In Reply to: Please help regarding cage size.. posted by Bourbon on October 01, 1999 at 16:04:11:

: okay, lets see if I can do this without making someone upset..
: we hear all the time, and see it too, where petshops keep their gliders in very small cages..and I do try to sympathize with the petshops, with the nocturnal thing, they are nocturnal, but the people won't buy them if they can't see them, the problem is many times there sleep is seriously interrupted during the day. Some petshops keep them in small cages as to make it easier for an associate to get them out when someone buys them.. is this really fair to the gliders? In a breeder/private owner type of situation, many times they give the gliders an out of cage flight time. so with them it isn't a problem. Now what about the petshops? Of course it isn't as feasable...now for the questions..
: what would be considered a fair size to be mandatory that they (petshops)use as a minimum? the Usda Law says, that the cage
: " each of which must, at a minimum, provide sufficient space to allow each animal therein to make "normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement."
: and....
: ""Normal postural and social adjustments" and "adequate freedom of movement" are to be determined according to what is normal for that species under natural conditions. The spaces provided must, within each enclosure portion, comfortably accommodate species-typical postures, postural adjustments, and movement. "
: so if there are no regs for a cage size and these guidelines should be considered.. as vague as they are.. shouldn't the cage size accomate their "Glide" which is where I am sure the min, of 2' X 2' X 3' size came in?
: At this time, there is regs regarding Flying species, (ones that flap their wings) but not gliding species.. that call is left to the descretion of the Usda agent..
: What do you all think about cage size?? should there be a minimum requirement for gliding species as well?? If so what would be fair?? Not only to the glider but the petshops as well?
: do you know of a "good" petshop that carries gliders? what do they do in order to provide them space? how do they handle the daytime/nocturnal thing? Any suggestions?

You have answered my Questions and now I will try to answer yours.
I feel personally that it is ok to keep the gliders in a small cage during the day and sleep time it does facilitate sales
they should be kept in the same pouch all the time.
At closing the pet shop should be required to put the gliders in a larger holding area, with room to
move about. in the morning they can take the sleeping puuches and put the into the day time small cage.
the cage size needs to vary depending on the # of gliders in it 2x2x3 is fine for one or 2 ( my opinion since they will be sold to loving homes soon)
the more gliders per cage the larger the cage.
but hten you have all of the regs of male and female cage arrangements. so there is really alot to think about
but there should be an allowance to keep them in small cages during sleeping hrs i.e. day time and business hrs
I don't know what every one else thinks about this and I don't really care, because it is the way I feel

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