 | Posted by: | Jessica, Jess100856@aol.com | | Subject: | please help. I need ur opinion | | When: | 7:39 PM, 11 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 152.163.201.52 |
I really want a glider but I'm only 14 and I'm not sure if that's a good age or not to get one. Please write back or e-mail me with your opinions. Thank you so much!
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| Posted by: | Kiwi, none | | Subject: | none | | When: | 8:48 PM, 11 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.46.139.189 |
People 10 or under shouldn't get one. I think that if you are sure you are committed, have done about the recomened 6 months (or so) of research, found out about their downsides, and still want one it would be fine to get one.
The only thing is they live quite a while, and if you are planning on going to college it might pose a problem. I hope that this helps, and other people will help.
| Posted by: | Katie, katescritters@hotmail.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 10:13 PM, 11 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 207.148.144.212 |
Hi, I am 15 and have gliders, Kiwi is right...do your research and know what you are getting in to. I hope you are willing to stay up late to spend time with them. Mine wake me up almost everynight at 12 so I can play. I play with them for usually an hour then and then in early morning before I go to school. Make sure you have time for them. Email me if you have questions.Katie
katescritters@hotmail.com 
| Posted by: | Barb, blooprints@yahoo.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 2:08 AM, 12 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 63.180.48.16 |
Get yourself Caroline MacPherson's book SUGAR GLIDERS, and read it. Then decide if you are committed to spending time daily with a glider for the next 12-15 years. (Younger people tend to get bored, and it is not fair to the glider if you cannot commit to spending time with it.) Age is relevant for the reasons mentioned. If after you and your parents have read the book and have come to the conclusion that you are capable and willing to care for a glider, I say go for it...but if you have any doubts, don't. (A good rule of thumb for anything is: If in doubt, don't.)
| Posted by: | none | | Subject: | none | | When: | 5:59 PM, 12 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 205.188.199.161 |
do sugar gliders carry any diseases? any comments would b appredciated!
| Posted by: | Kiwi, none | | Subject: | none | | When: | 7:34 PM, 12 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.46.139.185 |
Despite what some people think, sugar gliders only carry desieses if their previous owners had a very bad enviorment and other animals that gave them desies. They can get sick from:
Lonliness
Hind Leg Paralisis
Unsafe Plants
| Posted by: | Justin and Shadow, sweettooth23000 | | Subject: | none | | When: | 10:43 AM, 13 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 168.58.33.131 |
I got my glider at age 13 and I'm doing great with Shadow. If you're ready for one, go for it!
| Posted by: | CJ | | Subject: | none | | When: | 12:06 PM, 13 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 64.1.143.122 |
I would think very hard about getting one. Just think, in about 4 years your going to be off to college (At least I hope you would further your education) What are you going to do if you can't bring your glider with? My first two years of college I was forced to live in a dorm and there was no way they would have allowed an animal to live there. Even my apartments afterwards have not allowed animals. You have to realize that this animal is going to depend on you for the next 15 years for everything. I don't know your situation but I barely had enough money to feed myself in college let alone vet bills and food for an animal.
Now that I'm settled down an have my own house, my wife and I are glad we waited for pets. Our Gliders get all the attention they need and vet bills are no problem. We have moved once since we got them two years ago and a move put tons of stress on them. I think back only a few years ago when I was 18-23 years old and I was moving all the time from one place to the next. That kind of stress on a glider would have killed them.
Food for thought... If you can handle a glider for the next 15 years, you will have a great companion that will return your love 10 fold. They are the most amazing creatures on earth.
Craig
 <--Rafiki
 <--Abu
| Posted by: | Ashweed, sheena850@hotmail.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 6:25 PM, 13 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.105.131.65 |
Hey, I'm 15 and i studied up on gliders for months before buying Tiki and Kalua and their twin joeys, my advice is, if you feel you are ready and can live up to the responsiblity they need, Go for it!! IF you can't then don't, seling sugar gliders after a couple years is very cruel! So please make sure u are up to the resposibility before you buy one.
| Posted by: | Jessica, Jess100856@aol.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 9:56 PM, 13 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 64.12.104.37 |
Thank u so much for all ur help! I could still use more though so keep 'em comin!
