Australian native marsupials Sugar Gliders have become very popular as pets in the United States. Breeding Sugar Gliders has grown to keep pace with the increased demand. The requirements for responsible Sugar Glider breeding are a willingness to spend the time and attention to properly care for both the parents and the joeys. Before you begin Sugar Glider breeding you should be sure and take the time to properly understand the process and how to properly care for your breeding gliders.
Many things need to be considered before beginning to breed Sugar Gliders. I will cover just a few basics here. Adequate housing is one of the first things you will need to consider. At a minimum you breeding cage should be 30×18x36 and bigger is usually better in this area. Height is more important than width as climbing and jumping are the primary activity of Sugar Gliders hence the name Glider. Another important thing to have is a nesting box. Cleanliness is important in a nesting box so it is best to place the box up in the top of the cage. This will help reduce marking the box with urine which will help it last longer.
Sugar Gliders in the wild will usually mate twice a year. In captivity Gliders can produce multiple litters in one year. One or Two joeys are the usual number per litter. There is a 16 to 17 day gestation period but like other marsupials the Joey will make its way, hairless and blind, to its mothers pouch. Once in its mothers pouch it will continue to grow for around 60 to 70 days. During this time it is important for the mother to get plenty of protein to aid in the proper growth of the Joey. A stress free environment is also very important for proper development.
Upon emergence the Joey will stay close to its mother and father. This is mainly due to the fact the joey’s eyes are not yet fully open until between 12 and 14 days after emergence. As soon as the mother and father allow contact the breeder should begin to familiarize the joeys with human contact. As the babies mature they will wean off the mothers and continue to grow. 4 months is the age where a Sugar Glider is old enough to live life on its own.
Finally if you plan on breeding Sugar Gliders you need to know Breeding Sugar Gliders is controlled by the United States Department of Agriculture. In order to legally breed and sell Gliders you must be licensed. A responsible breeder will be sure all care is taken for the safety and well being of the glider families.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the requirements for properly breeding Sugar Gliders. If you intend to breed gliders more research than just this short article will be needed.
About the Author
Martin is a sugar glider enthusiast. For more great tips on sugar glider breeding, visit www.sugarglideraspet.com/.
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