Hi, I'm a new potential glider enthusiast from Northern Virginia. I am a rat and mouse owner and I live with the family dog. I am still mid-teens but I'm quite responsible and have a basic knowledge of what's involved in glider ownership.

I am going to two summer camps and then visiting France this summer, so I don't want to get gliders now and then have to leave them for half the summer, but after that I am considering taking on a couple of sugar gliders. I am currently in the process of researching the finer points of glider ownership.

I have a couple of questions about how to acquire gliders. First, it would be a huge help if anybody knew of a reliable and ethical breeder in Northern Virginia. Secondly, I have seen breeders online that seem very responsible and offer airport-to-airport shipping. They claimed that it was stressful for the gliders but safe. Is this true or just marketing? They pointed out a lot of the disadvantages to gliders and were not going to let people who didn't already have gliders buy less than two. In addition they wanted to talk to potential owners before they bought gliders. Overall they seemed like a very reputable business, but I wasn't sure if the shipping was really safe and wanted to check with a more unbiased community.

Thanks in advance for replies

-Aich

Hi Aich, from a fellow Virginian. I'm in Arlington - guessing you aren't too far away. Welcome to the board.

Shipping via airlines can be done safely. Each breeder has their own opinions on whether or not this should be done.

Being young, you may find resistance from breeders to sell to you. Glider can live up to 15 years, so you need to think of what you are going to do with them when you go off to college, then begin your adult life. Many times, gliders get rehomed due to this.

Another thing is many that sell gliders require a contract. It isn't legal for a minor to sign a contract, so a parent/guardian must be willing to take full responsibility of the gliders.

Just letting you know some of the things you may come up against.

You may want to read a couple of articles here:
So, you want a Sugar Glider?

Transporting and Shipping a Sugar Glider

I expected that breeders might be reluctant to sell to a teen. My parents will be the ones actually buying the gliders, and I will make sure they know that they need to be willing to take responsibility of them. Thanks for the heads-up and also thanks for the articles, I will read them.

The issue of the gliders when I go off to college is something I'm still considering. If at all possible I would like to take them with me. If not, I may have somebody else take care of them until I can get my own apartment my second year of college. I may be able to get special accomodations for pets at college because I have depression and anxiety issues; often somebody with those issues (or other emotional problems, such as PTSD, etc.) can get a note from a doctor certifying them to have an 'emotional support animal', which gets you very few special benefits, but one of them is that your pets must be accomodated in no-pets housing. (I'm not just pulling that card because I want to have gliders; having pets helps a lot with stress for me.) I've already talked to my therapist about that eventuality and he is willing to write me a letter

I couldn't bear to part with pets over such a small thing as college, so they'll pretty much definitely come with me one way or another.

And to DCMuffin - Hi! Yes, I am in that area good to meet you!

Sorry - I didn't realize I wasn't logged in when I posted what's above. I assumed it wouldn't let me post anonymously.