Many first time owners will purchase a single sugar glider, and add a companion glider once they have bonded with the first. Some owners will bring two sugar gliders who have never met into their home at the same time, and sometimes a new sugar glider is brought into the home after the death of one glider from a bonded pair.
When introducing two sugar gliders, it is vital to take the necessary steps to prevent fighting. Sugar gliders can inflict serious injury, and even kill one another. Under no circumstance should you ever place two sugar gliders in a cage together without properly introducing them, and confirming they will get along.
The first step is to quarantine any sugar glider who is new to your home, and has not been given a clean bill of health from a qualified vet with exotic pet experience, for 3 weeks. If your vet has confirmed the health of your sugar glider, a quarntine time of at least one week should still be given to a new pet. During this time, you should thoroughly wash your hands after any contact with your new glider, and prevent any toys or food from being shared. If your new glider shows any signs of illness, be sure to have it checked out by a vet before introductions are attempted. The last thing you want is to introduce an illness to a healthy sugar glider, which will not only be dangerous to your pet, but will cost you double the amount in vet bills later.
When your new sugar glider has passed the quarantine period, it is time to start the introductions. To do this, begin by placing your sugar glider’s cages in the same room. Place the cages so your sugar gliders can see and smell each other, but be sure to keep the cages at least a full foot apart. Do not place the cages side by side, as your gliders can reach through the bars of their cages and do serious damage to one another.
After your gliders have been in the same room for 2 days, switch their sleeping pouches and any blankets with each other. This will help them get used to each others scent being in their sleeping area. After 2 nights, switch cages completely.
When you do this, be sure not to have both gliders in a cage at the same time. If a fight begins, it will be hard for you to break it up if they are in a cage. The easiest way to do this is to put each sugar glider in a separate bonding pouch, close the pouch securely, open it in the new cage and quickly close the cage door to prevent an escape.
During these few days, your sugar gliders may be scared by their new surroundings and new scents. Comfort them with their usual play time and favorite treats. A small amount of unflavored, unsweetened plain yogurt a night can help keep their stomachs calm if your gliders seem particularly stressed out by the changes.
After being in the same room for a week, it will be time to introduce your sugar gliders face to face. The exception to this is if they are still crabbing at each other. Crabbing is a sound sugar gliders make when they feel threatened, it sounds much like an electric pencil sharpener, and can be quite loud.
In separate closed bonding pouches, bring your sugar gliders into your play area. (Many owners use a tent for safe play time with their gliders, while others use a glider-proof bathroom.) Be sure to have toys and treats to encourage your gliders to play together, and two towels to separate them if they begin to fight.
Open the bonding pouches and lay them on the floor, close to you and the sugar glider’s favorite treats. When your gliders meet for the first time, you should expect to hear a bit of crabbing, and possibly barking. Don’t be alarmed if small scuffles happen as your gliders explore each other, and expect a small amount of slapping and crabbing to occur.
If at any point your gliders attach to each other and roll into a ball, separate them immediately and return them to their cages. This is serious fighting, and may leave one of your pets critically injured or dead. If this happens, you will have to return to pouch swapping for a week before attempting another face to face encounter.
Once your gliders have stopped investigating each other, have play time with them as you normally would, and return them to their cages. Do this nightly until your sugar gliders no longer crab at one another, and no longer seem curious when let out of their bonding pouches. Now you are ready to attempt placing them in the same cage.
Before doing this, wash the cage and toys to remove the scent of any one glider, and reduce the risk of territorial behavior. Put toys from both cages into the cage you are using, and place two sleeping pouches in the cage so your gliders can separate from each other if they wish. Remain close for the first two nights to watch and listen for fighting between the two. If serious fighting occurs, place the gliders in separate cages and revert back to pouch swapping and playtime together.
Introducing sugar gliders can be a lengthy process. If both sugar gliders are joeys, the process is likely to go much quicker, and they are much more likely to accept each other. Remember that there is the chance your chosen pair will never get along, and in this case you may have to bring two more gliders into your home to keep them company.
