Sugar glider. Sugar glider: features of caring for the marsupial flying squirrel Sugar glider

Do you know which one marsupial is the smallest in the world? Of course, the sugar squirrel is a possum. The charming marsupial does not leave anyone indifferent. The pet's fur is like plush, very pleasant to the touch, large expressive eyes and a soft pink nose. How can you not love this handsome guy?

And if you add to charming appearance With excellent manners, it becomes clear that the sugar squirrel is a wonderful pet to keep at home.

Possums in their natural environment

In the wild, you can meet the possum in Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, as well as on the adjacent islands.

Possums are nocturnal animals, their peak activity occurs in the dark, and during the day the pets sleep. Animals usually nest in tree cavities and hollows.

Possums are not loners, they are social animals that live in small flocks. One flock, as a rule, includes up to 7 mature individuals, as well as broods of the new breeding season.

A flock cannot exist without a leader. Possums also have one. The leader becomes a mature dominant male, who marks the territory with his secretion. This territory is jealously guarded; strangers who enter the territory are immediately expelled from its borders.

Possums love warmth; with the onset of cold weather, the animals hibernate. Of course, under natural conditions, sugar squirrels hibernate much more often than their domestic counterparts.

Flying squirrels at home

Flying squirrels are very active. If you decide to keep a possum at home, you need to take care of a spacious cage or enclosure. Minimum size cages for keeping the animal should be 80x80x60. But the higher the cage, the more comfortable your pet will be.

The distance between the bars should not exceed 1.5 cm, otherwise the pet may squeeze between the bars and even fall out.

The door to the cage must be equipped with a strong lock or carabiner. Possums are very inventive animals; they easily learn to open an unfixed passage.

The floor in the cage should be covered with a special filler intended for rodents (pressed sawdust). You can buy filler in any store. retail network"Zoogallery".

There must be branches in the possum's cage. After all, as already mentioned, in natural environment These animals spend most of their time in trees. Climbing trees is inherent in these pets by nature.

Bowls for food and water should be placed in different parts aviary. This will keep the water clean for as long as possible.

A mandatory attribute of a possum’s place of residence is a house. Ideally, this should be a suspended structure, which should be fixed as high as possible. You can use wooden or plywood boxes for the house; a soft knitted pocket is also suitable. Flying squirrels love soft nesting sites. If the frame of the house is hard, be sure to lay hay or soft cloths in it.

As toys and entertainment for flying squirrels, stairs, tunnels, special running wheels, mirrors, bells and small balls are suitable. Be sure to update the toys so that the animal does not lose interest in them.

Breeding flying squirrels

Sugar gliders that live at home breed all year round. If you keep males and females at the same time, be prepared for the fact that mating is inevitable. Like any other animal family ties At the same time, the flying squirrels are not at all embarrassed.

Meanwhile, this point is very important, if you have different-sex related possums, then if you allow mating, you risk disrupting the genetic diversity of your pets. The offspring after such mating will be weak and sick.

If you plan to keep relatives, males are best castrated. Individuals are castrated at 13 weeks after leaving the bag. In principle, it is possible to sterilize females, but it is not advisable to do this, since the dimensions of the animal are small, and the females are different special structure intimate organs.

The optimal age for breeding possums is after 1 year. Mating games may be accompanied aggressive behavior animals. Carefully examine your pets during this period to prevent injuries.

The diet of a pregnant female should be enriched with animal proteins, while the level of fat should remain low.

Do not feed the animal soy products and beef. Chicken, crickets, mealworms and other sources of protein are great.

Babies should not be separated from their mother for at least 8 weeks after leaving the pouch.

Sugar squirrels are very cute and interesting pets. Proper care will allow you long years enjoy the friendship of an exotic animal.

Sugar gliders live in Australia and New Guinea. They prefer eucalyptus forests and find hollows in trees. Some individuals approach gardens and vegetable gardens, from where they get their food. In addition to fruits and vegetables, they eat worms and small insects.

Sugar gliders do not live long in natural conditions. The natural color of the fur is gray with a dark stripe along the back. There are 2 white stripes on the head. Breeders created albinos, animals with colored coats. They have preserved natural instincts.

