Owning a sugar glider can be a rewarding experience. But as any pet owner knows, there are pros and cons to owning any animal.
For example, sugar gliders can bond very well and easy with their owners. They are very active and playful, which can make for entertaining companionship. However, sugar gliders also require a lot of care and attention, even suffering from depression if left alone for too long. They can also be costly to care for, but they don’t need many vet visits like other pets might.
In this article, we take a deep dive into the pros and cons of having a sugar glider as a pet.
Sugar Glider as Pet: 7 Pros
Doesn’t require a lot of space
Sugar gliders are small, only about the size of a squirrel, so taming and keeping them as pets doesn’t require a lot of space. They are arboreal, so they do best in homes with high ceilings, where they can glide throughout the room.
Has a very long lifespan
Sugar gliders have a very long lifespan in captivity, where they can live up to 15 years if they are cared for properly. This is more than double the lifespan of most other small pets, such as hamsters and gerbils.
Bonds well with humans
They are very social animals and bond well with their human owners. They enjoy being held and snuggled, and they are known to be quite affectionate.
Being very smart creatures, sugar gliders can also learn tricks, which makes them even more entertaining to have around.
Very active and playful
Sugar gliders are very active, and love to play. They are nocturnal creatures, so their activity level is highest at night. This can be a pro or a con, depending on your sleep schedule.
If you don’t mind being woken up by an active pet, then it’s definitely a pro!
Natural cleanliness
Sugar gliders are very clean animals, and groom themselves regularly. They also have a very high metabolism, so they produce very little waste. This makes them very easy to care for, and their cage doesn’t need to be cleaned as often as other small pets.
Sure, you need to clean their food bowl and water bottle daily, but their cage only needs to be spot-cleaned every week or so, and fully cleaned once a month.
Doesn’t need many vet visits
Another perk of having a sugar glider as a pet is that they don’t need to see the vet very often. As long as they are kept healthy and well-fed, they don’t usually have any health problems. This can save you a lot of money in vet bills over the years.
Sugar gliders are not that prone to injuries either, as long as you provide them with a safe environment to play in.
Very unique-looking animals
With their large eyes and gliding membrane, sugar gliders look like something out of a sci-fi movie. They are very unique-looking animals, and are sure to turn heads when people see them.
Sugar Glider as Pet: 7 Cons
Nocturnal animal
Sugar gliders are nocturnal animals, meaning that they are mostly active at night and sleep during the day. This can be disruptive to their human caregivers’ sleep schedules.
Bonding and tent time usually works better when done at night when the sugar glider is most active, so this is something to keep in mind if you’re considering getting one as a pet.
Can get stressed easily
Sugar gliders are very delicate creatures, and can get stressed easily. They are very sensitive to changes in their environment and may become stressed if their routine is disturbed.
So, the first month when you get a sugar glider, it’s best to let them adjust to their new home and not make any big changes. After they’ve settled in, you can start slowly introducing them to new people and experiences.
You should also keep in mind that they can become very aggressive if they feel threatened, so it’s important to handle them with care.
Requires a lot of toys
Being very active and playful, sugar gliders get bored easily and need a lot of toys to keep them occupied. This can be a downside if you don’t have the time or money to invest in a lot of toys.
You can also make yourself toys for your sugar glider to play with, such as a homemade obstacle course or a set of tunnels made out of toilet paper rolls, but this requires time for you to put those together.
Bonding can have some downsides
While it’s great that sugar gliders bond so well with their human caregivers, this can also be a downside. If you don’t have the time to spend with them, they can become depressed and may start to self-mutilate.
This is something to keep in mind if you’re considering getting a sugar glider as a pet. They do best in homes where someone is around most of the time, and can give them the attention they need.
Sugar gliders do better in pairs
Sugar gliders are very social creatures, and do best when they have a companion. This means that if you’re considering getting one as a pet, you’ll need to get two.
And, of course, this means twice the cost and twice the work. But it’s important to keep in mind if you’re considering sugar gliders as pets.
Pretty expansive
Getting a sugar glider as a pet can be pretty expensive. They need a lot of specialized care and equipment, and their food is not cheap either.
If you want to leave your little pet outside the cage, you need to glider-proof your room which means buying things like netting to cover open spaces and keeping dangerous objects out of reach. All of this can add up quickly.
Also, there are not many vets who are knowledgeable about sugar gliders, so you may have to travel some distance (and pay for a consultation fee) to find a good one.
You should do some research in your area to see if there are any vets who specialize in sugar gliders before you commit to getting one as a pet.
Not a natural pet
Sugar gliders are exotic animals, and are not very common as pets. This means that there is not a lot of information available on how to care for them.
This can be a downside if you’re not prepared to do a lot of research on your own. You’ll need to be very dedicated to learn everything you can about sugar gliders and their care.
Conclusion
Overall, there are both pros and cons to keeping a sugar glider as a pet. They are very active creatures who need a lot of attention and care, but can also bond closely with their human caregivers. They are not very common pets, so you’ll need to do some research before getting one, and be prepared to invest both time and money into their care.
