clients upon purchasing from us as a bonus but we do not give it out to anyone else.  We also have another diet that is specially made for pregnant sugar gliders but we do not give this out to anyone.

12.       How do I bond with my sugar glider? When bringing a new glider home, you should first give them some time to adjust.  They will be scared even if their hand-tamed.  By giving them time to adjust, you give them the ability to learn their new environment.  You should also have a blanket of some sort that has your smell on it and keep in the cage where your sugar glider sleeps so it can get used to your scent.  After the adjusting period, try giving them little treats by hand so they can also get used to your scent by you hand-feeding them.  13.       Do I need to purchase two sugar gliders or can I have just one? It is always best to purchase more than one sugar glider because they are social animals and love to play but if you have the time and commitment for your sugar glider, it is possible to own just one but it will be more time consuming because you have to spend double the time with your glider to insure that he/she does not get lonely or depressed.

14.       Can sugar gliders be around other animals? Yes, but you will need to slowly introduce any type of pet to each other and should always be supervised.  Sugar gliders will be scared at first if they have never seen that type of pet before but can be slowly acclimated to feel comfortable around that animal.