Sometimes I ask myself, “Is it worth it to have sugar gliders?”
There are a lot of reasons why someone wouldn’t like to have a glider as a pet. They’re nocturnal, they require a lot of time and space, they need vigilant owners to be able to catch early signs of sickness, they have to be taken to exotic vets, they have complex diet needs, they can’t be potty trained, they’re very expensive, etc. Don’t even get me started on breeding. *falls into exhausted sleep*
Being on and around glider forums and communities, it’s easy to see a lot of negativity when it comes to sugar gliders. While people love them, they are a lot of work and I think that that can scare off potential owners.
So is it worth it? Does the good outweigh the stress and anxiety of having high needs pets?
Yes. Maybe not for everyone, but for me, they good far outweighs the “bad” and hard.
These little animals are amazing. They are so intelligent and so sweet. There is nothing more special than when your glider curls up in your lap and looks up at you with such trusting eyes. Or when they’re sick and you have to give them meds and they let you, because they know that even if its painful or uncomfortable in the moment, you care about them and you’re doing this to make them better. There is an immense amount of comfort that comes from holding the babies in a bonding pouch while they sleep and feeling their warm little bodies and hearing them purring. They are sensitive and pick up on your moods. My little Inky is always extra sweet when I’m not happy or am having a rougher night. He’s my little therapy pet. 😂
Is it worth the expense and the time required to gain the trust of these little animals? You have to decide that. For me, it totally is. I love them so much and they have added a lot of joy to my life. ❤
~Hattush