Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

 

Sugar Gliders: How to Select a Sugar Glider Breeder


It is important to choose a sugar glider breeder carefully. A breeder should be able to tell you a lot about the particular glider(s) you're interested in (lineage and genetics, any health issues, etc.). Most breeders will also be able to answer any questions you have after you bring your sugar glider home, which is very important if you are new to sugar gliders! Sugar gliders are wonderful pets, but they have specific needs that are different from other pets.

Before you buy a sugar glider from a breeder you find on the internet, read their website and ask others about their experiences with this breeder. (Ask questions in sugar glider forums such as those on the glidercentral.net website.) The majority of breeders you will find on the internet are wonderful people, concerned with raising quality, healthy sugar gliders. But there are some sugar glider "breeders" on the internet who spread misinformation about what is required to keep a healthy, happy sugar glider. Their general attitude indicates that sugar gliders are simply a commodity.

If you see a breeder offering sugar gliders extremely cheaply (less than $100), it is a probable sign of a sugar glider "mill". Additionally, be skeptical of a breeder who imports and/or breeds everything from anteaters to penguins to tigers. Those breeders do not specialize in sugar gliders and probably do not fully understand the species and its needs. They are more likely to sell you a sick or inappropriate sugar glider. Choose a well-run breeding facility whose first concern is raising quality, healthy sugar gliders.

If at all possible, avoid buying your sugar glider from a pet store, where impulse buys are encouraged. The same goes for trade shows and flea markets. Buying a sugar glider should be a carefully-considered action. Frankly, many of the sugar gliders at pet stores come from "sugar glider mills". And bear in mind that the minimum-wage help at most pet stores will be unable to answer your questions about caring for your new sugar glider.

Whenever possible, choose a local breeder. That way, you can visit the breeder's facility to interact with the sugar gliders before you buy. Also, by buying locally, you avoid having to have the sugar glider shipped. Transportation and shipping are stressful for any animal, and sugar gliders are no exception. That said, there are reputable breeders who are very skilled at shipping sugar gliders, so if you cannot locate a local breeder, contact an out-of-state breeder.

You can find a list of sugar glider breeders who are also members of the International Sugar Glider Association (ISGA) on the ISGA website. You may not want to necessarily restrict your search to breeders who are ISGA members, but that is a good place to start. Additionally, entering the search term "sugar glider breeder" into Google's or Yahoo's search box will yield the names and contact information for many breeders.

Regardless of which sugar glider breeder you decide to contact, there are a number of important questions to ask:

How long have you been breeding sugar gliders?

Do you have the proper license(s) to breed and sell sugar gliders?

Do you have references and/or testimonials from other people who have bought sugar gliders from you? (Be sure to go ahead and check those references!)

Will you be willing to take my phone calls and/or emails regarding questions I have, once the sugar glider is in my home?

Do you have a health guarantee? How long is it? Can I have that guarantee in writing?

Do you guarantee your sugar gliders' ability to breed (only important if you are planning to breed them, too)? Can I have that guarantee in writing?

Do you handle your joeys (baby sugar gliders) a lot once they are out-of-pouch? How much time do they spend interacting with humans?

Was this sugar glider permitted to leave the pouch naturally, or was he removed from his mother's pouch early? (It is always best to leave joeys in the pouch until they are ready to leave, unless Mom is sick or deceased.)

You should also expect that a breeder will have a lot of questions to ask you! If the breeder does not ask you questions, it could be a sign that he or she is only interested in making quick money, not in providing proper, loving homes for their sugar gliders. A breeder may ask you:

Why do you want to buy a sugar glider?

Have you considered all the pros and cons of a sugar glider? (They should be able to tell you the pros and cons.)

Are you willing to make the time commitment that a sugar glider requires?

Are you willing to love and take care of this pet for up to 15 years?

What kind of housing/cage are you going to provide?

Are you willing and financially able to provide veterinary care?

Are there small children in your household, and if so, how will be they be supervised around the sugar glider?

Are there other pets in your household? What preparations have you made to insure the sugar glider will be safe from these pets?

What kind of food are you going to provide for your sugar glider?

All in all, the search for the perfect sugar glider for you and your family should be deliberate and carefully-considered. Remember, sugar gliders can live for up to 15 years in captivity, so it is worth your while to buy a healthy glider from a breeder you can contact in the future.

