Sugar possum at home: maintenance, feeding

The flying sugar glider (from the Latin petaurus breviceps) is a small inhabitant of eucalyptus forests that resembles a squirrel in appearance. The animal belongs to the genus of marsupial flying squirrels of the same family, in the scientific classification it is recorded as a sugar marsupial flying squirrel.

A few more names of the mammal are short-headed flying squirrel, dwarf flying squirrel, Australian flying squirrel. In the wild, the animal is distributed in Australia, New Guinea and the surrounding islands. It received the epithet “sugar” in its name due to its addiction to sweet foods: flower nectar and pollen, sweet juice of trees and fruits.

Proper care of the possum itself, maintenance

These creatures have some special features.
We must remember that animals are social; they do not like being alone. Communication in their lives is simply necessary. But if a person keeps only one individual in a cage, then it is he who should become the main friend and interlocutor for the pet. These animals have perfectly developed group grooming in nature. This is when the whole group begins to clean each other’s fur, look for harmful insects, and remove excess dirt. At the same time, they use their tongue and claws for the cleaning process.

You should not put a container of sand in his cage, for example, as is done for many rodents. He can easily clean everything himself without it. Even if you put sand in the cage, the animal will not use it.

You should absolutely not bathe your possum. Even in warm water. They can get sick very easily and develop a fever. If an animal has managed to get its skin very dirty, then you can only remove the main dirt with wet wipes.

If they get so dirty in natural conditions, then they look for the nearest lake or reservoir to wash themselves a little. But they don't swim because they don't know how to swim.

Near bodies of water, animals usually drink or catch various insects for food. But still, their main source of moisture is fruits and vegetables. When the sugar beast is constantly growing, in principle, like all animals. They usually grind them down on trees.

But at home they will sharpen on wooden branches, sticks, trunks. Therefore, the presence of wooden objects in the cage is a must!

Lifestyle in nature

The sugar glider lives in eastern Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania; found in open deciduous forests, with particular preference for eucalyptus.

Secretive animals are nocturnal, but during the day they rest in their nests, located, as a rule, in hollows and, sometimes, in the grass. They cover the nest with leaves, dry grass, twigs - the animals carry all the building material in their tail, curling it into a spiral. With the onset of darkness, an active life begins for sugar gliders: they move through the trees, covering considerable distances during the night.

Animals climb equally well both up and down. And for gliding, the animals have a special device - a flight membrane, which stretches from the fifth finger of the forelimb to the ankle joint of the hindlimb. The “flight” is coordinated by the tail and paws.

Marsupial flying squirrels eat fruits, pollen, and some invertebrates.

Sugar gliders are social animals. In their natural environment, they live in groups (clans, families) consisting of 7-12 individuals of different ages. Each clan occupies a relatively large territory. One male dominates the family - he guards the territory, and he also fertilizes most of the females. Marsupial flying squirrels are territorial animals; they do not tolerate strangers with a different smell. Males have scent glands with which they mark not only their territory, but their entire flock.

The breeding season for marsupial flying squirrels is from April to November, the number of litters per year is no more than two, and the number of cubs in a litter is no more than three. Pregnancy in these animals lasts only 16 days, and after birth the babies migrate independently into the pouch. In the pouch they are attached to the nipple and hang on it for approximately 5 weeks. The cubs begin to emerge from the pouch at the age of 70-74 days, but feed on mother's milk for about another month and a half. Males reach sexual maturity at 8-15 months, females at 12 months.

Marsupial flying squirrels do not like the cold. When the air temperature drops and during the rainy season, the metabolism of flying squirrels slows down, body temperature drops to 1-6 ° C, i.e. they fall into a state of stupor. The possum can spend several weeks in seasonal torpor (hibernation).

Possums are very sociable and make a wide variety of sounds. At the moment of excitement and joy they crackle, to attract attention they “yelp”, fear or anger is accompanied by a roar. They greet each other with hissing, which is sometimes accompanied by a kind of “dance”.

Population and species status

Environmental organizations have assigned this species the status of “Least Concern,” since this species is considered quite numerous within its natural habitat. These animals have maintained their numbers in nature due to a high degree of adaptation to various living conditions. If earlier flying squirrels preferred eucalyptus forests for their livelihoods, now they live in various types of forests. This is due to the fact that eucalyptus forests began to actively decline, which should have led to negative consequences in the life of these animals. Fortunately, these animals easily adapted to new habitat conditions, choosing different types of forest areas.

Nowadays, these animals are found wherever there is something to eat. Flying squirrels are found in both primary and secondary forests, including degraded forests, within various plantations and even in gardens. That is why sugar flying squirrels are not among the species that are threatened with complete extinction, especially in the near future.

Positive factors influencing the population size of these animals include their high endurance and sufficient life expectancy for such animals. Living in the wild, as well as in the presence of sufficient food, these small animals can live up to one and a half decades. Naturally, this attracts many who like to keep animals at home. These animals can delight others for many years, which is not possible for many decorative rodents.

In other words, the sugar glider is quite an attractive animal by many criteria. In addition to the fact that the animal has a unique appearance, it does not show aggression towards humans. This is why the flying squirrel is kept as a pet in many countries. Under natural conditions, this animal is found only in tropical conditions.

Females

In females, like in males, there are many, but less pronounced, exocrine glands located on the body. The vagina and uterus of female possums are bifurcated and separated from each other, similar to the male’s penis. On the belly of the female short-headed flying squirrel there is a pouch, inside it there are 4 nipples. The bag should not be red or swollen, otherwise this is evidence that the animal is unhealthy.

Flying squirrels have a short gestation period - up to 17 days. As a rule, from 1 to 3 cubs are born, the size of a steamed grain of rice. After giving birth, the female possum licks the cubs and licks her fur, smoothing the way from the newborns to the pouch. Along this “path” they move to a cozy “house”, where they attach themselves to the nipple, after which it swells. They will remain in this position until the moment they are able to get out. The “journey” takes about 5 minutes, and the babies will mature in the bag for another 60–70 days.

After leaving the “house”, the cubs need another 8 weeks to adapt to the outside world and switch to the diet for adults. While this is gradually happening, the babies continue to be on a milk diet.

