Sugar Selections

HPW Complete

2011-04-07T21:15:00.003-04:00

About a month ago I started the sugar gliders on a new diet. It's called HPW Complete and it's available at http://www.hpwplus.com. I'm very happy with it and so are the gliders! In the past Nocturne has refused to eat any diet that contains honey or bee pollen but he'll eat the Complete even though it contains both.

Crabitat Inhabitants

2011-03-16T20:17:00.012-04:00

There haven't been any new additions to the crabitat lately so I'm posting some pictures of the crabs going about their usual daily business. Represented here are six different species.

Mutsu

Violet

Merah

Inca

Clementine

Barbados

Bali

Baby Pictures

2011-02-10T21:02:00.008-05:00

In honor of North and Nocturne recently celebrating their 5th birthdays, I'm posting pictures of them as joeys. These pictures were taken by their breeder well before I got them.

Since he's older by about a week and a half, I'll post Nocturne's pictures first. You can tell it's him by his low-slung ears and pointy nose.

In this picture Nocturne is on the left. The other glider in the picture is his sister. Gliders are often born in pairs.

Here's North. He's the younger "brother" to Nocturne even though he's significantly larger. Luckily, he grew into his ears.

Current Crabitat

2011-01-17T21:53:00.005-05:00

I'm posting some updated pictures of the crabitat. I was trying to remember how long they've been in the 90 gallon tank and I think it's been about two years. I started with a 10 gallon tank and quickly progressed through a 29 gallon and a 55 gallon before upgrading to the current 90.

Everything in the crabitat functions really well now. I just have to do a bit of daily maintenance plus the water changes a few times a week. I do go through a lot of dechlorinated fresh and salt water. I'm using Lock & Lock brand plastic storage containers as water dishes. I used silicone to cover the ramp into the water with gravel so the crabs have easy access. The moss pits are always popular. Some days there will be up to 8 crabs spending the day in the big corner shower caddy. The plant mats zip-tied to the front of the moss pit shower caddies works well to disguise them and also provide some climbing fun.

My crabs continue to be very good eaters. In the pictures below I served them scrambled eggs and dates, two big favorites. There's been a lot of shell changing going on lately. Monkey see, monkey do. If one crab changes shells the others all crowd around to get a look at the shell that's been abandoned. It's been a few weeks since any molters have resurfaced. There are a few crabs I'm expecting to come up from molting soon but they like to take their time and worry their poor old mom.

Home Decor

2010-12-18T21:41:00.007-05:00

The gliders have a semi-new cage theme. I found some pink and green pinwheel fleece a few months ago at the fabric store and I sewed a new cage set for them. I took some pictures for a cage contest over at Glider Central so I figured I'd post them here as well.

Barking of the Non-Dog Variety

2010-12-08T22:16:00.004-05:00

The past few nights one of the sugar gliders, Nocturne, has been barking a lot for no apparent reason. Sugar gliders bark as an alert to the colony so he's obviously upset about something but I can't figure it out. He may be a tiny creature, but he's loud enough when barking to be heard throughout an entire 1800 square foot house.

New Additions

2010-11-29T22:18:00.004-05:00

Calypso, Clancy ,and Clementine joined the family two weeks ago. They're gorgeous strawberry hermit crabs but, unfortunately, they came infested with mites. They had to spend their first week and half here in a sterile 10 gallon isolation tank being treated for the mites. Just a couple days ago they got the "all clear" to move into the community tank.

Tail Carrying

2010-11-14T18:46:00.007-05:00

For those who don't know, sugar gliders have semi-prehensile tails. That means they can wrap their tails around things but it's not strong enough to support their body weight so they can't hang by their tails alone.

North has been a tail carrier since he was a joey but Nocturne has never managed to figure it out (though not for lack of trying). North picks up an object in his mouth, hangs upside down by his back feet, passes the object along his body to his tail, which he wraps around his chosen treasure. Then he proceeds to make his way to the sleeping pouch in a very determined manner. He pulls the object into the pouch in order to build what he perceives to be a better nest for Nocturne and himself.

North's tail carrying materials of choice are faux leaves, woven palm strips, and dried eucalyptus leaves.

I was lucky enough to once catch North carrying euc leaves with both his tail and mouth.

Wildlife

2010-11-02T18:57:00.005-04:00

Above is a downy woodpecker on the suet feeder that hangs outside my window.

Below is picture of a few sparrows at that same suet feeder. Sparrows seem to have a talent for getting themselves in trouble around here. Just last week I had to free one that had gotten her foot stuck in the feeder. Before that a sparrow had actually gotten herself trapped inside one of the feeders and I had to get her out.

Above is one of my favorite birds, a wren, on the seed cake feeder outside my window.

Below in a shot of some of the feeders in the backyard. Included are two sunflower seed feeders, one finch feeder, and some suet. There's a similar setup in the front yard. In the back there's also a couple squirrel feeders where they get dried corn on the cob and peanuts.

Cozy Cats

2010-10-29T17:53:00.003-04:00

Christmas came early for Morgan and China. They got two new heated round beds just in time for the chilly weather. Morgan is already trying one out.

90 gallon Crabitat in 2009

2010-10-10T22:22:00.001-04:00

Best. Picture. Ever.

2010-10-10T14:20:00.003-04:00

I recently took this picture of baby Quito riding Bali. I think it's the best picture ever.

Quito is an Ecuadorian hermit crab. He was a micro when I got him but after several great molts he has graduated to a tiny size. He's always busy and trundles around the crabitat as if on very important crabby business.

Bali is a large Indonesian hermit crab and has the oversized big pincher typical of her species. She can sometimes be a jerk to the other crabs but that's also pretty typical of her species. She's a good eater and likes to bathe in both the fresh and salt water pools. She often hangs around with the other Indo crabs, Java and Merah.

New Pouches

2010-09-09T22:25:00.004-04:00

I recently bought some new sleeping pouches for the sugar gliders. Their old, blue ones are getting a bit worn and I used the opportunity to buy dark green pouches this time to match the current decor of the Reptarium. I just tried getting some pictures of the boys with their new pouches but they're being completely uncooperative tonight. Instead I'm posting a couple pictures here of Nocturne peeking out of their old, blue pouches. He's showing off the pouch and his adorable nerd teeth.