How to take care of pets? What conditions should be created for them?

Cell

The sugar glider or sugar glider has to live somewhere. To keep it at home, you need to purchase or build a large cage. The body length of the animal is 17 cm, the tail is up to 20 cm. The animal is small, but very active.

He needs a lot of space to play and jump. The optimal dimensions of the cage are: length 70 cm, width 55 cm, height at least 80 cm. It must be made of safe material.

Usually the cage is a wooden or metal frame covered with mesh. The mesh must be welded, with a mesh of 1.5 cm. For children, a smaller mesh of 0.5-1 cm is chosen. All sharp edges are covered, roughness on wooden panels is eliminated using sandpaper.

A house is being built in a cage. It is reinforced on the top floor. The optimal dimensions of the house are 20*20*35 cm. The diameter of the exit hole through which the animal can climb into and out of the house is 7-10 cm; size depends on the age of the animal. In addition to the house, there is a hammock and a swing on top.

On the middle tier, a drinking bowl and feeders are strengthened; there should be 2 of them, for solid and liquid food. At the bottom there is a tray for the toilet. A sugar glider can get used to it, but it requires months of training; use treats.

When keeping sugar gliders, it is necessary to take into account that they are nocturnal animals. They get out of their house in the evening. For them, dim lighting is made in the room, closer to twilight. Animals have good night vision, but in absolute darkness a person will not be able to play and communicate with his pet. Bright lights have a negative effect on the organs of vision. Albinos perceive light especially painfully.

You can try to entertain the animal using a running wheel. It should be large so that pets do not damage their tail. In the cage it is necessary to install numerous shelves, a small log, and a tree branch.

This simple interior will bring the flying squirrel’s domestic existence a little closer to natural conditions.

Feeding

Under natural conditions, flying squirrels get their own food. They become independent already at the age of two months. Before that, the mother feeds her offspring with milk and carries them in a bag on her stomach. Sugar possum at home eats both protein and carbohydrate foods:

• he is given dairy products. For the animal, it is a source of calcium and protein. Do not leave yogurt in the container for a long time. It may turn sour. A stale product will cause digestion problems in the animal’s gastrointestinal tract;
• The main food is worms: Khrushchak, Zofobas. They are bred in separate terrariums at home;
• animals happily eat pears, apricots, peaches, and persimmons. They are given zucchini, pumpkin, carrots;
• Fresh and dried berries and bananas are treats for pets. With their help, you can manipulate an animal, make it tame, train it;
• Chalk and salt stones are placed in the cage. For flying squirrels they are a source of mineral salts.

Feed is served in the morning, before the animals go to rest for the day. At this time, vegetables, fruits or dairy products are preferable. Flying squirrels eat protein food in the evening, when they get out of their houses.

Fur and claw care

Sugar flying squirrels have some peculiarities. They are social animals. They need to communicate with each other. If there is only one animal in a cage, then its interlocutor should be a person. Social animals practice group grooming.

They clean each other's fur, look for small insects, and remove dust and dirt. Possums use their claws to clean themselves and wash themselves with their tongue.

Even if the animal is alone, it will take care of its fur on its own. There are no additional events.

There is no need to install a container with sand in the cage, as is done for chinchillas and degus. Flying squirrels won't use sand anyway. They can play in it and throw it around the room.

You cannot bathe animals. They may catch a cold. If the possum gets its fur dirty, remove the dirt and wipe it with a damp cloth. In their natural environment, animals look for places near bodies of water, but they do not know how to swim.

Near lakes and rivers there are many insects that the animals feed on. They drink from the river, but their main source of moisture is food: vegetables and fruits.

Sugar gliders' claws are constantly growing. Animals sharpen them on a tree trunk and branches. At home, pets use logs, shelves, and branches that are placed in a cage to sharpen their claws.

If these items are not present, then the claws will grow and become even more rounded. Animals will not be able to catch them on a vertical surface. They will fall when the jump ends. It is uncomfortable to walk with long claws. There is a lot of stress on the limbs and skeleton.

