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Have you heard about the hottest new pet to hit the United States? If not, you definitely need to read this article! The newest pet sensation is the sugar glider, a tiny nocturnal marsupial who hails from Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea. The get their name from the fact that they love to eat anything sweet-sugar, and from the cape-like membrane that stretches from their hands to their feet, allowing them to glide from tree to tree-glider. The female sugar glider, as with all marsupials, raises a pouch in which she raises her young. In the wild, they live in colonies of between 6-10 gliders and spend most of their time foraging for food.
Sugar gliders make great pets for several reasons. They adept well to captivity, and they are able to develop strong, long-lasting relationships with their owners. Their lifespan is about 10 years when they are properly cared for. They are also quite small (about 5-6 inches long excluding their tails) and are very smart and playful. They are especially good pets for people who work because they sleep during the day and come out to play at night, when working people are available to play with them. Most people find sugar gliders so endearing because they love human attention and are so cute.
Sugar gliders have long, bushy tails that are used for balance; their tales often grow to be about the same length as their bodies. They also have large, pointy ears and big black eyes. Their faces are similar to those of a possum or bat. The fur of the sugar glider is usually gray or silver, and they have white bellies, and a black stripe that extends from the tops of their heads to the end of their tails. The male sugar glider develops bald spots at the base of his head after reaching maturity.
These cute marsupials make four distinct noises. The first sounds like a small chainsaw or electric pencil sharpener and indicates that the sugar glider is angry or agitated. You won’t hear this sound very often once they get used to you as you learn their likes and dislikes. The second sound sugar gliders make is a loud chirping noise; this indicates that the animal is excited or happy. The third sound is a small, quieter chirp, which is simply a noise they use to communicate with each other. The fourth noise is a loud sharp barking. This noise indicates that the sugar glider wants attention from either another glider or its owner. This last noise can be quite annoying as it is surprising loud for such a small animal, and as it often occurs late at night, it tends to awaken the humans in the house.
Sugar gliders give off two types of odors. The first is the smell of their wastes, and you can control this one by keeping their cage clean. They also give off a very distinct odor when mating, and while it isn’t unpleasant, it can be overpowering for a week or two. As with many nocturnal animals, sugar gliders have a great sense of smell, which they use to identify humans and other sugar gliders. It doesn’t take long before a sugar glider is able to identify its owner’s particular smell. The male glider has two scent glands that he uses for marking his territory.
One is located on the belly and the other on the top of the head, which is why they have a bald spot there. Once a male sugar glider has become accustomed to his surroundings, he will rub his belly back and forth upon objects to mark them. He will also mark any nearby by rubbing the female's chin with his head.
Keep in mind, when you first bring your sugar glider home, that this is all very new for him. Give him time to adjust. Place them in their new house/cage and let them alone for a day so they can get used to all of the new sights, sounds and smells in their new environment. Let him get used to you, too, by hand-feeding him small treats, such as grapes or nuts, so he can learn your scent and get used to your face. You should be the only one handling him for the first few days, and do not wear gloves as this will mask your scent. Once your sugar Glider seems to feel more at home, you can start introducing other members of your family. You should be aware, though, tat sugar gliders will show a preference for their main caretaker.
One of the best aspects of owning a sugar glider is the bonding process. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes up to several months. You can help speed up this process by carrying around your sugar glider in your shirt pocket and feeding him treats. Never carry your sugar glider in your pants pocket as you may forget he is there and sit on him. Even if he is sleeping, you can pet him while you carry him around and he will still be able to get accustomed to your scent.
It is possible to train your sugar glider, and how you go about doing that depends upon what kind of pet you want your glider to be. If you want a glider that stays on you all the time, you have to teach him to stay on you at all times. At first they may want to jump off. Just continue putting them back on you every time they do this. Do not let them onto the floor or they will think it is ok to run around the house. If you want your sugar glider to be a house pet, start by letting it explore only one room of your house. If he tries to go to another room, lure him back with treats. When you have gotten him to the point where he will stay in one room, expand his area of exploration to a larger area. Continue expanding it as he gradually gets used to continually larger areas. You should be aware, however, that when unsupervised, sugar gliders have been known to shred drapes and upholstery, so always watch them when they are outside of their cage. And make sure you always keep your toilet lid closed as gliders have been known to jump in the toilet and be unable to get out, and have consequently drowned.
Sugar gliders are cute, loveable pet. With proper care and training, you can share a long life with your new pet!
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