Males

In males, there are a significant number of glands on the body, the most noticeable of which are on the forehead (bald patch) and chest. They are formed as the possum boy matures. In a sexually mature male, the exocrine glands produce an oily secretion with a characteristic odor. In a castrated possum, the hormonal levels decrease, as a result of which the bald patch can become completely overgrown. In males, there is a “pompom” on the abdomen with testicles placed in it; the forked penis has a pink-red hue. The reproductive organ may occasionally be shown outside, this is how it is cared for.

Conditions for keeping a sugar glider

To keep a flying squirrel comfortably at home, you will need a lot of space. Remember, pets are very active, their element is trees.

Posumma will need a spacious cage-aviary. The distance between the rods should be about 1.3 cm. The rods themselves should have a PVC coating. Sugar gliders are very smart animals, so be sure to securely lock their enclosure.

Not all naturally wild animals will be able to immediately understand the structure of a nipple drinker. In this case, the pet can simply die of thirst

Build special devices for possums in the cage that will allow them to show their activity: ladders, ropes, pipes, branches. A possum's cage must have a hanging house. It can be either wooden or fabric. The passage into the home should be 7-9 cm in diameter.

If you have pets of different sexes, babies may appear very soon. Lower the house lower so that the kids don't fall.

And lastly, do not forget about the temperature regime: sugar squirrels do not like drafts, temperatures below 20 degrees, or bright lighting. In our store you can purchase all the necessary accessories for your pet.

What does the sugar flying squirrel eat?

Photo: Sugar glider

Sugar gliders have a good appetite. Their diet depends on several factors: place of residence, climatic conditions, season. In summer, their diet is more varied.

This includes:

• sweet fruits;
• berries;
• tree sap;
• insects;
• small invertebrates.

In summer, protein foods predominate in volume. The animals eat many insects and invertebrates. The rest of the food fades into the background and makes up no more than thirty percent of the diet. In winter, animals have to switch mainly to plant foods. They eat eucalyptus juice, acacia, and sweet fruits. To extract sap, flying squirrels have to chew through the bark of trees. However, it is not difficult for them. Animals have strong teeth and a powerful jaw, although it is small. Regardless of the season, flying squirrels need about eleven grams of food per day. At the same time, these animals are quite prudent. They always save food for a rainy day. Usually dried insects go into reserves.

If there is a lack of food to which the sugar flying squirrel is accustomed, then the diet begins to include small chicks, tiny lizards, and bird eggs. If it is difficult to obtain such food, the possum may even fall into temporary hibernation. In this case, all metabolic processes will slow down very much, and the body temperature will drop to eleven degrees.

Interesting fact: The sugar glider is a tiny but very useful animal. It kills a huge number of insects that cause great harm to trees and other vegetation. In addition, these animals adore pollen and are excellent pollinators of various plants.

As you know, such marsupial flying squirrels are often kept at home. In this case, they are fed the following foods: fresh vegetables and fruits, mice, omelettes, insects, yoghurts and other foods high in calcium.

Flying squirrels at home

Flying squirrels are very active. If you decide to keep a possum at home, you need to take care of a spacious cage or enclosure. The minimum cage size for keeping an animal should be 80x80x60. But the higher the cage, the more comfortable your pet will be.

The distance between the bars should not exceed 1.5 cm, otherwise the pet may squeeze between the bars and even fall out.

The cage door must be equipped with a strong lock or carabiner. Possums are very inventive animals; they easily learn to open an unfixed passage.

The floor in the cage should be covered with a special filler intended for rodents (pressed sawdust). You can purchase the filler at any Zoogalereya retail store.

There must be branches in the possum's cage. After all, as already mentioned, in their natural habitat these animals spend most of their time in trees. Climbing trees is inherent in these pets by nature.

Bowls for food and water should be placed in different parts of the enclosure. This will keep the water clean for as long as possible.

A mandatory attribute of a possum’s place of residence is a house. Ideally, this should be a suspended structure, which should be fixed as high as possible. You can use wooden or plywood boxes for the house; a soft knitted pocket is also suitable. Flying squirrels love soft nesting sites. If the frame of the house is hard, be sure to lay hay or soft cloths in it.

As toys and entertainment for flying squirrels, stairs, tunnels, special running wheels, mirrors, bells and small balls are suitable. Be sure to update the toys so that the animal does not lose interest in them.

Reproduction

Features of sexual development

Breeding sugar flying squirrels at home is a rather responsible and expensive task. It is difficult to call possum breeding a profitable business. It requires a lot of time (the female takes care of the cubs for more than 4 months) and the presence of an isolated and spacious room.

Many breeders say that females who are expecting or nursing offspring become much less friendly and affectionate. For various reasons (stress, genetic predisposition, early pregnancy, and many others), females can abandon their own cubs or even eat them. Therefore, before deciding to purchase a pair of opposite sexes, you should carefully think through all the nuances of the future keeping of the animals.

Males and females reach puberty at different ages: males starting at 4 months, females at six months. However, parental responsibilities should be assigned to animals no earlier than a year. The mating season usually occurs in June-July. Animals bear offspring 1–2 times a year. For mating, you should not choose individuals that are in a related relationship - this can lead to pathologies in the cubs.

Pairing

Mating occurs within 24 hours after the female starts estrus. She may behave excitedly, make calling sounds, and refuse food. The male looks quite aggressive from the outside: he bites the back of his resisting female friend and even inflicts wounds on her. But for possums this is normal behavior. The wound, if it appears, should be treated to prevent infection. If the future father continues to disturb the female, she needs to be placed in another cage until she recovers completely.

Pregnancy and childbirth

Pregnancy lasts 15 – 16 days. There is no need to remove the male from the cage during pregnancy. He does not interfere with his friend, and after giving birth he also helps her care for her offspring.

Feeling the approach of childbirth, the female carefully licks the pouch on her stomach, and after giving birth, she also licks the path for the offspring - from the genitals to the pouch. The tiny squirrel covers this path on its own in literally 5 minutes.

Despite the fact that there are 4 nipples in the bag, the offspring usually does not exceed 1 - 2 babies. The possum stays in the pouch for about 9 - 10 weeks, without tearing itself away from the mother's nipple - it swells in its mouth, and the baby literally sticks to it.