The size of a possum's claw is no more than 0.5 cm. If the white, rounded part is too voluminous, then it is removed. Manicure scissors are used for cutting. The animal is wrapped in a diaper, taking out one paw at a time.

Claws on only one limb are trimmed per day. The flying squirrel must gradually adapt to short claws.

How to tame?

Sugar gliders are purchased from breeders. Experts believe that animals in a pet store are in a constant stressful situation. Around them in daytime When animals are sleeping, there are a lot of people around.

They try to pet them and wake them up. Breeders keep flying squirrels in normal conditions. They are calm and easier to get in touch with.

Many buyers are interested in how long sugar gliders live. Under natural conditions, animals are attacked by owls, which, like flying squirrels, are active at night. The life of the animals is short, no more than 5 years. Puberty they have it at 2 years of age.

At home they are not in danger. Favorable conditions are created for them. Their life expectancy is up to 12-15 years. This must be taken into account when purchasing pet.

At home, the possum is placed in a quiet corner so that no one disturbs it. They don't talk to him much. They feed him, change his water and bedding. It is necessary to allow the animal to adapt to new conditions.

When the possum calms down and realizes that there is no danger for it, it will begin to make certain sounds, purring or chirping. You can talk to him:

• After the animal gets used to the smell and voice of the owner, you can try giving him a treat from your hand. You must wait for him to take it himself;
• after a while they try to give the possum not treats, but food from the palm of their hand. These could be vegetables or worms. The pet will linger on your hand for a long time. You shouldn't grab it. You can try to talk to him in his own language;
• Only after the animal begins to trust the person is it taken out of the cage and introduced to the room. It takes a long time to tame a possum.

For a possum, it is necessary to maintain a certain daily and nutritional regimen. You need to communicate and play with him. He is walked indoors. Caring for the animal is not difficult. The main difficulty is that he is a nocturnal resident and all his activity occurs in the dark.

Generic affiliation of the sugar glider, character traits appearance and behavior, useful tips for maintenance at home, acquisition.

The content of the article:

Today, humanity is increasingly striving to be more original and unique. In order to stand out clearly among the gray masses, people are ready for many decisions and acquisitions, moreover, many of them are ready to spend colossal sums of money in order to hear a laudatory and admiring compliment from someone. Methods of emphasizing one’s “I” are everyone’s choice. Some people chase the latest in world fashion and buy expensive designer items, the most extraordinary interior items, cars and real estate. But in last years a new one has appeared fashion trend to express your originality - exotic pets.

Everyone has long been accustomed to cute, proud cats and man’s faithful friends, dogs, and their presence will no longer surprise anyone, even if they are super-expensive and unique breeds. People react completely differently to pets that come from wildlife.

If at one fine moment you realized that all your life you have dreamed of having some extraordinary little animal in your house, then you should turn your attention to such a wonderful specimen as the sugar glider. This amazing animal can instantly win over anyone. His pretty appearance and playful, very friendly character will not leave you indifferent. By purchasing such a miracle of nature, you will end up not only with a funny, beautiful animal, but also a faithful friend and comrade who will always experience unspeakable joy when he sees you, will greet you from work and cheer you up in moments of sadness or melancholy.

Nowadays, such representatives of the world fauna as sugar gliders are gaining increasing popularity as pets. Having decided to acquire such a special friend from the animal world, you need to learn more about him.

Origin and habitat of the sugar glider

In open nature, it is possible to meet these animals in the eastern and northern parts of Australia, in the territories of New Guinea, Tasmania, Indonesia and on the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago. The favorite habitats of these little ones are beautiful creatures are eucalyptus forests, but they are quite capable of living in other wooded areas, the main thing is that they do not have problems getting food.

The animal got its “delicious” name due to the fact that by nature it has a sweet tooth; this squirrel is able to simply soar in the air in search of the next sweet delicacy, such as fruits, sweet juices and nectar.

