I had him for a while now and we are getting along just fine, But his cage stinks even though I have scrubbed it down. I don't mind the smell, but it irritates my entire family. They thought it got so bad that one morning I found his cage on the front porch. What can I do to help the smell?

Is your glider neutered? If not, that is probably contributing to the odor.

How often do you clean it? Change his pouches?

Diet can also have a role in smell, but if its a small odor they're noticing, there is probably not much to be done about it.

Gliders are going to mark up their cage though and also get food bits, poop/pee into the crevices. The more you clean, he may end up over-marking it making it stink more.

Julian is not neutered, so that's probably it, but I want him to be a breeder when he gets a little older. I clean the bottom and change his pouch often, but even when they are both out the cage still smells. After I took out anything that could contain smell it still stunk. What in his diet would make it smell?

How are you cleaning the cage? I see you mentioned scrubbing it, but not what you use to clean it?

How often do you clean and change his pouches? Too often can cause him to mark more.

Gliders do have some natural smell to them, but it shouldn't be BAD.

ETA: Oh, what is the cage made out of?

Clean the cage with vinegar water. That helps a lot!!

I change the pouch once a week. Mother said to use bleach on it then wipe it off with water again. The cage is made of metal. I don't know what kind of metal. I think his smell has a sweet hint to it, but my family says its sour.

Do not use bleach, it will kill him! Only a vinegar water solution. I use OdoBan from Sam's and it works great. Also do not overclean as it will make him smell more.

If you have any bleach on the cage now, clean it off really well and leave the cage outside in the sun to kill off any residue! I have heard of numerous people using bleach and their gliders died within 2 weeks.

Metal can also kill suggies, make sure your cage is powder coated and that there are no rust spots.

Look into different diets as what they eat makes them smell more. For instance, when my boys ate crickets or applesauce they smell very strong for a couple of days. Best is to pick a good diet and that will cut down on the smell.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by King_Julian</i>
<br />Julian is not neutered, so that's probably it, but I want him to be a breeder when he gets a little older. I clean the bottom and change his pouch often, but even when they are both out the cage still smells. After I took out anything that could contain smell it still stunk. <b>What in his diet would make it smell?</b>
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What kind of diet are you feeding? Ingredients and so on?

Alright, No bleach. Luckly he has been in my carry-about-pouch since I cleaned it. The only thing I feed him is a little cat food and three things of dog food as a default and fruit-apples, watermelon, grapes, etc-and I have only been able to get him to eat only one vegetable so far: Carrots. Anything else?

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Cfields1205</i>
<br />Clean the cage with vinegar water. That helps a lot!!
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I agree, and only clean half the cage at a time, half week 1, the other half week 2. Alternate toys & furnishings in the habitat as well for cleaning. As far as drop pan, use a liner and change out as needed or just clean that everyday without a liner. I use newspaper now, but plan on getting fleece when it's on sale and making a few washable liners. After I take out paper, I wipe rest of debris behind into toilet or trash, and wipe drop pan with "Natural Chemistry Healthy Habitat" It's a safe cleaner and deodorizer.

Not much else to do but neuter, I know you mentioned you want to breed, but you'll end up with more of what you have now, and if your family is complaining now, then you will hear a lot more when you have more gliders to care for.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Eki</i>
<br />Do not use bleach, it will kill him! Only a vinegar water solution. I use OdoBan from Sam's and it works great. Also do not overclean as it will make him smell more.

If you have any bleach on the cage now, clean it off really well and leave the cage outside in the sun to kill off any residue! I have heard of numerous people using bleach and their gliders died within 2 weeks.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I have never heard of bleach killing gliders...unless they are drinking it it will not cause any problems. Medical offices use it all the time to clean cages and I use it to clean mine. Dilute with water (one cap of bleach per gallon of water I think?) wipe down the cage and let air dry.

*edit: bleach kills bacteria very well but their lots of options to go with, I just happen to always have bleach on hand.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by King_Julian</i>
<br />The only thing I feed him is a little cat food and three things of dog food as a default and fruit-apples, watermelon, grapes, etc-and I have only been able to get him to eat only one vegetable so far: Carrots. Anything else?
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Have you checked out the diet link? http://www.sugarglider.com/gliderpedia/index.asp?Diet

Cat/dog food has no nutritional value to gliders and could definitely be contributing to the smell. They can get many health issues including 'hind leg paralysis' due to lack of calcium on this kind of diet. They need a better protein source as well. Baked or broiled chicken/plain scrambled eggs are good options. Fruit and veggies need to be fed every night and the diet page should outline the best ones to give. If you improve the diet you should see an improvement in not only smell, but coat, activity level and less health issues.

