I just picked up my pair of sugar gliders last night and I was given a cage to go with them. The cage is smaller than what I wanted but I figured it would do until the bigger cage I ordered comes in. As soon as I got them home within 5 minutes the female had found a way out of the cage. I had to put them back in the travel carrier I brought them home in. What can I do until their new cage comes in and I get it put together. It seems cruel to keep them in the small travel carrier but I don't have a choice right now.

Can you figure out how they are getting out of the other cage and fix it up until your new cage comes in? You can go get this stuff called "Hardware Cloth" that is found at most hardware stores (Lowes, Home Depot) You could wrap the cage in the hardware cloth and tie it on with zip ties. This is the material most people use when they make their own cage. Just get the coated hardware cloth and not the wire. It's pretty cheap!

I made a cage with wire mesh that has 1/4in squares cuz one of my suggies was better then Houdini at escaping before I got my nice cage. If it won't be too long for the new cage to come in you could just be sure to have lots of play time with in a secure room or tent. I'm not as expert as some people on here but I assume extra playtime would help a lot.

Tisha - I didn't see how she got out of the cage it was so quick. I was sitting right there and must have been distracted by the other one. I was afraid to put them back in after that since it was the first night and I didn't want them to get away and not be able to find them. It really made me nervous.

I can't get to the hardware store tonight, I will try to go tomorrow. I just feel so bad that I don't have a new cage for them but I knew I wouldn't have it when I picked them up so that is why I bought the cage from the other owner.

It makes you wonder how these babies stayed in the cage before they came to you? Probably didn't though, they probably played the escape artist gig and then went back to the cage later.

I put them back in the cage last night and I watched closely this time. It again took the female less than 2 minutes and she was out. I realized the bar spacing is too wide. The male is too big to get out through the bars but the female gets right through. I have no idea what happened before I got them. Maybe the original owner knew and just didn't tell me.

I'm just really upset about it because I bought the cage from her so I could go ahead and get them home and not worry about how long their new cage will take to get here. It's my fault for waiting to make sure I was getting them before I ordered the cage but it is a large purchase.

I don't think anyone faults you for this fiasco with the cage. Anyone would think they could safely assume your babies can stay within the confines of a cage.

Not to mention the investment in a large cage before you even have the animal. I was very lucky that when my adopted my new baby this week that her owners gave me her HUGE cage with her. So now I don't have to be concerned with finding a larger cage now that I have 2 suggies.

I understand about little escapees! I had converted my old cockatiel's cage into a quar. cage for my new little glider and had used the hardwire cloth to wrap around it, and apparently had missed a few spots and out she popped! I would keep them in something safe until your new cage arrives or until you can put the cloth up. Also make sure the room that they are in is as glider proof as possible. Spend lots of time with them outside the cage as well!

See if you can talk to their old owner and get a refund on the cage because it is not suitable for them as one keeps getting out!

I'm going to go get the hardware cloth tonight hopefully. Does anyone know approximately how expensive it is? I'm still going to get it but just want to be prepared. Hopefully this will help until the new cage gets delivered.

I know a couple people have advised spending more time with them out of the cage but is this a good idea since I just brought them home Tuesday night and they are in a new environment and have no idea who I am?

I think I bought a roll of the hardware cloth for under $20. That should be way more than you need too but it's good to have.

As far as spending time with them outside the cage, kind of gauge their reaction to you. If they still seem very scared, I'd leave them be for a few more days. You can hand feed them treats through the bars, talk to them, etc...let them know you're a "good guy" not a bad one.

Okay $20 isn't much. I just didn't want to be spending so much that I could be buying a whole other cage.

They do seem scared of me. The female more than the male. The female hides and I've barely seen her eat. The male has taken a piece of fruit from my fingers but then runs and hides. They both crab at me a lot when I come near them. Even when offering a treat they crab at me, grab it and run.

It's hard to convince them your a "good guy" when they aren't in a proper cage with enough room for their toys and things. The original owner said the female was friendlier and the male really hadn't bonded with her but the female seems way more scared than the male. The female is also missing part of her tail so she has been through trauma in the past.

Then, I'd leave them alone for a little while longer. Just keep being persistent and patient. Do you have a small pop up tent that you could do "tent time" with them in after a few more days? This worked wonders for me and one of my original girls that was very difficult to bond with. She just did not want to trust me. It did take a few months with her, but she is one of my SWEETEST, most trusting gliders now. These two just may take some extra time and patience but they will start coming around if you keep initiating interaction.

Thanks Kyro, that is just the gut feeling I got, was to leave them a few more days. I'm hoping the cage comes in soon and I can move them to their new home and let them settle and then try to bond with them. I don't have a tent yet but it is the next thing I will buy. Like I said I didn't want to buy all the costlier stuff for them until I knew they would be coming home with me. I know that I am at least the 3rd owner of these two so I don't know how much they were handled before so I am definitely ready to be patient and persistant.