As always, I got the pouches from The Glider Playroom (link on the right). Both the boys and I are very picky about pouches and the wide bottom cage pouches from The Glider Playroom satisfy all of us.

New Additions to the Fam

2010-08-31T22:22:00.005-04:00

Plum

Violet

Sweet Pea

Orchid

Lily

Supper Time

2010-08-02T21:16:00.002-04:00

This is a typical meal for the sugar gliders, North and Nocturne. I feed them a plan called Darcy's diet and it's worked out very well for us. On the left is vanilla Ensure with added powdered calcium. On the right is chopped fruits and veggies including grapes, papaya, mango, corn, peas, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Also, every night the gliders each get two mighty mealworms and a chunk of boiled chicken breast. Yum!

Nocturne vs. the Crabitat

2010-07-06T21:45:00.003-04:00

Can you spot Nocturne in this picture?

Yes, Nocturne is tiny and the crabitat is huge. I have to tell Nocturne several times every night that he's not a hermit crab so he needs to stay away from the crabitat. He never listens.

The gliders and the hermit crabs are very happy now that it's watermelon season. The only problem is that that I keep picking up duds from the grocery store. I have no idea how to pick a good watermelon. Everybody is also very into cherries right now. The crabs have always loved them but this is the first time in over four years of offering them that the gliders have chosen to eat cherries.

Bath Day

2010-06-02T04:02:00.007-04:00

Despite the fact that all the pictures in this entry are of Moses, both dogs got bathed last week with the old fashioned hose and bucket method. Emma was just shy and didn't want to have her picture taken. As usual, Moses was the furthest thing from shy so I got some cute shots of him.

Squish Face

2010-04-03T17:27:00.006-04:00

North is back on antibiotics for his reoccurring UTI problems. Giving him his medicine is never fun, but the squish face he makes when he sees the meds coming is adorable.

Place Kisses Here

2010-02-27T22:10:00.004-05:00

A Week of Hermit Crab Suppers

2010-02-06T18:14:00.010-05:00

Monday: scrambled eggs with red palm oil, dates

Tuesday: catfish, carrot, yellow pepper

Wednesday: chicken, chicken skin, corn on the cob, apple

Thursday: pork with olive oil, papaya, flax meal

Friday: dry kibble, coconut

Saturday: oyster, sweet potato, strawberry, black raspberry

Sunday: shrimp, mango

Review: Natural Sponges

2010-01-23T22:03:00.007-05:00

Natural Sea Sponge bought from The Hermit Crab Patch

North: I fell in love with sea sponges when I was inspecting the hermit crabs' things. I immediately began ripping their sponges apart and I wouldn't stay away from them. Mom got frustrated with me and started hiding the crabs' sponges and started making me my own toys using sponges. My favorite version of the sponge toy is the one Mom made most recently because she added a seagrass basket for even more shredding fun.

Nocturne: I'm not obsessed with sponges like North, but I do enjoy ripping them to bits. Mom added the beads to this particular toy because I'm attracted to them. I love things that are pretty like me.

Mom: I would never have thought to use sponges as a glider toy if North hadn't become so interested in them. I guess the texture is irresistible to him. I prepare the sponges as I would for the hermit crabs by boiling them in dechlorinated water. The heat causes the sponges to shrink and shrivel but they'll puff back up once they're cool and dry. It's easy to string the sponges, big or small, on glider-safe rope and to add some embellishments.

Four Years and Counting

2010-01-13T17:53:00.003-05:00

It's unbelievable to me that I've had North and Nocturne for nearly four years now. I had never even seen a sugar glider in person when I decided to order a pair from a breeder in Texas. I'm lucky the boys were so patient with me in the beginning because I had no idea what to do with them when they first arrived. Now they're all grown up and one of the biggest joys in my life. It's hard to stay sad when 10pm rolls around and you know the two most adorable creatures on the planet want nothing more than to sit in your lap and be fed Cheerios.

Several months ago I made a new cage set for the gliders' Reptarium. I found the most adorable owl print fleece at the fabric store and knew I had a major sewing project in my future.

More Introductions

2009-12-28T22:36:00.010-05:00

There have been some new additions to the family within the past month. They include many wonderful hermit crabs from the site ExoticLandHermitCrabs.com. The Aussies and blueberries are new species for us and the others will hopefully become buddies with the members of their species who already reside in the crabitat.

Miso, large viola

Merah, medium pink Indo (female)

Kyoto, medium blueberry

Tokyo, large blueberry

Darwin, tiny Aussie

Gibson, small Aussie

The 90 Gallon Crabitat

2009-08-10T21:13:00.012-04:00

I bought a 90 gallon aquarium in June and spent the rest of the month customizing it. Using plexiglass and sealant, I built two pools on one end of the tank. One is a fresh water pool, the other is a salt water pool and both have mini filters so they function as small aquariums. The crabs have been living in this tank since the beginning of July and everything has been going well.

90 gallon crabitat

A closer look at the pools

Can you spot all 10 crabs in this picture? (Pogo, Coco, Hula, Bermuda, Jack, Wellington, Ipo, Cookie, Darling, Inca)

Rio underwater in the salt pool

'Bean underwater in the salt pool

Rio and Aloha in the fresh pool

Barbados

Ipo

Coco

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T20:44:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday, Dear Morgan

2009-05-12T16:22:00.009-04:00

Morgan turns 14 years old today!

Morgan's mom was pregnant when she got caught in a live trap meant to capture some raccoons that had been terrorizing neighborhood trash cans. She gave birth in the trap and abandoned her kittens when the trap was discovered and opened. Morgan and his siblings were raised by the humans who had set the trap. Shortly before my 17th birthday, a co-worker was telling me about her friend who had the kittens but needed to rehome them ASAP or they would be taken to a shelter. I called my mom and asked if I could have one of the kittens for my birthday and I was completely shocked and unprepared when she said yes.

