I have an old cage meant for large birds in storage that, assuming I can figure out what type of wood is used in part of it, should be great for a pair of sugar gliders. It's plenty large enough. But, eventually, I'd like to build them something bigger and more tailored to the needs of a sugar glider, even if the one I have is good for them. I was thinking it could be done like puzzle pieces, to be put together in various ways that could make different sizes and shapes of cages based on the size and shape of the room it's in. They could be pulled apart to clean and move. This would probably be the most expensive way to do it though.

Anyways, what are some of the things to watch out for in building a custom cage for your gliders?

Most home made cages are these types Example

Many people customize from this style and have posted "how to" . Searching Google Search for them will give you a bigger variety of designs created and maybe give you ideas to create your own design. Perhaps you can attach the hardware clothe to the pvc panels and then bolt panels together in a way that can be taken apart and possibly reformed or added to to increase/decrease size. I personally have never made one or even seen one in person, but I know they're fairly popular for customized cages that cuts costs.

the only thing i have gathered about making your own cage from wood is making sure you sand it and coat it with sealer properly I have been dieing to make my own cage using wood but there's not to much out there that i could find about ones for sugar gliders the puzzle piece idea sounds really cool though! would love to see pic's!

You mentioned that it was a cage for larger birds, please check the bar spacing before using it for gliders. The spacing should not be more than 1/2 inch wide and no gaps larger than that anywhere on the cage. Good luck with your cage, we'll be waiting for pics!

Just as important as the type of wood is - How well was it cleaned if the cage was previously used for birds?

Wood is not generally recommended for glider cages because it absorbs urine and is difficult to clean and sanitize. If the cage was previously used for birds, it may retain the odor of the birds and really cause your gliders to over mark the cage including the wood parts. If the wood was not well sealed, it will quickly become very smelly.

The wire spacing and the TYPE OF WIRE also needs to be considered. Galvanized wire of any type is not safe for gliders. As said, the spacing of the wire is also important. Any space larger that 1/2 inch will allow most gliders to just slip out between the bars.

If you use the bird cage or build your own, think about how you plan to clean the cage. While we all want huge glider mansions, it is very helpful to keep the cage size to a manageable one. Unless you are building a walk in cage - Keep the dimensions of the cage design so you can reach all interior spaces of the cage for both cleaning and for hanging glider pouches, wheels and toys. You may not want a cage that has areas where your glider can get into that are totally out of your reach especially when the gliders are new to you and may still be afraid of your hands.

Keeping a cage sized so that you can easily take it outside now and then for a good scrubbing and thorough hose rinsing is also important.