Oh, thank goodness, Gravehearted. I’m so glad Finn can’t catch my cold because I think I look forward to hand-feeding little carrot pieces as an evening treat more than Finn does! LOL  I am supposed to be going to a gathering for members (I am a mod) for another animal forum this weekend…that’s in three days…and I am sick, sick, sniffly miserable sick.   I am just doing all I can to heal quickly so that I can go!

PS-That avatar of yours is fantastic..I love it!

Thanks so much, everyone!  I am feeling a *bit* better today, so hopefully by Friday I’ll be able to go somewhere!

Scarlet Rose, with sugar gliders and females costing more, I posed your question to my fellow glider friends at http://www.glidersanonymous.com and what I got back was that many types of animals call for a higher price in females because the females can carry babies.  You can have males and not profit from them without a female to carry the babies, so it has to do with breeding concerns as best as we could tell.  When you have a female, you have the capacity to stud with a boy and create offspring (called "joeys" in the glider world).  This is often standard practice with many types of animals (dogs, hedgehogs, etc.).   The owner of the glider site I mod for does not charge more for females.  I do not breed…I just love my gliders as my family!   I suppose it’s intended to deter those who want to breed impulsively by making it cost more.

Aren’t they the cutest ever!??

Yes, quite right, you do neuter the males!  The females, however, are not to be spayed because the operation is extremely complex and dangerous to their tiny little bodies. By neutering males, a pair of two male/female gliders will not reproduce.  You can introduce same sex pairs and/or colonies (up to five gliders together) as they would in nature, but it is always critical to neuter the males, even if they will be kept with other males.

There is a BIG problem with gliders in the U.S. in need of rescue and rehome care due to careless ownership and not neutering males. It is very, very sad…and there are literally hundreds and hundreds of gliders being born who are unwanted…and then they mate with each other and cause inbreeding and health concerns.  Sugar gliders are a very complex companion animal, but for the person who is knowledgeable, responsible, and has a lot of time and attention to devote to these little ones for the next 10 to 15 years (their average life span in captivity), they are absolute angels.

They are truly brilliant, beautiful, and heartwarming little creatures and my life in infinitely enriched because of their presence.   I have to attach a pic of them now…here are my little angels, Trinket and Spark, playing in their playhouse ( a preschool toy for babies to put blocks in, turned "house" for my gliders). -Jen

11010473880571.jpg

Scarlet Rose, my darling, you should know that nothing brings a smile to my face more than talking about sugar gliders, so you can ask and ask and ask away with any questions and I’ll never get tired of answering! LOL 

You most definitely are welcome to join the fun at Glider’s Anonymous…it’s the same type of sincere, caring, delightful forum as Binky Bunny…but for gliders!    I could not be a moderator somewhere if I didn’t love it, and that forum is like a silly second home to me!  I’m so tickled with glee that you can’t get enough of gliders…they are truly the most remarkable animals I’ve ever met, and I’ve met many!  This does not take away from my love for my precious dogs or Finn…but there is something so uniquely magical about gliders…really.

Ask questions all you want…here, there, anywhere…I’ll be more than happy to answer them…especially if I can help prepare you for caregiving for some little suggies oneday! Love, Jen

PS…here’s another pic…this is Trinket, she’s saying "hiya" with a papaya!

1101020256071.jpg