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The Sugar Glider is a marsupial originating from Australia, New Guinea and also Tasmania. It was imported into the USA about 15 years ago and has become a very popular domesticated pet, even more than the noble Hamster or Guinea pig.
There are seven species of the Sugar Glider
A recent survey conducted late in 2007 by the American Veterinary Medicine Association AVMA suggested that there were as many as 1,100,000 Sugar Gliders kept as pets in people homes. I think it fair to say that this is definitely not an endangered species !
The Sugar Glider grows to about 7½ inches long with a long thick bushy tail and weighs in at about 5½ ounces. Its coat is often a pearl grey color with the underside being of a cream and black patches color, its ears have a black or dark grey color to them. Its tail tapers slightly and the last quarter of it is black. The Gliders muzzle is pink in color, short and rounded.
The most notable feature of the Sugar Glider is the way its coat takes on a web type configuration and extends to form glider wings similar to a kite. This is called a patagia a thin sheet of skin surrounded by its fur, it extends from its fifth finger to the back of the first toe. This patagia is unobtrusive when the Sugar Glider is walking or lying around but is quite apparent when the creature jumps off a high place and glides down to a safe landing. Below is a Youtube Video of a Sugar Glider, getting tickles !
The Sugar Glider uses its skills in nature to glide from tree to tree and is an excellent method of escape from its many predators. This membrane forms a square type shape and can keep the little creature airborne for over 50 meters. It steers itself by shifting its mass from one side to the other and curving the shape of its extended patagia. This patagia is also useful for holding food when the creature is out foraging.
The Sugar Glider normally lives in trees in small groups , it is active by night when it goes out foraging for insects, it also feeds on the sap of the eucalyptus, acacia and gums trees. The Sugar Glider gets its name from the fact that it likes sweet food stuffs. The Sugar Glider is a protected species under Australian law which stipulates that it is illegal to keep them without a license or to capture them for sale to the pet trade.
The Sugar Glider has become a popular domestic pet as it is an inquisitive, lively and very friendly little creature with a good temperament. It likes tickles and attention and becomes a good little pet as they can associate with their owners. The Sugar Glider can breed in captivity quite well, as they don't seem to be to perturbed by their domestic surroundings or the cages that they live in when the owners are out. Below is another Youtube video of a pair of rather nice and cuddly Sugar Glider's...aaawww !
In the USA Sugar Gliders have been deemed as exotic animals but consequently they are quite legal to buy, sell and own. At time of writing, it is only California and Pennsylvania that class this creature as illegal to buy, sell and own. Please check your State laws to see if you can own a Sugar Glider, as the laws regarding these animals as pets do change quite often. Generally Sugar Gliders can only be obtained from a licensed USDA Facility. Read more...
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www.moondance-sugargliders.com
