Fun!!

There is SO much fun to have with gliders. They love to play, glide, and run in wheels. The Number ONE Recommended Wheel for a Sugar Glider is a Stealth Wheel. They are quiet, easy to clean, never need oil, last for years and are nice to look at.

The Stealth Wheel was designed mainly for Sugar Gliders but over the years have proven to be the wheel of choice for so many other animals as well, such as the Flying Squirrel, Hamsters, Mice, Rats, baby Chinchillas, Guinea pigs and also lizards!!

They come in different colors, sizes and now different running tracks are also offered.

Order yours today and soon you will see your gliders happier than its ever been!!

TIPS

Bonding

The bond one creates with a Sugar Glider is like no other. These furry little critters wrap you around their opposable thumbs and love you for all of their lives.
Getting to that point though is not always the easiest thing to do. Even hand raised joeys (joeys that are handled from day one out of pouch), can come to you with just a bit of an attitude (normally that attitude is nothing more than fear) and require what sugar gliders like best from you....TIME!

Bonding methods for one glider may be different for another, as each glider has its own temperament and personality. Some will greet you with happy clicking and want to glide right in for love, others seem to be shy and distant.

In the wild our sugar gliders live in colonies of approximately 7-9 gliders. They are VERY social and VERY territorial animals.  Therefore, one of the first things that is an important step, is getting our sugar gliders used to our smell. This can be done a couple different ways.

One, you can cut out some fleece *blankies* for your glider and wear them on your person to get your scent all over it. I often encourage new owners to sleep with a piece of fleece close to their skin for a couple of nights, or under a shirt all day long while you work.  Place the *you smell* fleece blankies in the glider pouches/nestboxes. This will allow the glider to smell you the whole time it sleeps. Allowing the glider to do this, will also teach the glider that the smell of you is not a threat and it can find comfort with you.

Another way is to carry your glider with you during the day while it sleeps. A pouch that closes up securely is highly recommended.  Often times the pouch is worn under your shirt, this way it is closer to your skin and the glider gets the smell of you.

In the beginning, if the glider shows fear when you have them in their pouch (this will be shown by crabbing and/or lunging), it is advised to take the pouch and sit on the couch, placing the pouch in your lap or held up against you. Sitting quietly, and gently rubbing the pouch. The whole time you are doing this, speak softly to your glider, assuring him/her that everything is going to be ok.  Take the initial sessions with a scared glider slow. After about 10-20 minutes place the glider while in its pouch, back into its cage, making sure the glider is now able to get out of its pouch if it so chooses to,  and allow the glider to rest. Each day, at the same time or as close to it as possible, follow the same procedure making the time periods a bit longer each time. Time, Consistency, Patience, and Routine will teach your glider it is able to trust you.

If your glider happens to get out of its pouch and runs from you, do NOT chase after it. This will cause a set back and fear to an already frightened little animal. Try to offer its pouch to it, if it will not go into the pouch, grab a blankie from inside the pouch, or a small towel and cover the glider and scoop it up and place it back into the pouch. By using this method, the glider does not see you and therefore will not associate you in a *chase and catch* situation.

Bonding During Play Time

Now that you have your gliders trust a bit during the day, it is time to interact with your glider during its waking hours.  This is definitely a fun and rewarding time. I do encourage you to wear long sleeves and long pants, socks and shoes (often times gliders like to bite on toes!!), and limit the type of lotions you use. If a glider likes the smell of your lotion, hand soap, etc, you may experience them trying to taste you!!

I recommend getting a pop tent to set up. The Genji tent (link on side page) is the most popular and recommended. It doesnt have to be extremely large, but enough room for you to get into along with your glider. The first few nights you may want to take a book in with you for you to read, or set up your tent in front of the television.  Take along a few glider safe toys and treats. Place a sheet on the floor of the tent, as the rustling of the tent floor uncovered may cause your glider to be frightened. After getting your tent all set up it's time to get your gliders. Remove them from their cage while they are still in their pouches, I normally take mine out about 1/2 hour to them waking up at night, and carry the whole pouch into the tent with you.
Wake your gliders up by softly talking to them, rubbing their pouch and then open the pouch and offer one of those treats you brought in. Once they are awake, it wont take long for them to want to come out and explore. Keep in mind, as soon as they wake up and come out of their pouch, they will need to urinate and defecate, so be sure to have something such as a paper towel, or towel on your lap so they dont go on you.

The idea of using a tent for play time is it allows the gliders to interact with you and learn that you are not a threat. They will learn that you are their safety zone and before you know it, the bond you have with your gliders is an amazing thing. The first time they get startled and come back to you because they know you will protect them, is the day they put that final tie around their thumb and claim you as all theirs and one of their colony.

Enjoy the bonding process.  Remember, it wont happen over night. Time, Patience, Consistency, Routine and love will build a bond like no other. Just dont be in a hurry and try to rush things.

Tricks

People often ask me how am I am able to open a pouch and have my gliders look happy to see me instead of being crabby. Its simple I say, they know that every time that pouch opens they are going to be treated with a treat. Normally it is either pine nuts or papaya treats or yoggie drops. I am not one that believe in the so called *licky treats* for the simple reason a sugar glider will lick until it is all gone, then they will bite down trying to find *the source* of the good stuff. To me, this will encourage a glider to bite your finger once the good stuff is gone. I recommend for you to actually hold a piece of food in your finger, one they can take from you and while eating it, you can pet them and show them it is not your hands that they need to nibble on.

     Stealth Wheels
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