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Sugar Gliders
Prospective glider owner questions
Prospective glider owner questions
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Aug 04 2015
08:48:52 PM
Hi there, I am seriously considering getting a pair of gliders but have a couple of questions. I've researched gliders for months but do not have hands-on experience with gliders, so bear with me please. First off, how loud is sugar glider barking? I'm a pretty sound sleeper but live in an apartment. The gliders would be staying in the living room. How often do gliders bark? I know it varies per glider based on personality, but again, I need some insight. Do cage covers help (or laying fleece blankets overtop)? What about smell? I don't mind a bit of a smell but I don't want my apartment to smell like a ferret, like an in-my-face unpleasant smell. I'm looking at getting a brother-sister pair (male neutered). Do you believe there may be any unpleasant odors?
Also, I've heard several stories that if you play with them during their active hours (10-12) before going to sleep they will bark less? Again, just a story I would like to see if it was true or not.

Again, I'm really researching to see if I would be able to do this before jumping in, so bear with me. Much appreciated!

(Also note I will be very active at night most nights until maybe 1am as an owner)

Thank you!
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Aug 04 2015
09:01:43 PM
WithyWillow Glider Visit WithyWillow's Photo Album 97 Posts
As far as the barking, I only heard my suggie bark the first night I brought him home. If he has barked since, I haven't heard it. However, his previous owners (who neglected him) said he barked every night. When I find him a cage mate, it's also possible he might bark more in the company of his own kind.

My guy is smelly, but he is intact. I'm neutering at the end of the month, so the smell should lessen once the scent glands dry up. Aside from that, keeping the cage clean and washing the fleece keeps the urine smell down. I wipe down the cage with a vinegar water solution which seems to help neutralize things.
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Aug 04 2015
09:29:07 PM
Suga San Starting Member 5 Posts
Thank you! These are really the only two things I am worried about as I can give them plenty of attention, so that might cut down on barking a bit I'm guessing?
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Aug 04 2015
09:39:10 PM
WithyWillow Glider Visit WithyWillow's Photo Album 97 Posts
I think it probably depends on the suggies' personalities. I have a very laid back dude. He's generally not very vocal except for popping when he's happy and crabbing if there's too much light in his room at night. I think with his previous owners he was calling to them because he was dying of loneliness. So in his case, I think my affection has lessened his barking. I actually wish he WOULD bark, because I think it's cute.

But take my experience with a grain of salt. I'm sure there are plenty of owners here that will tell you that they have very vocal gliders. My guy is a lone glider that has never had another cage mate. He doesn't have the same mannerisms of one that is accustomed to colony life.
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Aug 05 2015
01:06:10 PM
dave.klatz Joey 39 Posts
i have 2 girls. one of them i thinks just likes the sound of her own voice. she'll bark maybe once a week especially now since i'm in finals and don't have a lot of time to play with her. i don't have time to reglider-proof the room so i just put my arm in the cage with them and let them run around on me for a few minutes and they'll be quiet the rest of the night. as far as volume goes, the barking is a lot quieter than crabbing. unless your neighbors are sleeping in the same room as your gliders they won't hear anything.

now for the smell, the girls i have do not smell at all. the diet does have something to do with this also. i keep my gliders in my office and i'm in here all day every day. i have a very sensitive nose and don't do well around animal smells. i currently have my girls on a diet i got from candy. www.gliderkids-diet.com/Staple-Recipes.html honestly the food i give them has a stronger smell than their cage, but it's a good fruity smell.
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Aug 05 2015
03:25:20 PM
SheilaWeila Joey 13 Posts
I doubt you would even wake up to hear them if they were barking in the living room. My glider barks in the middle of the night probably once a week and if I am awake or she wakes me up she will bark until I go to her and speak with her for a minute, but her cage is in my room. It is adorable if you are not trying to sleep. If you are getting a pair of gliders that are already bonded I doubt they will bark very much, maybe sometimes for fun or if they want something from you so long as you give them the attention they need to feel happy.

When it comes to the smell, it may depend on how clean you keep their house. Regardless of diet, gliders will have their own scent just like we do but different levels of protein and fats and varying combinations of fruits and vegetables will produce different body odors.
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Aug 05 2015
03:27:38 PM
WithyWillow Glider Visit WithyWillow's Photo Album 97 Posts
I do agree about the diet. Ever since I put Sebastian on the HPW Plus, his urine has gotten a lot less stinky. When I first got him though, it was potent.
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Aug 05 2015
03:34:14 PM
SheilaWeila Joey 13 Posts
My glider was on an odd diet before I got her and her cage was pretty smelly, but I feel it has balanced out.

I agree with the vinegar water solution to wipe down the cage and neutralize the smell. I take her cage out once a week and fully hose it down and sometimes I will use the vinegar solution and then hose it off and then make sure it is completely dry and the scent of vinegar has dissipated before putting Sheila back in or else she begins a battle of scents between her and the left over vinegar smell.
Prospective glider owner questions

GliderGossip GliderGossip
Sugar Gliders
Prospective glider owner questions