| Posted by: | Jessica, Jess100856@aol.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 5:19 PM, 15 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 205.188.195.147 |
Please keep responding. I'm still not sure what to do. THANX!
| Posted by: | Kiwi, none | | Subject: | none | | When: | 5:25 PM, 15 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.46.139.89 |
Tere are a couple of issues
1.Have you done lots of research(finding out about downsides, food, caging requirment, and bondin' are the main ones)
2. The other thing is college. CJ covered that one.
Uh, I don't have a glider and am youngish, so I can't talk!
| Posted by: | Jessica, Jess100856@aol.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 5:29 PM, 15 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 205.188.195.147 |
I have done lots of research and know everything I think I should know. The college thing is the only thing that I'm worried about? Does anyone REALLY think it's a bad idea for me to get one?
| Posted by: | Barb, blooprints@yahoo.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 6:53 PM, 15 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 63.178.69.6 |
Jessica, only you can answer your own question...Have you talked it over with your parents? Do you have any idea where you'll be going to college? Do you get easily bored?? (Will you get tired of having to care for the glider??? The commitment is serious because it would be very unfair to the glider to get it, have it bond to you, then decide to sell or get rid of it...If there is any chance that will happen, then don't get one....On the other hand, if you handle one and it's love at first sight for both of you, you might be hooked with obsesive compulsive sugarglideritis....Good luck with your decision.
| Posted by: | Jasmine, Spookie_Girl@yahoo.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 5:31 PM, 16 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 165.247.116.219 |
Jessica-
If you are not sure what you plan to do with your pets within 15 years, I'd say you need to wait a while. I'm not saying I'm against someone younger having a sugar glider as a pet, I'm just saying you should keep that in mind and have a good plan. Gliders live 15+ years and switching owners is really tough on them.
Cost is another thing to consider. These little guys aren't cheap to keep. If you aren't sure your parents are going to help you out or you won't have the money to care for them, wait until you have finished school. We just witnessed a post on the AcmePet board from a young person your age who was stricken with guilt and grief because his parents wouldn't spend the money to take his dying glider to see a vet. The parents wanted to save their money for "Christmas gifts" instead. 
I have found from my own experience and the experience of others that these are the things you MUST buy and this is how much you will spend on them:
You should be prepared to spend $100-250 on the glider. I've found the going rate is $150, but there's shipping to consider ($75-200). Buy from a reputable breeder who people have heard of and recommend on this board. Avoid petstores.
$8 for a book (I recommend the one published by Barrons). $100-$250 on a cage (animalsexotique.com has good deals with free shipping). Buy a PVC-coated cage, and avoid bird cages...they're tough on the feet and not really well designed for climbing animals. $5-8 a month on RepCal (vitamin for reptiles found in the petstore). $15-$20/month on fresh food (fruit, nuts for treats only, and a regular supply of mealworms/crickets). $5-8 for a food bowl (kind that hangs off the side of a cage). $5-8 for a good hamster water bottle. About $15 for a Wodent Wheel. $15 for a decent nestbox. $15 for a pouch (or you could buy a fanny
pack...make sure it's venthilated though). $25+ initial cost on toys (bird toys, cat toys and hamster toys can work well). $30-60 for the initial vet check-up (A MUST), and the same each year for an annual check-up.
Keep in mind that you can easily run through +$500 if your glider gets injured or sick (NOT UNHEARD OF). You (or your parents) should always have this money on hand in case something like that happens. Sugar gliders must get vet care just like a dog or a cat, and denying them that is cruel.
Along with the expenses, you must consider the time you will need to spend with your pets. They will need about 2 hours of out-of-cage attention each night. Until they are bonded to you, they need more like 4-6. You must do this EVERY NIGHT. If you don't, you must find a pet sitter who can. This is very important to consider if you are traveling or hanging out a party or a friend's house. Dedicated sugar glider owners do not have much of an evening social life...at least not with humans.
If you aren't 100% sure that you will have the time and money right now for a glider (or in the near future), follow a path of patience. It is worth waiting until you do have the resources. The rewards are better and the worst that will come out of waiting is that you will be more prepared to be a kick-butt, more responsible pet owner. In the meantime, you could always volunteer for a zoo or wildlife center or you could join a club (VERY FUN).
Hope this helps ya!
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