Besides researching the legality of keeping a Sugar Glider as a pet in your state and preparing for its arrival home, there are other considerations. The first consideration is where to get one and from what source. We at Exotic Nutrition encourage all exotic pet owners to buy from sellers or pet stores who breed rather than sources who sell animals straight from the wild. There are plenty of domestically bred Sugar Gliders in the U.S. looking for a good home and we do not encourage removing healthy ones from the wild to be held captive. A domestically bred Sugar Glider will be more tame around humans and able to adjust to life as a pet. It is important to realize there are also many rescue sugar gliders looking for a home. 

To find a Sugar Glider for sale, check local pet stores in your surrounding area; big-box stores are unlikely to carry exotics. There are also many breeders that can be found and contacted online. Simply search the web or ask other glider owners in your area. If you are buying a glider that needs to be shipped to you, extra precaution is advised as you will not be able to examine the glider and its living situation before it arrives to you.

Before purchasing a glider, inspect its habitat well and ask yourself (and the seller) these questions: Is the cage kept clean & tidy? Water dishes should be clean and full. Food dishes should be clear of any old, caked on food. Feces around the cage should be very limited. A musky smell from the gliders is okay, but it should not smell filthy. Does the glider look acclimated to be around and handled by humans? Sugar Gliders sometimes bite, but should rarely do so if they are domestically raised and regularly handled. They may be shy at first around someone they aren’t imprinted on, but they should not act vicious. Is the seller a well-informed, experienced breeder? They should be able to describe the glider’s current age, lifestyle and diet. They should also be able to convey accurate information about the habitat, handling, bonding, vet information, emergency care, etc.

The second and possibly most important aspect to consider is the gliders health. While the quality of the habitat is a good starting condition, it is also important to inspect the gliders physical features. The eyes should be clear and round, the ears erect, and fur smooth & silky. If the glider is a sexual mature male, it may have a small mark or bald patch on the top of his head where his scent gland is. A healthy glider should appear alert and move freely about the cage.

The third consideration when choosing a glider is what sex and of what age do you want to purchase it. If you are looking for a baby Sugar Glider, consider one that is at least 12-16 weeks old. A fully mature glider will be around 10 months of age. While age does not necessarily affect how well the glider will imprint on you, a glider that is held-often and raised by humans is likely to be more docile as a pet. You may ask yourself, do I plan to get a male or female glider? Males can be more temperamental, especially around others males. It is not recommended to put more than one male with only one female. You should also ask yourself, do I plan to have my glider(s) neutered/spayed? If you are purchasing a male and would like to prevent the appearance (and smell) of scent glands, you will need to have him neutered before he reaches sexual maturity.

Overall, follow your instinct when choosing a glider and act in the animals' best interest. If it looks like it's all about money and less about the animals’ well-being, go elsewhere. For more FREE information on Sugar Glides, visit our website: http://www.sugar-glider-store.com/educational-articles.html