Exterior features of the Australian squirrel

The body of this Australian eccentric is wrapped in wool that is quite thick and soft in texture; nature has colored it in a noble color. grey colour sometimes with a bluish tint, less often you can find a marsupial squirrel with brown-yellow fur. The main color tone of the animals is varied by stripes of brown color, which are quite harmoniously located on the face and back. The projection of the abdominal cavity is presented in white tones with a delicate cream tint. Some sources say that there are cases of albino possums being born.

The miniature muzzle of the pygmy flying squirrel has a characteristic pointedness. Looking at the cute face of a possum, one cannot help but pay attention to its most noticeable elements - eyes and ears. His ears are quite impressive in size in relation to the volume of his head, they are also special - they have the ability to turn towards the source sound signal, which resembles locators. The marsupial's organs of vision are large, decorated with a clear black border, which gives the muzzle of this animal an even cuter appearance.

The limbs of this original little animal are quite well developed. Each foot has five fingers, which are relatively long and thin. This feature allows dwarf squirrels to easily get food from even the most secluded corners, for example, from under the bark of trees. And the sharp claws of the sugar glider serve as a reliable fastening for it even on the flexible branches themselves. Australian flying squirrels have some unique toes. So on the front legs the first two fingers are opposed to the other three, and on the hind legs the first finger is opposed and partial syndactyly of the third and second fingers can be observed.

The pygmy possum has the habit of marking its territory with the secretion of scent glands, which are located near the anus, as well as on the forehead and chest.

The distinctive sexual characteristics of the sugar glider are represented not only by the genitals, but also by another feature. The male sugar flying squirrel has a small bald patch on the frontal part of the head, and the female has a pouch in the center of the abdomen, where she will bear her babies. The male genital organ also has its own uniqueness. The thing is that it is divided into two parts that can act independently of each other.

Features of the life of a sugar glider in the wild

Despite their good-natured and friendly disposition, they do not have a very favorable attitude towards strangers, even towards their brothers who differ from them in smell. Having noticed an uninvited guest on their personal territory, they drive away, using their aggression and force.

These cute phalangers prefer night time as their waking period. In the twilight hours of the day, they get food and do the rest of their business. During the daytime, they like to be lazy, relax and sleep, choosing hollows, nests or other voids in trees for this.

Flying squirrels are heat-loving creatures. Cold days and rainy periods greatly upset the animals, and their activity gradually decreases, their mood disappears and lethargy and fatigue appear. If cold weather persists for a long time, this sugar critter tends to hibernate. This measure helps flying squirrels survive winters, thus, they retain their strength and energy during a period when it is difficult to obtain food.