Predictably, I chose the runt of the litter when we went to go pick out a kitten. We took the new kitty straight to the vet and at 14 weeks he was half the size of a 12 week old kitten who was also in the waiting room. I was too worried about him to really participate in the naming process so he ended up being named Morgan in honor of the horse in one of my little sister's favorite movies. Morgan was very sick when I got him and infested with fleas, but he was the sweetest, most perfect kitten in the world.

14 years later, Morgan still has my entire family wrapped around his paw.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T11:49:00.002-04:00

North Hearts Plastic

2009-03-24T20:24:00.005-04:00

North loves plastic. Sinking the elongated teeth of his lower jaw into a soft, hollow piece of plastic is North's bliss. Over the years, I've continually searched out new and different toys for him to try and his favorites have evolved and changed. I was finally able to give up the search after finding hollow plastic whistles that are shaped like trains. I bought them from a shop where they were being sold as foot toys for birds, but I've since upgraded to buying them in bulk from a store that specializes in magic tricks and birthday party favors. North loves them and can destroy several a night. (Nocturne also enjoys them but not in such an obsessive way.)

Whenever I get a new shipment of the train whistles, I run them through the washer and dryer in a lingerie bag. Then they go into a Meijer shopping tote that hangs next to the Reptarium so I can distribute as needed.

A few weeks ago I heard something rustling around in the bag full of hollow, plastic train whistles.

Surprise!

Since that first foray into the bag, North has gotten into the habit of playing in there every few nights for anywhere 5-30 minutes at a time. He dives. He chews. He tosses around trains like a superhero.

Wanna Go for a Ride?

2009-03-10T20:03:00.003-04:00

Happenings

2009-02-21T23:34:00.005-05:00

During our most recent wind storm/extended power outage, North had a great time. I covered the 55 gallon crabitat in several down blankets and comforters to try to hold in the heat and North discovered it was a great place to sit and eat Cheerios.

My Dad got out of the hospital today after a long stay for surgery and recovery. He's got many weeks of rest and healing to go but Emma and Moses have committed to do their best to keep his spirits up.

Latest and Greatest

2009-02-03T20:14:00.012-05:00

The latest crabby additions to the family are all alive and doing well. I got three strawberry hermit crabs in December and they all seem well on their way to recovering from a difficult journey to my crabitat.

First up is Aloha. He is a tiny straw and has already successfully molted here with me. He is bright, gorgeous and has the color banding typical of the smaller guys of his species.

pre-molt

post-molt

Next is Hula. Unfortunately, he dropped a leg within hours of arriving at my home but he was also very active and hungry in the beginning. I only have one picture of him since he's been a moss pit recluse for the past couple weeks. I'm leaving him alone in hopes that he'll molt and become more comfortable in the colony.

lacking in limbs, not in spirit

Last is Ipo. He is large and astonishingly beautiful. As expected, Ipo has asserted himself as alpha of the crabitat but he's doing a great job now after a couple rough days in the beginning. His weakness (and obsession) is coconut. Luckily, I always put a couple chunks in at once so he can monopolize a piece without depriving everyone else.

upon arrival

chilling in a moss pit (Carob retreating)

king of the cholla

Nocturne on Saturday Night Live... Literally

2008-12-30T17:07:00.008-05:00

Hmmm...

My television seems to have sprouted a sugar glider.

"Mom, bring me some snacks!"

Christmas Fun

2008-12-24T23:55:00.006-05:00

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and Happy Holidays to everyone else!

Best Wishes,
Elizabeth, Emma, Moses, Morgan, China, Northstar, Nocturne, Meijer, Jack, Marble, Coco, Mr. Teeny, Darling, Dear, Inca, Francisco, Glorfindel, Erestor, Barbados, Napoleon, Wellington, Bermuda, Bean, Bonaire, Curacao, Carob, Itsy Bitsy, Ipo, Hula, & Aloha

New-ish

2008-12-21T01:15:00.012-05:00

Yes, I'm finally posting pictures of the "new" 55 gallon crabitat. To give you an idea of the size, it's 48" long. Above the tank is a magnetic dry erase board where I put each crab's original shell after they change out of it. Below the tank is the piece of antique furniture I sacrificed to make it into a proper tank stand. I had to cut it's legs off or else I would've had to use a step stool to reach inside the tank.

Here's the left 3/4 of the tank. Included are: giant resin bonsai tree, green hemp nets covering the back wall, yummy oak leaves, ye old shell shoppe, purple barnacle cluster, terra cotta hidey tunnel, cholla wood, bendy jungle vine, two moss pits, and plenty of fake plants.

This is a top view of the left side with the hinged glass Versa-Tops pushed back. Usually they're completely closed to maintain about 80% humidity. You can also get a better look at the two moss pits. Sitting on top of the corner moss pit is one of the many cuttle bones scattered around the tank. I call them surfboards because the crabs like to sit right on top of the cuttle bones and pick away at them.

Here's a top view of the right side of the tank. Included are: more of the green hemp nets, food dish, salt water and fresh water pools with pieces of coral placed in them as ladders to help the tiny crabs get out, cholla wood, the third moss pit, plenty of fake plants.

On a happy note, although Rosey passed away, the two crabs I adopted along with him that day from Petsmart are thriving. Both Carob and Itsy-Bitsy have been underground since I introduced them to the 55 gallon. Along with de-stressing, both decided to molt. Carob just came up a few hours ago. I checked him over briefly and he has regrown his broken leg tips and looks very good.

Bitsy came up a couple nights ago and he looks fantastic. When I got him he was entirely missing his outer right leg and had several broken leg tips.

Before:

After:

I'm in love with this post-molt picture of Bitsy because the crumbs of coconut fiber bedding that cling to his eyes gives him an evil look. Bitsy seems very healthy now with his fat big pincher and some bright orange coloring on his legs.

As Requested: Sugar Glider Antics

2008-12-13T11:28:00.004-05:00

I finally explored the movie-making software on my computer and put together this video. It's a compilation of several clips recorded last summer just before I switched the gliders from their old cage to their custom Reptarium.

