Sugar glider at home: maintenance, feeding

Rodents 6064

The sugar squirrel is the smallest marsupial in the world. This is an incredibly charming marsupial: the fur is pleasant to the touch, like plush, large eyes like saucers and a soft pink nose. The possum has excellent manners: he is unusually good-natured, endlessly curious and easily tamed. The sugar glider has many names, which will be used periodically throughout the article.

Proper care of the possum itself, maintenance

These creatures have some special features.
We must remember that animals are social; they do not like being alone. Communication in their lives is simply necessary. But if a person keeps only one individual in a cage, then it is he who should become the main friend and interlocutor for the pet. These animals have perfectly developed group grooming in nature. This is when the whole group begins to clean each other’s fur, look for harmful insects, and remove excess dirt. At the same time, they use their tongue and claws for the cleaning process.

You should not put a container of sand in his cage, for example, as is done for many rodents. He can easily clean everything himself without it. Even if you put sand in the cage, the animal will not use it.

You should absolutely not bathe your possum. Even in warm water. They can get sick very easily and develop a fever. If an animal has managed to get its skin very dirty, then you can only remove the main dirt with wet wipes.

If they get so dirty in natural conditions, then they look for the nearest lake or reservoir to wash themselves a little. But they don't swim because they don't know how to swim.

Near bodies of water, animals usually drink or catch various insects for food. But still, their main source of moisture is fruits and vegetables. When the sugar beast is constantly growing, in principle, like all animals. They usually grind them down on trees.

But at home they will sharpen on wooden branches, sticks, trunks. Therefore, the presence of wooden objects in the cage is a must!

Cons of keeping a sugar glider at home

The first thing to say is that the sugar glider will not adapt to your daily routine. He behaves as usual.

At night, the flying squirrel will not sleep; on the contrary, it will behave as actively as possible: jump around the cage, rattle the bars, and make various sounds.

To ensure a restful sleep, it is best to place your sugar glider's cage in a room away from your bedroom.

Please note: possums are not very clean and do not know how to use the toilet. In nature, they jump through trees, practically without descending from the trees, and all the fruits of their vital activity fly down. The same will happen at home. Flying squirrels will mark wallpaper and furniture with their excrement.

We have already said that males mark their territory with special glands. Be prepared for the fact that this smell is very specific. It is impossible to wash it off clothes. I'll have to get used to it.

Under no circumstances should possums be trusted to children. If you squeeze your pet a little harder than he likes, the possum can bite quite sensitively.

The animal moves around its owner as if it were moving around a tree, leaving quite serious scratches with its sharp claws.

All these are disadvantages that we must warn you about, but believe me, there are also many advantages.

Lifestyle in nature

The sugar glider lives in eastern Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania; found in open deciduous forests, with particular preference for eucalyptus.

Secretive animals are nocturnal, but during the day they rest in their nests, located, as a rule, in hollows and, sometimes, in the grass. They cover the nest with leaves, dry grass, twigs - the animals carry all the building material in their tail, curling it into a spiral. With the onset of darkness, an active life begins for sugar gliders: they move through the trees, covering considerable distances during the night.

Animals climb equally well both up and down. And for gliding, the animals have a special device - a flight membrane, which stretches from the fifth finger of the forelimb to the ankle joint of the hindlimb. The “flight” is coordinated by the tail and paws.

Marsupial flying squirrels eat fruits, pollen, and some invertebrates.

Sugar gliders are social animals. In their natural environment, they live in groups (clans, families) consisting of 7-12 individuals of different ages. Each clan occupies a relatively large territory. One male dominates the family - he guards the territory, and he also fertilizes most of the females. Marsupial flying squirrels are territorial animals; they do not tolerate strangers with a different smell. Males have scent glands with which they mark not only their territory, but their entire flock.

The breeding season for marsupial flying squirrels is from April to November, the number of litters per year is no more than two, and the number of cubs in a litter is no more than three. Pregnancy in these animals lasts only 16 days, and after birth the babies migrate independently into the pouch. In the pouch they are attached to the nipple and hang on it for approximately 5 weeks. The cubs begin to emerge from the pouch at the age of 70-74 days, but feed on mother's milk for about another month and a half. Males reach sexual maturity at 8-15 months, females at 12 months.

Marsupial flying squirrels do not like the cold. When the air temperature drops and during the rainy season, the metabolism of flying squirrels slows down, body temperature drops to 1-6 ° C, i.e. they fall into a state of stupor. The possum can spend several weeks in seasonal torpor (hibernation).

Possums are very sociable and make a wide variety of sounds. At the moment of excitement and joy they crackle, to attract attention they “yelp”, fear or anger is accompanied by a roar. They greet each other with hissing, which is sometimes accompanied by a kind of “dance”.

Possums in their natural environment

In the wild, you can meet the possum in Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, as well as on the adjacent islands.

Possums are nocturnal animals, their peak activity occurs in the dark, and during the day the pets sleep. Animals usually nest in tree cavities and hollows.

Possums are not loners, they are social animals that live in small flocks. One flock, as a rule, includes up to 7 mature individuals, as well as broods of the new breeding season.

A flock cannot exist without a leader. Possums also have one. The leader becomes a mature dominant male, who marks the territory with his secretion. This territory is jealously guarded; strangers who enter the territory are immediately expelled from its borders.

Possums love warmth; with the onset of cold weather, the animals hibernate. Of course, under natural conditions, sugar squirrels hibernate much more often than their domestic counterparts.

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Females

In females, like in males, there are many, but less pronounced, exocrine glands located on the body. The vagina and uterus of female possums are bifurcated and separated from each other, similar to the male’s penis. On the belly of the female short-headed flying squirrel there is a pouch, inside it there are 4 nipples. The bag should not be red or swollen, otherwise this is evidence that the animal is unhealthy.

Flying squirrels have a short gestation period - up to 17 days. As a rule, from 1 to 3 cubs are born, the size of a steamed grain of rice. After giving birth, the female possum licks the cubs and licks her fur, smoothing the way from the newborns to the pouch. Along this “path” they move to a cozy “house”, where they attach themselves to the nipple, after which it swells. They will remain in this position until the moment they are able to get out. The “journey” takes about 5 minutes, and the babies will mature in the bag for another 60–70 days.

After leaving the “house”, the cubs need another 8 weeks to adapt to the outside world and switch to the diet for adults. While this is gradually happening, the babies continue to be on a milk diet.

Characteristics

The main feature of the marsupial flying squirrel is a thin membrane stretching along the sides of the body from the wrist to the ankle. When the possum jumps, the membrane stretches and forms an aerodynamic surface. This allows the animal to glide over a distance of up to fifty meters . By relaxing or tightening the membrane, the possum regulates the direction of flight. His tail and legs also help him with this. Thus, marsupial flying squirrels fly from tree to tree.

Male sugar gliders mark territory with scent glands located on the chest, forehead and back of the body. Males are distinguished from females by a small bald spot on the forehead, in the place where the gland is located. Female animals have a pouch in the center of their abdomen, which is intended for bearing offspring.

Conditions for keeping a sugar glider

To keep a flying squirrel comfortably at home, you will need a lot of space. Remember, pets are very active, their element is trees.

Posumma will need a spacious cage-aviary. The distance between the rods should be about 1.3 cm. The rods themselves should have a PVC coating. Sugar gliders are very smart animals, so be sure to securely lock their enclosure.