Julian doesn't like chicken or beef and isn't interested in live things either. I tried to get his to eat a cricket once, but he just ignored it. He ate a worm once. I do put fruit and the one vegetable(carrot) in his cage.

I do live on a farm and my families first harvest will be soon, Will the fresh food be better than the store bought food or is it the same?

Also, He would rather eat the dog food than the carrots.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by King_Julian</i>
<br />Alright, No bleach. Luckly he has been in my carry-about-pouch since I cleaned it. The only thing I feed him is a little cat food and three things of dog food as a default and fruit-apples, watermelon, grapes, etc-and I have only been able to get him to eat only one vegetable so far: Carrots. Anything else?
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Oh my, I just read more thoroughly and advise you to:

1. PLEASE find out what material cage is and if it's glider safe
2. PLEASE STOP feeding other pet foods to your glider, it's not formulated to give them proper nutrition they require. There are a list of diets to choose from under the GLIDERPEDIA "DIETS" section, choose one that will work for you.
IN THE MEANTIME: Feed cooked chicken or eggs for protein source and variety of fruit & vegetables, PLEASE check for glider safe foods that you offer them, and you will also need CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT that contains NO PHOSPHOROUS

Note: I would still recommend using vinegar and water to clean cage.

Just read Julian doesn't like chicken, try with honey on it, if not then please try eggs & honey. Also you can feed fruit blended yogurt as long as in contains no aspartame. It will provide calcium & protein, and is a tasty treat, but please look into those diets.

I use the Original HPW, and order a kit that contains High Protein Wombaroo powder and bee pollen in powdered form in the correct ratios, just mix with water (bottled), honey and scrambled eggs, it's really simple to follow the instructions and makes large batches so it's pretty economical also.

Good luck!

Also make sure meat & eggs are unseasoned, you can also try some baby food chicken mixed with honey like a "sap" formula.

Where I got my glider was a petting zoo in Georgia and they gave me the cage. I assume it's safe. They had Gliders for years in the same cages. They also gave me a book saying it was healthy to give gliders cat food. Such a contradiction in information.

Yeah. There's a lot of misinformation. A high-quality grain free cat food would probably be okay as PART of a diet (after all, that's pretty much what kibble made for gliders is). It shouldn't be the main source of protein, though. They need a nectar type component as well as fruits and veggies. Read through the link provided, and come back and ask any questions you might have! Everyone here is HAPPY to help in any way that we can.

Posting a picture of the cage will help us determine if it is safe or not. I think galvanized wire can hold the stank (as well as cause UTIs, so if that is what it is, we'll help you find a better cage).

Vinegar and water is good to clean the cage with. I also use Dawn and water, and then rinse well.

I use cat and dog food for a whatever food so Julian still has food when I don't put fruit in during the day or if he finished his fruit and has none left. It's only a default, I don't put it in there for nutrient purposes just as a whatever food. If you know what I mean?

If it's a high quality grain free cat/dog food then it can be given as PART of the protein requirement for a glider. Gliders are sap suckers and eating dry foods can potentially harm their mouths (if given in large quantities) since they mash their food against the roof of their mouths instead of chewing. Like everyone else has said, there is a link on the navigation bar that will show you different diets that are recognized and most are pretty easy.

For now, before you decide on a diet (which I would recommend because it takes the guess work out of it and you know your gliders are getting what they need) please feed your little guy 50% protein (chicken boiled in half apple juice and half water since he doesn't like chicken, eggs, shrimp, yogurt,) 25% fruit, and 25% veggies.


I know it's confusing at first because the book says one thing and we're all saying another but everyone here has experience with gliders and a lot of us have seen the effects cat/dog food has had on a glider.

They need 50% Protein, 25% Fruits, 25% Veggies.

There's nothing wrong with leaving some cat or dog kibble in his cage as a nibble kind of thing. If you live on a farm you no doubt have chickens,(forgive me if I'm making wrong assumptions) Some people actually feed day-old chicks.