I often hang silk leaves around the enclosure for North because he likes to gather them up using his semi-prehensile tail and carry them back to the sleeping pouch. On many occasions I've seen Nocturne try to do the same thing, but he just can't seem to get the leaves secured with only his tail. One night after I had re-set all the leaves, Nocturne came popping out of the pouch to drag the leaves inside. I would then remove the leaves from the pouch and re-hang them on the toy above and he would do it again. He pulled the leaves into the pouch at least a dozen times and I caught four of them on video.

It may sound a bit cruel to remove the leaves from the pouch when one of the gliders has worked hard to make a leafy nest. However, if I don't remove the leaves the gliders spend all day fussing and shuffling around in there and don't get any sleep.

Let It Snow

2008-12-06T18:55:00.004-05:00

It's snowed for most of the day. I meant to spend some time outside with the dogs and take pictures, but I didn't get around to it. The photo posted is an older picture of Moses avoiding the snow up on the front porch. Moses doesn't have a double-coat, despite his chow chow heritage, so he gets chilly a lot quicker than Emma. Of course, polar bears would probably catch a chill quicker than Emma, who happily lays around in the snow for hours at a time.

I hope to post some pictures soon of the hermit crabs' upgrade from the old 29 gallon tank to the new 55 gallon. Everybody has been moved to the new crabitat except for two of the little guys.

Rosey, a small purple pincher I bought from Petsmart less than a month ago, has passed away and I'll have to go out and bury her tomorrow. One of her legs fell off when I picked her up yesterday so I knew she wouldn't make it much longer. I sat her in a little divet in the substrate in the warmest corner of her isolation tank and she died sometime during the night.

Thanksgiving

2008-12-01T22:33:00.005-05:00

My sister, brother-in-law, and their two dogs were here visiting for a week during Thanksgiving. The house is always so quiet and empty after they've gone back home to North Carolina. It's amazing that any place containing Moses could ever be considered quiet, but the extra people and pups really seem to fill the house.

For the uninitiated, the participants are:

Moses- The largest and barkiest of the dogs, Moe is an adorable, egomaniacal chow/golden retriever mix from the Cincinnati SPCA.

Emma- Adopted from a shelter in rural Indiana as a keeshond mix, Emma has overcome extreme anxiety and "fear pooping" issues to be the moderately neurotic dog who leads the pack.

Llewellyn- Named after the Welsh King, Lew is a rescued breeder from an Amish puppy mill who is the easy-going, beloved son of my sister and bro-in-law.

Ellie- Some sort of spaniel/border collie/?whippet? mystery mix, Ellie is vacant, sweet, leggy, and rightfully doted on by my sister and bro-in-law.

Etsy Business

2008-11-21T21:23:00.010-05:00

A couple recent Etsy purchases from sellers I highly recommend:

Madeline Bea Soap Co. is probably my favorite Etsy soap, bath, & beauty seller.

A Touch of Stardust creates the most amazing purses and bags.

First Blog Video

2008-11-16T13:19:00.006-05:00

Say Goodbye to 29

2008-11-10T20:04:00.007-05:00

In some ways I've been lucky lately. Last week I won some Peppermint Pomegranate Foot Balm for commenting on the Madeline Bea Soap Co. blog. Yesterday I won a cage contest held by Glider Central. The category I won was for the "Most Enriching" Reptarium, which I think just means I crammed more toys into the enclosure than anyone else. I've been told that I'll be getting multiple shipments of wonderful sugar glider products for that win so I'm really looking forward to it.

Here's the soon-to-be recipients of all the prizes showing off their nerd teeth:

In the not-so-lucky category, it's been over a week since I've sold anything on Etsy. A couple people have already told me to expect orders from them just before the holidays so I'm not feeling too bad about this lull.

I could really use a bit of extra money right now because I'm in the process of upgrading from the current 29 gallon crabitat to a 55 gallon tank. I got the new aquarium for $20 off Craig's List, but it was so filthy that I spent 3 hours out on the patio in the freezing cold trying to scrub all the nastiness away. I'm trying to outfit the new crabitat for as little money as possible but anyone who has tried to buy reptile supplies lately knows that they don't come cheap. I gave up on having a hood with lights and building in filtered fresh and salt water pools with plexiglass because both of those things would cause my costs to skyrocket. As it is, this new tank combined with Christmas spending has stretched me further than I ever have been before. I haven't figured out yet how I'm going to recover.

Here's a pretty current picture of the crowded 29 gallon crabitat:

The ABC Trio

2008-11-04T15:28:00.011-05:00

I am weak.

I have no problem admitting that when it comes to animals, I am a weakling and seem to lose all willpower when confronted with a critter who needs help. (Just ask the spider who has been living undisturbed on the nylon scourer in my kitchen sink.) After having such a hard time dealing with the loss of Bikini, I made the mistake of going to a local, independent pet store and I came home with their last three hermit crabs. I hate that I still feel guilty for not being able to buy a wonderful chipmunk that was also for sale. However, he costs $150 and, being nocturnal, would probably have a similar schedule to the sugar gliders. I can't bring another pet into the house knowing that it would take my time and attention away from the gliders.

Back to the new crabs. They are the last hermit crabs I can buy without absolutely requiring a move to a 50+ gallon tank. I'm already over my limit with 19 crabs in a 29 gallon aquarium, but they all get along well together as a colony and there have been no interrupted molts or fights over resources. I've kicked up my search for a 50-75 gallon tank by posting on Freecycle and searching any other free listings I can find, but I haven't had any luck yet.

Following my semi-tradition of naming the purple pincher hermit crabs after the Caribbean Islands where they could have been harvested from, the new guys are named after the ABC islands.

First up is Aruba. He is a very, very big boy but as gentle as a lamb. I can handle him without any fear. He was wearing a horrible, small, pink patriotic shell that was at least better than the abusive shell the clerk said he was wearing when he arrived at their store, a shell with a plastic football helmet glued to it.