Miles Fowler is the author of Sugar Gliders: The Ultimate Guide, a comprehensive and authoritative book for both novice and experienced sugar glider owners. Learn more at:http://www.sugargliderauthority.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Pets - Google News

With a few rules, dogs and offices can mix well - USA TODAY


USA TODAY

With a few rules, dogs and offices can mix well
USA TODAY
There's something about having a dog there to pet." Dogs in the workplace are "a growing phenomenon," said Rebecca Johnson, director of the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri's College of Veterinary Medicine, ...

and more »

Proposed Bill Protects Pets of Domestic Abuse Victims - Patch.com


Proposed Bill Protects Pets of Domestic Abuse Victims
Patch.com
Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who's district also falls partly into Clearwater, extends legal protection to pets of an abuse victim and makes beating or abusing the victim's pet grounds for violating a court-ordered domestic violence injunction.

and more »

Pet Photo Friday is almost here - submit your photos now! - AnnArbor.com


Pet Photo Friday is almost here - submit your photos now!
AnnArbor.com
Knowing that there are many fun-loving pets that live in and around our area, we're anxious to see what you've been up to. Why not submit a favorite photo of your pet? What fun activities did your pets get to enjoy this week - a hike, perhaps or a trip ...
Delta Society(R) Is Now Pet Partners(R)MarketWatch (press release)

all 2 news articles »

Alison Sweeney Backs 'Million Pound Pledge' for Pets - Zootoo.com


Zootoo.com

Alison Sweeney Backs 'Million Pound Pledge' for Pets
Zootoo.com
Some health problems for overweight pets can include, but are not limited to, diabetes and heart disease – diseases overweight humans can also suffer from as a result of their weight. But Sweeney kept up her interest in pet obesity, and for the second ...
Consumers Pamper Pets With Healthier ProductsManufacturing.net
Pampered Pet Business Booms in USVoice of America
Women with HIV/AIDS pets make a differenceallvoices
MarketWatch (press release)
all 36 news articles »

Fracking's Toll on Pets, Livestock Chills Farmers: Commentary - BusinessWeek


Fracking's Toll on Pets, Livestock Chills Farmers: Commentary
BusinessWeek
A new study by veterinarian Michelle Bamberger and Robert Oswald, a professor of veterinary medicine at Cornell University, chronicles case studies of dozens of farmers and pet owners in six states over the Marcellus Shale. Their findings, published in ...

and more »

Shelter pets find forever homes - Idaho Mountain Express and Guide


Shelter pets find forever homes
Idaho Mountain Express and Guide
Over the past three decades, the shelter has adopted out more than 11000 pets and has been named one of the top nonprofits in the valley by the readers of the Sun Valley Guide. In addition, a "shelter mutt" was named one of the best breeds to have.
PETS OF THE WEEKClarksville Leaf Chronicle
Adoption screening makes sure pets find 'forever home'Houma Courier
Shelter Exchange and Adopt-a-Pet.com Partner to Help Homeless AnimalsEON: Enhanced Online News (press release)
Patch.com
all 23 news articles »

Pets eat the weirdest things; pet proof your home - Daily Camera


KFOX El Paso

Pets eat the weirdest things; pet proof your home
Daily Camera
By Kat Burns Humane Society of Boulder Valley You never know what your pet might swallow. So take precautions to prevent severe injury that might require surgery. Photo courtesy Boulder Valley Humane Society Pets do not have the most discerning palate ...
Bad pet owners might be causing fee hikes for everyone elseKFOX El Paso
Meridian Valley Humane Society joins forces with Pets for PatriotsKIVI-TV

all 3 news articles »

Pet oxygen masks can save animals' lives in fires - San Jose Mercury News


Pet oxygen masks can save animals' lives in fires
San Jose Mercury News
23, 2007 file photo, Nancee Schaffner of the Rutland Area Disaster Animal Response Team demonstrates an oxygen mask for pets on Maple, a sheperd mix dog, at the fire station in Clarendon, Vt. While pet oxygen masks have been used for decades by ...

and more »

Bothell dog therapist helps pets get fit - Seattle Post Intelligencer


Bothell dog therapist helps pets get fit
Seattle Post Intelligencer
Josie's owner, So Scazafavo, began a program of pet therapy at Wag Wellness in Bothell. Josie can't twirl around like a ballerina like she used to, but she has regained some of the use of her hind legs and is doing really well, Scazafavo said.

and more »

Meet Your Match boosts puppy love (and kitty love) by matching people and pets ... - Washington Post


The Associated Press

Meet Your Match boosts puppy love (and kitty love) by matching people and pets ...
Washington Post
The color-coded program evaluates shelter pets and the people looking to adopt them in an effort to match personalities, energy levels and needs. Playing Cupid with Meet Your Match helped workers at the Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to ...
Find puppy love (cats too) through Meet Your MatchWTOP

all 170 news articles »

Click here for Best Buy In-Store Pickup

StreetSideAuto.com

Looking For Royalty Free Photos for your Website, Business or Advertising?

My Life Through The Lens

Jumbuck Domain Is For Sale - $5,000 For Enquiries eMail Us

© www.Jumbuck.biz 2011

home | site map | links

eXTReMe Tracker