BEDDING

Plain unprinted newsprint, wood shavings (not cedar) or corn cob can be used on the bottom of the cage.

ACCESSORIES

They love cotton or hemp ropes, branches and small bird toys. Provide a place for them to sleep, such as sacks, tubes or a finch nest box.

BUYING A SUGAR GLIDER

Whether you are buying a Sugar Gliders from a pet store or a breeder, you should ask questions, even if you know the answers from your own research. This will tell you how knowledgeable they really are. If they don't know what they are talking about, buyer beware! If they don't want to give you any information or want to help you, buyer beware!
Check out their facilities carefully. Look for overcrowding, dirty cages, unhealthy animals, smell the air. If the animals are overcrowded and/or the cages are dirty, be very cautious about buying a Sugar Gliders. There shouldn't be any sickly animals in sight, any good breeder/pet shop will have a "sick" room for any animals that aren't up to par. If the establishment/breeding facility has a very strong odour, be very careful, even if it looks clean, the smell is coming from somewhere. Any place, that has animals, will have a smell to it. The larger the facility, the stronger the odour. They just can't clean as fast as the animals do their business. But if the odour is overpowering, then there might be something else under the surface, use caution.
Check the health of the animal before you buy it and handle it. If they won't let you handle it before you buy it. They may be hiding something, WATCH OUT! Handling the Sugar Gliders tells you how tame it is and you have a chance to check its health. Look for discharge from its eyes and nose, sneezing, wet rear end and firmness of body. If it has any of these conditions or its body appears thin, don't buy it. Don't even consider another Sugar Gliders from the same cage as the other Sugar Gliders may also have the same problems. The Sugar Gliders you choose should be bright eyed and interested in what is going on without being too nervous. There eyes and nose should be clear, the rear end dry and the body firm to the touch.
If possible, check references. Referrals from other satisfied customers will tell you a lot about that breeder's/pet shop's quality of animals, their care and concern for the animals well-being, their "customer service" and how much information they are willing to share.

DIET

Sugar Gliders are omnivores and they will try just about anything you set before them. A healthy diet should consist of; three parts fruits and vegetables and one part protein. The more variety you can offer then, the healthier they will be.

A daily diet for your Sugar Glider should include the following. A variety of fruits and vegetables, up to a 1/3 cup per Sugar Glider per day. Favourites: Grapes, watermelon, mango, cantaloupe, carrots, sweet potatoes, sweet peppers, frozen mixed vegetables (thawed), corn (fresh or frozen), yams, squash, pears, honeydew melon, cucumber, papaya, and peas. Like: Apples, tomatoes, oranges and kiwi fruit. The protein portion of the diet can be made up by adding one or two of the following (along with the fruits and vegetables): Yogurt (with live bacteria) 2tsp., cottage cheese 2tsp., mealworms, parrot mix 1tbsp., Sugar Glider gloop* 1tsp.., Sugar Glider cake* ½” x ½” cube. Also provide dry cat food free choice at all times. After a while you will be able to see exactly how much your Sugar Glider eats and likes, allowing you to adjust the diet accordingly. Offer fresh water with vitamins, either by water bottle or bowl.

KEEPING A SUGAR GLIDER HEALTHY. A lack of calcium in their diet, over time, will kill them. Signs of severe calcium deficiency: dragging of the hind quarters and the inability to jump. By the time these signs become definitely noticeable, it is often too late to remedy the problem. Giving them Sugar Glider gloop* and Sugar Glider cake*, plus sprinkling calcium (phosphorus free - reptile calcium) on their fruits and vegetables once in a while should protect them.