Next up is Bonaire, who I call Bonny. Unlike the other two, he didn't dig underground to de-stress after I brought him home. He's very active and loves to eat, socialize, and hang out next to the side-mounted heater. I love it when I take pictures of the hermit crabs where you can pick out the twisted, ropey details of their antennae. (Click the pic to enlarge.) How can something so tiny be so perfect?

Last is Curacao, better known as Cookie (because my Midwestern tongue has a hard time properly wrapping itself around koo-ruh-sou). He's the least social, but he'll probably feel at home in the pack of small purple pinchers already running around the tank. I love this picture of Cookie because he is kicking up his left shield leg as if to say, "I've got to get a move on, lady. Are you done taking my picture yet?"

Behold, the Reptarium!

2008-10-28T20:58:00.011-04:00

Since I completed the Reptarium in August and the boys have been happily living in it for several months now, I thought it was time to post some pictures of the results.

The Reptarium is 260 gallons and measures about 30"x30"x70". I bought the black mesh sleeve with zipper door, but decided not to buy the set of black PVC poles that make up the standard Rept frame. I bought the white PVC pipes and fittings from a hardware stores and constructed the frame myself. I did make a plan before I began this project, but for the most part I ended up winging it.

You can see several of the products I've previously reviewed, like the Stealth Wheels, Suggie Gym products, and Rodent Runway pieces. On the floor is several layers of fleece which I vacuum with a dustbuster and/or replace as needed.

Overall, the switch from a traditional cage to the Reptarium has been pretty smooth. It was an adjustment for me, North, and Nocturne, but I know it was a change for the better.

He Was Loved

2008-10-21T20:19:00.006-04:00

Very early last Saturday at around 2am, I lost a very special hermit crab. His name was Bikini and the short time he spent in my care was not enough to save him from the severe neglect and abuse he endured at a local Petsmart store.

I bought Bikini as a mercy purchase at 2pm on Friday afternoon. I immediately took him home and set up a isolation tank for him with moist moss, an undertank heater, and salt water. He barely had the strength to move and couldn't support his own weight, so I held him upright in the shallow dish of water as he drank. Bikini wasn't able to dip his little pincher in the honey dish and bring it up to his mouth to feed himself. Instead, I cradled him in my hand and placed a toothpick dipped in honey up to his mouth so he could taste it. Shortly afterward, I was still holding Bikini when he collapsed and died.

Bikini suffered a slow, horrible death because he wasn't provided with the very basics he needed survive. He was probably at least a decade old when he was collected from the wild and put up for sale as a "disposable pet". The staff at Petsmart had no interest in providing him with the proper care and neither did the vets at Banfield, whose office is inside the store and only 30 feet away from the hermit crab tank.

I loved Bikini in the hours he was with me and I continue to love him even though he is gone. He deserved so much more than I was able to give him.

Etsy Treasury: Glider Stuff

2008-10-14T18:30:00.007-04:00

I just made a Treasury over at Etsy with lots of fun stuff relating to sugar gliders. It will only be up until 11:19pm on Thursday, 10/16.

Tonight the gliders get their nails trimmed and me and the Dustbuster will be on a seek & destroy mission to eliminate all the tiny poops hidden around the playroom. Tomorrow I'll be using the blue fleece I got to sew new covers for all the Suggie Gym toys and I'll probably make a couple new pouches while I'm at it.

I'm going to work on revamping my peanut butter/molasses/oatmeal dog biscuit recipe over the course of the next week so the dogs will get to do a lot of taste testing. I'd like to replace the peanut butter in the recipe with a different type of nut, but I'm not sure what kind yet. I'll give the food processor a good workout by trying to make my own walnut butter for one batch and I'd also like to see if the Red Mill hazelnut meal would result in a decent biscuit. My gut says the walnut would be better because the strong taste would stand up better to the molasses in the recipe and walnuts would add omega-3s and antioxidants.

Hermit Crab Supper: carrot salad with egg

2008-10-11T13:24:00.003-04:00

Ingredients: shredded carrot, scrambled egg yolks,

crushed egg shells, chopped dates, honey, olive oil

Changes

2008-09-25T20:47:00.007-04:00

I've been planning for a long time to make some changes to this blog and my recent foray into Etsy gave me the kick in the rear I needed to switch things around. I'll still be doing reviews of sugar glider products from time to time, but I'd like to blog more about the daily minutiae and the bigger issues involved in living with gliders as well.

I'm also going to start blogging about all the other pets who play a role in my life. In addition to North and Nocturne, that includes the dogs, Emma and Moses, the cats, Morgan and China, and the hermit crabs, Meijer, Jack, Marble, Coco, Mr. Teeny, Darling, Dear, Inca, Francisco, Glory, Story, Barbados, Napoleon, Wellington, Bermuda, and Bean. I'll try to start by introducing many of the players individually and then evolve into sharing animal stories and pictures on a regular basis. Below are a few pictures to wet your whistle.

Hanging Corner Bed & Hanging Tunnel

2008-09-10T22:29:00.010-04:00

Corner Bed & Tunnel from Rodent Runway for $25 each

North: I sit in this tunnel almost every night to eat the chicken tidbit Mom gives me when I wake up. It's a great place to get some privacy so Nocturne doesn't immediately come looking for me and my chicken on the nights that he finishes his first.

Nocturne: Luckily for me, North generally prefers the tunnel so I get to hog the corner bed. Mom puts eucalyptus or toys inside it for me, but about half the time I like to just sit on top of it instead.

Mom: These Rodent Runway items are incredibly well made and I'm so happy with them. I actually bought the corner bed and tunnel out of the Rodent Runway eBay store.

Cajeput Perch

2008-07-03T22:25:00.003-04:00

Cajeput Perch (medium) bought from Grey Feather Toys for $16.95

North: I really like natural shredding materials and this cajeput perch definitely qualifies. I can easily dig into the bark with my long bottom teeth and I can sometimes even pull off flakes of the bark with just my hands. Since the bark is so soft, I don't have to worry about splinters.

