Message:

Subject: Playtime & Calcium
Posted by Debra Jay on September 04, 1998 at 14:47:31:

In Reply to: Re: unsupervised playtime posted by Bourbon on September 03, 1998 at 21:53:05:

My sugar glider gets up in the evening and goes to bed in the morning like clock work. I can set my watch to his habits. This is my question. I am not a night person, so I feed Willie and talk to him while he is in his cage in the evening. I get up early in the morning and open his cage door. He usually chooses to come out and play. He will jump to me, but then he loves to scamper around the counters and the floor and on other furniture. He usually doesn't venture any further and I am always there with him. But, after reading some of these posts on the dangers these little guys face, does someone have a list of things to watch for -- how to glider proof. Obviously, he moves so fast, he could get hurt with me right there. Also, he does like to glide and sometimes picks a destination that gives him nothing to grab onto. Now I'm terrified that he might break his leg. Are short falls to the floor dangerous or are you talking about high dives off of ceilings, etc. I would be devistated if something happened to this little guy because of my ignorance. I have a sugar glider book, but it doesn't cover more than the basics. Is there a good in depth resource book on sugar gliders? Also, my sugar glider barks a lot at night. Either my husband or I go downstairs to say hello to him (my husband is very dear, but he jokes about not having a good night's sleep for the next 15 years). I worry that willie is terribly lonely at night. He has a large cage and lots of parrot toys and clever perches and ferret toys. Will he be all right amusing himself? I carry him in my pocket while he sleeps most days, but that isn't waking interaction. A sugar glider is so different from any pet I've had that I worry all the time about doing it right. Also, should I be giving him a calcium suppliment? I try to get calcium rich foods, but other than yogurt, he doesn't eat many of them. He likes corn and chicken and some fruits. I give him a big variety, but he has his finicky little tastes.

I know I've loaded this with a lot of questions. I appreciate any help you can offer.

Thanks,
Debra J.

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