Not all naturally wild animals will be able to immediately understand the structure of a nipple drinker. In this case, the pet can simply die of thirst

Build special devices for possums in the cage that will allow them to show their activity: ladders, ropes, pipes, branches. A possum's cage must have a hanging house. It can be either wooden or fabric. The passage into the home should be 7-9 cm in diameter.

If you have pets of different sexes, babies may appear very soon. Lower the house lower so that the kids don't fall.

And lastly, do not forget about the temperature regime: sugar squirrels do not like drafts, temperatures below 20 degrees, or bright lighting. In our store you can purchase all the necessary accessories for your pet.

Keeping sugar gliders at home

Buying a sugar glider today is not a problem. But before you decide to take such a responsible step, learn as much as possible about the characteristics of the animal itself, its content, as well as the difficulties that you will have to face.

Difficulties

First of all, keep in mind that sugar gliders, as social animals, are not recommended to be kept alone. The best option (from the point of view of possums) is a group of animals, or at least a couple. It is not necessary to keep individuals of different sexes; 2 males or 2 females will quite peacefully coexist. If you have only one pet, you will have to pay maximum attention to him, otherwise the animal will be very bored and suffer.

If you want to achieve affection from an exotic animal, it is better to purchase a young animal about four months old, and it is better, of course, from a breeder. This way you can choose an animal you like, as well as receive competent advice on maintenance and care.

You can communicate with nocturnal pets in the evening (they begin to be active around 10 p.m.) and early in the morning. And so that at night you are not bothered by the rattling of the cage bars, yapping, whistling, chirping and similar sounds, make sure that the cage is located away from your bedroom. Don’t try to “restructure” sugar gliders to a daytime regime - it’s absurd to argue with nature.

The animals also cannot boast of being neat: it is impossible to accustom them to the tray. In addition, bedding, as well as leftover food, will lie not only in the cage, but also outside it.

Possums love to mark their territory with an odorous secretion, and males are especially guilty of this. The smell of the secretion is quite pungent and specific. Do not think that frequent washing of the cage will get rid of odors - after cleaning the animal will mark the cage with redoubled force. You can clean the cage several times a day, but the smell will still be there. The owners of these creatures claim that you quickly get used to the “scents” of possums. This may be true, but won't you get tired of explaining this to your guests?

Next point. Keeping possums in a cage all the time will not work - they need to jump, walk on the walls and ceiling, ride on the owner’s shoulder or sit in the pocket of his robe. You will have to make the room available to them regularly. The animal will immediately find itself under the ceiling and will glide down with pleasure, straightening its membrane. Needless to say, after free walks you will have to arm yourself with cleaning equipment and “cover up the traces” of your pet’s life.

If you do not plan to breed possums, it is better to castrate the male - this way he will smell less and his character will improve. Due to the special structure of the intimate organs and the small size of the animal, it is undesirable to sterilize the female.

Housing

Although the animal itself fits in the palm of your hand, it will need a spacious cage. The animal is very active, and its native element is trees, and therefore, even if regular walks around the apartment are possible, you should not lock it in a small cage. The minimum size of an apartment for a pair of animals is 60x60x80 cm, but larger is better, of course. The distance between the bars of the cage should be no more than one and a half centimeters.

The cage must include climbing devices - branches (birch, beech, alder, hazel, apple, willow, willow, elm, eucalyptus, maple are safe for pets), as well as pipes, ladders, and ropes. For sleep and privacy, the animals need a house, which is attached to the top of the cage. It can be made either from plywood or wood (you need to put soft rags or hay inside), or from something warm and soft (an old hat, mittens, etc.). The floor in the cage can be covered with sawdust and soft hay.

The cage should have a ball drinker and several small ceramic feeders. A running wheel would also be useful, but remember, it must be closed (so that the paws don’t fall through and their long tail doesn’t accidentally get caught).

It is better to place all interior items along the walls, without cluttering the central part of the cage and leaving space for pets to jump.

Make sure that the possums have a variety of toys - the animals love to play. Suitable toys include, for example, cat teasers, bells, etc.

Don't forget, possums don't like the cold! The temperature in the room where animals are kept should not be lower than 20° C. Animals are not happy with bright lighting either. Protect your pets from drafts!

Flying squirrels at home

Flying squirrels are very active. If you decide to keep a possum at home, you need to take care of a spacious cage or enclosure. The minimum cage size for keeping an animal should be 80x80x60. But the higher the cage, the more comfortable your pet will be.

The distance between the bars should not exceed 1.5 cm, otherwise the pet may squeeze between the bars and even fall out.

The cage door must be equipped with a strong lock or carabiner. Possums are very inventive animals; they easily learn to open an unfixed passage.

The floor in the cage should be covered with a special filler intended for rodents (pressed sawdust). You can purchase the filler at any Zoogalereya retail store.

There must be branches in the possum's cage. After all, as already mentioned, in their natural habitat these animals spend most of their time in trees. Climbing trees is inherent in these pets by nature.

Bowls for food and water should be placed in different parts of the enclosure. This will keep the water clean for as long as possible.

A mandatory attribute of a possum’s place of residence is a house. Ideally, this should be a suspended structure, which should be fixed as high as possible. You can use wooden or plywood boxes for the house; a soft knitted pocket is also suitable. Flying squirrels love soft nesting sites. If the frame of the house is hard, be sure to lay hay or soft cloths in it.

As toys and entertainment for flying squirrels, stairs, tunnels, special running wheels, mirrors, bells and small balls are suitable. Be sure to update the toys so that the animal does not lose interest in them.

Behavior

The possum spends most of its time in the trees, very rarely descending to the ground. They are most often found in eucalyptus forests.

Since these are nocturnal animals,
they show their activity at night .
During the day, possums sleep in hollows or other cavities of trees, which serve as shelter for them. The animals live in small groups, which can contain up to seven adults and babies of the current breeding season. The dominant male marks the territory and his fellow tribesmen with secretions from the glands. Strangers with a different smell are expelled from their territory.

Sugar gliders do not like the cold, so their activity is limited during rainy or cold weather. The animals become inactive and lethargic, and hibernate . This way of life in winter allows them to conserve energy at a time when the possibility of obtaining food is reduced.

In natural conditions, possums feed on spiders and insects, birds and small animals, and the sap of local trees.

Reproduction

Features of sexual development

Breeding sugar flying squirrels at home is a rather responsible and expensive task. It is difficult to call possum breeding a profitable business. It requires a lot of time (the female takes care of the cubs for more than 4 months) and the presence of an isolated and spacious room.

Many breeders say that females who are expecting or nursing offspring become much less friendly and affectionate. For various reasons (stress, genetic predisposition, early pregnancy, and many others), females can abandon their own cubs or even eat them. Therefore, before deciding to purchase a pair of opposite sexes, you should carefully think through all the nuances of the future keeping of the animals.

Males and females reach puberty at different ages: males starting at 4 months, females at six months. However, parental responsibilities should be assigned to animals no earlier than a year. The mating season usually occurs in June-July. Animals bear offspring 1–2 times a year. For mating, you should not choose individuals that are in a related relationship - this can lead to pathologies in the cubs.