Nocturne: Don't let the fact that Mom had to bribe me with candy (AKA yogurt drops) to get a picture of me on the cajeput perch fool you, I actually spend a lot of time on it voluntarily. It's much different than any other type of wood we've had before and I really like it. I enjoy shredding off pieces of the bark on the perch but I also worked very hard at removing a thick ring of bark off the cajeput wood washers that come with the perch and allow it to be attached to the cage.

Mom: Cajeput wood seems to have become pretty popular in the bird world but most glider owners have never heard of it. That's surprising since the cajeput "paper tree" is native to Australia (among other countries). The center of the branch is a hard wood and it's surrounded by layers and layers of soft, paper-like bark that can be very easily stripped. Within the next month or two I intend to buy more cajeput products from The Birdsafe Store. They offer regular perches, flat "coffee table" perches, and slices of cajeput for foot toys or toy making. The only negative of the cajeput wood that I've found so far is that it can't really be washed. The good news is that the boys have had the perch in their cage for a couple months now and it miraculously doesn't smell like pee.

Suggie Gym Vine

2008-05-05T19:55:00.004-04:00

Suggie Gym Vine from Suggie Gym for $18.00

North: I love all my Suggie Gym toys, including this Vine. However, I don't like unstable perches so Mom had to zip-tie this Vine to the side of the cage before I would use it. As long as it's not wobbly, I use this Vine to help me ricochet around the cage when I'm feeling particularly spazzy.

Nocturne: As you can see from the picture, I was checking out this toy before Mom even got a chance to make it less swing-y for North. I occasionally play with the cute little toys hanging from this Vine but they're not the main attraction for me. I like to run around on the Vine and also perch on it for long periods of time to groom myself. It's wide and comfy enough for me to even take an unintentional nap while sitting on it.

Mom: I've bought several items from Suggie Gym and they've all been wonderful. I recently started saving up to buy the boys a 260 gallon Rept Frame to replace their current cage. I'm literally saving my pennies so it may be a while before I can afford it. North's urinary tract infections can cause some seriously stinky pee so it's a huge benefit that I can just slide the fleece cover off this Vine (and all the other Suggie Gym products) and throw it it the washer.

Changes to the Glider Room

2008-04-10T18:47:00.005-04:00

Above is a picture of the recently remodelled back wall of the play room (with North investigating). As per usual, their favorite part is the round, white laundry basket on top which is filled with hermit crab supplies. Despite the fact that he is not a hermit crab, North is constantly trying to chew his way into the baggies of crab kibble.

Unfortunately, we've all been a bit stressed lately for various reasons. North is sick again. Nocturne is fussy and over-grooming his eyebrows. Mom is broke, dieting, and a bit sad.

On a positive note, four of the five hermit crabs have molted successfully and Mom is still miraculously pinch-free after months of owning/handling them.

Burger Birdy

2008-03-16T11:41:00.005-04:00

Burger Birdy (medium) bought from Enchanted Feather for $11.99

North: This toy features one of my very favorite things, hollow plastic toys. I like to bite the plastic so that my two long bottom teeth perforate the plastic and leave pairs of tiny holes all over the surface. It takes hard work and dedication to bite the plastic over and over until I damage it enough to be able to rip open a significant hole.

Nocturne: Although I enjoy biting the hollow plastic on this toy, I'm also really into trying to unknot all the poly rope holding it together. All the knots of this toy are double tied, which really attracts me and makes me want to work them loose. Mom only single knots poly rope when she makes toys with it for us and I never bother those but the larger ropey knots on the Burger Birdy toy are irresistible to me.

Mom: I bought this toy a while ago and it has been in almost continuous use inside and outside the cage since I got it. I've ordered from Enchanted Feather's eBay store many times and I've always been happy with their toys and toy parts.

Mesh Jungle Gym

2008-02-17T00:14:00.005-05:00

Mesh Jungle Gym is available at The Sugar Glider Store for $4.50

North: That's me in the picture peeking out of the Mesh Jungle Gym. I like to explore the compartments to check out the toys Mom keeps in there and to make sure Mom screwed the lid on the yogies container tight enough that I can't sneak in there and binge.

Nocturne: By climbing up this jungle gym I can easily hop to the top of Mom's antique chest of drawers. It's very important that I can get up there and continue my plot to ruin such a lovely piece of furniture. Mom recently covered the dresser top with a piece of fleece but I still go up there and pee on the fabric hoping it will soak down and damage the beautiful walnut veneer even more.

Mom: As an out of cage playtime toy, this Mesh Jungle Gym is absolutely indispensible. I keep it hanging next to boys' cage and they run all over this thing. I store yogies and treats in the top compartment, collect dirty toys that need to be run through the washer in a lingerie bag in the second compartment, and keep a couple old coconut toys in the bottom compartment to help weigh it down. I believe this jungle gym is sold at Ikea so you can pick up a hanging mesh closet organizer locally if you have one of the stores nearby. You can also find similar hanging mesh organizers at Bed, Bath & Beyond as well as some dollar stores. The boys also have two pop-up laudry hampers and a cat tree kinda thing that are covered in similar mesh and they love them all.

Critter Tent

2008-02-05T19:56:00.000-05:00

Critter Tent available at Blue Angel Exotics for $20

North: I love this tent so much that Mom has already bought me a second one. I like to just chill in my tent and occasionally play with a toy Mom puts in there for me or one that I dragged in there myself. I look awful cute in the these pictures, don't I? The top picture shows my reaction to Mom calling out "Cheerios!" (my all-time favorite food). Mom likes the second one best because it shows off my voluptuous figure and glorious man-boobs.

Nocturne: North sure likes to hog these tents. Luckily, they're very roomy so I can easily get in with him when I feel like hanging out (and there's still room to comfortably fit a couple more big boys like us). As with seemingly every other comfy spot I plunk myself down, I like to groom myself in this tent. You'd think my fur wouldn't look so raggedy all the time considering how often I groom myself but I have chronic bad hair day.

Mom: I actually bought these two Critter Tents on clearance at Suggiebay for $13 each but if I ever need another one I wouldn't hesitate to pay full price. The tents are really well constructed and come in various sizes to suit everything from gliders to rodents to hedgies to ferrets to cats to small dogs. I also bought a Super Pouch from Blue Angel Exotics but the boys aren't interested in it so far.

