Fun, Tips & Tricks
Come read along and see what you may experience with your Sugar Gliders!
Fun!!
There is SO much fun to have with Sugar Gliders. They love to play, glide, and run in wheels. They love to take apart toys (also known as reset toys) and carry them off to their pouches. They love to have fun with YOU!!
It is pure enjoyment
just to sit and watch your little one explore their cage when you
add in new toys.
Be sure to visit our Toy
Shop to see the large variety of toys we offer.
Tips
Bonding During the Daytime
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 your with just a bit of an attitude (normally
that attitude is nothing more than fear) and require what Sugar
Gliders like the best from you...TIME!!
Bonding methods for one Sugar Glider may be different for another,
as each Sugar 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. They are VERY social and VERY territorial animals. Therefore,
one of the first things that is an important step, is getting your
Sugar Glider used to your smell. This can be done in a number of
ways.
First of all, you can cut some fleece squares (known as *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. After doing so, place fleece squares in
the Sugar Glider pouches/nest box. This will allow the Sugar Glider
to smell you the whole time it sleeps. Allowing the Sugar Glider to
do this, will teach it that the smell of you is not a threat, and
can find comfort with you.
Another way is to carry your Sugar 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
method brings it closer to your skin and the Sugar Glider gets the
smell of you.
In the beginning, if the Sugar Glider shows fear when you have them
in their pouch (this will be shown by crabbing or lunging), it is
advised to take the pouch and sit on the couch, placing the pouch in
your lap or held against you. Sitting quietly, and gently rubbing
the pouch. The whole time you are doing this, speak softly to your
Sugar Glider, assuring him/her that everything is going to be ok.
Take the initial session with a scared Sugar Glider slow. After
about 10-20 minutes, place the Sugar Glider, while still 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 Sugar
Glider it is able to trust you.
If your Sugar 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 Playtime
Now
that you have your Sugar Glider trusting you a bit during the day,
it is time to interact with your new pet during its waking hours.
This is definitely a fun and regarding time. I do encourage you to
wear long sleeve shirts and long pants, socks and shoes (often times
Sugar Gliders like to bite on toes!!), and limit the type of lotions
you use. If a Sugar Glider likes the smell of your lotion, hand
soar, etc., you may experience them trying to taste you!!
I recommend getting a pop tent to set up. The Genji tent (shown on
other side of page) is the most popular and recommended. It doesn't
have to be extremely large, but enough room for you to get into
along with your Sugar Glider.
The first few nights you may want to take a book in with 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 Sugar Glider to become frightened.
After getting your tent all set up, it's time to get your Sugar
Glider(s). Remove them from their cage while they are still in their
pouches, I normally take mine out about 1/2 hour prior to them
waking up at night, and carry the whole pouch into the tent with
you. Wake your Sugar Glider(s) 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 don't go on you.
The idea of using a tent for play time is, it allows the Sugar
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 don't be in a hurry and try to rush things.
Please visit our Cage, Tent and Travel page to find the best tent to
fit your needs at the best prices!
Tricks
People often ask me how we at Critter Love™
are able to open a pouch
and have our gliders look happy to see us instead of being crabby.
It's simple I say, they know that every time that pouch opens they
are going to be greeted with a treat.
Normally,
it is either pine nuts or papaya treats or yoggie drops. Critter
Love™
does not 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.
Critter Love™
believes this will encourage a Sugar Glider to bite
your finger once the good stuff is gone.
Critter Love™
recommends for you to actually hold a piece of food in
your fingers, 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.
Visit our Food Court Page to
find some treats for your Sugar Gliders, so the next time you open
the pouch, they will be happy to see you too!!