During the period of feeding “babies”, the female’s diet should be increased - at the rate of plus 50% for each cub.

After some time, the babies move from their mother's pouch to their parents' backs, and then become independent. At the age of 4 months they can already be separated from the female.

Where does the sugar glider live?

Photo: Sugar flying squirrel in nature

The sugar glider is a fairly numerous species, but it is not as widespread around the planet as many other species of mammals. The natural habitat of flying squirrels is quite small - Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, Tasmania and the islands nearby these countries. However, flying squirrels are not indigenous to all territories. So, they were artificially introduced to Tasmania. This happened in 1835. Previously, such animals were not mentioned there, and scientists did not find characteristic remains and traces in the soil.

Sugar gliders always live in small groups. They are family animals. One group can number about twelve individuals. The leaders in such groups are always males. Each individual group lives in its own territory. In fact, these animals divide the entire territory into separate parts. Each part is inhabited by one or another group, the males of which carefully guard and mark the territory. To mark the territory of their “family”, males use various methods: urine, feces, scent glands.

Interesting fact: Marsupial flying squirrels are very common in their natural habitat. However, despite the numerous populations, it is quite difficult to notice such an animal during the day. Possums are predominantly nocturnal. Only in the north of their habitat are these animals often spotted during the daytime.

A tropical climate and dense forests suit the life of sugar marsupial squirrels. The animals spend most of their time in trees. They are rare guests on earth. When choosing a habitat, these animals pay attention to the presence of a large number of eucalyptus trees. However, now this factor is no longer so important. Sugar flying squirrels have adapted to life in other types of forests.

Now you know where the sugar flying squirrel lives. Let's see what she feeds on.

Appearance and description

As you may have noticed, sugar gliders are quite small in size. The animal was even able to take a leading position, as the smallest representative of the possum family.

The creature is only 120 to 220 mm long, with a tail of about 160 mm. Already an adult weighs extremely little - 140 grams.

If you look at the photographs, you can see that there is a dark stripe running down the back from the nose to the very backside. Stripes are also present on the muzzle.

As we know, a flying squirrel has folds of skin between its legs, so our little possum was not left out either.

They also have the same kind of membranes between their front and hind legs, and they use them for flight. Therefore, some believe that squirrels and possums are almost the same creature, although this is not the case.

The only difference between a female and a male is that the female has a small leather pouch for her cubs. When an animal jumps from one point to another, opening its wings, it looks like a flying square flap.

Jumping from a tree, the animal spreads all its limbs wide, creating the semblance of a small parachute, and can calmly control and change the trajectory of its flight. By the way, with the help of their folds of skin, sugar animals can soar at distances of up to 50 meters.

They usually do this to search for food, or to search for a nest. They can also communicate with each other, sending many different signals and sounds. For example, both simply for communication and to warn of danger!

Features of character and lifestyle

Photo: Sugar flying squirrel

The sugar flying squirrel is a fairly active animal, but mainly in the evening and at night. Most of the time these animals spend their time moving from one tree to another. A fur membrane helps them with this. With its help, tiny flying squirrels can carry out gliding flights. Animals can control the direction of flight with their paws and bushy tail. Sometimes possums carry various objects in their tail, for example, small twigs for a nest or food.

At night, such animals hunt and build nests. During the daytime they rest. Usually flying squirrels sleep in their houses, which are lined with leaves or twigs. The twigs and leaves are held together by the animals using their own urine, which emits a very strong odor. This smell not only strengthens the nest, but also serves as a territory mark. This is how a group of flying squirrels mark the boundaries of their territory so that strangers do not violate them.

Sugar gliders live in small groups. Typically such groups number about twelve adults. There is always an alpha male in every group. Everyone obeys him. The character of flying squirrels is quite friendly. There are practically no conflicts within groups. However, such animals quickly change their behavior if a stranger is nearby. They behave quite aggressively with strangers and can get into fights.

Is it difficult to keep a sugar animal?

Many people consider them to be some kind of rodents, but this is a completely incorrect judgment. The fact that they are not, on the contrary, gives them an advantage.

They will not cause as much damage to surrounding property as rodents. You can also keep another species of flying squirrel, the albino possum, at home.

They are distinguished by their thick and yellowish fur. Keeping it at home is not at all difficult; by the way, the animal is completely non-aggressive. But you need to remember that it still bites, but for some reasons:

• the animal is scared;
• can taste you slightly, studies;
• they bite because they don't recognize your scent

By the way, unlike ordinary rodents, they live much longer. With proper comprehensive care, they live up to 15 years, comparable to hamsters or ferrets. What is most amazing about this creature is that it has a dog-like character.

He is easy to learn and train, knows his owner by smell and appearance, and even recognizes his name! Some who have such a pet even try to teach it tricks!

Read more about the habitat in the house

In order to provide the most decent living conditions for your pet, you will have to follow some rules. At home, the cage should be no less than 60x60x90. This is the minimum size of the required cage, ideally the larger the better.

Some owners sometimes even let the animal walk around the apartment while playing with it. This also needs to be done so that the animal gets used to the environment and knows that it is not in danger.

The cage must be equipped with everything: a house, long vertical beams so that the possum can climb on them. Also the presence of toys and wheels!

Yes, the animal also likes to run, but it needs to put its energy into movement. An ideal cell should contain:

• jogging wheel;
• several long beams;
• a house in which the pet can rest and hide;
• tunnels;
• toys;
• maybe even separate rooms

But in stores it is very difficult to find a complete set of such things along with the cage. Therefore, many owners buy the cage separately, and only then purchase additional elements separately. Some even make their own devices.

It is best to place shavings of cedar, aspen, and fir at the bottom of the cage. Cleaning should be done better 2 times a week, so that there is no bad smell.

