Sugar Glider
Exotic marsupial; bonds in colonies; specialized diet; legal restrictions in some areas
Overview
The Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) is a small pet, around 5–6 in (+ tail), living 10–15 years. It is nocturnal — most active at night. Socially it is highly social (colony — never alone).
Is the Sugar Glider right for you?
A good match if — you're around in the evenings, when it's awake; you can house a small group for company.
Think twice if — you want a pet that's lively during the day; you can only keep a single animal — this species needs company; you want a simple, hands-off first pet.
What a Sugar Glider needs from you
Day to day it needs a suitable enclosure with a moderate amount of space, the right diet, daily care and fairly demanding upkeep. Crucially, it must be kept with its own kind — keeping a single animal alone is stressful and unfair.
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Petaurus breviceps
- Size
- 5–6 in (+ tail)
- Life span
- 10–15 years
- Social needs
- highly social (colony — never alone)
- Activity
- nocturnal
- Care level
- advanced
- Notes
- Exotic marsupial; bonds in colonies; specialized diet; legal restrictions in some areas
What it needs from you (at a glance)
| Space needed | |
| Experience needed | |
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| Need for company | |
| Handling / closeness | |
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What it costs
Scaled to this breed’s roughly 180 g and a ~13-year life, keeping a Sugar Glider works out at about:
Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →