Message:

Subject: Re: Galvanized Wire Cages?
Posted by Larry Hardy on July 30, 1998 at 17:53:47:

In Reply to: Galvanized Wire Cages? posted by April on July 29, 1998 at 19:56:14:

: I am fixing to build a new cage for my glider and get him a mate. I have read that you cannot use galvanized wire. I have also heard that it won't hurt them. I have looked everywhere for wire mesh that is not galvanized and it is not to be found in this town anyway. If you have experience with galvanized cages please help me. Thanks.

April;

There has been a lot discussions concerning galvanized cages and Sugar Gliders. Has there been a definitive study regarding health problems associated with these cages and Sugar Gliders? NO! With that in mind I would like you to consider the following.

Birds have been known to run into a problem with ingesting zinc and other heavy metals.

Having said that, it should be noted that birds are notorious for chewing on a cage and have an extremely strong bite and a very hard beak. For these reasons, they are probably more prone to getting the zinc into their systems.

I have a galvanized cage and clean it often, as the sugar gliders wet on the sides and the urine COULD break down the galvanized material into a form of zinc which CAN be ingested by the gliders IF they gnaw on the cage AND are using a STRONG bite into the metal.

With this in mind, you should always have available a SAFE type of branch for your Sugar Glider to chew on, it is only natural. I have observed my Sugar Gliders gnawing on the side of the cage occasionally, but they quickly become disinterested because I insured that I had a branch available at first and they always seem to use it.

Anyway, that's my opinion on the galvanized material subject and I am not really going to worry about it too much unless they start chewing on the cage more. Additionally, you could always get the cage powder coated.

As far as the caging affecting their movement or hurting them by straining their legs, it could be argued that the extra dexterity required (if there is any), could actually benefit them by strengthening their hindquarters benefiting them in other ways...

Larry Hardy

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