Pairing

Mating occurs within 24 hours after the female starts estrus. She may behave excitedly, make calling sounds, and refuse food. The male looks quite aggressive from the outside: he bites the back of his resisting female friend and even inflicts wounds on her. But for possums this is normal behavior. The wound, if it appears, should be treated to prevent infection. If the future father continues to disturb the female, she needs to be placed in another cage until she recovers completely.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Pregnancy lasts 15 – 16 days. There is no need to remove the male from the cage during pregnancy. He does not interfere with his friend, and after giving birth he also helps her care for her offspring.

Feeling the approach of childbirth, the female carefully licks the pouch on her stomach, and after giving birth, she also licks the path for the offspring - from the genitals to the pouch. The tiny squirrel covers this path on its own in literally 5 minutes.

Despite the fact that there are 4 nipples in the bag, the offspring usually does not exceed 1 - 2 babies. The possum stays in the pouch for about 9 - 10 weeks, without tearing itself away from the mother's nipple - it swells in its mouth, and the baby literally sticks to it.

During the period of feeding “babies”, the female’s diet should be increased - at the rate of plus 50% for each cub.

After some time, the babies move from their mother's pouch to their parents' backs, and then become independent. At the age of 4 months they can already be separated from the female.

Character, lifestyle

Sugar gliders are extremely active animals. They can glide through the air over long distances. Possums nest in groups of up to seven adult males and females related by family ties.

Their offspring are also in the group. Flocks of sugar gliding squirrels are considered mutually exclusive and territorial. Each group tenaciously and courageously protects a certain number of eucalyptus trees that provide their group with a staple food.

Adult males regularly mark their territory with saliva and secretions secreted from glands located in the pelvis, arms and legs. They also have scent glands located on the forehead, which males need to spread markings on other members of the group. Each "family" is usually dominated by one male, who is responsible for much of the territory and group marking.

He is usually larger and heavier than the rest of the group, as his body produces more testosterone. The alpha male is more likely to “have relationships” with the females of the group. As soon as a possum without a scent mark approaches the flock, the group views the guest as a stranger, after which the alpha male immediately and violently attacks him. Life-threatening fights usually do not occur within the groups themselves.

Their peak activity occurs in the dark, and the day for them is sleep time. The animals nest in safe, secluded places, usually hollows or other recesses in trees.

These are social animals that live in flocks. One flock can include up to seven mature individuals and broods from the current breeding season. In a flock there is certainly a leader (a mature, dominant male), who marks the territory and possums from the family with his secretions. The territory is jealously guarded; strangers who do not have the mark of a leader are immediately expelled from its borders.

Marsupial flying squirrels are heat-loving, and with the onset of cold weather they hibernate. During the dry season and rainy nights, their activity also decreases significantly. This feature helps possums survive those seasons in which the ability to obtain food is severely limited. In natural habitats, sugar squirrels hibernate much more often than their domesticated counterparts.

Appearance and description

As you may have noticed, sugar gliders are quite small in size. The animal was even able to take a leading position, as the smallest representative of the possum family.

The creature is only 120 to 220 mm long, with a tail of about 160 mm. Already an adult weighs extremely little - 140 grams.

If you look at the photographs, you can see that there is a dark stripe running down the back from the nose to the very backside. Stripes are also present on the muzzle.

As we know, a flying squirrel has folds of skin between its legs, so our little possum was not left out either.

They also have the same kind of membranes between their front and hind legs, and they use them for flight. Therefore, some believe that squirrels and possums are almost the same creature, although this is not the case.

The only difference between a female and a male is that the female has a small leather pouch for her cubs. When an animal jumps from one point to another, opening its wings, it looks like a flying square flap.

Jumping from a tree, the animal spreads all its limbs wide, creating the semblance of a small parachute, and can calmly control and change the trajectory of its flight. By the way, with the help of their folds of skin, sugar animals can soar at distances of up to 50 meters.

They usually do this to search for food, or to search for a nest. They can also communicate with each other, sending many different signals and sounds. For example, both simply for communication and to warn of danger!

Appearance

The sugar glider is the smallest member of the marsupial family. Their body is thin, 19-22 cm long, plus the length of a fluffy tail is 20-22 cm, weight from 90 to 160 grams (smaller females, larger males), color gray-blue, yellow-brown. The wool is soft, thick, very pleasant to the touch. The muzzle is slightly pointed, with a soft pink nose and huge eyes.

A distinctive feature of the flying squirrel is a thin leathery membrane covered with hair. It stretches from the wrist of the front leg to the ankle of the back leg. Thanks to this feature, the possum can soar in a jump for a fairly decent distance: about 50 meters. The tail is used as a rudder.

Is it difficult to keep a sugar animal?

Many people consider them to be some kind of rodents, but this is a completely incorrect judgment. The fact that they are not, on the contrary, gives them an advantage.

They will not cause as much damage to surrounding property as rodents. You can also keep another species of flying squirrel, the albino possum, at home.

They are distinguished by their thick and yellowish fur. Keeping it at home is not at all difficult; by the way, the animal is completely non-aggressive. But you need to remember that it still bites, but for some reasons:

• the animal is scared;
• can taste you slightly, studies;
• they bite because they don't recognize your scent

By the way, unlike ordinary rodents, they live much longer. With proper comprehensive care, they live up to 15 years, comparable to hamsters or ferrets. What is most amazing about this creature is that it has a dog-like character.

He is easy to learn and train, knows his owner by smell and appearance, and even recognizes his name! Some who have such a pet even try to teach it tricks!

Read more about the habitat in the house

In order to provide the most decent living conditions for your pet, you will have to follow some rules. At home, the cage should be no less than 60x60x90. This is the minimum size of the required cage, ideally the larger the better.

Some owners sometimes even let the animal walk around the apartment while playing with it. This also needs to be done so that the animal gets used to the environment and knows that it is not in danger.

The cage must be equipped with everything: a house, long vertical beams so that the possum can climb on them. Also the presence of toys and wheels!

Yes, the animal also likes to run, but it needs to put its energy into movement. An ideal cell should contain:

• jogging wheel;
• several long beams;
• a house in which the pet can rest and hide;
• tunnels;
• toys;
• maybe even separate rooms

But in stores it is very difficult to find a complete set of such things along with the cage. Therefore, many owners buy the cage separately, and only then purchase additional elements separately. Some even make their own devices.

It is best to place shavings of cedar, aspen, and fir at the bottom of the cage. Cleaning should be done better 2 times a week, so that there is no bad smell.

Veterinary

Manipulation and fixation If you need to catch a possum, then close the exit from the nest box, and then remove or open the lid and take the animal with a hand dressed in a small cotton bag, which is then turned inside out on top of the possum. All seams must be double so that the possum does not get entangled in protruding threads or frayed holes.

Sedation and anesthesia Tilagamine-zolazepam at a dose of 10 mg/kg IM caused death in three apparently healthy flying possums. Therefore, this drug combination is not recommended for sugar gliders, although it has been shown to be effective and safe for other glider species. Isoflurane is given with oxygen through a vaporizer and T-tube.

Anesthesia (5% isoflurane) is given through a small mask. Intubation is carried out through a tube with a diameter of 1 mm and a probe (Cook). The tongue is removed, and to examine the pharynx, a thin laryngoscope is used, which is used to lift the soft palate as much as possible. Anesthesia is maintained with 2% isoflurane. Table 5 shows the physiological parameters (body temperature, heart rate and respiratory movements) of the animal under isoflurane anesthesia.

