My son adopted some sugar gliders...

[Maddy McCall]

A woman had dumped them at a shelter in Texas, claiming that she didn't have time for them. A couple of days ago, my son and I drove to Texas, adopted the sugar gliders, and drove back to Mississippi.

Sugar gliders are tiny marsupials from Australia. Their natural populations are being depleted because they are being poached for the pet industry.

We didn't make this decision lightly. These little guys will live for 10 years or more. They eat the same diet as our bearded dragon, (fruits, vegs, crickets, and such) so their diet won't be any problem. If the cage is kept clean, then they have no noticible odor.

They are a blast to watch. Tame and loveable. They fly across my son's room (which is where they are staying, because a cat inhabits the rest of the house.

[warrior1]

1. Bless you guys

good job

[Maddy McCall]

2. That's sweet...

but we feel like the fortunate ones. :)

:hi:

[pitohui]

3. awwww

not sure i have ever seen or heard of such before, they're adorable

[Maddy McCall]

8. Yeah, we love them.

I saw an breeder ad a couple of years ago, and it piqued my curiosity about the species, but I did not want to contribute to the depopulation of native populations through supporting the pet industry by buying one.

So I put it out of my mind...until several days ago, when a petfinder search turned up these about 500 miles from where I live.

They are cute, and you'd be shocked at how social and friendly they are.

[seemunkee]

4. They are so cute

I would love to have some but don't have the time to spend with them that they need. I'd be curious about the odor situation. Exotic breeders had told me that they were stinkier than hedgehogs and my wife could barely stand them.

Good luck with them.

[Maddy McCall]

5. The odor isn't noticible if you take the proper steps to control it.

You can do that through diet and through cleaning the cage once or twice a week.

Males will mark their cages. So you have to take everything out at least once a week and give it a good cleaning...takes all of five minutes. We are considering having our male neutered, as soon as we can find a vet in oour region who treats sugar gliders.

IF you decide to take on sugar gliders as pets, you should go through www.petfinder.com. There are many available for rescue.

You should only adopt a pair, because they are very social and can get depressed and die if they are caged alone.

If you'll PM me in a couple of months, I'll tell you how this progresses. If you decide to adopt, let me know and I'll mail you a copy of the care DVD that we received when we adopted these.

[merh]

6. They are so cute!

You guys rock and I bet they are fascinating to watch.

Are they cuddly or independent and are they related to flying squirrels?

And the most important question -- what are their names?

:hi:

[Maddy McCall]

9. Monroe and Tallulah.

We had to drive through Monroe and Tallulah, Louisiana, to adopt them. So we named them Monroe (whose nickname is Mo Mo) and Tallulah.

They aren't related to flying squirrels. They are marsupials in the possum family (which isn't the same as the North American opossum family--go figure.)

They are more closely related to kangaroos than to flying squirrels. :)

BTW, if the FEMAnsion will hold it, I saw a wallaby for adoption on petfinder. :D

[merh]

12. Wallaby?

Ermmmm, I think I will have to pass right now.

The pups seem to be getting bigger or the femansion smaller as it is. :freak:

When my house is built, I don't know who will be happier, me or the dogs? :silly:

Welcome to Mississippi MoMo & Tallulah!

[Maddy McCall]

11. Oh...and they are cuddly and DEPENDENT.

They thrive on human contact to the point that, if you have just one sugar glider and don't give it constant love and attention, it will become depressed and die.

That's why we adopted a pair...not that we won't give them constant attention, but they are happier when they live in a social community.

They are the coolest little animals. They will climb the wall, and then fly off of it and land on our heads or shoulders. :D

[merh]

13. I want some now

well, not really now, but one day.

My jack russell would go nuts trying to keep up with 'em, but since she can't seem to catch the mouse that invades the femanision, I think they would be safe.

I keep telling her that her bred was created to catch mice, but it hasn't made a difference, she just ignores me and the mouse.

:)

[tigereye]

7. those are wonderful!

I remember a woman who had flying squirrels when I was a kid. Fascinating.

