Sugar gliders, commonly known as “sugar bears” or “honey gliders” can be the perfect pet for animal lovers because they thrive on love and attention. They are a low maintenance companion pet in many ways, but if you don’t have plenty of TLC to give them, they are probably not the right choice for you.
The sugar glider is a small marsupial, with a similar appearance to a flying squirrel (though they are not related to them). Native to Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea, sugar gliders are omnivorous, arboreal and nocturnal. They were first imported into the United States in 1993 and today they are popular exotic pets in the United States, Canada, and other countries.
With proper care and nutrition, sugar gliders in captivity have a life expectancy of 12-15 years. Joeys should be adopted at 7-12 weeks out of the pouch. Male sugar gliders reach sexual maturity at 12-15 months out of pouch, and females at 8-12 months out of pouch. Adult sugar gliders are usually 5-6 inches tall, with a tail of equal length. The average weight of an adult sugar glider is between 3 and 6 oz.
Sugar Gliders are known as a type of “pocket pet” due to their small size, and because they enjoy cuddling with their owners. Some people even carry their sugar gliders around in their shirt pockets all day, without worrying that they’ll run off. They naturally bond with the people who give them plenty of love, which explains why today they are as popular as more traditional house pets like hamsters and guinea pigs.
