How to Introduce a New Sugar Glider to an Older Sugar Glider

Sugar Gliders are little marsupials that resemble flying squirrels. They are growing in popularity as pets because they are small, smart and very social. Even the most social of creatures can get jealous, though; so if you already have pet Sugar Gliders, they may not think you need a new one. How you introduce new Gliders plays a large part in how they will be accepted. Choose a new Sugar Glider that is at least 10 weeks old. Anecdotal evidence suggests that young females are the easiest to introduce to older, neutered gliders, but it̵7;s not a hard-and-fast rule.

Things You'll Need

  • Separate cage
  • Toys
  • 6-inch blanket squares
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take your new Sugar Glider to the vet for a fecal float/smear test before bringing her home or at least within the first few days. This is important because some parasites can lay dormant for weeks before you realize they are there.

    • 2

      Place your new Sugar Glider in her own cage and keep it separate from the older Sugar Gliders' cage for at least 30 days. This quarantine is necessary partly to prevent the sharing of parasites if you have not taken the new one to the vet, but also to give your new Sugar Glider a chance to get acclimated to her new surroundings and to bond with you. And, if she is very young, to grow a little bigger.

    • 3

      Exchange blankets and toys between the new and older Sugar Gliders so that they can get used to each other̵7;s scents. Do this after the 30 day quarantine is over and you have a clean bill of health from the vet. Move their cages to within sight of each other but well out of reach.

    • 4

      Choose neutral ground to introduce your new Sugar Glider to the older ones. Throwing them all together in a cage is just a bad idea because somebody could get hurt. Let them discover each other in a more open area.

    • 5

      Stay with your Sugar Gliders to see how they interact and especially to intervene if things get rough. Sugar Gliders are little, and they will rear up on their hind legs, chatter and swipe, but unless they actually start biting each other, it̵7;s all for show.

    • 6

      Increase the time your Sugar Gliders spend together a little bit, every few days, until they bond with each other. In rare cases, they just won̵7;t like each other, no matter how long you give them, but Sugar Gliders are social animals and usually accept each other.