Keeping a sugar glider at home

1. Personal living space. It is quite possible to use cages as a house for an exotic pet. large sizes intended for keeping birds. Since sugar gliders are active animals that can “fly,” it would be better for them if the cage was high enough, and the higher the better. The approximate dimensions of the house for one original squirrel are 50x50x80 cm. Required element The interior of the cage contains small birdhouses; these are where these animals will laze around. These can be either special nesting bird houses or structures self made, made of cardboard, plastic containers or fabric. A good material for a cozy nest would be worn out soft hats or mittens. A necessary attribute in your pet’s house will be various strong branches, on which he will have fun and spend his excess energy. It is good to install a rodent wheel, this design will help the sugar glider maintain its fitness and health. You just need to take into account that the wheel must be made of hard materials, this will protect the tail and paws from all kinds of injuries and damage. Also, his house can be equipped various designs like tunnels and stairs, and your flying squirrel will always be happy with various plastic toys, bells and even mirrors. It would be a good idea to place containers with food on different shelves, this will help the animal have fun while searching for food. The water should be placed on the opposite side, this will help it stay clean for a longer time. The floor in the house of a sugar animal can be covered with sawdust or soft hay; you can also place soft bedding in birdhouses for more comfortable rest your pupil.
2. Spring-cleaning. The optimal solution would be to clean the house once a week; as for the entire house, it is better to clean it daily. This does not take too much time, but this procedure will provide both you and your possum with a clean and pleasant living environment.
3. Diet. Judging by its name, we can conclude that the Australian flying squirrel needs to be fattened with sweets. This conclusion is false, as is the fact that exotic animals overeat foods. The flying squirrel is an omnivorous animal by nature. You just need to take care of the right balance between nutrients. So, the diet of this exotic should mainly consist of proteins and carbohydrates, the correct ratio of which would be 70:30. Errors in these indicators can lead to disturbances in the homeostasis of your flying pet. This can negatively affect his appearance, health and even life expectancy. Insects occupy an honorable place in the list of products for such a pet. These can be zoophobass, mealyworms or simple crickets. Insects are a good source of protein for sugar gliders. Alternative protein products are porridge, baby food, fermented milk products, and exotic animals can sometimes be fed with lean boiled meat, for example, chicken. As for carbohydrates, these are his favorite treats. This menu is a must have for those with a sweet tooth. fresh vegetables and fruits. You can pamper him with fresh juices or fruit purees, but you should not add flavor enhancers such as sugar. Cereals and dried fruits are a good storehouse of carbohydrates; they not only appeal to this flying entertainer, but also contain a lot of vitamins and microelements. On holidays, you can treat him with a spoonful of honey, but it is not recommended to organize such holidays often. You can also occasionally feed your sugar glider bird food.
4. Additional fertilizing. To maintain your health and immunity pet, as well as for its good growth and development, it is necessary to supply its body with vitamins and necessary microelements. Due to the fact that animals such as Australian flying squirrels are already very popular as pets, technology does not stand still. Therefore, it is not at all difficult to find special multivitamin complexes that are intended specifically for sugar gliders. If they are not on the shelves of pet stores located in your area, then in online stores it is not at all problematic to find them. These animals also require a daily intake of calcium. Due to the fact that these beneficial substances are not very tasty, you will have to use your imagination in how to get your child to eat such necessary supplements.
5. Possum behavior. Many future owners of sugar gliders are interested in the question: “How to win over this representative of the wild?” It's safe to say that this is not a problem at all. If you pay your four-legged friend the right amount of attention, often address him by name, and also spoil him with various goodies from time to time, you can rest assured that you are his friend. In the daytime, when the animal is in a relaxed state, you can pick it up, because during the period of its activity it is more difficult to do this. By nature, marsupial squirrels are very social animals. Therefore, it is advisable to pay a lot of attention to them or immediately provide him with good company. To do this, it is recommended to have two animals at once - and he will not be bored, and there will be double exotic joy in your home. If you have other pets living in your home, you should limit the possibility of them meeting your sugar glider, as it can react aggressively to other people's odors. Although it is possible that after some time they will still be able to make friends. It is also not recommended to handle your squirrel small child, she may not like it if she is squeezed tightly in the hand; the animal may react to this with a rather strong bite.

The body length of the marsupial flying squirrel (possum) ranges from 15 to 21 cm, the tail length is similar. The fur is soft and short. The color is most often ashen, there is a dark stripe on the back, and a light belly.

Externally, the sugar glider resembles a squirrel, but it is impossible to confuse them, because this animal has a number of characteristic features:

• the membrane that allows it to fly (more precisely, glide over fairly long distances) is located on the sides between the front and hind legs;
• rounded, rather large and very mobile ears;
• big dark eyes.

The sugar squirrel or marsupial flying squirrel lives in the northern and eastern regions of Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania, and the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago.

It's woody marsupial mammal, the smallest and most common species of possum. He got his name because of his ability to float through the air and because of his love for sweets. The weight of a possum depends on gender and ranges from ninety to one hundred and sixty grams. It has a thin, slightly elongated body. The length of an adult animal can reach forty-two centimeters, of which about half is the fluffy tail. The coat of possums is usually gray-blue, but there are animals with yellow or yellow-brown fur. It is very rare to find albino possums.

Its fur is thick and soft. There are brown stripes on the back and face of the animal. The abdomen is white, with a cream tint. Possums have a small, slightly pointed muzzle. Its ears are quite large; they are capable of turning like locators in the direction of the outgoing sound. Large black eyes are surrounded by black rims that extend to the ears. They help you see perfectly in the dark.