Taking blood To take blood, you need general anesthesia. A volume of blood equal to 1% of the body vega can be taken from possums. Medial tibial artery. This superficial artery runs medially from the knee to the tarsus. Blood can be drawn from this artery with a tuberculin syringe and a 29G needle. The artery is very mobile, so it is better to enter it distal to the knee.

Jugular vein. It is difficult to visualize the jugular vein because gliders have a short, folded neck and a lot of subcutaneous fatty tissue. Remove fur. The entrance to the chest and the angle of the jaw are found to determine the direction of the jugular groove.

Lateral vein of the tail. This vein runs down each side of the tail. After removing the hair and applying a rubber tourniquet, this vein becomes visible and is punctured with a 25-gauge needle to obtain a drop of blood, which is collected in a hematocrit tube. Alcohol interferes with the formation of blood droplets on the surface of the skin due to a decrease in surface tension, so it is better to use an aqueous antiseptic.

Femoral vein. This location is not suitable for blood collection.

Taking blood from the heart. This procedure is carried out only in emergency situations.

Taking blood from the conjunctiva of the eye. It is not recommended to provoke bleeding from the conjunctiva of the eye in animals with exophthalmos.

Hematological and biochemical parameters are normal

Table 4 shows the physiological values ​​of haematological and biochemical parameters of sugar gliders from South East Queensland.

These values ​​differ from the International Species Inventory System (ISIS) database obtained in captivity from more than 17 animals in North America - Queensland gliders have a much higher number of lymphocytes. The significance of this finding is not yet clear; it may be the result of population genetic variations, or it may reflect a difference between arterial and venous blood.

Common diseasesHelminths. There were no reports of diseases caused by helminths. In sugar gliders, trematodes of the species Athesmia were found in the liver, and nematodes of the species Parastrongyloides and Paraustrostrongylus Paraustroxyuris were found in the intestines (Spratte et al., 1991). Ectoparasites of sugar gliders include mites of Guntheriakowanyama, Petauralgesrackae, and Atopomeliae species.

The following anthelmintic drugs can be used for possums without visible side effects: fenbendazole at a dose of 20-50 mg/kg po once a day for 3 days, oxfendazole at 5 mg/kg po only once and ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg p/o or sc only 1 time. Carbaryl powder (50 g/kg) is used topically to treat the nest box to prevent the development of mites.

Infectious diseases. Sugar gliders have been noted to be insensitive to common infectious pathogens, but there are certain microorganisms to which gliders have been shown to be predisposed: Cryptococcus neoformas, Yersiniapseudotuberculosis, Salmonella spp., Mycobacterium, Toxoplasmagondii spp., and Leptospira spp. Bacterial meningitis killed 2 of 14 (14%) gliders at one research institute. The microorganism has not been identified.

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Non-communicable diseases. Feeding osteodystrophy or pelvic limb paresis is a common disease of domestic sugar gliders, but has never been observed in zoological garden collections. Unpublished research suggests that this disease is very similar to feeding osteodystrophy, which is seen in calcium-deficient lizards.

The clinical manifestation is sudden paresis or paralysis of the pelvic limbs. X-rays show osteoporosis of the vertebrae, pelvis and long bones. The differential diagnosis of osteodystrophy is spinal injury. The diet of most gliders is potentially low in calcium - 75% fruit and 25% meat.

If diagnosed early, success can be achieved with a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, as well as confined housing. Nocturnal animals are better able to absorb vitamin D3 in the intestines, rather than through exposure to ultraviolet rays, which convert vitamin D1 to D2. The diet should contain approximately 1% calcium, 0.5% phosphorus and 1500 IU/kg vitamin D3 based on the dry weight of the feed.

Calcium should also be added to the diet of insects given to gliders. It is better to feed gliders a high-calcium diet (Mazuri, PMIFeeds, St. Louis, MO) than to sprinkle calcium powder on the insects. Neoplasia. Neoplasia, especially lymphoid (50% of all recorded neoplasms), is often observed in possums in captivity.

A review of mortality among possums in one collection found that 3 of 14 flying squirrels (21%) died from neoplasia, one possum had malignant lymphoma of the spleen, liver, and kidneys, a second had a basal cell tumor of the bursa, and a third had bronchogenic carcinoma. Two of the three deaths of great gliders (Petauroidesvolans) were due to neoplasia, one had chondrosarcoma of the jaw with metastases to the liver, and the other had lymphosarcoma of the lymph nodes and spleen. A report of cutaneous lymphosarcoma in sugar gliders has also been published (Houghetal., 1992).

Severe allergic dermatitis. Severe allergic dermatitis was observed in flying squirrels after using shampoo with 1% selenium sulfide.

Obesity. In Leadbeater's possums, this condition is caused by fatal coronary atherosclerosis. Necropsy of an obese possum weighing 300 g at the age of 3.5 years revealed only necrosis of abdominal fat tissue.

Dental diseases. In captivity, possums often experience periodontal disease and plaque accumulation on their teeth, especially if the animals eat soft food high in carbohydrates. Removal of plaque under general anesthesia is indicated, and then the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Changes in the diet are also needed, in which you need to include as much animal food as possible, especially insects with hard exocelete.

After tooth decay or traumatic fractures and cracks of the incisors, the root canal may be exposed. The diameter of the root canal is very small for it to be filled with something, and it is almost impossible to remove the lower incisors without breaking the mandibular symphyses. Animals tolerate the opening of a root canal calmly, but choose soft food, therefore, it is necessary to monitor the formation of dental plaque.

Eye diseases. Sugar gliders have exophthalmos and often suffer corneal injuries during fights. Corneal ulcers are also common and respond well to treatment with temporal tarsorrhaphy and the application of antibacterial eye ointment. Bite wounds in the muzzle can lead to retrobulbar abscesses, which must be differentiated from root abscesses of molars.

Sugar Possum: Description

The sugar squirrel or marsupial flying squirrel lives in the northern and eastern regions of Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania, and the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago.

It is an arboreal marsupial and is the smallest and most common species of possum. He got his name because of his ability to float through the air and because of his love for sweets. The weight of a possum depends on gender and ranges from ninety to one hundred and sixty grams. It has a thin, slightly elongated body. The length of an adult animal can reach forty-two centimeters, of which about half is the fluffy tail. The coat of possums is usually gray-blue, but there are animals with yellow or yellow-brown fur. It is very rare to find albino possums.

Its fur is thick and soft. There are brown stripes on the back and face of the animal. The abdomen is white, with a cream tint. Possums have a small, slightly pointed muzzle. Its ears are quite large; they are capable of turning like locators in the direction of the outgoing sound. Large black eyes are surrounded by black rims that extend to the ears. They help you see perfectly in the dark.

The limbs of sugar gliders are very well developed. On each paw they have five long, thin fingers with sharp claws. Such “aristocratic” fingers allow you to get larvae and small insects from under the bark, and sharp claws allow you to hold on to flexible branches well.

Interesting: Spiders as pets

About life in nature

In nature, flying squirrels are found in the forests of Australia, preferring eucalyptus trees. They spend almost their entire lives on them. During the day, the animals sleep in their shelters, and at night they are active. Possums feed on insects, small animals, juices and fruits of some plants.

