Poll Question: I researcher for 2 months around ...and it payed off...i got my glider and my report that i did on them went into a vet magazine. Choices: didn''t do any research a day or two of research a week of research a month of research two months of research three months of research more

Honestly I dont think children should have gliders at all. They are too complex for kids to understand. If an adult is prepared to help that is great and I can see how it would be a great family experience. Assuming your mom is a competent Vet, I do feel a little better about you having them. Although, I really don't want to visit this forum in 5 years to see that you want to rehome them because you are "too busy" to take care of them anymore.

It took me two years of research before I was ready for my gliders. During this time I not only found out the good and bad points but found a good vet and saved up for a large aviary for them to live in and also could afford two gliders to start with.

I also agree with AJ, I don't think they are an animals that a child should have.

my little brother asked me for one, and I flat out told him no....Not to be mean, but I couldnt imagine even having sugar gliders in high school, let alone having one earlier than that...I mean, it's just that you don't know how your schedual is going to change, your lifestyle is what an animal like a sugar glider depends on. They can live up to 10-15 years! that means you need a perminant experianced pet-sitter if you ever plan to go outta town, hopefully you'll have kind enough roomates/husband/wife/GF/BF that will do that for you. I took care of exotic birds when I was younger and these guys I think are just as hard-if not harder to maintain. Especially in diet. If you really do plan to get a sugar glider, you should spend your time until then doing as much research as possible and include your mother in your findings so she can help you out! best wishes.

I now believe that when you do research an you think you know everything, do some more. Special when it comes to these little critters. Bt I was given my suggies, an knew NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I was on learning over load the instant I got them home. That was back in July. An have been on the learning train since.

As with everything in life its a constant learning experience.

I am only 14, but I have a sugar glider and looking for another. But, I am responsible. I have her in the bonding pouch all on weekends and from 3pm to 7:30pm when I get home from school. And, I play with her in my room from 9:00pm-midnight or later. I did do many months of research before actually getting one though. I just really love animals--especially suggies.

I know what you mean about like kids not having them. I can't imagine any of my friends to be responsible enough. It is a lot of work, but I give mine a great home no matter my age.

I don't know how long you should research - but definately a good amount of time. I have been interested in Sugar Gliders for the past 5 years but it took me 6 months of research before I finally got myself my own pair. I couldn't be any happier and am sure glad I did the research that I did !

I was wanting one for a long time about 2 yrs so I did some research but my life was hectic at the time and my boyfriend wasn't so sure about it. Than about 6 months ago he jokingly said that we were getting some but we had to get two b/c if I got one then he wanted one :). So I did even more extensive research knowing that I would be getting two. So I think alot of research should be done and time and consideration should be given before purchasing these babies as pets.

I researched for about 2 1/2 years before I got my first ones. I still research every chance I get in case I run across something I did not know before. All 10 of my gliders are happy for it too!!

i couldnt really answer this poll
i dont think theres a timeline on researching. Some people take it in better than others. You should go at your own pace, and learn all you can about them, and ask people for their honest openion is about getting a glider. outsiders can see a lot you cant.
Even after you get a glider your research still needs to continue if you wish to be a good owner.
but with that said i dont think children should have gliders. I think maybe their parents can, and the child could help with the care of the glider, but a child should not be the sole caretaker.
Also i got one of mine without knowing much at all. He was my bf's and when my bf moved he couldnt take him, so i had been around him a bit, and given him his food once in a while but i really didnt know anything!thank goodness bumbum was perfect, and my bf already had him on decent diet! so i did my research and took a crash course basically! i took everything in i could and kept going. a while later i ended up getting 2 more, and they werent fromt he best homes, so they werent in the best shape or had the best attitude and boy am i glad i had done research. If i ended up with theses 2 as my first it would have been tough for a very long time!
to this day even though my little ones have passed i continue to keep myself updated and do research. I dont think i'll ever know it all. One day( hopefully soon as we are in the process of buying a house!) I will get more.

I think that anyone can be responsible enough to own a sugar glider. Whether they are 12 or 56 (not picking on anyone. Just random age selection). Those who are not responsible enough choose not to be. I know that I am responsible enough and I'm not even 14 yet. I just needed a bit more experience with small animals. And maybe a push. But I think I have learned almost everything about sugar gliders. That will probably be proven wrong very easily, but I still know more about gliders by looking on this site for the past month or so, than my VERY experienced friend. I'm just incredibly glad I researched first. But keep in mind that there are 46 year olds out there that would kill a sugar glider within 2 days because they aren't responsible. Age doesn't matter. It's mindset.

i have to agree with the last quote of Stripedfire...

"Age doesn't matter. It's mindset."

Very well said... I'm 18 and was given my glider, a cage (small 1.5x2.5x3 bird cage), and a bag of dried food from a friend who was allergic and had no experience or idea of anything about them at all, for a $100 and had no experence myself... After getting the glider, i started studying gliders and spending hours, sometimes nights, at a time looking up as much as i could... i have now had my glider since about January, and would think of myself as a good caretaker... i now have two gliders in a 3.5x2x5.5 cage that i built myself, who are on a BML diet, and have many toys and a lot of play time... i don't believe age is an adequate measure of responsibility... Granted, i may move out soon, but i will only move into a place that will allow caged pets, it's just another sacrifice...

only things i disagree with is, sorry, but you should never say you know everything about anything...

And even if you are educated and ready, that isn't always enough... i would be sure that your parents are 100 percent supportive of you... I mean, even if you are the sole provider, at your age, i'm pretty sure you don't have a job... And if you have a glider and have an emergency, and need to take it to the vet, i'm guessing you would not be able to pay for it... That is where you would need the complete support of someone else... You would need to be sure that if u needed to take you glider to the vet, your parents would help you, no questions asked...

I'm not saying you shouldn't have one... I respect the idea that you've done so much research at your age and i think that that shows responsibility... I'm just saying this for the sake of your future gliders... Just make sure that your not taking in pets that you can't care for, no matter what their need is...

I've been researching sugar gliders for about a week or two now. That may seem like a short time, but when I say research them, I've really researched them. I've been online finding out every possible thing I can all day for days. I can't wait to get my new little guys so this is the only thing for me to do! And anytime I think of anything I'm not sure of, I ask someone on here or another suggie website. I feel that I'll be ready in a week or two!