Environment Enrichment

Sugar gliders are colony animals and do require changing interaction to stay mentally healthy. They are also hunting animals and require alternative stimulus when caged to maintain mental health. This is why environment enrichment is very important to their well being. This article is a list of ways to enrich your pet's environment.

CAGE

You should have the largest cage possible to house sugar gliders. Wild suggies will travel great distance in a night of hunting and play. Space is needed for leaping and exercise and mental interest. It is well known that sugar gliders kept in small bird cages are much more prone to health and mental issues.

EXERCISE

Much like most kept small animals, sugar gliders need exercise. To attempt to supplement what they are missing by being caged, exercise wheels are super important. It is recommended to have two 11"+ exercise wheels in every cage, even if there is a single glider.

BOXES and TUBES

Sugar gliders love to investigate things. You can help generate interest by inserting a new cardboard box into the cage nightly or often. Your suggie will sniff all over it and mark it and hide in it. Sometimes males will chew on a box as an outlet for mating angst. Paper tubes are good items for play as well.

FOOD

In the wild sugar gliders have to search for their food, so if you can move the food around the cage nightly, this can also keep their mind active. This is done at most zoos and is a form of environment enrichment. You could also hide bits of food in places ie. put tiny holes in a branch and place bee pollen for the glider to dig out.