Any exotic pet should be properly researched before they are bought by the public. Many sugar gliders are being sold at fairs due to their unique appearance, nature, and seemingly “easy” management, but these exotic animals are anything but easy to care for. There’s a lot of thought to be put into here: hygiene, diet and nutrition, housing needs, and more.
A site with a proper view on sugar glider health states that, “Fair officials said they haven’t received any complaints about the vendor, which goes by the name Pocket Pets. A breeder in Chicago and a Springfield veterinarian, however, expressed concern that people might be overwhelmed by the animals’ cuteness and make an impulse buy they might later regret.”
Sugar glides are a semi-high-maintenance pet, specifically when it comes to housing and diet.
Starting with diet, it consists of pellets or commercial formula, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, protein sources like eggs, chicken, turkey, multivitamin supplements, and fresh water. Without these properties, sugar gliders can become malnourished and weak.
Generally, when buying sugar gliders at the fair, the salesman will say that they only need to be fed apple slices and kitty kibble, which is completely untrue. The spread of false information can lead to harm or even death for the sugar gliders. To add to this, Petland Albuquerque owner Terri Hallberg said, “It’s an animal that would possibly die pretty quickly if it didn’t get the right diet and the right amount of attention.”
Another thing one needs to look for before getting a sugar glider is housing and roommates. Sugar gliders are very smart creatures; they require cycling their toys in their cage, getting new entertainment, and moving the shelves and toys around to stimulate their energetic activity.
Not only must they be stimulated house-wise, but they have to have another sugar glider friend. This is due to the fact that sugar gliders die of depression.
People may assume that if a human spends enough time with a sugar glider, it won’t get lonely, but this is quite far from the truth. Sugar gliders like having fellow gliders with them because undomesticated ones who live in their origin lands, like Australia, live in colonies. These colonies take care of each other by grooming each other and keeping each other warm while they sleep the day away.
The salesmen at the fairs don’t speak of these factors when selling sugar gliders; they just give people the animal inside a very small hamster cage with minimal and inaccurate information. When people follow the “advice” of fair salesmen, the sugar glider lives a life as long as three years, versus when properly taken care of, they are given the opportunity to live their full life of up to 15 years.