The limbs of sugar gliders are very well developed. On each paw they have five long, thin fingers with sharp claws. Such “aristocratic” fingers allow you to get larvae and small insects from under the bark, and sharp claws allow you to hold on to flexible branches well.

The possum can bend its tail and even hold small objects with it. And due to its opposed fingers and sharp claws, it handles food very deftly.

The animals have small size, the female's body length reaches 27–28 cm, the male's - up to 40 cm. Possums usually weigh from 90 to 160 grams, depending on gender. The body of the marsupial flying squirrel is covered with soft and dense gray-blue fur. Individuals with yellow and brown-yellow colors can also be found, and occasionally even albinos can be found. By appearance The animal resembles a small squirrel, which is why it is often called a sugar squirrel.

Marsupial flying squirrels have a small and elongated muzzle, on which there are dark stripes. The back of the animal is also covered with the same stripes. Possum belly white, with a creamy tint. In females there is a pouch on it. The ears are large and can turn towards the sound source. The eyes are large and black with dark rims reaching to the ears. Sugar gliders are nocturnal animals and have excellent vision in the dark.

The front and hind limbs of flying squirrels are well developed. On each paw there are five long and rather thin fingers, at the ends of which there are sharp claws. In nature, with the help of such fingers, animals can feed; to do this, they take out various insects and larvae from under the bark of trees, and the sharp claws help them to hold on well to the branches of plants.

A distinctive feature of sugar gliders is the presence of a thin membrane, which is a layer of skin covered with fur and located on the sides of the body - from the front limbs to the hind limbs. During a jump, this unusual part of the body is stretched and allows the animal to fly a certain distance.

The sugar glider is a relatively small marsupial. The marsupial flying squirrel is the tiniest relative of the opossum family. Its head and body are approximately 120-220 mm long, and its tail is about 150-180 mm. The weight of a mature animal reaches only 140 grams, with a body measuring 15-20 cm and a tail length of up to 19 cm.

There is a dark stripe along the back from the back to the nose. There are similar stripes on the muzzle, in the direction from the eye to the ear. There is a small white mark on the tip of the tail. Like flying squirrels, sugar gliders have a membrane of skin that extends from the outside of the front leg to the ankle of the back leg, and can be opened by spreading the limbs wide. The female sugar glider has a significant difference in body structure - a small pouch in the skin fold to accommodate the baby.

Exotic animals in apartments are not uncommon these days. Many people, due to various reasons, they don’t want to be content with a cat or a dog, but instead get iguanas, tarantulas, snakes, ferrets and many others.

There is a lover for everyone, and at the sight of such a cutie as the sugar marsupial flying squirrel, a rare heart will not tremble in tenderness.

However, before running headlong to a pet store or breeder, you should carefully familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the animal, think through all the nuances and correlate them with your own habits and daily routine.

Sugar possum at home: maintenance, feeding

For a long time now, no one is surprised by a cat in the house lying in the master’s chair or a dog running out into the hallway barking joyfully.

But in recent years, exotic pets have begun to appear in the homes of our compatriots, coming to us from different parts of the world. It could be an iguana or Achatina, a ferret or a chinchilla, a tarantula or an opossum.

The little squirrel or sugar possum has won the hearts of people almost all over the world.

Pets Questions Reviews Jokes

The marsupial flying squirrel is a small creature that has many nicknames: flying squirrel, sugar glider, flying sugar glider.

This exotic animal comes from Australia, and today we will talk about keeping a flying squirrel at home.

A charming creature only 40 cm long, weighing 200 grams, its eyes are round and large, its ears and tail are movable.

Since animals are active at night, vision at night is much better. Females have a pouch on their abdomen for future young. The color of the flying squirrel is ash-yellow with soft and thick fur.

Life expectancy is on average 12 years.

Marsupial flying squirrels are energetic and active animals that sleep during the day and are awake at night. In addition, they need quite a lot of free space for their amazing and high jumps. But the animal is unpretentious in keeping.

Loneliness is destructive for these animals! Yes, and they are used to living in a herd, therefore, it is recommended to buy them in quantities of 3 to 5 pieces, which will complicate care.

