Sugar Gliders as Your New Pet

by Dennis Kelsey-Wood

The sugar glider is the newest exotic little animal to capture the fancy of those who want a pet that is truly unusual as well as interesting. While it is undemanding as a pet, this furry little Australian marsupial, measuring only 9-12 in. from head to tail, has some specialized needs that must be met if it is to thrive. This book provides all of the information needed to help sugar glider keepers accomplish this. Informatively written and lavishly illustrated with full-color photos, this book is an invaluable and necessary reference for anyone who has an interest in these fascinating animals.

96 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1996

Reviews

[Molly]

DO NOT USE THIS BOOK AS A GUIDE FOR RAISING SUGAR GLIDERS!!! [return]The information is woefully out-of-date and potentially dangerous to sugar gliders. [return][return]It suggests feeding sugar gliders cat or dog food. WRONG!!! It has completely inappropriate nutritional values for a sugar glider, that's like feeding your human child dog biscuits.[return][return]It suggests feeding sugar gliders cheese. WRONG!!! Most sugar gliders are lactose intolerant. [return][return]It suggests feeding sugar gliders raw eggs. WRONG!!! There's too much potential for salmonella poisoning.[return][return]It suggests feeding sugar gliders nuts as part of their staple diet. WRONG!!! Most nuts are too high in the bad type of fat, and most nuts should only be fed sparingly as treats. [return][return]It suggests putting natural tree branches in your sugar's cage. WRONG!!! You don't know what kind of pesticides may have been used in or around the tree or even if the tree itself is poisonous to sugars.[return][return]Not only is the information faulty, the pictures are mediocre. It appears only two sugar gliders were used as models throughout the book. You miss out on the diversity of colors that have been bred into domestic sugar gliders.[return][return]In the section on housing, they only show the same cage from several different angles with no real variety. Not only that, but this one cage is woefully understocked amusement-wise. It has only a (dying) tree branch in it and a toilet paper tube...how...fun. Despite what the book says, sugar gliders are VERY intelligent creatures and enjoy many different types of amusements, cat toys, bird toys, infant toys, rope ladders, swings, and mirrors are all perfectly good toys and should be considered. Most sugar gliders are obsessive compulsive and if you put a knotted rope in their cage they'll work the knot out over time, my gliders LOVE doing that; it's fun and it keeps their little brains running.[return][return]A huge section of the book is dedicated to breeding...let's be honest, if you're considering breeding sugar gliders, you are hopefully not so inexperienced with them that you would be foolish enough to ever use a book with the title appendage of "Your New Pet." If you want to breed gliders you should hopefully have some considerable experience with them.[return][return]All-in-all, get a good veterinarian before you consider buying a sugar glider. While they are generally very healthy animals and require little vet care, only a good, up-to-date vet can keep you well informed on the latest in sugar glider research. Also, buy your sugar from a reputable USDA certified breeder and not simply some chain pet store with minimum wage employees that don't know a sugar glider from a flying squirrel.