How to Build a Sugar Glider Cage

While there are a myriad of commercial cages available for small animals, finding the right cage for certain animals is not always easy. Sugar gliders naturally require a lot of space for moving around, and finding a commercial cage to suit them will be difficult if all you have at your disposal is the local pet-supply emporium. Luckily, the requirements for caging a sugar glider are simple, and with the right supplies, you can construct your own sugar glider cage from scratch, fashioning a large, spacious and easy-to-clean enclosure that will last for years. All of the materials that you need should be available at your local hardware store.

Things You'll Need

  • Eighteen to 20 feet of 24", 16g wire mesh coated with vinyl or powder coated. The spacing between the mesh should be no larger than 1" x ½"
  • Two hundred nylon cable ties or zip ties, or 200 J clips and pliers designed for J clips
  • Sharp flush cutters for cutting wire
  • Pliers
  • Hot glue or a sturdy silicone sealant
  • Hook to serve as a door latch
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Instructions

    • 1

      The first step is to cut the wire mesh into appropriately sized pieces. You should cut four sides of 3' x 2' each, top and bottom pieces 2' x 2', two shelves 2' x 6', and the door, which will be 1' x 2'.

    • 2

      Take one of the 3-foot wall sections; in the center of this panel, cut a hole that is 22" tall and 10" wide. This is the door opening. Glue some of the plastic trim to the inside edges of the opening, as well as along three of the four sides of the door panel that you cut earlier. The door can be secured about 1" from the hole, creating a small overlap. Use the J clips or zip ties to connect the door to the panel and attach the door latch to the opposite side.

    • 3

      Lay all four sides down on the floor in a row, making sure that when you lay the door panel down, the door is facing the floor and not up toward you. Decide where you want to attach the shelves.

    • 4

      Use cable ties or J clips to attach the long end of each of the two shelves to the cage sides wherever you want them to appear. Make sure plastic trim is glued to the edges that are facing out, so that there are no sharp edges.

    • 5

      Take one of the side panels and attach one side of the top and bottom to it on each side. Make sure that the bottom panel is raised a few notches from the ground, so that there is space for the bedding. The top of the cage, on the other hand, should be attached to the very edge of the top of the side panel.

    • 6

      Attach the sides to each other, adding zip ties or J clips to the top and bottom to secure them in place, and to each of the sides to connect them to one another. You should now have a sturdy cage.

    • 7

      Use the silicone sealant to attach the plastic trim to the cage to finish off any sharp edges.

    • 8

      Choose to use either a pan bottom or a sliding tray to catch bedding and droppings, depending on your tastes. If you decide to use a sliding tray instead of a pan, make sure the bottom of the cage is raised high enough, and remove the excess wire on one end of the cage so the tray can be slid in.