PS- Tomorrow North turns 2 years OOP. Happy sorta-birthday, North! We also need to celebrate that North has just finished up an 8 week course of antibiotics.

Toys by Mom

2008-01-25T22:11:00.000-05:00

I know I've been slacking a bit on posting, but getting my photos uploaded is an inconvenient task because of some annoying, complicated circumstances. The lack of posting in no way correlates to the boys lacking new toys. As usual, they're bankrupting me with their near constant demand for fun and/or yummy new stuff. I lay my Mastercard woes solely at their tiny, fascinating feet. For tonight, I'm going to post pictures of some of the glider toys I've made myself (with varying degrees of success).

-Mom

monkeys + barrel + beads & charms + poly rope

seagrass baskets + nylon hardware
spiral cut straws + beads & charms + lanyard lacing

bracelet + balsa wood + beads, tubes & charms + poly rope

coconut + beads & stringers + poly rope + fleece blankie
pvc fitting + misc. beads & parts + poly rope

muffin cups + beads & rings + poly rope + Nocturne the gargoyle

PS- Today Nocturne turns two years OOP! For the glider uninitiated, OOP means "out of pouch", which is defined as the day a sugar glider joey first detaches from his mother's nipple (although he continues to nurse for many more weeks). A glider is aged from his OOP date since the day he was actually birthed as a pink grain of rice and made the arduous journey up his mother's belly and into her pouch is rarely able to be documented.

Suncatcher

2008-01-07T20:43:00.000-05:00

Suncatcher bought from Parrot Asylum for $5.00

North: This toy is beautiful... just like me! As you can see in the picture, I really love investigating the Suncatcher and biting the acrylic disks. I also love that this toy came from the wonderful lady at Parrot Asylum who supplies me with my beloved seagrass baskets.

Nocturne: When North plays with this toy it makes a tinkling noise that I can't resist. I don't like when North does anything without me and I especially don't like seeing him enjoy a great toy without my help. Mom says I'm kind of a jerk when I act like that but I just don't understand why I can't be the center of attention 24/7.

Mom: I actually hesitated in buying from Parrot Asylum at first because the store doesn't have a cart system. Now I'm so glad I emailed in an order because I ended with so many fantastic toys and toy parts from Parrot Asylum at amazing prices. I particularly love this Suncatcher because it's so inexpensive and it's made of materials that ensure it'll last forever with the gliders. I try not to be too much of a "cage snob", but I also like this toy because it's very pretty.

Boxed Blocks

2007-12-28T20:24:00.000-05:00

Boxed Blocks bought from Chopper's Toys for $15.99

North: When I'm in a wild mood I like to attack these boxes. I'm pretty sure there must be something fantastic in them since it seems like Mom is always trying to hide great things from me. I've already figured out how to chew through the bag that contains my beloved Cheerios so I'm sure I'll get into these boxes someday, too.

Nocturne: I'm really not quite sure what to make of this toy. I often climb around on the boxes, investigating them carefully with a confused look on my face. I like to shuffle the boxes around and occasionally gnaw on them or the beads.

Mom: I think this is a nice toy but probably more suited to sugar gliders who are chewers and birds. So far the boys have been too lazy to really go after this toy and rip it apart. I rubbed the boxes with yogies to encourage the gliders to tear them up but it just encouraged them to obsessively sniff and lick the boxes. I should also mention that before putting the Boxed Blocks in the cage I disassembled it to remove some suspicious wood beads that were strung along with the plastic ones and then put it all back together.

Fresh Eucalyptus

2007-12-08T23:24:00.000-05:00

Fresh Eucalyptus bought from EucProducts

North: I love eucalyptus but only after Mom lets the leaves dry out. Besides licking the water off freshly rinsed leaves, I have no interest in it while it's fresh. I like eucalyptus when Mom hangs it up to dry naturally but I absolutely go crazy for it when she makes it into little dried rolls for us.

Nocturne: I enjoy investigating the eucalyptus and nibbling on it even when it's fresh. However, I also go crazy for it when Mom rolls it up and dries it. The rolls are so amazing that I have to do a little panic dance when I get one and find a hiding place so I can destroy it without threat of disturbance.

Mom: I've bought eucalyptus from EucProducts many times and I've always been really impressed with them. There are many different packages to choose from on their website and I now buy the one with only leaves, no chew sticks or perches, because that's what the gliders prefer. The owner of EucProducts is always very happy to help customize your order to suit your pet's needs best.

Please be aware that the fresh eucalyptus from EucProducts is NOT that horrible eucalyptus that can be found in floral and craft stores. EucProducts can be safely used by sugar gliders, birds, and many other animals.

Eucalyptus Rolls

2007-12-08T22:42:00.000-05:00

Euc Rolls: DIY project

Supplies: eucalyptus, poking device (in this case a "cake tester" that began its life as the innards of a corkscrew my parents got as a wedding present in 1971), scissors, towel

1. Cut off a leaf leaving the stem attached. Large, banana-shaped euc leaves work best for these rolls.

2. Bend several inches at the tip of the leaf at a 90 degree angle to form the tail.

3. Roll toward the stem, encapsulating the bend.

4. Place the roll on the towel and poke a hole through all layers of the leaf. You may need to widen the hole with scissors if it isn't big enough.

5. Push the stem through the hole. Try to get the stem to come out the other side of the roll.

6. Pull the stem fully through the hole. (If you can't get the stem through to the other side of the roll, just make sure it's pushed tightly into the layers to hold it all together.)

I make these rolls in large batches during playtime since the gliders love to "help" while I'm working on any kind of toy for them. I toss them in a ziplock baggie but leave is open so they can air dry. It's fine to give them to your pet right away but I prefer to let them dry for at least 24 hours because it helps them hold their rolled shape even while being ripped apart.

