Sugar glider breeding can happen in captivity at special facilities. The breeding seasons depend on geographic location. Click for more details.
Sugar gliders are devilishly cute little marsupials that can make fantastic pets for those willing to invest in the right habitats and care. However, many sugar glider owners may wonder how to breed their furry companions and enjoy the bliss of sugar glider babies.
Sugar gliding breeding is fairly straightforward, but it does take a general understanding of sugar glider behavior and mating habits. Let’s explore more about sugar glider breeding patterns and discover how to best produce baby sugar gliders.
Sugar Glider Breeding Guide
Sugar gliders can be unforgettable companions, especially when you consider their average lifespan of about 11 years. However, they’re still considered unusual or exotic, and it can be a challenge to find products for them in local pet supermarkets or grocery stores.
Owning a sugar glider is a precious responsibility and not one that should be taken lightly. The same can be said for breeding a pair of sugar gliders. Baby gliders might be ready for rehousing at ten weeks of age.
But they can also benefit from additional time spent in their parent’s cage. Additionally, adult sugar gliders tend to pair-up and mate for the duration of their lives. There can be sexual aggression among males in the same cage for this reason.
Fortunately, the more you know, the better able you’ll be at handling your breeding pair and ensuring a fruitful and peaceful union. For starters, it’s helpful to know when sugar gliders breed.
When Do Sugar Gliders Breed?
Sugar gliders breed as soon as they’re able. Males and females reach sexual maturity at different times, with males typically maturing at about 12 to 15 months of age and females reaching full maturity at about 8 to 12 months.
As mentioned above, males can become aggressive and fight one another for the opportunity to breed with a female. This is one reason why you may want to separate young male sugar gliders from their parents earlier rather than later.
In addition to reaching full sexual maturity in the space of about a year, sugar gliders can reproduce several times a year. The gestation period for newborn gliders is exceptionally short.
What is the Gestation Period for Sugar Gliders?
Fetal sugar gliders gestate for about 15 to 17 days. That’s just over two weeks from conception to birth, which is fantastically fast. Fortunately, females don’t typically go into heat and attempt to breed again until after their offspring are weaned.
The average female sugar glider will give birth to either or one or two offspring. Baby sugar gliders will be about the same size as a grain of rice when they are born. To protect them, the sugar glider will keep them in her pouch until they are older.
How to Breed Sugar Gliders
If you’re interested in breeding your sugar gliders, there are quite a few things you’ll need to consider before getting started. The lifespan of a glider can be diminished if they’re housed in poor habitats or fed diets lacking in essential vitamins.
Before you can begin to wade into the world of sugar glider breeding, you must first educate yourself on proper sugar glider care. Once you’ve done that, you’ll need to acquire and set up a habitat for your breeding pair.
If you don’t already own a pair of breedable sugar gliders, you’ll want to:
- Acquire an adult male and an adult female sugar glider.
- Consult with a veterinarian to ensure that your breeding pair is in good health.
- Allow them to mate and wait for signs of offspring.
- When the offspring are old enough, transfer them into separate housing.
To help you better understand these steps and why they’re important, we’ll discuss them in a little more detail below.
Acquire Sugar Gliders
Before you can breed sugar gliders, you’ll need to own a pair. It’s crucial to purchase or adopt your sugar gliders from a reputable organization or individual. Breeding sugar gliders with significant health defects could result in ill offspring.
Once you’ve acquired a male and a female sugar glider (preferably between a year and five years in age), you can take them to your local veterinarian for an examination.
Consult With a Veterinarian
Before allowing your sugar gliders to mate, it’s essential to ensure that they’re both in tip-top shape. Always have your gliders examined by an experienced veterinarian before allowing them to breed.
Any genetic deformities that may hinder offspring growth and development should be weeded out at the first opportunity, and a veterinary examination can help. It’s also just a good idea to bring your gliders in for a check-up, especially if they’re new.
Wait and Watch
Once you have your breeding pair and there are zero health concerns, it’s time to relax and keep an eye on things. You don’t have to literally watch your gliders day and night, but rather keep an eye out for certain behaviors.
Pregnant females will eat more voraciously and they may “show” a little around their pouch area. Still, don’t feel ashamed if you don’t notice any babies until after they’re weaned and ready to come out from the pouch.
Rehouse or Adopt Out
Once your sugar gliders reach about ten weeks of age, they’re capable of living away from their mother can finding a new home. You can choose to keep your gliders together for a longer period of time, especially if the offspring are all female.
Just be sure to remove the tiny females before they are eight months of age. Otherwise, you could be looking at six more sugar gliders on the way. And if you do decide to adopt out, be sure that you’re always choosing trustworthy individuals.
Feel free to ask them questions about their sugar glider experience or knowledge before accepting an offer.
Baby Sugar Gliders Aren’t Far Away
If you’re interested in breeding your pair of sugar gliders, the above information can help you get started. It’s important to consult with a licensed veterinarian who has experience with gliders. They may also assist you with sugar glider breeding.
It’s also vital to know what signs to look for in pregnant females and to be prepared for rehousing. Baby sugar gliders can be legally sold in most states, but it’s crucial to only sell them to responsible and educated owners. After all, sugar gliders can live for a decade or longer.
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