Transcript SUGAR GLIDERS

SUGAR GLIDERS
By Patricia Garber
GENERAL INFORMATION
• Scientific Name: Petaurus breviceps
• They live about 10-15 years in
captivity.
• Sugar Gliders are about 5-6 inches
long, and the tail is another 6 inches.
They only weigh 4-5.5 oz
• Sugar Gliders are indigenous to
Australia, Papua New Guinea and
parts of Indonesia
• Because gliders are such social
animals, they will do fine in a colony
of one if the owner is able to provide
plenty of attention. They bond well
with their owners.
• Sugar gliders are nocturnal but they
are content with just spending the
day in their owners pockets or a
bonding pouch napping.
• However, if owners cannot spend as
much time as possible with their
pets it is best to get at least two
gliders.
• Sugar gliders are marsupials
• The babies are born immature and
grow in a pouch. Sugar gliders have
furry membranes that extend from
their wrists to their ankles (called a
patagium) which allows them to
glide through the air.
• In the wild they move from tree to
tree by gliding. Their hind feet have
a large, opposable toe that helps
them grip branches
• The second and third digit forms a
grooming tool.
Things to avoid
• Cedar shavings, use shredded newspaper,
aspen or fir instead.
• Chocolate and sugars.
• Toxic plants and branches such as Autum
Crocus, any form of the onion family, and
dandelion roots to name just a few.
• Pesticides.
• Processed human food.
• Preservatives.
• Excessive amounts of fat.
• Dairy products
• Dogs and cats (Sugar Gliders are expensive
snacks!).
• Small children.
Male Glider
• Male gliders naturally have a bald
spot on the top of their heads, it
appears when they reach sexual
maturity.
• It is actually a scent gland that the
male uses to mark his female and
offspring as well as his territory
such as the cage.
• There are two other scent glands on
the male, one on his genital area and
another on his chest which causes
color change in the fur or another
bald spot.
Female Glider
• The female glider also has
scent glands. One is located in
her genital area as well as her
pouch.
• Both males and females give off
a sweet musky odor.
Feeding in the wild
• Sugar Gliders require 75%
fruit/veggies and 25% protein.
Excess fat in the diet can cause
problems later and effect any
offspring.
• It is very hard to feed captive sugar
gliders the same diet that they
would consume in the wild.
• In the wild they eat eucalyptus gum,
sap, insects, nectar, and honeydew
as well as bird eggs, lizards and
small birds.
Captive Feeding
• Zoo quality diets
• Insects such as crickets,
mealworms, wax worms, spiders,
and moths. These must be fed in a
variety to avoid boredom and the
insects must be fed richly (such as
Gut Load) or dusted.
• Fruit and veggies are a great snack,
however, nothing canned because
canned food has preservatives and
refined sugar.
Housing
• Gliders are climbers, they need a
cage that is at least 3 feet wide and
3 feet tall.
• They need things to climb on and
toys to play with.
• Their water should be changed daily
and in a plastic dish hooked on the
side of the cage along with the food
dish to avoid contamination.
• The cage should be cleaned at least
once a week.
• A nest box or hide box should also
be placed in the cage as well.
Healthy Sugar Gliders
• Should be:
• Active, alert, and
sociable
• Eat and drink
normally
• Have healthy fur
• Clear eyes
• Walk normally
• Shouldn’t be:
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Lethargic
Cloudy eyes
Matted fur
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Most common problems
• Malnutrition
• Self-inflicted
wounds- i.e..
Boredom
• Intestinal parasites
• Trauma
• Pneumonia
• Diarrhea
• constipation/impac
tion
• Gastroenteritis
• Stress-related
diseases:
coprophagia
hyperphagia,
polydipsia
• Hind leg paralysisassociated with
calcium deficiency
• Blindness
• Cataracts
Physical Exam
• The PE may be
done with minimal
restraint, however
anything more
must be done
under anesthesia
• Anesthesia used is
isoflurane, the
glider is masked
down with a soda
bottle and surgical
glove
Dentals
• Gliders also get tartar and dental
disease
• If the teeth are really bad, the
glider’s diet must be changed as
well.
• The teeth are too small to do normal
dental work on them such as fillings
so they must be monitored for
infections or extracted.
Tartar at the bottom of
the lower incisors.
Diseases
• Aflatoxicosis- this is where a glider eats a
cricket that has injested food
contaminated with toxic metabolites from
fungus.
• Symptoms may include: loss of appetite,
anemia, jaundice, bowel problems, and
lethargy
• It is treatable but the animal can die within
hours if not brought to the vet. To prevent
this from happening again, change the food
source and research where the crickets or
the food comes from before feeding it.
Diseases continued…
• Giardiasis- caused by Giardia
lamblia. It can remain dormant in a
sugar glider for up to 6 months until
the glider becomes stressed.
• Symptoms: behavioral changes,
diarrhea, lameness, vomiting,
jaundice, green tinge to feces, and
dehydration.
• Treatment: bring to a vet, disinfect
everything, cages, toys, water and
food dishes and test other gliders in
the colony
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• Lumpy Jaw- impacted salivary gland,
most common cause is bacterial
introduction by dental abscess
• Symptoms: a hard lump appears on
face, neck or chest; draining eye;
weight loss
• Treatment: bring to vet for
prescription and soften food with
water, do not feed low quality foods.
Stress
• Causes:
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Actual danger
Loneliness
Death of the owner or fellow glider
Illness
Improper diet
Thyroid problems
Daylight when glider is sleeping
Sudden changes
Stress
• Symptoms:
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Self mutilation
Repeated back flips
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Pacing
Tremors or trembling
Anorexia
Sleeping patterns change
Treatment of stress
• Seek vet help
• Spend lots of time with the glider
• If glider is new, bring something old
that is familiar to it, and slowly
change the cage over time
• If changing the diet, just like other
pets, change it slowly
Look how cute they are!