13 year old owner Nick received a gift of a mated pair of mature sugar gliders as pets from a family member in March of 2004.  Nick had hoped to raise sugar gliders for over 2 year, researching them and keeping up-to-date information, in hopes his parents would allow him the responsibility of pets.  Although the current habits of this pair were not in accordance of what he had read, he continued with their diet and habit as the previous owner had instilled.  They enjoyed  diet of fresh water and cat chow ever ready in their cage, for evenings they received crab sticks and corn on the cob.  As treats they received fresh fruit (which they seldom wanted) and an occasional nut.  This mating pair produced 3 cycles of full-pouch joeys without surviving young.  Even though the pair showed with pouches full, there was never any remains left in the bottom of the cage, nesting area, or sleeping area of any young reproduced.  After research online, Nick assumed they were either too young to mate with immature fetuses or their was something wrong with the joeys health-wise to prevent healthy sugar gliders and the parents took care of it nature's way.  In December of 2004, a healthy joey emerged from the pouch.  You could hear soft barking from outside the nesting area.  Both parents were wrapped up tight.  However a scuffle started and when Nick and his Mother looked inside, both parents attacked the healthy joey, killing it, and eating it in front of them.  Shock and horror-the beloved pets just cannibalized their own young in front of their owners!  Many possibilities have surfaced for the cause 1) too young to mate 2) poor protein levels prior to coming to Nick 3) brother-sister relations of mating pair 4) introduced to pinky mice or too much protein in their diet 5) shock of on-lookers to the new arrival 6) ill or deformed joey not going to survive.  Well, prior to living with Nick, the pair had been given pinky mice and were on a daily diet of crab developing a taste for high-protein in their diet.  Both sugar gliders were over weight.  Fearing with the other pregnancies that they were loosing the joeys due to low protein, Nick had increased their crab servings in hopes of rectifying their balance-instead he had increased their need as meat eaters.  They had been eating their young in confusion to their desire for meat protein.  Once they hit this stage, they will always eat their young.  Their was no choice but to neuter the male to prevent this from occurring every cycle.  Whether the male was killing the joey and then they both ate the remains or they both killed the joey is undetermined, since they only saw them both eating the young.  After contacting Mike on referral from a family member via the internet, he recommended that both sugar gliders be put on a strict diet and the male be taken to be neutered.  After the male returned from his minor surgery, Mike took time to meet with Nick and the gliders.  He went over dietary changes and actually helped the young future breeder re-bond with his beloved pets.  Nick now has increased his sugar glider family with two young joeys, in addition to Juni & Cheyanne, in hopes to have the opportunity to breed healthy joeys in the future.

"It was very nice of Mike to return our call so quickly, since we did not get our Sugar Gliders from him.  He made me feel confident that I was acting in the best interest of my pets before, during, and after.  He followed up with us all through the process and took time out of his schedule to meet with me in person after I had Juni neutered to make sure we were on the right track.  Mike's encouragement is what persuaded me to continue. I can't believe now that I even considered giving them up.  I have a better understanding and respect for my gliders now.  Thank you Mike!"  Nick DKSolo@aol.com

 

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