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Exotic Nutrition Archive Page
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
While there are many different factors to a Sugar Gliders living situation, the following six key points should be the focus when considering their housing:

1) The cage should be as spacious as possible, especially if the glider is spending a majority of its time inside the cage rather than outside. Sugar Glider are active animals that need a lot of room in their cage for movement. In this case, vertical space is more important than horizontal space because gliders prefer to climb and jump, mimicking their behavior in the wild. The minimum requirements of a cage are 24" long x 24" wide x 36" tall for a pair of gliders, with bar spacing no more than 1/2" wide. Cages of these specific dimensions are hard to find in local stores and usually have to be specially made for gliders. Bird cages just simply do not work for housing Sugar Gliders. Luckily, Exotic Nutrition supplies a wide variety of Sugar Glider cages that meet (& exceed) these requirements. We suggest purchasing the biggest cage you can afford because there is a high correlation between cage size and the health/happiness of a glider.

2) The cage should be well-constructed and safe with no sharp edges or projections. While this may seem obvious, it is important to thoroughly check your glider's cage regularly for any type of misplaced bars or chipping paint. All of the Exotic Nutrition's cages are made with tube frame construction, which is durable and likely to last the lifetime (and more) of your pet while also providing more space for movement. Make sure to buy a cage with a safe paint-finish to avoid any health issues. Avoid cages advertising a 'medical grade' finish, this is simply an epoxy finish that is expensive and difficult to clean. Exotic Nutrition's cages are made with a heavy powder-coated (thermoplastic) finish, that contains no lead or zinc while remaining easy to clean and super durable. The cage should also be constructed to allow easy access to the inside of the cage for cleaning purposes.

 3) The cage should be secure to prevent any unwanted escapes. Bird cages have many small doors and gaps that make escape easy and imminent for Sugar Gliders. A gliders cage should have one or two large front doors (big enough to place and remove cage accessories) and possibly a few smaller side doors (for quick access to water and feeding dishes). All locks and latches on the cage should be tight and secure, gliders can quickly learn how to open unsecured locks.

 4) The cage should be well-sited, out of the way of fluctuating temperatures and readily accessible for interaction. Sugar Gliders are most comfortable at a temperature slightly higher than room temperature, in the range of 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit. A cage should be placed in an easily accessible area of the home, away from direct sunlight and air vents that cause drafts. A cage heater may be necessary to keep the cage warm enough for your glider. Gliders are interactive animals, it is best to keep their cage in an open area like a living room where they can quickly bond to you. Because Sugar Gliders are nocturnal animals, cage covers can also be used to block out any stray lighting during the day while your glider sleeps.

5) The cage should be furnished in a way that the glider is both comfortable and can stay entertained while it is alone.There are many ways to furnish a Sugar Glider cage but every cage should have at least a few key items including a nest pouch, exercise wheel, and some type of rope, ladder, or climbing branch. Nest pouches provide gliders with a warm, comfortable place to sleep and the pouch-shape mimics the environment that marsupials are born into. Nest boxes with bedding can also be used instead of or in addition to nest pouches. We suggest providing multiple options to your glider so that you can remove a pouch for cleaning while still giving your glider a place to rest. A wheel is necessary for any caged pet to allow them to get the proper amount of exercise they need to remain healthy. Exotic Nutrition's Silent Runner wheel offers a safe, axle-free design that eliminates the possibility of fur or body entanglement while your glider runs on dual ball bearings that provide a smooth and quite spin. In the wild, gliders spend a majority of their time in the tree tops, gliding from branch to branch. Offering climbing apparatus' like ropes, ladders, or branches are a MUST for any Sugar Glider cage. Accessories like these help mimic a glider's natural tendencies. Exotic Nutrition offers a wide variety of cage accessories like those listed above as well as cage plants, platforms, tunnels and hideaways. Toys are another good addition to any Sugar Glider cage to help keep them stimulated and happy. Foraging toys encourage habits found in the wild by allowing gliders to follow their natural exploratory tendencies while having fun.

6) The cage should provide ample feeding and drinking facilities. It is important that food and water dishes are readily available for your glider while kept in an area free from urine, feces and other debris. Place them higher up in the cage and near the edges, not under any climbing branches where they can be polluted. Stainless steel dishes that hang onto the side of the cage are probably the best option for keeping your glider's food & water uncontaminated while remaining easily accessible for you. Fresh water and a dry pellet diet, like Glider Complete, should be available for your glider at all times (being changed out every 24 hours), while wet food, like HPW, should be replaced after 12 hours.

While these six factors will provide a good base of information for housing your Sugar Glider, there is an abundance of additional advice provided on our website under our FREE Glider Information Guides: http://www.exoticnutrition.com/glinse.html


by: Exotic Nutrition

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