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Checklist for New Glider Owners

Posted By: GliderNursery

Checklist for New Glider Owners - 07/07/14 02:22 AM

Checklist for New Glider Owners

Before getting your first sugar gliders, you should be prepared by having the essentials prior to bringing them home. A diet should be selected, ingredients purchased and then prepared at least a day in advance. The cage, along with the contents, should be set up prior to the sugar gliders being brought into your home.

Below is a basic list of recommended items:

Cage – with no larger than 1/2" bar spacing; should be large enough to allow plenty of room for a pair of sugar gliders and their cage contents. Be sure to allow enough space for the sugar gliders to move around and play without being obstructed. My minimum recommendation for a pair of gliders is 18" x 30" x 36".

Water Bottle – one or two water bottles with fresh water should be on the cage at all times.

Food Dish – this can be a small crock, or plastic baby dish. Having more than one is more convenient.

Diet – you should have decided on a diet prior to buying your sugar gliders. Have all of the ingredients in stock and the diet made in advance. You should also have vegetables and fruit cut up as they are an important part of the diet plan.

Sleeping/Cage Pouch – you should have 3-5 different pouches to start. Having multiple sleeping pouches allows for changing them for a clean one on a regular basis. Pouches will need to be replaced as they can get worn out and can get holes in them. When you see a hole, the pouch should immediately be discarded and a new one provided.

Wheel – a glider safe wheel is extremely important to have in a cage. It is the single most used form of exercise for a sugar glider. A 12” wheel is recommended for daily cage use.

Enrichment Toys – you should have at least 2-3 different enrichment toys to allow for variety and reduce boredom in the cage. An enrichment toy is any toy that allows the glider to “do something” other than just climbing. It will have movable parts, parts that come off to be re-set by the owner, or any other challenging aspect toy vendors create.

Foraging Toys – you should also have 2-3 different foraging toys. These are toys that will have a part that you can hide a treat or a part of the dinner in. Being natural foragers, hiding food/treats encourages their natural instincts while providing them additional enrichment. Many times, toys are made to be both enrichment and foraging toys.

Bonding Pouch - at least 1 or 2 bonding pouches. These are pouches that secure closed, typically with a zipper, to safely carry your sugar gliders. Carrying your sugar gliders in a bonding pouch helps in the bonding process.

Emergency Kit - (e-kit) this is something that every glider owner should have on hand. It is not intended as a substitute for veterinarian care.

Glider Kitchen – this is optional and is used to place the dish of food inside when feeding a sugar glider. A glider kitchen helps to contain the food mess inside the kitchen rather than all over the cage. Please note that it will not eliminate the mess, but simply reduce it.

Hammock/Bridge – these are optional accessories to a cage set. They allow a lounging spot for the sugar gliders. Having multiple allows for changing out dirty for clean.

Vines – optional part of a cage set. They are used as a form of exercise when climbing.

*Please realize that pouches and toys will need to be replaced as they wear out. Please check your pouches daily for wear and/or holes as they can become unsafe. The best well-made pouch can become unsafe with normal use.
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