Pet Sugar Glider

Sugar Glider Cost

The real cost of Keeping Sugar Gliders

Sugar gliders are sometimes promoted as being a cheap and in-expensive exotic pet but is it really that cheap? This is an in-depth look at the cost of owning a sugar glider. While the price of buying a sugar glider may not be as extravagant as other exotics there are many things you need to buy to keep your pet sugar gliders healthy, happy, and safe.

The Sugar Glider

Sugar gliders can vary in price drastically depending on color, temperament, and genetics. A common Grey sugar glider costs around $125 - $300 dollars, white faced blonds can go for $300 - $600, leucistic hets $400 - $700, leucistic $1500 - $2500, mosaic $2000 - $3000. As you can see there are many different colors, breeds, and traits of sugar gliders, even some that are not listed here. In our research we even came across a white faced mosaic being sold for $3500. Sugar gliders are very social creatures and should at least be kept in pairs, which doubles the cost of purchasing a sugar glider.

Final price for just the sugar gliders: $250 - $7000

these estimates don't include the price of shipping if a sugar glider breeder is not in your area (which can be in the $100's as well)

Remember always check with rescues in your area before purchasing a sugar glider from a breeder. There are many sugar gliders out there available for adoption that need a good home. Not only will you save some money (adoption fees are generally much lower than that of a breeder some rescues just require a donation) but you will also be improving the quality of life for some homeless sugar gliders.

Sugar Glider Cage

Your new sugar gliders will also need a cage. Sugar glider cages also vary in price drastically depending on size, brand, and material. A nice sized pvc coated wire cage 30"x30"x60" can be purchased online for about $200 - $300 plus shipping. You may be able to find smaller cages and for less money but we do not recommend keeping 2 gliders in a cage any smaller than that and if you can afford to go bigger your sugar gliders will love the extra space to jump around. Pet stores generally do not carry cages that are suitable for sugar gliders, some bird cages might work but they are expensive and not ideal and some are made from cheap metals that can poison your sugar gliders.

Alternatively you can build your own sugar glider cage from coated pvc wire mesh (with 1/2" holes) which can be purchased from most local hardware stores. This lets you build your cage to your own specific size needs and is generally cheaper.

Price for cage: $200 - $300

Sugar Glider Food

Sugar gliders need food and a lot of it, not so much quantity but sugar gliders need a very varied diet. As of this writing there is no "glider food" that you can go into a local pet store and buy. There are some "glider pellets" that are sold a few places on the Internet but do not come very highly recommended from glider owners, breeders, or vets. Due to the omnivorous nature and unique feeding style of the sugar glider it is unlikely that we will ever see an "all in one" glider food that is excepted by experienced sugar glider owners.

For the scope of this writing we will be using a BML diet plan trusted by many glider owners and give a round about price for the first time purchase of these items.

1 Egg ... but we probably have to buy 6 - $.99
1/2 cup of honey ... we buy a 12 oz bottle - $2.87
1/4 cup of apple juice ... 1/2 gallon - $2.29
4 oz bottle baby juice with yogurt ... we buy a 4 pack - $2.79
1 Teaspoon of Rep-Cal HERPTIVITE vitamin supplement ... 1 jar - $14.99
2 teaspoons Rep-Cal Calcium Supplement non-phosphorus with Vitamin D3 in it. ... 1 jar - $8.49
2 2 and a 1/2 oz jar of Stage 1 or 2 Heinz, Gerber or Beechnut Chicken baby food - $1.98
1/4 cup Wheat Germ ... 12 oz box - $2.69
1/2 cup dry baby cereal Heinz or Gerber (Mixed or Oatmeal) 16 oz box - $2.99

This mix is said to feed one sugar glider for about a month so it will last you half that long. Not everything needs to be repurchased every time you mix up some BML as you will have left over ingredients.

You will also need fruits, vegetables, and insects
in the winter we buy bags of frozen organic veggies - $3.00 (and try to feed fresh local produce in the summer)
mixed refrigerated fruit containers - $3.00
50 ct meal worms - $2.00

Estimated initial price of food needed the day you bring your gliders home: $48.08 plus tax

Cage Accessories

Your sugar gliders wouldn't be very happy with an empty cage and nowhere to eat, drink, sleep, and play so you are going to need some cage accessories. There are a variety of toys, pouches, water bottles, and food dishes available and some stores even sell cage kits that come with a few pouches and toys.

2 pouches for inside the cage - $20
bonding pouch for outside - $10 - $15
food dish - $3 - $5
water bottle - $3 - $10
wodent wheel (or other glider specific exercise wheel) - $15
nail trimmer track for wheel - $10 - $15
random cage toys to climb on, hide in, swing from, and play with - $5 - $100

Est. total for Cage Accessories : $65.00

Sugar Glider Vets

Now we know what you're going to say, "sugar gliders don't need vaccinations or medical care". Well your half right, sugar gliders are not found to be carriers of rabies, distemper, or anything you would normally get your dog or cat vaccinated against but that doesn't mean they don't require medical care or need to go to the vet. Having a knowledgeable sugar glider vet give your glider a check up is a great idea. A vet can tell you if your sugar glider is the right weight, if it has any deficiencies, any parasites, heart problems, hearing, vision. Sure you can tell if your glider isn't feeling great but why let it get that far? a vet can do blood-work and you can catch problems before they arise as symptoms in your sugar gliders, which is better for your sugar gliders quality of life and much cheaper in the long run.

Before purchasing sugar gliders (or any other pets) we recommend you set aside $1000 dollars in case of emergency and to help with routine vet visits. This may sound like a lot but if something does happen and one of your babies needs surgery you will be glad you have it. Operations on such small animals are complicated and very expensive. (anesthesia alone can be hundreds and hundreds of dollars)

Just in case : $1000

Assuming you only get two Grey sugar gliders the total estimated initial cost of keeping sugar gliders as pets is about $1,565.00

This is just an estimation based on prices from sugar glider breeders, local pet stores, grocery stores, and sugar glider cage retailers. Your initial cost of keeping a sugar glider varies greatly depending on the type of glider, cage, and the quality of health care you plan to provide for your precious pets.

Feel free to add your comments about sugar glider cost.