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If you’re a pet owner, I bet you’d say
you have the nicest animal in the world. But some animal lovers might
disagree with you. These people own sugar gliders; and for them, no
animal is sweeter.
The sugar glider is a marsupial. The
females have pouches on the outside of their bodies. These pouches are
homes to their newborns, called joeys. The joeys live inside for weeks or
months until they mature. When they are fully developed, they crawl out
of the pouch. There are about 200 species of marsupials.
The sugar glider belongs to the same
marsupial group as kangaroos and possums.
Sugar gliders look like small, gray
squirrels with dark streaks on their faces. A dark stripe runs from their
nose to the tip of their tail. Adult gliders weigh between 4-6 ounces.
They measure about 12 inches from their nose to their tail.
These marsupials are nocturnal, meaning
they are active at night. They have large, round eyes which help them see
in the dark. Sugar gliders live in eastern Australia, New Guinea, and
Tasmania. In the wild, sugar gliders can live up to 9 years. When raised
in captivity, they can reach 12-14 years of age.
As you might guess, sugar gliders got
the first part of their name because they have a sweet tooth. Their diet
consists of nectar and sap, as well as leaves, petals, and insects. One
of their favorite foods is the sap that flows from the manna gum. The
manna gum is a tree native to the eastern states of Australia.
 The other part of the name—glider—describes their ability to soar
through the air. Sugar gliders possess a loose skin membrane that’s
attached to the sides of their bodies between the wrists and the ankles.
When sugar gliders take off from a tree branch, they spread their limbs.
This tightens the membrane, which allows them to glide up to 150
feet!
Sugar gliders are highly social creatures. They
live in communities of nests with up to seven adults and their young.
Communities of sugar gliders rarely fight. That’s because the males mark
family members with a scent to identify each other. In fact, sugar
gliders raised as pets will also mark their owner, so that the owner
becomes “theirs.”
Though sugar gliders can be owned as
pets, there are some things you need to know. Sugar gliders are
classified as exotic pets. Before buying one, check your state and city
regulations. Also, the cost of these pets runs from $99.00 - $200.00, not
including the setup. A cage, exercise wheel, climbing ladders, and a
nesting box for sleeping can add up to hundreds of dollars. Moreover,
sugar gliders need to have a special diet that may not be found at some
pet stores. Failure to provide the proper diet or housing may result in
medical problems for a glider.
Veterinarians encourage neutering males
to prevent aggressive behavior. Retailers suggest buying sugar gliders in
pairs because they like company. If an owner is unable to purchase two,
he must be willing to spend time with it. The International Sugar Glider
Association recommends that adults always supervise while children are
playing with these fragile creatures.
Despite the challenges of ownership, sugar
gliders make wonderful pets. They bond easily with people and love to be
cuddled. People can carry them in a pouch or a shirt pocket.
With proper care, these marsupials can
have a good long life. Owners acknowledge that sugar gliders have a sweet
tooth, but that’s not the only reason they make the sweetest pet in the
world.
Did You Know?
· Sugar gliders bite
off leaves and then carry the foliage curled in their tails along the
tree branches. They use the leaves to build their nests.
· Sugar gliders signal with soft hisses,
grunts, and calls that sound like the barking of a small dog.
The author wishes to thank Craig J.
Blair, Sr. D.V.M . for his expertise.
Photo provided by: Wikipedia
Copyright © 2007 by Randi Lynn Mrvos
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