Pros and Cons to Sugar Gliders As Pets

They are cute and they fit in your pockets. Also known as pocket pets, sugar gliders can be smart, affectionate, and loving companions if you bond well with them. They can also be quite handful if you don't know how to treat them properly. Whether sugar gliders can become good pets depends on your readiness to take care of them in many areas. Are they good for you, your family, and your home environment is a kind of questions you might have. As you ponder further, let's examine some pros and cons to owning sugar gliders as pets.
Cons/Disadvantages of Owning Sugar Gliders
Cons/disadvantages would vary between owners. What could be cons for one may not be the same way for another. Here are some possible disadvantages of owning sugar gliders as pets:

• Nocturnal: They are awake and active at night. This means that you can only play with them affectionately some hours after the sun sets. You could have one that starts waking up late at night when you are about to go to sleep. Unless you live in a cave, you should consider owning at least a pair of these cute ones. A pair or a group can play and occupy with themselves while you are sleeping past midnight.
• One vs more: If you only want to own one, be prepared to devote more attention to him/her. This includes interacting with him/her sometime past midnight. While you are typically asleep during those hours, it would bark for your attention. This would not be a problem if you are a night owl or your job allows you to sleep during the day. Otherwise, bringing home at least a pair and equipping their cage with safe toys for them to occupy will save you some hassles.
• Potty: Unlike cats and dogs, they cannot be potty trained. You would have to live with them urinating and defecating anywhere, including on you. This can be prevented by simply bonding well with them overtime. As you start getting acquainted with these cute ones, it is better to prepare things like newspapers, a specific room, and a specific sink in case any potty accident happens. When that happens, you should learn and observe their body language.

Pros/Advantages to Owning Sugar Gliders
Just like cons/disadvantages, every owner would experience different pros/advantages. The following are some of them:

• Bonding: With proper care and enough interaction (minimum 2 hours daily/nightly), these cute ones will bond well with you. They will get used to and recognize every part of you including your scent and your movement. They would also love to curl up in your pockets and sleep in one during the day.
• Cute: They are bred in color variations and they have been perceived as cute by many. If you own at least a pair, you would find it amusing to watch them when they play. They can also respond to tricks and glide to you with affection.
• Maintenance: These furry looking critters do not require vaccinations, but periodic visits to a specialized veterinarian (exotic pet care or sugar gliders vet) may be necessary (approximately once a year). Their diet is generally simple and inexpensive, but you still need to take time preparing and watching nutritional guidelines. Their odor is tolerable as long as you feed them proper diet.

If you are an animal lover, you will find sugar gliders fun and loving companions. They are not the right pets for you if you prefer them to be self-sufficient. They require daily/nightly attention, some proper care and maintenance. With every con/disadvantages, there is at least a solution. It takes some work to care for sugar gliders as pets, but it's not that bad at all.

Are sugar gliders right pets for you? A good source is to consult with other sugar gliders' owners. There will be variable experiences across different owners whether there are pros and cons (good and bad). It also depends on whether you are ready to take care of them. Visit How to Take Care of Sugar Gliders to get some ideas on taking care of sugar gliders as pets.

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