Criptic's Page On Herps - Mammals - Sugar Gliders

Before successfully breeding sugar gliders you will need to make sure you have one male, and one female. To determine if you have a male or female is pretty simple. Females will have a vertical pouch where most mammals have a belly button. Males will have a furred scrotum about the size of a pea, lower on their abdomen. Males can also be differentiated at a glance. Males will have a diamond shaped bald spot on the top of their heads. This is a scent gland that does not occur in females.

Sugar gliders have a cloaca. This is the reproductive system, urinary ducts, and alimentary tract. Because of this, only one orifice will be apparent at the base of the tail. Female sugar gliders have a divided uterus. This is where the eggs are shed to be fertilized. They also have 2 separate vaginae and cervices. The babies will develop in a central birth canal which will form before each birth. The males’ penis is bifurcated.

Sugar gliders will breed year-round and females have an estrous cycle of 29 days. The male grasps the fur on the females back in his forefeet and hold her in place. Most sugar gliders will not use their teeth to hold the female in place. Sugar gliders are not secretive about mating, and will continue even if they notice you watching.

The baby sugar glider joeys are born weighing about 0.007 ounces and 0.2 inches, after gestating about 16 days. When born, the tiny pink infant will work its way to its mother’s pouch opening. Its eyes will be fused shut, as the eyelids are still being developed. The ears will look like nubs on either side of the head. The journey to the mother’s pouch is made by instinct alone. The mother does not assist. If a baby loses its grip, and falls, or if it fails to find the pouch, it will quickly die.

If you happen to observe the birth, and see a baby falling, you may be able to intervene. You will need one friend to help. One person holds the female glider on her back. The other person should place the joey on the female’s stomach next to the pouch opening. Watch the joey closely, and make sure it does not fall off again. You may need to open the edge of the pouch slightly and guide the joey inside.

Once inside the pouch, the joey will find one of the four nipples and take it into its mouth. The joey does not have the muscles needed to suck for milk. The nipple instead will swell, so the joey can not easily disconnect from the nipple. The milk is expressed into its mouth automatically. The joey will remain attached to the nipple until its jaw muscles are developed enough that it can disconnect, and suck milk at will. As it reaches the two month stage, the pouch will look like it has one or two peanuts stuffed in it. The arms and legs may protrude from the pouch opening as the joeys move around. Shortly after, they will begin emerging from the pouch.

The joeys will emerge from the pouch as it becomes too cramped to stay any longer. They will usually emerge tail first. It is not uncommon for them to keep their heads inside the pouch for several more days. Once the glider emerges it is usually two months old. It will be fully furred, and its eyes will open within 10 days. The joeys will put its heads back in the pouch only to feed. The joeys will ride on their parents backs or stomachs from this point forward. Males will participate in child care once the joeys emerge from the pouch. The will be attentive in caring for their young. They will also baby-sit and carry the joeys around. If kept in a family group. Older siblings will also assist in caring for young.

Joeys will be fully independent are capable of finding and catching their own food by 5 months old. At 8 months, most reach sexual maturity.

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