Most people can give a chicken leg, boiled in plain water with no seasoning...gliders usually tear it up. Mine love 'em! You can give any type of chicken or turkey as long as it doesn't have seasoning.

A hard boiled or scrambled egg, again no seasoning is also a favorite.

If you don't use fertilizers or insecticides you could feed an array of insects you find as well.... mine LOVE moths!

You would want to also give them some yogurt, cottage cheese, a tiny bit of REAL cheese, no fake cheese good stuff.... this will give him the Calcium he needs so he doesn't suffer from Hind Leg Paralysis. Start off with just a tiny bit if he's never had it before. Some gliders are lactose intolerent. I've never had an issue with my 5 but again, start slow just in case.

Give it a try and see if he doesn't start looking better and maybe his odor will die down a bit, but it may not since he's not neutered. But he'll be healthier than he is just getting dog/cat kibble.


ETA: Oh, as far as bleach goes,...as long as you rinse his cage well it's fine to use. Just put yourself in his place. His paws are ALL OVER his cage, then he's gonna groom...you wouldn't want to rub your hand over dried bleach and then touch your face, eyes, mouth. Know what I mean? As long as you know you have rinsed it entirely and it doesn't leave a strong odor on the bars, you should be fine.

What JazzNZoeysmom says about bleach makes perfect sense, just also wanted to add that they eat with their hands also.

Something I don't think anyone else has noticed is that you want to breed him...is he lineaged? I'm assuming you haven't had him that long, I recommend having TWO gliders for at least a year before breeding (as does everyone else I've talked to). Also have you researched how hard it is to breed??? They are NOT like a cow, goat, pig etc. It's complicated. Please do more research ESP before you start breeding.

Considering you got him from a petting zoo I very highly doubt he's lineaged and that means you will just be contributing to the overpopulation of gliders. There are rescues all over that have gliders that need forever homes...the one that's local to me has over 100!

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by CountrynCrafty</i>
<br />Something I don't think anyone else has noticed is that you want to breed him...is he lineaged? I'm assuming you haven't had him that long, I recommend having TWO gliders for at least a year before breeding (as does everyone else I've talked to). Also have you researched how hard it is to breed??? They are NOT like a cow, goat, pig etc. It's complicated. Please do more research ESP before you start breeding.

Considering you got him from a petting zoo I very highly doubt he's lineaged and that means you will just be contributing to the overpopulation of gliders. There are rescues all over that have gliders that need forever homes...the one that's local to me has over 100!
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I did notice but wanted to tackle one issue at a time.
I'm sure others picked up on it also but didn't want to overwhelm her. She doesn't appear to be in the market for a new additon anytime soon so I figure we have a bit of time to address that issue once she gets the diet sorted out.

Ah ok :)

but what if he doesnt understand that its not like dogs or other animals where you let the male do his thing and then they go their separate ways. lots of people dont realize that the dad is needed to help raise the joeys and that mates should never be split up.

*Cough Cough*

She...

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by unknownxcelebrity</i>
<br />*Cough Cough*

She...
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...close enough. he,she,it whatever gender isnt a big deal the other stuff is what is important. but i guess im just used to people mistaking me for a male because of the name shadow i usually just ignore it.
but anyways didnt mean to hijack the thread lol

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by King_Julian</i>
<br />I use cat and dog food for a whatever food so Julian still has food when I don't put fruit in during the day or if he finished his fruit and has none left. It's only a default, I don't put it in there for nutrient purposes just as a whatever food. If you know what I mean?
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I find this diet link very easy to understand: http://www.sweet-sugar-gliders.com/sugar-glider-diet-basics.html

Read through it and some of the diet options. You will see that a hard staple food(such as a good quality kibble) can be left for them to snack on, but he does need a better source of protein in his diet. The recipes there and on gliderpedia have had the nutrients already figured out. Especially with the lack of variety in veggies that he will eat and the fruits you are offering, he needs a balanced protein mixture to balance out the calcium ratios.

I cut down on the apples and that helped - do you have a wheel in the cage...it needs to be cleaned too

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by King_Julian</i>
<br />Alright, No bleach. Luckly he has been in my carry-about-pouch since I cleaned it. The only thing I feed him is a little cat food and three things of dog food as a default and fruit-apples, watermelon, grapes, etc-and I have only been able to get him to eat only one vegetable so far: Carrots. Anything else?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Here's your problem, look under esources under diet asap! NO cat food.