Flying squirrels live in groups of seven. Each group has a dominant male and babies up to a year old. A distinctive feature of the group is its specific smell. It is the male who marks family members and his territory. The smell is considered a kind of sign of belonging; strangers are identified and expelled by its absence.

The energy of flying squirrels depends on the weather and time of year. During rainy and cold seasons, animals become lethargic and may even hibernate. This is caused by a lack of nutrition - this is how possums save vital energy.

A short description of the possum

This animal belongs to the class of mammals, the marsupial flying squirrel family. Outwardly, he is very attractive and incredibly cute, you just want to cuddle him. The size of the possum is about 20 centimeters, the tail is about the same length. They usually weigh around 150 grams.

The sugar animal has very strong, sharp claws, which are adapted for catching food and have excellent grip on any surface. It has excellent vision, yet it is a nocturnal animal, and its eyes are adapted to hunting and living in the dark.

On the territory of Russia, the sugar animal appeared quite recently, but in such a short time, it was able to attract the attention of a large number of people. This resident of Australian eucalyptus forests will be a wonderful pet for anyone.

You just need to conscientiously look after him and take care of him

This resident of Australian eucalyptus forests will be a wonderful pet for anyone. You just need to conscientiously look after it and take care of it.

How long do sugar gliders live?

This charming furry animal has received many names from humans. The sugar glider is called a marsupial flying squirrel, a sugar squirrel, and a small flying phalanger, but all this is the same funny big-eyed animal.

In appearance, it is a bit like a squirrel with a thin body that appears wide due to the presence of a flight membrane. This amazing adaptation, given by nature, helps the flying squirrel glide among the trees (or from the closet to the sideboard).

The sugar glider is a marsupial, like all Australian aborigines. An exotic baby appeared in Russia relatively recently, but has already attracted the attention of Russians. A resident of the Australian forests, New Guinea and Tasmania, he can live well at home, becoming a member of the family and everyone’s favorite.

The sugar glider, whose life expectancy when kept at home reaches 15 years, lives no more than 7-8 years in natural conditions; This is probably due to the dangers that await a poorly protected animal in the wild. Only great caution, sharp eyesight, keen hearing and a good sense of smell, and even rare agility help him escape from enemies.

At home, a cat or dog can become an enemy of a sugar glider, so it is not recommended to have a defenseless animal in a house where these predators live. The cat will probably see the baby as potential prey; the dog, even if it does not hunt him, will frighten him with its aggressive barking. Sugar possums live in families in the wild - they require constant communication. Sitting alone in a cage, the animal will certainly get bored - so much so that it can get sick.

How long sugar possums live in captivity depends on the conditions that the owner creates for him. Babies require a lot of care, and good nutrition alone is not enough. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to spend a lot of time with the animal, taking into account its nocturnal lifestyle. All night long the animals are noisy and active. When bored, the possum may begin to bark loudly in a thin voice to attract attention. Released from the cage, he (due to his natural curiosity and thirst for movement) rushes around the room, flies up the curtains and flies down.

Of course, the nocturnal adventures of the sugar glider bring a lot of anxiety to the owner, but it is not recommended to adjust the mischief glider to a more convenient daytime schedule, and it is unlikely to succeed - it is contrary to his nature. So, before you settle this - certainly an interesting and cute creature - you need to think carefully.

Feeding

The most important question that the happy owner of a sugar glider will have to face is what to feed the animal. Proper nutrition is the key not only to health, but, consequently, to a long and happy life. The smell and mood of your pet also depend on this.

In the wild, the sugar squirrel is an omnivore. The main part of its diet consists of fruits and insects. When feeding, you should adhere to the following principles and rules:

1. The 70 to 30 rule – 70% of the diet is protein, the remaining 30% is carbohydrates.
2. The feeders are filled with food and the drinking bowl with fresh water immediately before the flying squirrels wake up - at approximately 9 - 10 pm. In the morning, you need to clean the feeders and leave the water. If a possum has access to food 24 hours a day, it will suffer from obesity. Representatives of this subspecies are able to wake up in the daytime and sleepily drag a treat into the nest, falling asleep on the move, often with an unchewed piece of food in their paws. The maximum that can be left for the possum during the day is a piece of fruit or dried fruit, as well as a little juice diluted with water.
3. If your pet doesn't drink for a long time, don't be alarmed. Sugar squirrels can get enough moisture from fruits. Despite this, water in the drinking bowl must be constantly present in the cage. It is better to use filtered or bottled water and change it at least once a day to prevent harmful bacteria from growing in it.
4. Foods from the human table are prohibited for feeding: fatty, spicy, fried, salted, sausages, etc. The maximum that can be allowed is chicken or turkey meat, cooked without salt and spices.
5. Sweets (honey, fruits) can be given to the animal in limited quantities - as a treat, to support the female during pregnancy and feeding the cubs.
6. The food should contain as much calcium as possible (the domestic sugar glider is very sensitive to its deficiency) and as little phosphorus as possible.
7. All vegetables and fruits should be cut into fairly large pieces that will be easy for the squirrels to pick up in their paws. The animal will not like small pieces.

Products necessary for the normal development of the dwarf flying squirrel:

Protein

• Insects – you can feed your pet live grasshoppers, fly larvae, crickets, mealworms and zoophobas (Latin worms, a favorite delicacy of the sugar glider). The daily norm for an adult older than six months is 2–3 zoophobass per day, 5–8 mealworms or 1–2 large banana crickets. All of these insects can be purchased at a pet store. Many sugar glider breeders breed gliders in plastic containers with sawdust. They eat cucumbers, apples and cereals. They can live up to 3 months. You can also feed the possum no more than once a week with one-day-old chicks or other small chicks.
• Meat - about 30 grams per day per individual, boiled without salt and spices, lean (chicken or turkey).
• Fermented milk products - no more than 2 times a week: natural low-fat cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk, children's curds and yoghurts without preservatives and additives, including sugar-free.
• Quail eggs without shell - no more than once every 7-10 days.
• Baby food – puree for first feeding, possibly with meat.
• Porridge - once every 7 - 10 days, they must be cooked exclusively in water, since milk is extremely harmful for flying squirrels. The healthiest ones are oatmeal and buckwheat, you can add fruits, dried fruits, candied fruits, honey (literally a drop per serving).

Carbohydrates

• Whole fruits and vegetables are the main source of carbohydrates. A possum needs about 35–40 grams of fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables of various types per day. These can be peaches, oranges (if the possum is older than six months), kiwis, apples, pineapples, bananas, avocados, watermelon, melon, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, mangoes, papaya, carrots. Products with a laxative effect (beets, pears, plums) should not be offered to your pet.
• Juices and fruit purees – up to 20 ml per day. It is advisable to give the animal freshly squeezed juices diluted 1:1 with water, or juices and purees intended for children under 3 years of age, without preservatives and sugar.
• Any dried fruits, except prunes - 1 - 2 pieces per day (cherries, pineapple, dried apricots, etc.).

Treats

• Nuts – 2 small or 1 large nut per week (peanuts, hazelnuts, pine).
• Honey - only as an additive to the main food, about 1.5 teaspoons per week.
• Drops – no more than one per day.

