I've been wanting to post here, but waiting to get on my PC. I just haven't gotten to it, been under the weather and too exhausted. Anyway, I'm using my tablet since I'm home today, at least everything is a little bigger than on my phone, lol.
You have gotten great information, but when I see someone trying to make such an important decision, I find it hard not to jump in with my own point of view. Please don't take any offense, if something I write seems gruff, I want you to know that anyone here, ready to make an educated decision (by research and questions), has my instant respect. That being said, thank you for doing your research prior to the decision on whether to make this commitment or not.
I've copied and pasted your original questions because I can't access them while answering them, and my memory is that bad, lol.
So my fiancé and I were shopping today and came across Pocket Pets in a mall. After talking with the guy we walked away to give it some thought. After looking up the company we decided against getting one from that seller. However, we're still interested in getting one but have some questions.
1. How loud are they during the night? Sleeps pretty important with the work I'm in.
How loud they are depends on various factors: How sturdy your cage is, the choice of wheel, other toys you place in their cage, and finally, your actual gliders personality
some gliders are more vocal or just more active, making more noises than some other gliders. If you have a sturdy cage that minimizes rattles, a safe, quiet wheel, and place toy bins/ball pits on the floor (it's louder when they toss stuff out from higher up), you will minimize the noise level greatly. If you happen to adopt a noisy, vocal glider, well, just love them and you'll except that just fine.
My gliders (at one time a trio) have lived in my bedroom for most of the time I've had them. They rarely disturb me, if I'm awake I actually enjoy hearing them move about the cage. On occasions barking will wake me up, I'm a mixed sleeper, I am in & out of sleep throughout the night, waking up often on my own, but have moments of really deep sleep, some are longer than others, so it's possible they may make more noise than I actually hear.
You might consider keeping them in a different room if you feel they'll disturb your sleep.
2. My work schedule is pretty different. I work 10-12 24 hour shifts a month (not in a row). I know they require a good amount of attention so I want to make sure that's okay.
Sounds like a crazy work schedule, crazier than most. All I can say if you have time to just maintain them, but not socialize with them, don't get any. That being said, it doesn't have to be hours a day ( like you read and hear all over the Internet), however, the more time you can spend socializing, the better. I've had various interactive schedules with mine, from short 10 minute cage visits and/or pouch time 2X daily, or at least every other day to 3X a week, 30-60 minutes of out of cage play, with occasional pouch-time visits. Sometimes, depending on my circumstances it's been more or less, with a few prolonged instances where I could not do any. My gliders are fine, they seem fairly resilient to me, although, some are more easily stressed than others (like my Lulu RIP).
3. I have a 24x24x48 metal screened cage. Would that be okay for them?
The size sounds fine, similar to the Madagascar cage sold on EN (the time when I wish I was on PC to link this cage). I had this cage, it held my trio comfortably. My concern with your cage is more with the description saying "screened", I personally am not aware of a screened cage that is safe unless it's the screened/mesh types like the materials used in home-made cages or Glide-arium type cages (again, would have loved to link these). So, depending on what material used for the "screening" would determine if it's safe or not.
*i just read that you mentioned a "metal screened" cage, I missed the metal part. I wouldn't recommend that unless you know for a fact it is safe metal. I always struggle with remembering which is safe or not, so stick with powder-coated, animal safe of course.
Thanks for the help! You're welcome
. Glad you found us and are doing your due research!
Hope you didn't mind the lengthy, detailed answers.
If you find you have any other questions, please feel free to post them here, we're happy to help anyone. I also recommend reading as much as you can.