How to Choose a Sugar Glider Breeder Part 2

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

o How long have you been in business?

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

o 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!)

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

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

o 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?

o Do you handle your joeys a lot once they are out-of-pouch? How much time do they spend interacting with humans?

o 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 sugar gliders in the pouch until they are ready to leave, unless Mom is sick or deceased.)

o What is this sugar glider’s personality like? Is he or she shy or very outgoing? Does he or she get along with other sugar gliders?

o What diet have you been feeding him or her? This question is important because you’ll want to continue giving your sugar glider the same diet he’s used to, for at least a while after you take him or her home. If you don’t, you could end up with a sugar glider with digestive upsets.

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:

o Why do you want to buy a sugar glider?

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

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

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

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

o Are you willing and financially able to provide veterinary care?

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

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

o What kind of food are you going to provide for your sugar glider? Can you provide it with the sort of well-balanced diet I have been feeding it?

If you don’t feel comfortable with the breeder, then find another one. It’s important that you feel comfortable with the breeder, so that you won’t hesitate to contact him or her for advice on caring for your new suggie.© 2006 SugarGliderAuthority.com. Excerpted from Sugar Gliders: The Ultimate Guide. All rights reserved. No portion of this website may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the copyright owner.