What to feed your sugar glider

Reviews from sugar glider owners indicate that the main rule for a healthy diet for a flying squirrel is the exact ratio of proteins and carbohydrates: a ratio of 7 to 3. Water should always be present in the animal’s drinking bowl. Food should be given only while the animal is awake; it must be removed in the morning. Having food during the day can make your pet fat.

The possum's diet consists of fruits and insects. Sometimes you can give honey, plain yogurt and poultry without spices. Feeding what is on people's tables is strictly prohibited! Also, you should not give the animal grapes and a lot of nuts.

Relationships with people

The opossum is not an endangered animal, although due to deforestation and loss of habitat, possums are becoming more common in urban and suburban areas.

The opossum has long been known in the United States, particularly in the southern regions, which have many culinary recipes and folklore relating to the opossum.

In Dominica and Trinidad, the animal is still popular today and can be hunted at certain times of the year. You can even buy such an animal. Its meat is traditionally fried or stewed. It is light, fine-grained. Used in dishes instead of rabbit or chicken.

Historically, hunters in the Caribbean would place a barrel of fresh water or rotten fruit to attract fruit-eating game.

Unlike hunting ferrets or arctic foxes, these animals are not hunted for their fur. In Mexico, their tails are used as a folk remedy to improve fertility. Possum fat, which is highly acidic, is used as a remedy for arthritis. Our children know this funny animal from cartoons. Crash and Eddie, the possums from Ice Age, became their favorites.

The hooligan, impudent brothers annoy everyone, but at the same time they take care of their named sister, they are cheerful and kind.

Opossums are kept in zoos, where they can live up to 7 years. Children especially love to watch and feed them.

Conditions of detention

At home, the sugar glider requires maximum space. We must remember that the animals are very active, and their element is trees.

• It is better to keep them in spacious enclosures with a distance between the bars of about 1.3 cm. The bars should have a polyvinyl chloride coating. The animals are very smart, so you need to take care of a secure lock.
• The cage should have a drinking bowl and several feeders. Before hanging up the water bowl, you should make sure that your pet is accustomed to it. Otherwise, the animal may simply die of thirst. Feeders should be metal or ceramic, small in size.
• Climbing devices should be built inside the cage. These could be branches, pipes for rodents, ladders, ropes.
• Necessary for a possum in a cage and a hanging house. It can be wooden or fabric. The passage into the house should be seven to nine centimeters in diameter. If you have a couple of animals, then you may soon have offspring. In this case, the house will need to be lowered so that the kids don’t fall.
• Since gliders mark territory, the cage and its contents will have to be washed frequently. At the same time, you need to be very careful with detergents. Everything should be rinsed well.
• Animals should not be allowed to roam freely in a house where other animals or birds of prey live.
• It should be remembered that possums do not like drafts, temperatures below twenty degrees and bright lighting.

Feeding

Prohibited products:

• birdseed;
• cheese;
• raisin;
• grape;
• lettuce;
• a large number of nuts.

An approximate balanced diet:

• Fruit is the most important product in a possum's diet. They should make up 70% of the serving.
• Protein food should make up 30% of the serving.
• Food should have less phosphorus and more calcium.
• Give little sweets, only as a treat.
• You can give some meat supplements (unsalted boiled chicken or turkey).
• You can’t do without live food (grasshoppers or zoophobes).
• Once a week you should give honey, which has a good effect on digestion.

Of course, keeping sugar gliders is far from easy. However, those who are not afraid of difficulties can safely get fluffy marsupial flyers and they will give about fifteen unforgettable years of companionship.

Sugar glider: description, photo, character, care and maintenance of the flying squirrel

Exotic animals in apartments are not uncommon these days.
Many people, for various reasons, do not want to be content with a cat or dog, but instead get iguanas, tarantulas, snakes, ferrets and many others. There is a lover for everyone, and at the sight of such a cutie as the sugar marsupial flying squirrel, a rare heart will not tremble in tenderness.

However, before running headlong to a pet store or breeder, you should carefully familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the animal, think through all the nuances and correlate them with your own habits and daily routine.

The body length of the marsupial flying squirrel (possum) ranges from 15 to 21 cm, the tail length is similar. The fur is soft and short. The color is most often ashen, there is a dark stripe on the back, and a light belly.

Externally, the sugar glider resembles a squirrel, but it is impossible to confuse them, because this animal has a number of characteristic features:

• the membrane that allows it to fly (more precisely, glide over fairly long distances) is located on the sides between the front and hind legs;
• rounded, rather large and very mobile ears;
• big dark eyes.

The possum can bend its tail and even hold small objects with it. And due to its opposed fingers and sharp claws, it handles food very deftly.

About life in nature

They live mainly in the forests of Australia, preferring eucalyptus trees, and almost never come down from the trees. They are active at night and sleep during the day in natural shelters, such as tree hollows. They feed on the juices and fruits of some trees, insects and small animals.

They live in groups, which include about seven adults, led by a dominant male, and babies up to a year old. A distinctive feature of flying groups is the specific smell with which the leader marks the territory and members of the group. This smell is a kind of sign of belonging; strangers are expelled due to its absence.

The activity of flying squirrels depends not only on the time of day, but also on the season and weather. During cold or rainy seasons, possums become lethargic and may hibernate. This is connected with food - this is how animals save energy.

Sugar squirrel making at home is becoming increasingly popular. Due to its nocturnal lifestyle, the sugar glider is suitable for owl people, and its charming appearance will not leave anyone indifferent. However, like any animal, this animal has its pros and cons, only after carefully weighing them should you decide to buy.

Important! Males mark territory, and in a rather foul-smelling way. So, at a minimum, the tray, and at most the entire cage, will have to be washed regularly.

It is also worth remembering that it is impossible to train a possum to relieve itself in a certain place, so it will do this in flight, and accordingly, when walking outside the cage, it will almost certainly stain the floors, furniture, and even the owner.

When getting a pet, it is worth considering that flying squirrels at home live even longer than in the wild. Although how many years the animal will be with you depends on nutrition and care, it is worth keeping in mind that this is more likely 9-12 years, and not three years, like a rat or a hamster.

Possums have a number of undeniable advantages, which are serious incentives to have just such a pet:

1. They are incredibly cute and funny, especially if there are several of them.
2. Pleasant to the touch.
3. They are friendly and trainable (they can learn a couple of simple commands and funny tricks).
4. They tolerate captivity well.
5. They become attached to the owner.
6. Clean.

Against

There are several characteristics that can become a serious obstacle to owning this cute animal:

1. They are nocturnal and quite noisy (they move loudly and can make barking sounds).
2. They have a specific musky smell.
3. They may bite.
4. They require strict adherence to the diet.

At first glance, it may seem that a possum at home is not very different from a commonplace hamster, which every second person had in childhood and did not cause much trouble. But the flying squirrel is not at all so simple and requires special conditions. If for you the main criterion for a good pet is “doesn’t cause problems,” it’s better to bypass it.

Important! Sugar gliders are very social animals. If you are not ready to give your pet attention most of his waking hours, then it is better to get a pair. We recommend either a different sex or (if you don't want them to reproduce) two sisters. It is better not to take males - this is fraught with conflicts, even fights.

Where to keep

Keeping a pet like a flying squirrel at home requires, first of all, a lot of free space, because in their usual habitat they cover long distances, constantly moving through the trees.

