Have you ever heard of a Sugar Glider?

[Pneumatic]

We went to a home show today, and there was a booth that had "Sugar Gliders" for sale. They were really quite cute and my 7-year-old has been talking about them since about noon (when we held one).

The only way I can describe them is that they are kind of like a really small flying squirrel (may need to add a few of these to your army, Vido ). They are about 5 or so inches long as an adult and CAN actually "glide" from one person to another by spreading their legs and the flaps of skin between their legs and their body catch the air. They are marsupials (like kangaroos) so they like to be in pouches and are nicknamed "The Pocket Pet" because they apparently enjoy riding in your pocket.

So, are these suitable pets or no? They get all A's for cuteness, but I don't know about them as pets. There are conflicting reports online.

Here is a pic of a Sugar Glider.

[Greebe]

Oh man... those kritters are from New Zealand... hop tree to tree rarely touching the ground feeding from flower blossoms.

Ok I watch too much Animal Planet and PBS so sue me!

[Delany]

I wouldn't have one as a pet.

Hi,

I do know that they are a native animal to Australia, and here, they are a protected species and really not appropriate as pets.

I just did a quick check on the net and found that the ones that are in the US are usually decendants of ones from Indonesia.

They are also illegal to have as pets in some states, so you might want to make sure you check that.


Phill...

[Greebe]

Oh yeah are nocturnal too... as a pet, well lets just say stop stripping our forests away and or trying to get rich off of poor little critters that are not domesticated. Any one remember aligators you could buy out of the back of almost an mag back in the '60's... they had to stop that shit.

[Agent31]

please, let's not find out if they're good as pets

[Dr Mordrid]

Greebe:

From what I see on the news you guys could afford to get rid of more than a few 'gators

Dr. Mordrid

[Wombat]

I've had roommates keep them as pets. It's really not a good idea at all. Greebe already mentioned that they are nocturnal - thus your 7-year-old will always want to wake it up. Many of them have bad demeanors to start with, and they ALL do when you wake them up. They don't play - they just burrow into your armpit for warmth and darkness, or look cute when they eat fruit, but that's about it.

I'd bet that the only people really advocating them as pets are people like my roommate's psycho-girlfriend, where pets are really more like victims. Real-life Elmira.

[Greebe]

I haven't seen Bart in a couple months now... have no idea were they be hiding lately


Tho the other day I found something really cool... a Turquiose blue/ Lt.grey glass snake (Lizard) about 6" long

[Lizzard[MPE]]

that would have been me.. i shapeshift

[Pneumatic]

Upon further review I don't think the sugar glider is right for us.

The deal breaker is the attention that they apparently require in conjunction with the fact that they are nocturnal. It would primarily be my 7-year-old's pet (she is quite responsible and I don't worry about her ability to care for a pet). Since she goes to bed around 8:30 or 9 pm during school, and the sugar glider apparently doesn't get up untill around 10pm, I don't see a whole lot of chance for interaction. We had a ferret once and I have to say that the fact sugar gliders have similar scent glands turned me off a bit too.

Once I presented her with the facts and she did some research online herself, we decided that another pet should be chosen. She went through a bunch of sites and now she won't stop talking about guinea pigs.

Ahh, to be young and fickle again...

[Corran Horn]

A friend had one. He used to bring it to work in a little pouch he wore around his neck. As you said, it mostly slept all during the day.

[ALBPM]

Arrrrrrgh....They taste like Chicken

[agallag]

How are they in soup?

[MadScot]

Originally posted by agallag
How are they in soup?

Wet.

I once visited a Sugar Glider resturant. I guess they find it a bit hard to reach the kitchen appliances. They do a killer fruit salad, but I hear the portions are tiny for the price. I prefer to have larger animals doing the cooking.

[Lizzard[MPE]]

you know.. i didnt know people ate lizards til the other day.

i hear the aussies eat them. i had no idea