In the United States, about 85 million families have some kind of pet.
But how many of those pets are a sugar glider or a flying squirrel? You could be one of the very few who have these as pets, but which one should you choose?
Keep reading to find out if you should adopt a sugar glider vs flying squirrel!
Legality
First, you should check if these pets are legal to keep in your state. In some places, you may need to get a permit before you can get them.
Some cities won’t even let you have a flying squirrel. So make sure you do your research before purchasing one.
Personality
If it is legal for you to own one of those animals, you should know that they both have different personalities. If you want to get along with your pet, make sure you choose one that is compatible with yours.
Both of them are nocturnal animals, but they’re also very social. If you keep them as pets, they can be very affectionate as well. However, the flying squirrel is better to be left alone for long periods of time and still be happy.
A sugar glider needs another sugar glider as a companion, or they can become depressed. In some cases, they can even be so depressed that they start harming themselves.
Both pets will bond with their owners, especially when you first get them. So make sure that you are prepared to set aside time to spend with them.
Geography
These two animals are also different because they come from two different regions of the world.
Sugar gliders can come from these areas:
- Bismark
- Eastern and Northern Australia
- New Guinea
- Archipelago
However, flying squirrels come from different areas. Most of them live in Asia, like in Japan, Nepal, or Vietnam.
Reproduction
These two animals are also different in how they reproduce.
Flying squirrels are mammals that give birth with placentas. That means they live and grow inside of their mother before being born.
If a flying squirrel is pregnant, she will be pregnant for a long time to let the embryo develop before giving birth to a live flying squirrel.
However, sugar gliders are marsupial mammals. This makes them related more closely to a kangaroo. They have a pouch where they will give live birth, and the gestation period doesn’t last as long as the flying squirrel’s does.
Feeding
The way you feed these pets can be different as well. However, one thing that they have in common is that they won’t be able to survive on just eating kibble or pellets.
Companies sell prepackaged foods that are made specifically for these animals. However, they’ll both still need other nutrients to complete their diet, like these foods:
- Insects
- Eggs
- Seeds
- Nuts
- Mealworms
- Fruit
You should also make sure that they have enough calcium. When they’re in the wild, they get their calcium by eating egg shells and other prey. However, you can buy them tablets that will give them enough calcium.
Evolution
There are about fifty different species of flying squirrels that you can find in the world. However, there are only about six sugar glider species.
This means that flying squirrels are more diverse, and you might end up getting a different species than what you thought you were going to get.
Health
If you get a sugar glider, they will live for about fifteen years. Flying squirrels can live for about fifteen years as well, but most of them only live to about ten when they’re in captivity.
They’re both considered exotic pets, so if they get a disease, most veterinarians won’t know how to treat them.
The biggest problem that affects both animals is that they don’t have enough calcium. If they don’t get enough calcium, it can cause their bones to break or paralyze their back.
Which One to Choose
If you’re still not sure which one to choose, there are a few more things that you should consider.
Keep in mind that both of these pets are high maintenance and will need a lot of time and attention. They also need large habitats, so you’ll have to figure out how to set up their cage as well.
They both have their pros and cons, but in order to figure out what pet would be best for you, you’ll need to determine what you want from your pet. If you only want to get one pet, you should get a flying squirrel. They rely mostly on human interaction and should be fine on their own.
However, if you want two or more pets, you should get a sugar glider. They’re very social, so you should get at least two of them anyway. Getting more than two would be the best-case scenario for these animals.
So it all really comes down to how much work and time you’re willing to put into making sure these animals are healthy and happy.
Learn More About a Sugar Glider vs Flying Squirrel
These are only a few of the differences between a sugar glider vs a flying squirrel, but there are many more that you should be aware of before you get one.
We know that choosing between these pets can be stressful, but we’re here to help you make that choice!
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