So the first thing anyone who decides to get such an animal will need is a very spacious cage. It also has special requirements:

1. PVC coating of rods, the distance between which should be from 10 to 13 mm.
2. A reliable lock that a flying squirrel cannot open.
3. Drinking bowl and small feeders for different types of food, firmly attached to the rods.
4. Your pet needs climbing aids that mimic its natural habitat and allow its claws to be worn down. These can be branches of trees or bushes (without thorns!) or interior items similar to those placed for rats.
5. It is necessary to have a house with a small (7-9 cm in diameter) opening where the flying squirrel can hide during daylight hours. If a litter is expected, the house should be lowered to the bottom so that the babies do not break if they fall out.
6. Everything that makes up the animal’s home or is located in it should not contain materials that could poison the flying squirrel if it starts gnawing on them (no plastic!).
7. The tray is lined with soft material in which the animal will not get entangled.
8. Attractions (wheel or others if desired) are especially important if pets rarely leave their cage - they need physical activity.

We invite you to read: Feeding cows - norms and rations for cattle 2019

How to care

In principle, caring for a sugar squirrel is not as scary as you might imagine at first glance. The main thing is to follow a few rules:

1. Wash your home regularly - the house every 3-4 days, the cage itself - every day.
2. Provide sufficient opportunities for movement and communication.
3. When walking, take precautions: remove traumatic and breakable objects from the room where the animal will fly, close the windows and mirrors with curtains (so as not to crash).

The flying squirrel does not need vaccinations, combing or bathing. But the claws will have to be trimmed if the animal was unable to sharpen them on its own. The procedure is no different from that for a cat (it is important not to damage the blood flow).

What to feed

The basic rule of a healthy diet for a flying squirrel is a combination of proteins and carbohydrates, which should be maintained in a ratio of 7 to 3. Fresh water should always be in the drinking bowl, and food should be given only while the animal is awake; it must be removed in the morning.

Having food during the day can lead to obesity. The flying squirrel's diet consists of fruits and insects. Occasionally you can give yogurt (without additives), boiled dietary poultry meat (without spices), honey (natural). It is strictly forbidden to feed what people eat.

Also, you should not give flying squirrels grapes (in any form) or overfeed them with nuts.

If you already have other pets, especially those that move freely around the apartment/house, you should be careful when getting a flying squirrel. It is worth giving up the possum in the following cases:

1. If you have cats, dogs and/or other animals that could harm her.
2. Do not get such a pet if you have small children. If handled insufficiently carefully, the possum will bite.
3. Flying squirrels are also not compatible with the presence of thorny or poisonous plants (they will get hurt/poisoned).
4. An aquarium without a lid can be fatal to them. Flying squirrels cannot swim and can drown if they get into water.

You can buy a sugar glider in pet stores specializing in exotics, or directly from breeders (since they reproduce quite actively in captivity, this is quite possible). Prices range from $100 to $250.

Remember that an animal is not a toy. Before purchasing, carefully consider your expectations, wishes and capabilities, and consult with the owners. If you still decide, then good luck! Sugar squirrel will give you many bright and unforgettable impressions.

Home and family April 28, 2014

The marsupial flying squirrel is a small squirrel that has won the hearts of residents almost all over the world. The second name is sugar glider. At home, maintenance is not particularly difficult. In the article you will find a description of the animal, get acquainted with its living conditions and receive recommendations for keeping it.

Description

The sugar glider is small in size. Body length is about 20 cm, tail is from 17 to 20 cm, weight is up to 170 g. The body is thin, although it seems wide due to the flying membrane. The muzzle is pointed and short. The tail is so flexible that the possum can twist it into a spring and even carry small objects, such as twigs, in this way. The claws are long and thin.

The animal has protruding and large eyes that can see well in the dark (it is a nocturnal animal). The fur is soft and thick. The top is ashen, with a brown stripe in the middle. The abdomen is light cream. There are albinos. Possible (rare) yellow and brown color. At home, the sugar glider lives up to 11-12 years (the record is 17.8 years). In captivity, life expectancy is much shorter - only 9 years.

The sugar glider has a membrane that starts at the front legs and ends at the hind legs. Thanks to this feature, animals “glide” through the air, extending their jumping range to fifty meters.

The “flight” is coordinated by the tail and paws. Female posums have a pouch (like a kangaroo). Male individuals tend to mark not only their territory, but also their entire flock. For these purposes they have characteristic glands.

Nocturnal lifestyle.

Feeding

Should the sugar glider at home eat the same as in the wild? This question worries almost every new owner of this animal. Let’s answer right away: you won’t be able to recreate all the conditions of wild nature at home, but it’s quite possible to get closer to them. By the way, feeding a possum is not as difficult as it seems. We'll start with the list of prohibited ingredients.

So, what should you not give to your possum? Do not feed cheese, lettuce, large amounts of nuts (just a little is fine), grapes, birdseed, grapes and raisins, or chocolate. The possum's diet should contain at least 70% fruit, the rest - protein food. Leave the diet so that the animal receives more calcium and less phosphorus.

Pros and cons of keeping at home

American marsupials, of course, can be used as inhabitants of a European apartment, but before making a choice in favor of such an exotic pet, you should think carefully. Initially, we are still talking about an animal that historically was not domesticated by humans, like, say, a horse or a dog. Therefore, be prepared for surprises, and not always pleasant ones.

Below we will try to systematize the advantages and disadvantages of keeping a possum at home, but it can hardly be guaranteed that this list will be exhaustive: humanity has accumulated too little experience in this matter.

So, let's start with the cons:

1. Opossums are nocturnal, with all the consequences that follow from this: on the one hand, you will not be able to play with your pet and admire its funny antics at the time of day at which you are usually awake, on the other hand, think about whether you will like it constant fuss and rustling all night long.
2. For an opossum, you will need to acquire quite expensive accessories, first of all, a cage. In addition to the fact that this entails additional and considerable costs, such a structure takes up quite a lot of space (for an animal the size of a cat, a small cage where your hamster lived well for many years will not be suitable).
3. Despite the need for a cage, the opossum must be periodically released to free range, otherwise for the animal you will turn into an ordinary jailer, and there will be no talk of any contact with your pet. If you want to limit your pet to the size of its home, get fish. Or hamsters.
4. The cage must be constantly cleaned, otherwise an unpleasant smell will very quickly appear in the apartment, the animal itself will feel uncomfortable, and such a neighborhood will not bring joy to either party. By the way, opossums can be trained to use a litter box, but if with a domestic cat this process is quite easy and in most cases successful, then in this case everything is not so: a lot of effort will need to be invested, and there are no guarantees!
5. An opossum is not a cat that can be picked up and cuddled at any time (however, cats don’t always like this kind of treatment). These animals generally do not like being picked up and torn off the ground, and the animal will not feel any obligations towards the one who feeds it. On the Internet you can find a lot of “cute” videos of how a happy possum squints in the arms of its owner, but remember: each animal has its own character, and no one can guarantee that your chosen one will behave in a similar way.
6. For an opossum, you will need to carefully prepare a diet, because ready-made food, which is sold in abundance for more common domestic animals, has not been developed for such an animal. There is nothing particularly terrible about this if you know what opossums eat, but we still considered it right to put this factor on the list of disadvantages.