Behavior

Most of all, people are afraid that the animal will start biting - this is an unreasonable fear. The flying squirrel is not at all aggressive, but if it nevertheless begins to bite its owner, then there are always reasons for this:

1. Shyness. This happens if the animal appeared in the house relatively recently and did not have time to adapt to the conditions. Or the owner disturbed a pregnant female, mother and cubs. In the first case, you should try to establish contact with the flying squirrel: sweeten it with a treat, while speaking in a calm and affectionate tone, try to caress it. In the second situation, it is better not to touch the animal at all. If the owner is afraid of being bitten, then you can wrap the hand with a rag or soft cloth.
2. The possum tastes the owner or shows him its location - it’s not difficult to deal with it: put food on your hand so that the animal switches to it.
3. The flying squirrel does not recognize the owner's scent or does not like the way it smells - the possum gets used to one distinct smell from a person, and when it changes, they stop recognizing the owner. It is recommended to stick to the same perfume and use the same soap. Another solution is to shower before interacting with the squirrel.

Another important aspect of behavior is receptivity to training. The flying squirrel can hardly be called a stupid animal, because it responds well to vocal intonation. A squirrel can easily be taught basic commands and come running when called.

The peculiarity of marsupial flying squirrels is barking at night. If this happens, then it's a matter of boredom. The squirrel calls its owner, especially if it is alone in the cage. It’s also about the mode of life - in the evening the mammal just begins to be active, and the person, most likely, is already preparing for bed. If possible, the animal should be petted and let out for a walk around the room. It wouldn’t hurt to buy him a friend and equip their home so that they have something to entertain themselves with.

Squirrels do not like cold conditions, so their activity decreases in rain or cold weather. They become lethargic and hibernate. This behavior in winter allows them to spend less energy when there are already problems with nutrition.

Sugar Possum: Description

The sugar squirrel or marsupial flying squirrel lives in the northern and eastern regions of Australia, New Guinea, Tasmania, and the islands of the Bismarck Archipelago.

It is an arboreal marsupial and is the smallest and most common species of possum. He got his name because of his ability to float through the air and because of his love for sweets. The weight of a possum depends on gender and ranges from ninety to one hundred and sixty grams. It has a thin, slightly elongated body. The length of an adult animal can reach forty-two centimeters, of which about half is the fluffy tail. The coat of possums is usually gray-blue, but there are animals with yellow or yellow-brown fur. It is very rare to find albino possums.

Its fur is thick and soft. There are brown stripes on the back and face of the animal. The abdomen is white, with a cream tint. Possums have a small, slightly pointed muzzle. Its ears are quite large; they are capable of turning like locators in the direction of the outgoing sound. Large black eyes are surrounded by black rims that extend to the ears. They help you see perfectly in the dark.

The limbs of sugar gliders are very well developed. On each paw they have five long, thin fingers with sharp claws. Such “aristocratic” fingers allow you to get larvae and small insects from under the bark, and sharp claws allow you to hold on to flexible branches well.

Interesting: Spiders as pets

Lifestyle

Their peak activity occurs in the dark, and the day for them is sleep time. The animals nest in safe, secluded places, usually hollows or other recesses in trees.

These are social animals that live in flocks. One flock can include up to seven mature individuals and broods from the current breeding season. In a flock there is certainly a leader (a mature, dominant male), who marks the territory and possums from the family with his secretions. The territory is jealously guarded; strangers who do not have the mark of a leader are immediately expelled from its borders.

Marsupial flying squirrels are heat-loving, and with the onset of cold weather they hibernate. During the dry season and rainy nights, their activity also decreases significantly. This feature helps possums survive those seasons in which the ability to obtain food is severely limited. In natural habitats, sugar squirrels hibernate much more often than their domesticated counterparts. Wild possums feed on the sweet sap of acacias, eucalyptus and other trees, nectar and pollen from flowers. Their diet also includes insects, small animals and birds.

A short description of the possum

This animal belongs to the class of mammals, the marsupial flying squirrel family. Outwardly, he is very attractive and incredibly cute, you just want to cuddle him. The size of the possum is about 20 centimeters, the tail is about the same length. They usually weigh around 150 grams.

The sugar animal has very strong, sharp claws, which are adapted for catching food and have excellent grip on any surface. It has excellent vision, yet it is a nocturnal animal, and its eyes are adapted to hunting and living in the dark.

On the territory of Russia, the sugar animal appeared quite recently, but in such a short time, it was able to attract the attention of a large number of people. This resident of Australian eucalyptus forests will be a wonderful pet for anyone.

You just need to conscientiously look after him and take care of him

This resident of Australian eucalyptus forests will be a wonderful pet for anyone. You just need to conscientiously look after it and take care of it.

Characteristics of the rodent: dimensions and features

The animal is very small, only up to 21 cm, but its tail also grows up to 20 cm in length, while it is very mobile and acts as a “fifth paw”. The sugar glider uses it deftly, picking fruits from trees. The weight of an adult reaches up to 160 grams.

The color of the possum is gray-silver, the fur is very thick, and there are black stripes on the body. On the belly side the fur is yellowish-white. On the muzzle there are brown stripes from the nose to the back of the head. Very rarely there are albino animals or individuals with yellowish-brown fur.

What a flying squirrel breeder needs to know about pet aggression:

• The possum bites if it is very frightened. Here it is important to give it time to adapt when purchasing, or not to disturb a pregnant female or an individual with cubs again;
• “friendly bite” speaks of a special disposition of the animal, or an accidental bite if the sugar glider takes a treat from the hand;
• aggression can manifest itself when the animal “does not recognize” the owner, the owner smells strongly of perfume, cigarettes, alcohol, etc. It is advisable not to change your habits when communicating, to wear neutral-colored clothes, and not to make sudden movements. When getting ready to go out and generously shower yourself with perfume, it is better not to approach the cage and not provoke the possum’s discontent.

The lifespan of a sugar glider in captivity is much longer than in the wild. Having a lot of natural enemies, it rarely lives up to 8 years, but in an apartment it can live up to 15 years, subject to all standards of maintenance and feeding.

If a marsupial flying squirrel is raised from babies, it quickly becomes affectionate, sociable, reacts to changes in voice intonation and can learn simple commands. But the animal is a nocturnal animal and its active period occurs when a person is sleeping. If he is alone in a cage, he gets bored, makes a sound similar to barking, and rustles. The solution is to have enough space so that sounds do not reach the bedroom, or purchase two sugar gliders and equip a cage with “entertainment”.

But the animal is very social and requires attention, so it cannot be left without communication with its owner for a long time. He becomes lethargic, uncommunicative, and becomes depressed. For this reason, it is not recommended to get a sugar glider for people who spend most of their time at work or outside the home and only come into the apartment to sleep.

It is important to know! The sugar glider does not need standard vaccinations (against plague, rabies, etc.). He is not dewormed.

Feeding

The most important question that the happy owner of a sugar glider will have to face is what to feed the animal. Proper nutrition is the key not only to health, but, consequently, to a long and happy life. The smell and mood of your pet also depend on this.

In the wild, the sugar squirrel is an omnivore. The main part of its diet consists of fruits and insects. When feeding, you should adhere to the following principles and rules:

1. The 70 to 30 rule – 70% of the diet is protein, the remaining 30% is carbohydrates.
2. The feeders are filled with food and the drinking bowl with fresh water immediately before the flying squirrels wake up - at approximately 9 - 10 pm. In the morning, you need to clean the feeders and leave the water. If a possum has access to food 24 hours a day, it will suffer from obesity. Representatives of this subspecies are able to wake up in the daytime and sleepily drag a treat into the nest, falling asleep on the move, often with an unchewed piece of food in their paws. The maximum that can be left for the possum during the day is a piece of fruit or dried fruit, as well as a little juice diluted with water.
3. If your pet doesn't drink for a long time, don't be alarmed. Sugar squirrels can get enough moisture from fruits. Despite this, water in the drinking bowl must be constantly present in the cage. It is better to use filtered or bottled water and change it at least once a day to prevent harmful bacteria from growing in it.
4. Foods from the human table are prohibited for feeding: fatty, spicy, fried, salted, sausages, etc. The maximum that can be allowed is chicken or turkey meat, cooked without salt and spices.
5. Sweets (honey, fruits) can be given to the animal in limited quantities - as a treat, to support the female during pregnancy and feeding the cubs.
6. The food should contain as much calcium as possible (the domestic sugar glider is very sensitive to its deficiency) and as little phosphorus as possible.
7. All vegetables and fruits should be cut into fairly large pieces that will be easy for the squirrels to pick up in their paws. The animal will not like small pieces.

Products necessary for the normal development of the dwarf flying squirrel:

Protein

• Insects – you can feed your pet live grasshoppers, fly larvae, crickets, mealworms and zoophobas (Latin worms, a favorite delicacy of the sugar glider). The daily norm for an adult older than six months is 2–3 zoophobass per day, 5–8 mealworms or 1–2 large banana crickets. All of these insects can be purchased at a pet store. Many sugar glider breeders breed gliders in plastic containers with sawdust. They eat cucumbers, apples and cereals. They can live up to 3 months. You can also feed the possum no more than once a week with one-day-old chicks or other small chicks.
• Meat - about 30 grams per day per individual, boiled without salt and spices, lean (chicken or turkey).
• Fermented milk products - no more than 2 times a week: natural low-fat cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt, fermented baked milk, children's curds and yoghurts without preservatives and additives, including sugar-free.
• Quail eggs without shell - no more than once every 7-10 days.
• Baby food – puree for first feeding, possibly with meat.
• Porridge - once every 7 - 10 days, they must be cooked exclusively in water, since milk is extremely harmful for flying squirrels. The healthiest ones are oatmeal and buckwheat, you can add fruits, dried fruits, candied fruits, honey (literally a drop per serving).

Carbohydrates

• Whole fruits and vegetables are the main source of carbohydrates. A possum needs about 35–40 grams of fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables of various types per day. These can be peaches, oranges (if the possum is older than six months), kiwis, apples, pineapples, bananas, avocados, watermelon, melon, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, mangoes, papaya, carrots. Products with a laxative effect (beets, pears, plums) should not be offered to your pet.
• Juices and fruit purees – up to 20 ml per day. It is advisable to give the animal freshly squeezed juices diluted 1:1 with water, or juices and purees intended for children under 3 years of age, without preservatives and sugar.
• Any dried fruits, except prunes - 1 - 2 pieces per day (cherries, pineapple, dried apricots, etc.).

Treats

• Nuts – 2 small or 1 large nut per week (peanuts, hazelnuts, pine).
• Honey - only as an additive to the main food, about 1.5 teaspoons per week.
• Drops – no more than one per day.

Breeding

The breeding season for flying gliders living at home is year-round. When keeping a female and a male at the same time, when both are ready, they will definitely mate. In this case, the animals will absolutely not care whether they are related.

This point is very important, and you need to take it into account when keeping related gliders in the same cage or enclosure. If you allow such mating, their genetic diversity will be disrupted, which can lead to weak and sick offspring.

When planning to continue to keep relatives together, it is better to castrate males. Males are castrated at 13 weeks after emerging from the pouch. Potentially, it is possible to sterilize a female individual, however, in practice this is undesirable due to the special structure of the intimate organs and the small size of the animal.

Such an operation is carried out only for special indications. When intending to acquire offspring of possums, it is worth waiting for not only their sexual, but also psychological maturity. The optimal age for breeding for both boys and girls is after 1 year, but not earlier than 10 months from the moment they emerge from the pouch.

At this age, males are fully ready to raise offspring, and females significantly reduce the risk of abandoning their cubs. In addition, the mother possum will spend less energy on feeding, and the babies themselves will be stronger and healthier.

During mating games, sugar squirrels can behave somewhat aggressively. At this time, it is worth periodically inspecting the animals for injuries caused to each other and, if necessary, treating them. This way you can avoid infection and keep your pets healthy.

During gestation, the female's diet should be enriched with up to 50% animal proteins, but the level of fat should be kept low. Do not try to feed the animal beef or soy products, they are not suitable. Excellent options include chicken, mealworms, crickets and other sources of protein.

A nursing mother will benefit from a slight increase in the level of fat in her diet. It is extremely important to avoid stressful situations for the female during the gestation and feeding stages. At this time, you should not touch it or show it to anyone; it is also advisable not to methodically check the nest yourself. The male, like the female, should be inviolable during this period, because he is now the protector of the family and can harm you in self-defense. This parental behavior goes away when the brood becomes more or less independent.

Babies should not be separated from their parents for at least 8 weeks after leaving the pouch.

Relationships with people

The opossum is not an endangered animal, although due to deforestation and loss of habitat, possums are becoming more common in urban and suburban areas.

