In Reply to: new glider posted by Sky Villarreal on December 09, 1999 at 23:28:03:

I recently read that gliders do better in packs or with a mate, but if I'm only getting one, will this be bad for him/her or will it be fine alone by itself.

A sugar glider thrives on attention. If they do not get at least 2 hours of socialization a day they can become depressed and die. These animals can live to be 10 to 15 years and they bond so tightly to their peoples that some have experienced separation anxiety, and some have even grieved for the loss of their peoples when they were placed in another home. So you need to be prepared to accept that this would be a pet that you intend to have for the rest of it's life. It is not a good idea to buy any animal as a holiday gift. Why not research them a bit further first, then if you still want to share your life with one, get one at that stage.

And are the animals ever awake during the day,

Mine take long naps in the day time and short ones at night. They do wake up during the day usually just to get a bite to eat or to get themselves a drink.

and if so asleep do they mind be woken up.

I have several gliders that do mind being awakened when they are sleeping, but if I let them get a good smell of my hand they usually come crawling out of the nest and onto me. My gliders will actually beg you to take them out of the cage so that they can be with you.

Do they bite???

Yes they bite! Any animal will bite if provoked. There are the vicious dig in and go for the bone bites that will bleed and then again there is the social nibble which is a social behavior. It is a gentle nibble, mock biting like the way that a puppy will do.

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