Your guys look like little bushbabies....

[Maddy McCall]

10. I told my son that they look like tiny primates.

Merh just asked if they are related to flying squirrels, but they aren't. They are marsupials in the possum family. Crazy, huh?

:hi:

[flamingyouth]

14. Wow - they are adorable!

Great names too! Congrats on the new family members. :)

[Maddy McCall]

18. Thanks!

Yeah, we drove through Monroe and then Tallulah on the way back--as we were considering names. :D

:hi:

[scarlet_owl]

15. They are so cute!

Do they keep you up at night?

[Maddy McCall]

19. Heh heh...

That's another reason they're in my son's room. :D

Just kidding. They aren't that noisy. The most noise they make is a little bit of chattering and the sound of their wheel going round and round.

[uppityperson]

16. Congratulations, good job and they look really cute. And hi.

Hi Maddy and others here, happy whatever to you all.

[Maddy McCall]

20. Happy whatever back atcha.

Hope you are well and that all is good with you.

:hug:

[Shakespeare]

17. (gasp) (scream) I WANT ONE!!!

OhmyGOD those are adorable! I love that they're such sweet-natured animals--please give regular updates!

[Maddy McCall]

24. I will!

They definitely are adorable. Check petfinder for sugar gliders in shelters. They're definitely out there--and another good thing about getting them from shelters is that the owners usually hand them over with the cage and all supplies. Seriously, though, do some reading about them before you decide that you want one.

:)

[lizziegrace]

21. They're precious Maddy

:)

Happy New Year.

:hug:

[Maddy McCall]

26. Thanks, and Happy New Year to you, too, lizziegrace.

:hug:

[BarenakedLady]

22. Those look cute

I never heard of them before someone posted about them here recently.

[Maddy McCall]

27. Thanks for the info...I'll have to do a search to see...

which other DUer has some.
:hi:

[GOPisEvil]

23. A very close friend of mine has a pair of gliders.

She says there is more to their diet than you have listed. She will post later or send a PM to you about specifics.

:hi:

[Maddy McCall]

28. Great! Thanks!

I'm also giving them calcium supplments and vitamins...and I can certainly use any additional advice she can give me!

Thanks, GOPisEvil. Have a wonderful New Year!

:hug:

[k_jerome]

25. ever tried superworms for your dragon? great food source...

and much easier to care for than crickets.

[Maddy McCall]

29. Tell me more! I've given him meal worms.

Tell me about superworms. Where are they available?

[k_jerome]

30. how old is your dragon?

superworms look like huge mealworms,but are a much more nutritious food source. they are easier to care for than crickets (no smell). I buy them by the thousand online for about 20 bucks and put them in a container of peat moss with some quaker oats added once a week and a few squirts of water every day.

I will look for my source and post it later. try this site for an excellent information source for Dragons http://www.beardeddragon.org/bjive/index.php?sid=aa9268af8172b7a684b9e3294f26d029

i hate crickets, but have to keep them for my spiders, but since switching to superworms, i use fewer crickets. Silkworms are the best food source for dragons, but they are sporadic in their availability and harder to keep.

[ironflange]

31. I've met only one sugar glider in my life

It was a fierce little thing, tried to bite my finger! I'm sure the little thing would have ripped my lungs out, given the chance. It was in a pet shop, that's prolly why it was so grouchy. It was really cute, though.

[Left Is Write]

32. Oh, my gosh! How cute are they?

:hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

33. Maddy!

they're precious!

Here's a thought...
You might contact your local zoo to let them know that you've adopted these babies. They may know of sugar glider reintroduction programs where your animals may be of help. Directors of such breed/release programs want to maintain as diverse a gene pool as possible. While your sugar gliders wouldn't be suitable for reintroduction, it's possible that offspring and their descendants would be.

Hugs to you for taking care of them! :hug::hug::hug:

[jobycom]

34. You were in Texas and yuo didn't call ME?

Oh well, I was in Mississippi and didn't call you, either! :rofl: