Sugar Gliders (Petaurus Breviceps)
Sugar Gliders are small, nocturnal gliding possums native to eastern and northern mainland Australia and New Guinea. Only in recent years sugar gliders have been accepted into American homes as an exotic pet. Sugar Gliders (Joey's or "suggies" to their owners) are about 6-1/2" to 7-1/2" in overall length including their tail. The body-size of the Sugar Glider is usually 1/2 the overall length and they range in weight from 4 to 6 oz. They are intelligent and loving, and can make wonderful pets under the right conditions. Sugar gliders' have a lifespan of about 10-12 years; however, it is not unusual for them to live to 15.
One of the most unique attributes of the sugar glider is their twin skin membranes called patagia, this extends from their front to their back feet and allow the skin to open and expand acting like a small parachute for the Glider. Once this membrane is opened as the glider is jumping or descending from its perch, it will allow the glider to slow its descent and allow it to glide for remarkably long distances of up to 100 feet if they jump from a tree-top! This is a feature that lets the Gliders escape predators in the wild by leaping from a very high position and gliding for several hundred feet to the next.
In the average home, these glides are confined by ceilings, but on average indoor-glides can exceed 10-15 feet or more if you have an exposed indoor second floor. The first time you see a Sugar Glider gliding to the floor is sure to be a memorable experience. One that begins with you worrying that the little guy or gal is going to crash, and then, once you see that they do this effortlessly, It makes you anticipate the next time you'll see them doing it!
There are many color variations of Sugar Gliders that are bred and hand-tamed by Chicago Sugar Gliders staff including.
White-Faced Blonde
A normal marked glider with a creamy face and cream
colored body with no black bars under ears.
Platinum
White body with silver or black tinting or stripe. Black eyes.
The amount of coloring on the glider varies.
Creamino
A T- albino that has a cream coloring, faint stripe, and ruby red eyes.
Albino
Complete lack of pigmentation - no silver, gray, or stripe
of any kind. Eyes are pink and ears are translucent.
White-Faced Gray
A normal marked glider with a white face and no
black lines under ears.
White-Faced Cinnamon
A normal marked glider with a cinnamon coloring and
no black bars under ears.
Champagne
Champagne is a light silver color, to a light cream color, with
a maroon dorsal stripe, tat fades before it reaches the tail.
White Tip
Normal marked glider with a white tipped tail. Glider may
be normal in color, white-faced, or another shade of color.
Buttercream
Creamy brown color with a yellowish to cream colored
head, stripe is usually brown to red.
Lion Female
A golden honey color with dark brownish-red features.
Lighter than the male Lion.
Lion Male
A golden honey color with dark brownish-red features.
Light Cinnamon
Glider has a red body and a redder stripe. Normal markings.
Dark Cinnamon
Glider has a red body and a redder stripe. Normal markings.
Calico
Multi colored throughout the body, bands wrap the
body in various colors, white included.
Black Beauty
Has darker markings Thick circles under the eyes and
ears all black is more dark then regular gliders |
