My husband got orders to Japan...

...and we leave in July. I am excited, yet very sad because I have serious doubt that I can take my gliders.
Does anyone know about Japanese laws for sugar gliders?

Not sure about laws in Japan but last I checked exotics were not allowed on military bases. So, if you plan to live on base in Japan you might want to check on this.

Also most countries have quarantine periods. Some hold your gliders for as long as 6 months.

I do know that our cat has to be quarantined for 3 months, but we can do it at our house. I am not sure on the military base rules for exotic pets...I'll check it out.

also, do you guys know anything about getting them over there by plane? is it safe?

I know my cousin was based over there for awhile all I can say is watch out for the spiders UUUHHHHHH!!!

Hi hun! I was stationed on Okinawa - first of all, it's a 16 hour plane ride, and even if they let you take the gliders to Japan - they won't let you take them in cabin with you. While Continental does have climate controlled cargo bays, the military will book all your air travel & they will do it with the lowest bidder, you will likely fly either Continental or Air Nippon into Tokyo, then take a domestic carrier into a smaller airport.

Exotic pets are rampant over there, however, in my four year tour, I never once saw a suggie - I saw every kind of monkey imaginable, chipmunks, owls, all kinds of weird stuff, but no suggies.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I want you to have realistic expectations so that you have plenty of time to plan.

When I went, I took a cat and a dog. They were required to have a health certificate along with a rabies cert. They flew in cargo & I had to pick them up at each stop to re-check them, then hand carry them through customs once we arrived. When we got on base, they had to stay in the base kennel until we were out of billeting and in permanent housing. Once in country, it was a 14 day, in home quarantine.

Now, I was there from 1999 - 2003, so things may have changed. All I can tell you is that if you plan on taking pets, plan ahead & triple check EVERYTHING!!!

I've seen many Japanese sugar glider videos. They seem to not know much about taking care of them ... but they are there.

Thank you Monster for all of the great info. We're going to Okinawa too. This is our first military move so we are completely lost when it comes to this stuff and its kinda hard to find all of the rules!

It stinks that I cant take my babies with me. I'll find a good home for them though.

Thanks again for all the good info!

Y'all are making me miss Okinawa! I was born there, and spent 8 years there, and 4 in Misawa.

This might help. http://www.glidercentral.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/199108#Post199108

You will love Okinawa - I would go back in a heartbeat! Th key is - GET OFF BASE! Explore & try new things! The people that say they hate it there are the people that stay cooped up on base all the time - Okinawa was RAD!

I second this! Go explore all the awesome beaches, the temples, the castles, the outlying islands. Immerse yourself in the culture, it's so different than it is stateside! One of these days when I win the lottery, I'd love to move back there!

I have a friend at Okinawa right now. He showed me the most amazing pictures!

I have found a few ppl here in okinawa who sell them privately.


The problem is, none of them know how to take care of them...one lady was feeding them cat food.


Anyway, doubt you will be able to bring them, there are strict rules about exporting/importing domestic animals muchless exotic.
I'm all about stretching the laws and rules to the limit, but this is one that even I doubt I could pull off...if you get what I mean.

EDIT:
I was just talking with my wife and she knows of someone bringing a pet turtle...so it might be possible.
The for sure way to know is by contacting someone from this site:
http://www.usarj.army.mil/organization/vet/index.aspx

Someone above mentioned a 16 hour flight.
If you fly AMC, the rules are a little different. You most likely won't fly straight through. Typically you will fly to your port call, like ours was in Seattle. The overnight before taking the AMC flight the next day. You also don't have to go through all the crazy customs stuff you'd have to if you go commercial. Which makes it much easier to get pets in and out of Japan. My wife's friend actually carried her small dog into the cabin on the AMC flight.

Anyway, I hope you find a way. Good Luck!

There's still a long flight, even with split airlines, often 16-20 hours depending.. We flew from Okinawa to Yokusuka to Alaska to LA and finally into Baltimore with our cat that we brought back with us. We sure got lots of attention @ LAX - by the time our plane arrived @ LAX from Alaska, our connecting flight had already left, so we had a 14 hour layover, which we spent walking the cat around in the lobby of the airport I always liked that he enjoyed being walked like a dog, lol