The opossum has long been known in the United States, particularly in the southern regions, which have many culinary recipes and folklore relating to the opossum.

In Dominica and Trinidad, the animal is still popular today and can be hunted at certain times of the year. You can even buy such an animal. Its meat is traditionally fried or stewed. It is light, fine-grained. Used in dishes instead of rabbit or chicken.

Historically, hunters in the Caribbean would place a barrel of fresh water or rotten fruit to attract fruit-eating game.

Unlike hunting ferrets or arctic foxes, these animals are not hunted for their fur. In Mexico, their tails are used as a folk remedy to improve fertility. Possum fat, which is highly acidic, is used as a remedy for arthritis. Our children know this funny animal from cartoons. Crash and Eddie, the possums from Ice Age, became their favorites.

The hooligan, impudent brothers annoy everyone, but at the same time they take care of their named sister, they are cheerful and kind.

Opossums are kept in zoos, where they can live up to 7 years. Children especially love to watch and feed them.

Conditions of detention

At home, the sugar glider requires maximum space. We must remember that the animals are very active, and their element is trees.

• It is better to keep them in spacious enclosures with a distance between the bars of about 1.3 cm. The bars should have a polyvinyl chloride coating. The animals are very smart, so you need to take care of a secure lock.
• The cage should have a drinking bowl and several feeders. Before hanging up the water bowl, you should make sure that your pet is accustomed to it. Otherwise, the animal may simply die of thirst. Feeders should be metal or ceramic, small in size.
• Climbing devices should be built inside the cage. These could be branches, pipes for rodents, ladders, ropes.
• Necessary for a possum in a cage and a hanging house. It can be wooden or fabric. The passage into the house should be seven to nine centimeters in diameter. If you have a couple of animals, then you may soon have offspring. In this case, the house will need to be lowered so that the kids don’t fall.
• Since gliders mark territory, the cage and its contents will have to be washed frequently. At the same time, you need to be very careful with detergents. Everything should be rinsed well.
• Animals should not be allowed to roam freely in a house where other animals or birds of prey live.
• It should be remembered that possums do not like drafts, temperatures below twenty degrees and bright lighting.

Feeding

Prohibited products:

• birdseed;
• cheese;
• raisin;
• grape;
• lettuce;
• a large number of nuts.

An approximate balanced diet:

• Fruit is the most important product in a possum's diet. They should make up 70% of the serving.
• Protein food should make up 30% of the serving.
• Food should have less phosphorus and more calcium.
• Give little sweets, only as a treat.
• You can give some meat supplements (unsalted boiled chicken or turkey).
• You can’t do without live food (grasshoppers or zoophobes).
• Once a week you should give honey, which has a good effect on digestion.

Of course, keeping sugar gliders is far from easy. However, those who are not afraid of difficulties can safely get fluffy marsupial flyers and they will give about fifteen unforgettable years of companionship.

Maintenance and care

Cage equipment

First of all, it is important to decide whether you will purchase one possum or a pair of animals. If you have no time or are simply not ready to communicate with the animal for several hours a day (most of the time at night), then the best option is to purchase two pets. More often they choose different sexes to make a couple, or two girls. It is advisable to purchase females from the same litter, so that there are no quarrels in the future. Two males, even if they grew up together, will begin to conflict when they reach sexual maturity. In each other's company, possums are much more comfortable and cheerful, and you don't have to worry about your lonely animal becoming depressed.

The second, very important issue of keeping a sugar glider at home is its personal living space. For one individual you will need a cage with a tray tray, an aviary, a terrarium or a display case with dimensions of at least 50x50x80 cm. For a couple of individuals - 140 x50x80cm. The more spacious the area, the better. If preference is given to a cage, then the distance between the bars should not exceed 1 cm. Otherwise, your pet will be able to leave the home without your knowledge. Consider a locking system for the cage in advance. Possums are quite inventive and smart, so they can easily figure out a simple latch.

It is recommended to place the cage in a slightly shaded area, away from the bedroom, so as not to suffer from the sounds made by the glider at night. Also, the home should be located away from drafts, radiators, direct sunlight, indoor plants (especially poisonous ones), curtains and furniture, which animals can reach and damage. The optimal temperature for squirrels is no less than 20 and no more than 30 C°. The tray is filled with wood filler, preferably granulated sawdust, as it absorbs and retains odor well.

Inside the cage should be:

• One or several nest houses (made of plywood, wood, nesting box, coconut) with a passage 7–9 cm in diameter. They are installed or suspended at the top of the cage. The bottom of the house should be lined with soft filling, for example, hay or a bedding made of fabric like fleece. There should be no threads sticking out of the fabric, in which the thin fingers and claws of the animal can become entangled.
• A hollow piece of driftwood that is easy to climb, or several branched branches without bark. They need to be changed regularly. You can use oak, aspen, birch, elm, and hickory branches. Another important function of this cell attribute is to grind down sharp claws.
• Metal or ceramic drinkers and several small, stable feeders (check first whether the flying squirrel is accustomed to drinking). It is better to screw both the drinking bowl and the feeders tightly to the walls. There, your pets will not be able to turn them over.
• The wheel - solid, without the presence of wire in the structure - is necessary to maintain the physical shape of the animals.
• Toys - plastic, large enough so that the possum cannot swallow them, toys for cats are good.
• Stairs, tunnels, ropes, hammocks and other attractions upon request.

The nest must be cleaned at least once every three days, the cage or enclosure must be cleaned daily. Use non-aggressive, odorless detergents, preferably regular baking soda. Keep in mind that the more sterile the cage, the stronger the musky odor emanating from your pet - this is the animal's way of marking its territory.

Care of fur and claws

The Australian flying squirrel is a fairly clean representative of the animal world. Along with clean cats, she licks and cleans the fur with her tongue and claws, so no fur care is required on the part of the owner.

Bathing a squirrel is contraindicated. She is not afraid of water, but she absolutely cannot swim and, left without proper supervision, can easily drown even in a jar of water. If the possum suddenly gets very dirty with something, carefully wipe it with a damp cloth (unscented) or a cotton sponge soaked in boiled water. After this procedure, the animal should be thoroughly dried with a towel and, until it is completely dry, should not be allowed to be in a draft or in a cool place.

