In Reply to: Cant decide posted by Olivier Gaines on July 13, 2000 at 21:31:37:

Well, I have two sugar gliders and my brother has two ferrets. Before I got the sugar gliders I had considered ferrets, so really researched both and talked to as many owners as possible. Let me make a few points:

Housing:
Ferrets and Sugar Glider BOTH require cages of about the same size (sometimes bigger for the sugar gliders!), so if cage size is an issue it doesn't matter which way you go. Neither one should have cedar shavings because it can cause respiratory problems!
Ferrets can be litter box trained, Sugar Gliders cannot! However, ferrets like to steal stuff around the house and hide it places (my brother's try to steal everything from wallets and car keys to cat food and even shoes!)

Diet:
Ferrets are easy to feed because there are plenty of commercial diets on the market that have been proven to keep ferrets happy and healthy throughout their life. I would recommend Marshals if you can afford it (get a Marshals ferret too,if you can find one! They can ussually be identified by the tatoo on their ear, they have two dots on the right ear! Marshals hires people whose only job is to handle the babies so they are used to people).
With Sugar Glider there dietary needs are still be figured out and there are SO many differant diets out there. Also, their diets require alot more preparation, as they need fresh fruits daily, etc. Unlike with a ferret, you cannot just leave them with a feeder full of dry food. If you get a diet RESEARCH the diet!! Pet stores often have bad ideas on what their diet should be! Try Bourbon's Page, I think she seems to have the most informational site on diets, with the most reliable information. You can find it on the links section.

Companionship:
While both do best when kept in pairs, ferrets seem to make better "only children" then sugar gliders. But if you find one ferret entertaining to watch, get two and watch how the fun multiplies!
Both creatures will need your attention and play time. Many people give Sugar Gliders roam of the house, as well as with ferrets. However, be careful with both, especially if you have a sporting/hunting dog, especially huskies and malmutes becaue they often will see the ferrets as something to go after. The sugar glider, if they are bonded to you, will come back to you, but you have to watch what all they get into! From what I have seen, though sugar gliders need more attention fromt their humans and since they get VERY bonded to them leaving them or not being able to handle them for at least a few hours everyday can lead to a very unhappy sugar glider, especially if they don't have another sugar glider for a friend. However, with ferrets, while you can leave them for a few days without tramuatizing them too much, if they do not get handled they will get mean!
Ferrets are easier to entertain though, and if you have two, all you really have to do is let them loose in the house together, get a few toys, or ever just some socks or something, and they will entertain themselves!

Smell:
Ferrets, descented or not, will smell, because of the oils in their skin, and it will rub off on EVERYTHING, especially your clothes! At the smell lingers, until you wash them. Sugar glider also have scent glands but it is not as strong of an oder.

The Law!:
Check out the laws in your area about both of these pets!! Some outlaw sugar gliders, many outlaw ferrets that are not fixed, and some outlaw them all together!

Life Span:
If kept on a good diet, sugar gliders can live 10-15 years. This means alot because they get so bonded to their owners that it can be very traumatic if a few years down the road you realize that you do not have time for them or for some other reason you need to find a new home for them.
Ferrets live about 5-8 years, but adjust better to getting a new owner.

Vets:
While many say that sugar gliders should recieve regular vet care, however, this is not always easy because it is hard to find a vet who even knows what one it, let along who knows how to treat one!
Ferrets do need regular check-up and shots! Rabies is especially important if you are taking them outside, and they love to go for walks (on a leash!).

As another note, sugar glider are nocturnal and will be most active at night, ferrets are awake in the day. Also, it may take more time to bond with your sugar glider than with your ferret.

Price:
You can find Sugar Gliders as cheap as ferrets, but they are ussually more expensive.

I'm sure I am leaving stuff out, but this has gotten pretty long! Basically just talk to as many people as possible research on-line etc. .. .

Kerry (with Jack and Gus-Gus)

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