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 Sugar Glider Breeding and Development
In captivity gliders can mate and produce babies up to four times a year. Litter size may vary from 1 to 4 babies, with 2 being the most common. Just as with other marsupials, baby gliders are called joeys. Sugar Gliders have a 16 day gestation period after which the joeys are born, emerging completely blind and helpless, and must find their own way into the mothers pouch to finish development. Mother's will usually attempt to help the babies by licking a wet trail into her belly fur to guide them and make their journey a little easier. Once in the pouch, joey finds one of four nipples that will swell in its mouth and keep it firmly attached about 60-70 days. It's very important that the joey is not dislodged from the nipple or it will die. They cannot open their mouths to latch back on.
60-70 days after first entering the pouch the young joeys will being to emerge once more. You may see a foot or a tail first, as the joeys are still attached to their nipples, but are growing large enought they don't fit as well in the pouch. They are still completely dependent on their mother's at this time.
At about 70 days the joeys may completely emerge from the pouch and the mother may begin to leave them alone for brief periods of time while she eats. Usually however, the father or another cagemate will stay with the joeys to keep them warm. The mother may leave them alone for up to 20 or 30 minutes at a time, so it's important not to panic and assume that the baby has been rejected.
A week or two out of the pouch and the babies will start opening their eyes. Until this time it's best not to bother them very often, and let the mother glider have as much peace and quiet as possible. After their eyes open you should begin handling the babies for about five minutes at a time, taking care not to stress the mother out. Keep them in a safe, quiet place that's warm and free from drafts and allow the mother to be present so she doesn't worry. If you've bonded with the parents, the mother will be happy to allow you to hold her babies while she munches on any treats you might have available. Mealworms or waxworms are favorites!
Be very careful that you don't contaminate the baby with the scent of gliders from a different colony! Gliders have a very good sense of smell and the mother may become distressed and kill the baby if it smells like other gliders. ALWAYS practice good hygiene and wash your hands frequently, between cages and between colonies, especially if you have more than one group of gliders!
Over the next few weeks the babies will watch their parents and attempt to mimic their behavorior. Father and mother both will play an active role in raising and teaching their babies. Other family members and cagemates will also help out, as gliders are very social creatures. Gradually increase the amount of time that you spend with the baby joeys every day as best you can without distressing the baby or mother. 10 to 15 minutes with the mother and baby together, maybe more if the mother is happy playing or eating and the baby isn't calling for her. Letting the mother and father play in the tent with the baby present is a good way of doing this. That way if the baby cries the parents can quickly return to care for it. If they're bonded with you the mother and father will probably scurry off to play leaving you to babysit their joeys as if you were another member of the colony.
Around 42-70 days out of the pouch the babies tails will fluff out and they will learn to urinate and defecate on their own. They're becoming more independent and will eat solid foods with the adults. They may still try to ride around on the backs of adult gliders, but they are quickly becoming adults themselves. You should now be able to allow the colony lots of play time in the tent with you, and the babies will start to become more animated and join in the fun. They may enjoy exploring more now, and may respond playfully to your hands and voice.
Babies must remain with their parents until at LEAST eight weeks after they have completely emerged from the pouch. Joeys pulled too young will have their life spans drastically cut shorter, have increased health problems, and runty size. If you have any doubts as to the exact date that the joey left the pouch, or if it looks small for it's age, it's best to error on the side of safety and leave the baby with the parents for another week or two.
Female gliders may mature as early as five months old, so it's very important to make sure that she is not placed in a cage with an unneutered male as becoming pregnant at this young age is very hard on her development. Males will start to develop scent glands on their forehead and chest as they mature, and they will be recognizable by their scrotal sac which hangs from their lower belly. A neutured male will not develop the scent glands.
Sugar Gliders are in essence colony animals. They tend to stay together and form family groups. As a pet, a glider living alone will not do as well and will require much attention from its owner. Reality requires at least two animals living together to have a happy and healthy pet. They can be of any sex, but note that you will most likely get an offspring sooner or later if you have opposite sexes. Both the male and the female take care of the baby. A baby glider will eventually emerge from the mother's pouch and learn to hang onto her back or chest while the mother searches for food. The father can also be a vehicle for the young. When sleeping, gliders will cling together and form a ball of fur. This keeps them warm and offers a sense of protection. Gliders will also furiously protect their territory. Upset gliders have been known to attack and keep attacking until they are dead. They do get angry and can also hold a grudge against specific individuals be they animal or human. The animals can also learn to accept human contact to the point that they won't bite even when upset. Gliders communicate by "barking", "crabbing", "chirping" and "squeaking". I have found my animals barking back and forth in sequence and sometimes together in the middle of the night. Occasionally it seems they do it because they want attention. |
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