Differences for “ birth ”

<Include(SugarGliderMenu)>
  
Female sugar gliders are able to conceive young at about 7 to 10 months. After 
about 16 days in the mother, the baby is born, blind, weak, under-developed and 
with a weight of only 0.2 grams. It must then find its way to the mother's 
pouch where it will finish its development attached to one of four nipples for 
about 70 days.  Eighty one percent of all litters will consist of two joeys.  
Joeys are weaned 110 to 120 days after emerging from the pouch, which is about 
16 to 17 weeks (Kahn, 1656).
  
For many years it has been generally accepted that baby sugar gliders are 
weaned and ready to be pulled from mom at the age of 8 weeks. Although most 
joeys can survive when removed at this age, especially with human help, this is 
NOT a good age to separate them from their family. Mom will continue to feed 
them for weeks and they will wean themselves eventually on their own. During 
this time the joeys will learn to eat real foods from their family and they 
will learn skills needed to survive in their world through their continuing 
interactions with their family.
  
I have found that joeys removed at an early age will often go through a biting 
phase as they begin to test the world around them much like a teenager would.  
When the animal is alone, this biting can escalate and cause all sorts of 
problems for both the owner and the single animal.  When left with family, the 
adults tend to teach their kids how to interact with things and biting is much 
less of a problem.
  
My suggestion is to leave joeys with the family unit for a minimum of 12 weeks, 
and forever if possible.  A colony cage is the best way to keep sugar gliders.
  
  
[YouTube:vDJB3Ia8EMA]
  
http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/Photos/3673/100_1243.jpg
http://www.sugarglider.com/glidergossip/topic.asp?ARCHIVE=true&TOPIC_ID=10695&whichpage=1
  
  
  
  
  
= References =
Kahn, Cynthia M., ed. __The Merck Veterinary Manual__. 9th ed. Whitehouse 
Station: Merck, 2005.