External signs

The opossum, or pygmy flying squirrel, is a very miniature animal. Its body length ranges from 7 to 23 cm, weight – from 95 to 160 grams. The animal's muzzle is elongated and slightly pointed. The tail can be very short (6 cm) or very long (50 cm). At its base there are thickenings that are formed due to fat deposits.

When getting a pet, it is worth considering that flying squirrels at home live even longer than in the wild. Although how many years the animal will be with you depends on nutrition and care, it is worth keeping in mind that this is more likely 9-12 years, and not three years, like a rat or a hamster.

Possums have a number of undeniable advantages, which are serious incentives to have just such a pet:

1. They are incredibly cute and funny, especially if there are several of them.
2. Pleasant to the touch.
3. They are friendly and trainable (they can learn a couple of simple commands and funny tricks).
4. They tolerate captivity well.
5. They become attached to the owner.
6. Clean.

Against

There are several characteristics that can become a serious obstacle to owning this cute animal:

1. They are nocturnal and quite noisy (they move loudly and can make barking sounds).
2. They have a specific musky smell.
3. They may bite.
4. They require strict adherence to the diet.

Against

If you decide to get yourself an exotic and unusual animal, then you should definitely pay attention to such a wonderful animal as the sugar glider, which is capable of winning over any person in a few moments. Anyone will like his funny and friendly character, charming appearance, and interesting habits.

Today, sugar gliders are becoming increasingly popular as pets. Having decided to acquire such an unusual animal, you should learn in great detail about its care, feeding, and character traits. Keeping flying squirrels at home is, of course, not easy, but it is quite possible. To do this, you will need to adapt to their habits, lifestyle and diet.

1. Children cannot be trusted to keep these animals, as possums can bite or scratch a child if he or she strongly grabs or crushes the animal.
2. Sugar proteins lead night look life, so they can make a lot of noise in their cage at night.
3. Marsupial flying squirrels relieve themselves anywhere, sometimes on the fly, but it is impossible to train them to do this in one place.
4. Males will mark their territory, and it will be almost impossible to get rid of the smell. And if you let your pet out of the cage, then be prepared for this.
5. Feeding an animal is quite difficult; for example, for full development, young animals need to be given live insects.
6. If there are other cats living in the house or big birds, they will always pose a danger to the animal.

Flying squirrels are quite active and are kept either in a spacious cage or in an aviary. The minimum dimensions for a pair of animals are 80x80x60 cm, however, the higher the cage, the better. The walls and ceiling should have bars no larger than 1.5 cm, otherwise the cubs will be able to squeeze between them or even fall out.

The door must be equipped with a lock or carabiner. These animals are very inventive and easily learn to open an unfixed passage on their own. The floor is covered with a specialized filler for rodents in the form of compressed sawdust.

Branches are required condition when keeping sugar gliders. In their natural habitat, they live in trees; these animals have the instinct to climb wood.

It is best to place bowls on shelves and in different parts of the cage or enclosure. This will help keep the water uncontaminated longer.

The house is an invariable attribute of the possum’s habitat. Ideal option there will be a suspended structure, fixed as high as possible. As a nest, you can use: plywood or wooden boxes, something soft and at the same time reliable, for example, a knitted pocket. Flying squirrels love cozy soft nests, therefore, if the frame of the house is hard, you should put rags or hay in it.

It is acceptable to use several nests at once, however, at the time of feeding the brood, it is worth limiting yourself to one.

Toys should be chosen that are made of hard plastic. Flying squirrels are great for: tunnels, stairs, running wheels, bells, mirrors and small balls. Toys require periodic updates to maintain the interest of animals in them.

Where to buy and how much does the animal cost?

You can buy a sugar possum in pet stores specializing in exotics, or from the hands of breeders (since they breed quite actively in captivity, this is quite possible). Prices range from $100 to $250.

Remember that an animal is not a toy. Before purchasing, carefully consider your expectations, wishes and capabilities, and consult with the owners. If you still decide, then bon voyage! Sugar squirrel will give you many bright and unforgettable impressions.