Cannibalism is quite common among possums. So, if you don’t want your children to watch in horror as their pets devour their own children and each other, find out in advance what needs to be done to prevent such a phenomenon, or choose a less bloodthirsty pet. And now about the advantages. They exist too. In particular:

1. Opossums are quite calm “tenants”; they rarely display open aggression.
2. With good care, no unpleasant odor comes from these marsupials. They are quite clean and there is no need to bathe them.
3. If you manage to tame the animal and find a common language with it, it will give you many pleasant moments with its funny pranks.
4. The animals live quite a long time, however, this circumstance can also be considered as a disadvantage if the relationship does not work out.
5. Your guests will definitely be surprised, because it’s unlikely that any of them can boast of such exoticism in their own home.

Today it is not difficult to surprise with exotic pets: monkeys, lemurs, raccoons, capybaras, degus, dormouse, jerboas, piglets, as well as crocodiles, iguanas, leopard geckos, chameleons, salamanders, snails, and spiders are kept at home.

If you think that the listed advantages are worth putting up with some inconveniences, go ahead with an unusual purchase!

Nutrition and reproduction

An animal's diet can be completely varied, but it must contain microelements, proteins and carbohydrates. In the summer and spring seasons, the animal feeds mainly on squirrels, namely grasshoppers, worms and other insects.

In winter and autumn, the diet consists of eucalyptus leaves and acacia leaves. We must not forget that the sugar glider has a terrible sweet tooth. He will never refuse tree sap and sweet fruits, so keeping a sugar glider at home will most likely hit your pocket.

These animals breed 1–2 times a year, and the period of gestation lasts only 18 days. In females, maturation begins at 1 year, males mature several months earlier.

Since the sugar glider belongs to the order of marsupials, the female before giving birth licks a path into her pouch so that the newborns can easily find the nipples. Usually 1–2 cubs are born, and this only applies to wild nature.

A young mother feeds her babies until 2 months, after which they look for food for themselves. How long do sugar gliders live ? Life expectancy is quite long and varies depending on the conditions of detention. In captivity they live for about 9 years, and at home - 12.

How to care for an opossum at home?

• An opossum, like a cat, can wash itself with its paws. But, unlike cats, the former love to swim.
• By the way, if you suddenly notice that your pet smells unpleasant, it means he may be sick. In this case, you will have to urgently show the animal to the veterinarian, since a healthy possum never produces foreign odors.
• If you do not plan to breed opossums, castrate the male. In this case, its natural smell will be significantly reduced.
• How to care for an opossum at home? The main hygiene processes for an opossum are as follows - just clean your pet’s cage more often. Do this at least once every 7 days.

How to care for a flying squirrel

Judging by the reviews about the sugar glider, caring for it at home is not as scary as it might seem at first glance:

• Once every 3-4 days it is necessary to wash the cage;
• constantly provide the animal with the opportunity for communication and movement;
• when walking, remove traumatic and breakable objects from the room;
• when walking, it is worth covering mirrors and glass with curtains or fabric so that he does not crash into them;
• there is no need to bathe or comb the animal;
• The animal does not need vaccinations;
• If the animal does not grind its claws down on its own, they must be trimmed.

Possum nutrition

In nature, animals obtain their own food on their own. By the age of two months, they are trained to obtain at least some food for themselves. We can say that by this age they become independent. And for the first 2 months their mother takes care of them.

She feeds them milk, protects them, warms them, and carries them in her bag. The main thing for a pet is that its diet includes protein and carbohydrate foods. For example, something like:

• Fermented milk products are required. This is the main source of protein and calcium. The main thing is not to leave such products in the cage for a long time, otherwise they may turn sour, and after eating it, the animal can easily become poisoned.
• The main diet should be insects. For example, worms. All this protein food is sometimes bred by the owners themselves to feed their pet;
• Possums are very good at eating various vegetables and fruits. They will happily eat pears, apples, and pumpkins. Many vegetables can be given;
• Dried fruits and berries are used as delicacies. With their help, you can tame your pet with your hands, or some tricks;
• There must be a salt stone in the animal’s cage. They need it as the main source of various minerals.

The best time to feed a flying squirrel is before he goes to bed. You can safely give different pieces of fruit or vegetables. Protein food is best given late in the evening, when the animal wakes up. This will give him great strength before the night's festivities.

What do pet gliders eat?

Wild animals rarely come down to earth in order to get some food for themselves. They mainly feed on trees. They mainly feed on worms, take out insects from under the bark of trees, and eat berries and fruits.

Sometimes there were moments when the possums became very impudent and began to steal fruits and vegetables from nearby villages. But domestic animals eat a little differently, although the diet is similar.

But experts recommend giving these pets a certain, balanced diet. It is very close to what squirrels eat in the wild, but with its own small nuances.

Very often, to make cooking easier, owners cook porridge, sometimes even use baby food. The most important thing is that they do not contain milk powder.

In order for your pet to grow healthy, strong and not have stomach problems, it is necessary to maintain a balance of protein and carbon foods. Do not forget about the periodic supply of vitamins and minerals.

Feeding

Prohibited products:

• birdseed;
• cheese;
• raisin;
• grape;
• lettuce;
• a large number of nuts.

An approximate balanced diet:

• Fruit is the most important product in a possum's diet. They should make up 70% of the serving.
• Protein food should make up 30% of the serving.
• Food should have less phosphorus and more calcium.
• Give little sweets, only as a treat.
• You can give some meat supplements (unsalted boiled chicken or turkey).
• You can’t do without live food (grasshoppers or zoophobes).
• Once a week you should give honey, which has a good effect on digestion.

Of course, keeping sugar possums is far from easy. However, those who are not afraid of difficulties can safely get fluffy marsupial flyers and they will give about fifteen unforgettable years of companionship.

Feeding the sugar glider

First, let's talk about what a possum should not eat. It is necessary to exclude from the diet: cheese, raisins, grapes, nuts.

The most important product in a flying squirrel's diet is fruit. They should make up almost 70% of the portion. The remaining 30% is protein foods. The flying squirrel's diet should contain more calcium and less phosphorus. You can add meat supplements to your pet’s menu: unsalted boiled turkey meat, for example.

The possum also needs live food: grasshoppers or zoophobes.

Keeping sugar gliders is not easy. But if you are not afraid of difficulties, you can have active and funny squirrels who will become your good friends for 15 years.

Let's draw some conclusions

As you noticed, the creature is extremely interesting, cute and attractive. Starting from an unusual sweet tooth to the amazing features of sounds. If you want to listen to these sounds right now, there are many audios on the Internet that are easy to find!

So you can listen both live and online. But it’s worth finally recalling that although the animal is cute and funny, it is on the verge of extinction. Listed in the Red Book.

For this reason, some refuse to purchase it, and some even try to open specialized nurseries with ideal conditions for them!

Let's summarize

As we can see, this sugar animal has many positive qualities, especially for keeping it at home. But unfortunately, this species is now listed in the Red Book, so people are trying to take care of them and their population as much as possible.

This cute animal is distinguished primarily by its unusual affection for its owner. Indeed, his behavior is very similar to that of a dog.

Therefore, as soon as the possum feels that you are not a threat to him, but, on the contrary, a faithful friend, a master who feeds and takes care of him, he will calmly become your faithful partner.

Drawing a conclusion, we can safely say that this furry animal will become an excellent pet, with the right approach to it.