Some people install a sand bath in the cage for bathing, but this is not necessary. Possums also do not swim in sand.

Marsupial flying squirrels grind their claws down on their own - on tree branches that should be in the cage. If for some reason the nails have grown too long, you need to trim them yourself using a special nail clipper for cats and dogs. This should be done very carefully so as not to damage the vessel passing inside the claw. If it is still damaged, dip the squirrel's claw in dry potassium permanganate or use a special hemostatic pencil from a veterinary pharmacy. It is imperative to get rid of overgrown claws. Otherwise, they will grow into the paw pads and cause discomfort and pain to the animal.

If your sugar glider has a lot of resistance to trimming its nails, try wrapping its paws in a fleece rag and removing one toe at a time for clipping. It is most convenient to cut the hair together or while distracting the pet with some treat. Many breeders recommend carrying out the unpleasant procedure during the daytime, while the animal is sleepy.

Walks

If you want your pet to be healthy and happy, at least once a day he needs a walk outside the cage, lasting at least an hour. During such a walk, the possum will climb onto any object that it sees on the way, glide, including at you, and also stick its nose into every loophole.

During the flight, possums touch and knock over small objects from tables and other surfaces. Therefore, get ready to be on guard and remove expensive items and objects dangerous for the animal from the “walking” room in advance. It is better to curtain glass and mirrors; flying squirrels do not notice them and can be seriously injured.

Pros and cons of keeping at home

American marsupials, of course, can be used as inhabitants of a European apartment, but before making a choice in favor of such an exotic pet, you should think carefully. Initially, we are still talking about an animal that historically was not domesticated by humans, like, say, a horse or a dog. Therefore, be prepared for surprises, and not always pleasant ones.

Below we will try to systematize the advantages and disadvantages of keeping a possum at home, but it can hardly be guaranteed that this list will be exhaustive: humanity has accumulated too little experience in this matter.

So, let's start with the cons:

1. Opossums are nocturnal, with all the consequences that follow from this: on the one hand, you will not be able to play with your pet and admire its funny antics at the time of day at which you are usually awake, on the other hand, think about whether you will like it constant fuss and rustling all night long.
2. For an opossum, you will need to acquire quite expensive accessories, first of all, a cage. In addition to the fact that this entails additional and considerable costs, such a structure takes up quite a lot of space (for an animal the size of a cat, a small cage where your hamster lived well for many years will not be suitable).
3. Despite the need for a cage, the opossum must be periodically released to free range, otherwise for the animal you will turn into an ordinary jailer, and there will be no talk of any contact with your pet. If you want to limit your pet to the size of its home, get fish. Or hamsters.
4. The cage must be constantly cleaned, otherwise an unpleasant smell will very quickly appear in the apartment, the animal itself will feel uncomfortable, and such a neighborhood will not bring joy to either party. By the way, opossums can be trained to use a litter box, but if with a domestic cat this process is quite easy and in most cases successful, then in this case everything is not so: a lot of effort will need to be invested, and there are no guarantees!
5. An opossum is not a cat that can be picked up and cuddled at any time (however, cats don’t always like this kind of treatment). These animals generally do not like being picked up and torn off the ground, and the animal will not feel any obligations towards the one who feeds it. On the Internet you can find a lot of “cute” videos of how a happy possum squints in the arms of its owner, but remember: each animal has its own character, and no one can guarantee that your chosen one will behave in a similar way.
6. For an opossum, you will need to carefully prepare a diet, because ready-made food, which is sold in abundance for more common domestic animals, has not been developed for such an animal. There is nothing particularly terrible about this if you know what opossums eat, but we still considered it right to put this factor on the list of disadvantages.

Cannibalism is quite common among possums. So, if you don’t want your children to watch in horror as their pets devour their own children and each other, find out in advance what needs to be done to prevent such a phenomenon, or choose a less bloodthirsty pet. And now about the advantages. They exist too. In particular:

1. Opossums are quite calm “tenants”; they rarely display open aggression.
2. With good care, no unpleasant odor comes from these marsupials. They are quite clean and there is no need to bathe them.
3. If you manage to tame the animal and find a common language with it, it will give you many pleasant moments with its funny pranks.
4. The animals live quite a long time, however, this circumstance can also be considered as a disadvantage if the relationship does not work out.
5. Your guests will definitely be surprised, because it’s unlikely that any of them can boast of such exoticism in their own home.

Today it is not difficult to surprise with exotic pets: monkeys, lemurs, raccoons, capybaras, degus, dormouse, jerboas, piglets, as well as crocodiles, iguanas, leopard geckos, chameleons, salamanders, snails, and spiders are kept at home.

If you think that the listed advantages are worth putting up with some inconveniences, go ahead with an unusual purchase!

Raising a possum, walks, toys

• To ensure your opossum lives a full life, let him out for walks . Do this every day. Of course, such walks are best carried out when the animal is active, namely at night. After all, during the day the pet will simply refuse to go for a walk.
• When you take a walk in the evening with your pet, entertain him. It’s good to place a vertical labyrinth or an “obstacle course” in the room where the animal will be. A decorative tree without foliage would also be a good idea.

Take regular walks

• Come up with something that will satisfy the opossum's natural needs. But the animal loves to climb, climb, and jump, using its own tenacious claws and elastic tail.
• The opossum loves to play with objects that are unfamiliar to it. His game is not complete without throwing and skating. He will also actively sniff and chew something . For such games, purchase any suitable toy for your pet, for example, a rubber toy, a ball with a rattle or a bell inside, which can be hung on a rope. Anything you can find at the pet store for cat play will work for your opossum.
• Show patience, affection, and love to your pet. Remember, a possum will never become tame just like that. Do not leave your pet alone in the apartment. He can cause mischief, but there is no need to bother your pet with your own attention. It is better to fence off the area where the animal will roam. If you do not do this, then close the doors in the room and stay there for a while. Believe me, after some time the possum will want to come up to you, get to know you, and even play.
• Some individuals love to have their fur scratched. Therefore, they come on their own for the next portion of affection. Teach your pet to come when called, for example, use some kind of treat for such purposes. You can also take a possum when you travel. It will sit on your head.

Do not forget that opossums cannot be physically punished or given other types of education. The animal will become aggressive, angry, and meeting your pet’s sharp teeth will not bring you much joy.

