Is a sugar glider a good pet for a ten year old?

Answer 1

Outside Australia, the Sugar Glider is a popular domestic pet because of its lively and inquisitive nature; with plenty of attention (a minimum of 1-2 hours of daily human interaction), it bonds well to human companions. Where legal, the Sugar Glider is not difficult to breed in captivity under the right conditions. Sugar Gliders are not exotic animals as defined by the USDA [1] and their breeding is regulated by the USDA. As of Autumn 2008, they are legal to own as domestic house pets in the U.S.A in 47 of the 48 contiguous states, with California being the only exception. In Pennsylvania, they are legal as solely house pets, but breeders require a special permit and there are restrictions on the sale.

Answer 2

No, absolutely not. First of all, you cannot just get "A" sugar glider, as sugar gliders are colony creatures and do best in pairs.

Sugar gliders have a long lifespan (living up to 15 years in captivity), and so one must wonder: What will happen to the sugar gliders when the owner goes off to college? Most college dorms will not allow pets, and I don't know of any that will allow EXOTIC pets. Especially since sugar gliders are so loud at night.

Sugar gliders are also nocturnal, and so they will be awake when the child is sleeping, and sleeping when the child wants to play with them.

They also require a complex diet that most 13 year olds won't understand. And they get expensive. Not to mention that having sugar gliders sometimes means taking trips to the emergency vet at 3am, as this is when they're most active and so that's when you're likely to see problems. (Immediate health care when any sign of a problem arises is a MUST for these animals).

So, before you buy sugar gliders for your 13 year old, ask yourself this:

Are you willing to invest a lot of money into these animals?

Are you willing to drive them to a vet any time they need it, even if it means missing out on sleep?

Are you willing to mix up a good diet for them?

Are you going to be able to devote 2 to 3 hours a day of attention towards them?

Are you willing to take the animals on once your child goes off to college?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, then do not get your child a sugar glider.

Answer 3

Not at all.

Sugar gliders are nocturnal, This means that they don't wake up until the evening hours. Many in fact, don't wake up till after midnight. They would be awake when the child is sleeping, and so the child would not get to interact with them.

Another reason is that they are extremely fragile, it just takes one wrong move to injure or kill a sugar glider. Most children do not understand the fragility of these creatures. They are also extremely high maintenance and expensive pets to keep.

And finally, another reason would be that sugar gliders live long lives, if they are properly cared for. The parents, and the child, would need to consider what will happen to the sugar gliders when the child goes off to college, or simply lacks time and desire for them; as they get older and more involved with friends.

Answer 4

If i were you, i wouldn't give your child a sugar glider, because by the time they reach adult hood, their hormones kick in, and they will destroy your child's anus.