Adding Another Sugar Glider

We get asked this question often- Can I add another Sugar Glider to my cage with an existing single, pair or colony of gliders? The answer is sometimes, but not all the times. Every Sugar Glider is unique so each scenario will be different.

Sugar Gliders are colony animals that live in large groups in the wild. They are highly interactive and do best living in groups of at least two or three. Interacting with a human does provide some form of companionship, but it is not compared to that of another Glider. Also, since Gliders are nocturnal, most people can only spend time with their Gliders in the mornings and evenings while both parties are awake. For this reason, it is strongly recommended to purchase gliders in pairs or groups to keep them socialized. You can keep multiple female Gliders or multiple male Gliders together in the same cage, but it is not suggested to keep multiple males with only one female. One Glider may try to assert his dominance over the others, and this can cause fighting. The ratio of females should always be equal to or higher than the ratio of males in the cage. All males should be neutered prior to be housed with any females, otherwise you should expect them to reproduce right away. Mating Gliders without clear linage can lead to inbreeding, unhealthy gliders or even death. 

There are two methods for introductions: a cold intro or a quarantine period. A "cold intro" is one in which you let new Gliders meet face-to-face or house together for the first time right off the bat. While this can work sometimes, it can be unsafe with aggressive gliders so it's not recommended. We suggest keeping new gliders separate for a 30-day quarantine period, which will give them time to adjust before living together. If possible, start by housing the gliders in cages that are next-to but separate from one another. Most people don't have an entire extra cage laying around, so in this case a travel cage will work well. During this time, they can become familiar with each others smells, noises and behaviors before interacting face-to-face. It's also a good idea to swap some of the toys and accessories from one cage to the next so that the smells and scent marks are combined, which can help lessen any terrirotial habits of the Gliders. Let the new glider(s) sleep in a nesting pouch for 1-2 nights, then switch the pouch to the existing cage with your other Glider(s), letting them use the pouch for at least a few nights. You can continue this swap back and forth during the quarantine period.

Once the Gliders have been housed near one another after a few weeks, you can try introductions. It is best to make the initial introduction in a neutral space, so that neither Glider feels like their personal space or property is being ‘invaded’. Many pet owners choose to use an enclosed space like a bonding tent or within a bathtub to supervise the introductions. If the Gliders "ball up", that is usually considered a fight. Make sure to watch carefully- if there is any aggression, separate the gliders, and try again in a few days. 

In our experience, most Gliders will adapt peacefully to the addition of another or multiple new gliders. In some rare cases the personalities of the gliders might just not work out and they'll have to be kept separate, permanently. In this case, you'll want to consider new housing arrangements- whether that means getting another Glider or rehoming the new one- so that all your Gliders are kept in pairs of two or more so that no one is alone.