• our lizards
• Our snakes
• products
• enclosures
• feeder insects
• snake food
• activities
• photo gallery
• Wildlife licenses

Welcome to DixiGliders

We are located in Victoria (Australia) and we breed these beautiful creatures known as Sugar Gliders. 

These wonderful animals are native to Australia and New Guinea and are kept as pets in these countries and many others around the world. 
They are most popular in the USA, where they are bred in large numbers for people to keep as pets.

Though native to Australia, few people know what a Sugar Glider is, 
and even more do not know they can be kept as pets (with a Basic Wildlife licence). 
Sugar Gliders can only be kept in some states of Australia, these states are VIC, SA and NT.






Over our time breeding these wonderful marsupials, we have had some lovely Joeys find great homes.


For Sale / Breeding
Sugar Gliders breed in winter and joeys generally come Out Of Pouch(OOP) from September through to January.

The first day a Joey comes OPP they are handeled for a health check.
After this they are handeled each week starting off with a couple off minutes and working up to an hour or so.
All Joeys are at least 8-9 weeks OOP before being moved away form their parents and housed indoors where they are socialised.

See our FOR SALE page for availablilty and prices.

One of our October 2011 Joeys just out of pouch.


2 weeks OOP


DIET 
You will find on the Internet that there is a bit of a debate about what to feed Sugar Gliders. 
Below is what we feed ours, it is simple and the ingredients are all readily available in Australia. 

Sugar Gliders are nectar eaters and therefore a special nectar mix has to be made for them. 
This recipe is based on the diets used at both the Healesville Sanctuary and Taronga Zoo.


Leadbeater’s Mix
500ml Warm Water
300ml Honey 
3 shelled Boiled Eggs
75g High Protein Rice Baby Cereal (Farax/Nestle are two brands that supply this)
1/2 tablespoon of Vitamin Supplement
1/2 tablespoon of Calcium Supplement
(Vitamins and Calcium can be purchased from us)
2 Tablespoons of Sustagen

First put the eggs on to boil, then mix the Water and Honey until the honey dissolves. 
Once the eggs are hard-boiled shell them and mash in a bowl. 
Now add all the ingredients together and blend until there are no lumps. 
Once finished place in a container and put in the freezer, 
the mixture once set will become the consistency of ice cream and will last in the freezer until it is all used up


Every night each Glider should be given a tablespoon of the Leadbeaters Mix accompanied by 
 different fruits and vegetables to create approximately ¼ of a cup full of fruit/veg per glider.

Fruit and Veg can include apple, kiwi, banana, corn, cucumber, carrot, pumpkin, 
endive, broccoli, sweet potato, grapes, pears, oranges, peas, beans, rock melon etc (variety is important). 
Frozen packets of Vegetables can be an easy option but should only be used occasionally.

When possible eucalypts and other blossoms should be placed in there cages.
Where available, offer insects eg. moths, crickets, woodies and mealworms.
Dried fruit and almonds can also be offered as treat to sugar gliders but not a staple.
If all the food is eaten at night gradually increase the amount given until they leave a little so you know they are not still hungry.


Bonding
Sugar Gliders can bond really well with their new families particularly when kept from a young age (generally 9 weeks OOP).
Sugar Gliders rely heavily on scent, which can be used as a trick to get them to bond.

It is a good idea to wear some small pieces of polar fleece around with you for a week or so prior to getting your glider
so that they can be placed in the gliders nesting box/pouch as this will get them use to your smell.

Another great way to bond is too carry the gliders around with you in a bonding 
pouch that you can hang around your neck.

Letting them lick food from your fingers also works well as they learn not to be afraid of hands and come running up for food 
(their nectar mix is a good options for this). If that doesn’t work try a tiny bit of honey, 


Housing
The bigger the aviary the better, please do not refer to American sites when thinking about appropriate aviary sizes,
many of there so called 'Sugar Glider Cages' are way too small.

A nesting box or pouch is essential, If you like you can make your own or occasionally we make them to order. 

It's a good idea for pouches to be placed around the aviary, Please make sure pouches are made properly with no stitches 
showing so that your sugar gliders can't get their nails caught. We supply pouches 
with all Gliders we sell, as we believe that this makes the settling into a new homes easier.

Toys for interaction are important as you don't want your Gliders to get bored.
Hammocks and swinging objects are great. One of our girls uses her hammock like a trampoline and 
it is quite funny to watch.

Branches are also important, for both exercise and giving them something to chew on 
 and helps to keep their teeth and claws from getting too long and sharp.

Health / Vet care
Sugar gliders here in Australia seem to suffer from very little health issues, as long as their diet and housing are appropriate
they seem to live healthy lives. In the case that your sugar glider does need vet attention 
here is a link to a vet in Victoria who specialises in native animals.
http://www.warranwoodvet.com/

De-Sexing / Neutering Males
If you are looking at keeping a male sugar glider inside or have a male and female and do not wish for them to breed de-sexing your 
possum may be something to look into.
The above mention vet is experienced in desexing sugar gliders.

Brush-Tailed Possums
As of early December 2010 we also now keep two super friendly Brush Tailed Possums. 
Their names are Velcro and Matilda.
This year they had a little boy that we have named Peanut.