Mammalia－Marsupialia－Petauridae－Sugar Glider genus. Sugar Glider　Length : about 12.7-15.2㎝　Weight : about 95-160kg　Tail : about 12-15㎝. Sugar gliders are distributed in northern and eastern Australia, near Papua New Guinea and Tasmania. They live mostly in forests where eucalyptus and acacia grow and spend most of their lives in trees. Sugar gliders are nocturnal animals and start their activities from the evening. During the day, they live in tree holes that they use as their homes with groups of about 6-7 individuals. They live with several females and children for each male leader. Sugar gliders are polygamous. In some cases, it is difficult to distinguish between males and females because they look similar. However, there is an easy way to distinguish them for sugar gliders. The point is to check the male’s head. This is because the male’s head has less hair and is bald, making it easier to distinguish. The reason why the hair becomes thin is that it rubs against the marking to make a scent. The head has a scent gland that emits an odor, so it’s inevitable that the hair will become thin.

Sugar gliders do not have a specific breeding season. The gestation period is only 16 days, so they give birth immediately. The baby’s weight is only 0.2g, so it is born very small. One or two babies are born at a time.

After birth, the baby is raised in the mother’s pouch for about 70 days. Weaning takes about 120 days. Sugar glider babies become completely independent half a year after weaning. In this independence, they live separately from the group they have been living with. Compared to other animals, it seems to take a long time to become independent.

Small and cute pets.

When keeping rare animals, it is necessary to follow the laws established by each country. This time, we will introduce whether it is possible to keep Sugar Gliders at home in Japan. Sugar Gliders are becoming increasingly popular every year. Just looking at their cute appearance is healing. It’s no wonder that many people want to welcome them as family members. Sugar Gliders tend to be very wary at first. However, once they get used to their owners, they become affectionate. Since they live in groups in the wild, it is possible to keep them in groups. If you keep them alone, be sure to communicate with them properly. Be a trusted family member so that Sugar Gliders don’t get lonely.

How many color variations are there?

Sugar Gliders are characterized by their wide variety of color variations. Even the same creature can have a big impression depending on the color of its body. Also, the price varies depending on the color, so be sure to check. ・Standard gray. ・Lutino. ・Mosaic. ・White face blond. ・Cremeino. ・Platinum. ・Albino. ・Ruby leh. We introduced 8 basic colors.

Currently, there are about 20 colors in total. The reason why the number of colors has increased is that they are derived from basic colors. Colors derived from standard gray. ・Black beauty. ・Lion. ・Cinnamon. Colors derived from mosaic. ・Piebald. ・Ring tail. ・Silver mosaic. ・White mosaic. ・True platinum mosaic.

What should I feed them?

Sugar Glider’s diet consists of a main diet of comprehensive nutrition food and a side dish of plant-based and animal-based food. Here are some specific examples. Comprehensive nutrition food is food specifically for Sugar Gliders or insect food for animals. These may be difficult to obtain, so dog or cat food can be used as a substitute. Plant-based side dishes include fruits and vegetables. Instead of giving only certain fruits and vegetables, try various types. Fruits are only side dishes, so be careful not to give too much. If you give only fruits, the nutritional balance will be poor and may lead to illness in the future. Animal-based side dishes include insect mealworms, crickets, boiled eggs, and chicken breast. Insects can be purchased at pet shops. Choose insects that match the size of the Sugar Glider you are raising. Some Sugar Gliders have picky eating habits. If they only eat what they like, the nutritional balance will be biased. Try different foods to increase the variety of foods they eat. Feed them after Sugar Gliders start their activities in the evening. Place the feed in a high place in the cage. Since Sugar Gliders live in trees, try to create a similar environment.

About the breeding environment.

・Breeding cages. The Sugar Glider’s cage should be high enough for them to move around. ・Bait container. The feed container should be placed in a high position like Sugar Gliders eat food in trees in the wild. If it is placed in a low position, excrement such as feces may fall into the feed. ・Water bottle. The water bottle should also be placed in a high position like the feed container. Some of the animals being raised may not drink well from the water bottle. Check if they are drinking well and change to a dish if it seems difficult. ・Corner stage. Corner stages can be used as a place to move around or rest, so set up several of them. ・Bed (pouch). Sugar Gliders need a bed (pouch) because they sleep during the day. There are various types of beds, so prepare several and try them out. It’s reassuring to have a spare because it can get dirty. ・Playground equipment. Toys have increased in number as more people have started raising Sugar Gliders. Representative toys include tunnels, running wheels, and chew sticks. Sugar Gliders also have individuality, so you don’t know what kind of toy they will like. Try various types and find what they like. ・Heat-retention devices. Sugar Glider is tolerant of warm temperatures due to its habitat. However, they are not accustomed to cold. In the winter, please set up a warming apparatus to prevent them from getting too cold. ・Thermometer. Check the temperature with a thermometer to make sure it is comfortable for Sugar Gliders. ・Pet Sheets. Place pet sheets on the bottom of the cage. Cleaning inside the cage is necessary every day. By placing pet sheets, excrement can be cleaned easily.

・Carrying case. A carry case is required when taking Sugar Gliders to the animal hospital. There may be sudden changes in their condition. Prepare in advance so that you can respond to such emergencies.

There are 5 things to keep in mind when breeding!

1）Find an animal hospital that specializes in exotic animals. It is difficult to have Sugar Gliders examined at a general animal hospital for dogs or cats. Specialized knowledge is required, so find an animal hospital that specializes in exotic animals that also handles small animals in advance. 2）Manage the temperature properly. The appropriate temperature for Sugar Gliders is around 24-27℃. Since they are weak against sudden changes in temperature and cold, you need to be careful about the temperature. Use heating equipment to keep the appropriate temperature. 3）Keep in mind a lifestyle that suits Sugar Gliders. Sugar Gliders are nocturnal animals. Since their living rhythm is the opposite of their owners, do not touch them during the day when they are sleeping. Forcing them to wake up can cause stress. If you want to take care of them, play with them at night according to their living rhythm. 4）Understand that toilet training is difficult. Sugar Gliders are difficult to toilet train because they do not have the habit of going to the toilet in a specific place. Therefore, measures such as laying pet sheets so that they can go to the toilet anywhere are necessary. Be careful even when taking a walk inside the room. 5）Understand that Sugar Gliders have a unique odor. Sugar Gliders have scent glands. Therefore, they have a unique body odor with a distinctive smell. Since there are individual differences in odor, you won’t know until you raise them. Males have a stronger odor than females because they have scent glands on their heads and chests. Regardless of gender, the odor becomes stronger after maturity than when they were children. Understand this and raise Sugar Gliders.