• We advise you to pay special attention to the following point - if your opossum gets bored and behaves indifferently, this is bad. Maybe your pet is worried about something, contact a veterinary hospital.

How to care for an opossum at home?

• An opossum, like a cat, can wash itself with its paws. But, unlike cats, the former love to swim.
• By the way, if you suddenly notice that your pet smells unpleasant, it means he may be sick. In this case, you will have to urgently show the animal to the veterinarian, since a healthy possum never produces foreign odors.
• If you do not plan to breed opossums, castrate the male. In this case, its natural smell will be significantly reduced.
• How to care for an opossum at home? The main hygiene processes for an opossum are as follows - just clean your pet’s cage more often. Do this at least once every 7 days.

Characteristics of the opossum

• Like many pets, the opossum thrives at night . When it gets dark outside, the pet behaves actively. Very often, many owners notice how their pet rummages through the trash can and walks around the apartment at night.
• The animal loves to move along branches. But despite the fact that people think that the opossum hangs on trees, clinging to them with its tail, they are deeply mistaken.

Likes to climb branches

• The animal has an excellent immune system. He is like a mongoose , he is not afraid of snakes.
• The opossum is a very timid animal, so it tries not to interact with people and other domestic animals. But, if provoked, the pet will be aggressive, it will begin to hiss and scream during the attack.
• An opossum will never just be aggressive; it is not dangerous to humans. Despite this, there is a risk that the animal may be a carrier of dangerous diseases and parasites. But this is only if you do not care for the animal correctly, do not bathe it, and do not monitor its hygiene.
• The opossum moves quite quickly. When he moves through trees, he is able to reach speeds of up to 5 km/h.
• The animal loves solitude. He needs company when mating season comes.
• When several possums communicate with each other, they make unusual sounds that resemble clicking.
• The opossum has a well-developed sense of smell. He is even able to find food by touch.

Characteristic

The domestic animal has 50 very sharp teeth , thanks to which it can easily chew any objects or food.

Possum nutrition

In nature, animals obtain their own food on their own. By the age of two months, they are trained to obtain at least some food for themselves. We can say that by this age they become independent. And for the first 2 months their mother takes care of them.

She feeds them milk, protects them, warms them, and carries them in her bag. The main thing for a pet is that its diet includes protein and carbohydrate foods. For example, something like:

• Fermented milk products are required. This is the main source of protein and calcium. The main thing is not to leave such products in the cage for a long time, otherwise they may turn sour, and after eating it, the animal can easily become poisoned.
• The main diet should be insects. For example, worms. All this protein food is sometimes bred by the owners themselves to feed their pet;
• Possums are very good at eating various vegetables and fruits. They will happily eat pears, apples, and pumpkins. Many vegetables can be given;
• Dried fruits and berries are used as delicacies. With their help, you can tame your pet with your hands, or some tricks;
• There must be a salt stone in the animal’s cage. They need it as the main source of various minerals.

The best time to feed a flying squirrel is before he goes to bed. You can safely give different pieces of fruit or vegetables. Protein food is best given late in the evening, when the animal wakes up. This will give him great strength before the night's festivities.

Diseases

The most common diseases of the Australian flying squirrel:

Aflatoxicosis

– liver disease caused by the ingestion of deadly aflatoxins (can be transmitted through flaxseed, corn, insects). If detected in time, the disease is completely curable by contacting a veterinarian. Symptoms: diarrhea, lethargy, apathy, loss of appetite.

Calcium deficiency

If not treated promptly, it transforms into paralysis of the hind limbs. To prevent the onset and development of the disease, you should maintain a balance of calcium and fluoride in the diet: ideally, it is a 2:1 ratio. To avoid illness, use calcium as a dietary supplement regularly. The dosage and exact name of the drugs can be clarified with the veterinarian or the breeder from whom the animal was purchased.

Constipation

Constipation is caused by stress, lack of fluids and fiber in the diet. Prunes and oranges can be used as first aid measures.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea can be caused by the abuse of laxative foods, stress, infectious diseases, or an individual reaction to a food product. As a treatment, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the root cause of the disease.

Dehydration

It is caused by loss of fluid due to insufficient water intake, vomiting, or frequent urination due to some diseases (for example, the genitourinary system). Dehydration of an animal for more than 12 hours can lead to death and requires immediate attention to a veterinarian. As an emergency measure, try offering your pet water sweetened with honey or drinking it yourself from a syringe without a needle.

Feeding

Prohibited products:

• birdseed;
• cheese;
• raisin;
• grape;
• lettuce;
• a large number of nuts.

An approximate balanced diet:

• Fruit is the most important product in a possum's diet. They should make up 70% of the serving.
• Protein food should make up 30% of the serving.
• Food should have less phosphorus and more calcium.
• Give little sweets, only as a treat.
• You can give some meat supplements (unsalted boiled chicken or turkey).
• You can’t do without live food (grasshoppers or zoophobes).
• Once a week you should give honey, which has a good effect on digestion.

Of course, keeping sugar possums is far from easy. However, those who are not afraid of difficulties can safely get fluffy marsupial flyers and they will give about fifteen unforgettable years of companionship.

Let's draw some conclusions

As you noticed, the creature is extremely interesting, cute and attractive. Starting from an unusual sweet tooth to the amazing features of sounds. If you want to listen to these sounds right now, there are many audios on the Internet that are easy to find!

So you can listen both live and online. But it’s worth finally recalling that although the animal is cute and funny, it is on the verge of extinction. Listed in the Red Book.

For this reason, some refuse to purchase it, and some even try to open specialized nurseries with ideal conditions for them!

Let's summarize

As we can see, this sugar animal has many positive qualities, especially for keeping it at home. But unfortunately, this species is now listed in the Red Book, so people are trying to take care of them and their population as much as possible.

This cute animal is distinguished primarily by its unusual affection for its owner. Indeed, his behavior is very similar to that of a dog.

Therefore, as soon as the possum feels that you are not a threat to him, but, on the contrary, a faithful friend, a master who feeds and takes care of him, he will calmly become your faithful partner.

Drawing a conclusion, we can safely say that this furry animal will become an excellent pet, with the right approach to it.