Holding sugar gliders in gently cupped hands helps them feel safe and secure.
Sugar gliders are small, marsupial animals that somewhat resemble a chipmunk. Over the past few decades, they have become an increasingly popular exotic pet. One of the major questions new sugar glider owners have is bond with their new pet. The answer is through time and patience. Sugar gliders are very social animals and can bond with their human owners. However bonding takes some effort on the part of the owner, because sugar gliders are often initially afraid of their new homes.
Expectations
According to SunCoast Sugar Gliders, it is important for new sugar glider owners to set realistic expectations when it comes to forming a bond with their new pet. Sugar glider babies, like any new pet, require some training and patience in order to begin recognizing their new owners as its family rather than a threat. Sugar gliders are small animals with many predators in the wild, therefore they are naturally afraid of things that are larger than they are, according to the Pocket Pets website. Understand that bonding with a new sugar glider will require a daily effort for a minimum of a few weeks, according to the experts at Exotic Nutrition. They recommend spending a half hour of bonding time at least three to four times each day.
Acclimation
Helping sugar gliders become accustomed to their new homes is perhaps one of the biggest challenges that owners face. When sugar gliders are first brought home, it is best to set up their cage and allow them to relax in the cage for 2 days before attempting to handle them, suggests Pocket Pets. This provides the animals with time to get used to the sights and the smells of their new home without becoming too frightened.
Another tip to help sugar gliders become acclimated to their new environment is to add a piece of clothing to the cage, according to Pocket Pets. Sugar gliders bond through touch and smell. Adding clothing with the owner's smell on it allows the sugar glider to identify and become accustomed to that smell before owners attempt to handle them.
Age
A sugar glider's age will also affect the bonding process, according to SunCoast Sugar Gliders. Young sugar gliders are more likely to develop trust of the new owners than adult sugar gliders. While adults can bond with their new family, it will take more time and effort. This is especially true of gliders that have been neglected or abused.
Breeding
Breeding may also influence how quickly a sugar glider forms bonds with its human family. SunCoast Sugar Gliders warns potential owners to research the facility where they are purchasing the animals. Reputable breeders often help sugar glider young, or "joeys," become accustomed to human companionship from birth. Pet shops and other facilities may purchase their sugar gliders from brokers, and it is unclear if they were bred for captivity or plucked from the wild.
Bonding Tips
In addition to committing time and patience to the bonding effort, sugar glider owners may find the following tips beneficial. Pocket Pets warns that a scared sugar glider makes a chattering sound, swats with its hands and may try to nip at a person's fingers. Keeping still and calm in these situations reassures a frightened glider. SunCoast Sugar Gliders suggests owners use treats to help bond with their gliders. Gliders often enjoy licking things like yogurt and applesauce from its owner's fingers. For gliders with a tendency to nip, use soft, chewable treats.
Working with your sugar glider during the day and developing a routine is another way to foster bonding, according to SunCoast. With very young gliders, cup them in your hands or place them in a bonding pouch and carry them around for a half hour each day. Encourage the glider to feel comfortable enough to return to sleep. Exotic Nutrition recommends wearing a t-shirt under a long-sleeved button-down shirt and allowing your glider to climb in between the two shirts. Allow it to rest there and carry it around the house each day. Over several weeks, the sugar glider will build trust with its owners and will eventually become as friendly and social with its owners as it is with other gliders.
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