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What is a Sugar Glider?
There are many ways to go about answering this question. I'm not a vet, nor am I someone that has owned a glider for years. Basically, I'm saying I am _not_ an expert. So here is my very own lay-person's definition of what a Sugar Glider is:
1) A sugar glider is a marsupial.
Typically, this means that it has a pouch (if female) and gives birth to lil worm like critters that crawl up into the pouch and develop into juveniles there. (Told ya this was the lay-person's version). Also, when one thinks of a marsupial, one typically thinks of Kangaroos and their cousins, and in this case, that's correct. Sugar gliders are from Australia and New Zealand.
2) A sugar glider is nocturnal.
This is a big piece of info. If you are not a night person, this is not the pet for you in my opinion. Its cruel to attempt to adjust a defenseless animal's sleeping schedule to meet _your_ needs.
3) A sugar glider is a communal animal.
In the wild, sugar gliders live in communities (I read that the size varies from 10-20 per group). In captivity, we (the owners) become their family. Its our responsibility as part of their community to spend time with them. Most owners reccomend at least three hours per night while the glider is awake. (See what I mean about the nocturnal part being important!). Once a glider is bonded to a human, togetherness is a must. There are stories out there of sugar gliders that have died of heart-break due to their human ignoring them for periods of time.
4) A sugar glider is an omnivore.
(a)Fruits, veggies, meat, chicken or bugs. They love them all. However, they aren't human and cannot abide the complex sugars that permeate our 'modern' diet. Calcium is a must in your glider's diet, but they are overly sensitive to milk products, meaning that suppliments are needed (see the Links page for more details on diets).
(b)This also means that your gliders will attempt to eat anything they can lay their little paws on. "Glider-proofing" of one's house is a must, taking care to prevent harm in the same way that one would with a curious toddler ambling about the house. Please take note of the webpages relating to this on my Links page.
5) All sugar gliders are individuals.
Okay, before you look at me funny, hear me out! We may call them 'pets' but anyone that has let an animal into their home and heart knows that they are much more than just that. They are a part of our family, as much as any human member of the household. Therefore, we must give them the respect that they are due.
Taking a sugar glider into your home is not that different from having a child. They are dependant upon us for food, shelter and love. Above all else, those are the ingredients not just to their survival, but to their happiness.
Dispite their tiny stature, they are _not_ toys. They can get their feelings hurt, they can be happy and sad. As the 'parent' of a sugar glider, you will become intimate with all aspects of their personality. Also like a parent, you will find that you are learning as much from your 'child' as the child learns from you.
I may be talking about sugar gliders here, but this really applies to all pets. Never get a pet as a novelity or as a decoration for your home. Get a pet because you have love to give, and a heart that is willing to recieve it in return.