-Mom

Sugar Glider Holiday Cards and Calendars

2007-11-29T18:01:00.000-05:00

We recommend you visit Glider Luv Bug to order sugar glider holiday cards and 2008 calendars before it's too late. They're the best! All the pictures feature a gorgeous sugar glider supermodel named Bug dressed up for every occasion imaginable. No where else can you find a sugar glider in full pirate regalia brandishing a cocktail sword!

Mom finally got a new camera and she says we should be very thankful to someone called "eBay" for selling it to her for cheap. Expect pics and reviews of our latest toy acquisitions very soon.

For some crazy reason Mom paid big bucks yesterday for a lady who says she's a vet to poke, prod, and torture us so we're supposed to be very frugal until the holidays are over. We're sure the careful budgeting will last only as long as it takes Mom to find some interesting new toys for us online.

-North & Nocturne

Mom says... P.S.- He doesn't know it yet, but next week North will probably have to start a very long course of meds. Things will be difficult for the duration of his treatment since he won't take his antibiotics willingly but I have high hopes that this will finally cure him of his UTI problems. On the other hand, Nocturne gets very jealous when I isolate North twice a day to dose him so he'll be extra needy and cuddly for a while. Also, I can't leave the syringe out for even a minute with Nocturne around or this happens:

Cork Bark Tube

2007-11-25T18:15:00.001-05:00

Cork Tube bought from Black Jungle for $9.99

North: I absolutely love our cork bark tube! I'm sitting on it in the picture above. Mom only let us play with it during out of cage playtime for the first month but we enjoyed it so much that she put it in our cage. Sometimes I just like to sit on this tube and hang out but I also like to work hard at prying up the bark.

Nocturne: I may look uninterested in the cork tube in this picture because I'm just sitting on a hammock grooming myself, but I love it just as much as North. The cork is very lightweight and has a rubbery kind of texture that I prefer over any other type of wood. When I was first introduced to this tube I sat inside it a few times but it's a pretty tight squeeze for a moderately big boy like me so I rarely go in it anymore.

Mom: I love this thing just as much as the boys do. The tube gets peed on a lot so it's great that the cork takes a thorough scrubbing with Dawn very well. I drilled a few holes in it to attach some plastic chain using zip ties so it could hang in the cage and the tube gets more use than just about any of the boys' other toys.

Whisker Bird Toy

2007-11-17T13:17:00.000-05:00

Whisker Bird Toy bought at Foster and Smith for $6.29

North: Mom took the above picture of me the first time I ever saw this toy. I look very interested in it, don't I? I liked the paper sticks that formed the whiskers of this toy. Then Mom got this toy wet and when it dried the paper had loosened and started to unravel which I liked even better since it's my mission in life to tear things apart.

Nocturne: I liked this toy but I generally only paid attention to it when North did. It was more interesting once the paper sticks came undone but I'm just not as obsessed with shredding things like my brother so I didn't get as much use out of this toy.

Mom: Overall this whisker toy was really good. It seemed a bit over-dyed; especially the wood block in the middle which leeched color way too easily. After the boys peed on that wood block in the middle a few times, I had to wash this toy. I thought it might ruin the toy since it's largely made of paper but the water just caused the sticks to unravel, which made this toy an even bigger hit. Unfortunately, this toy didn't last all that long but I will definitely buy another one the next time I order from Foster and Smith.

Bonding Pouch by SunCoast

2007-11-07T22:54:00.000-05:00

Green Bonding Pouch bought from SunCoast Sugar Gliders for $15.62

North: We had this pouch for a few months when we first came to live with Mom. I never liked it much, especially since most of our other pouches were from Glider Daydreams, which are so comfy.

Nocturne: That's me in the picture leaning out to see Mom's camera. We had been living with Mom for less than a month when that pic was taken so I hadn't gotten used to constantly having the camera in my face yet. This pouch wasn't very comfy or warm but it sure was fun to try to rip apart the silky cord that was supposed to hang around Mom's neck. I also enjoyed biting and chewing on the zipper until I ruined it.

Mom: This bonding pouch from SunCoast was one of the first things I bought when I was preparing for the boys' arrival. Now that I'm a much wiser glider owner I realize that this bonding pouch was seriously overpriced and I do not consider it a quality product. The pouch I got was only a single layer of fleece so all the seams and stitching were exposed inside. That is just a maiming or fatality waiting to happen. Also, the thin silky cord that was supposed to hang the pouch from my neck got some picks and pulls in it which the boys went crazy over and they ended up destroying the cord.

I also bought some cage ropes from SunCoast which were overpriced and the rubber end-caps came off soon after I got them. Thank goodness the boys weren't running on the ropes when they broke because they could've fallen and hurt themselves.

Suncoast seem to have a good reputation within the glider community but I have had nothing but bad experiences with them.

Rubber Toy

2007-10-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

Rubber Toy was bought at http://www.fosterandsmith.com/

North: Sometimes I explore this toy but most of the time I ignore it. I do like to bite the rubber base and pull on the rubber curlicues and watch them bounce back. Most of the time I just wish Mom would give me a more interesting toy instead.

Nocturne: I also like to bite the rubber base and I also occasionally try to get the pony beads off the rubber curlicues. I re-investigate this toy every time Mom rotates it back into our cage but it doesn't hold my attention for long.

Mom: I wish the boys liked this toy more than they do. They've had it for close to two years now but it's never been one of their favorites. It stands up well to washing and the bright colors look nice in their cage. The gliders use it so little that I should probably pitch it but I like this rubber toy so much that it hasn't hit the garbage yet.

Tunnel Tent

2007-10-23T22:44:00.000-04:00

Tunnel Tent available at http://busybunny.com/ for $17.95

North: I am madly in love with this unpeeled willow tent! Mom keeps it out in our room so I only get to play with it during out-of-cage playtime but I wish I had access to it 24/7. I love running all over the tent, hiding underneath, and most especially I love chewing on it. I can often be found perched on top of the tent like in the picture above.

Nocturne: I really like this willow tent and I play on it every night trying to rip it apart. Luckily, it's really well made so I haven't been able to destroy much of it yet. There is a peepee war going on over this tent because North loves it so much that he's constantly scent marking it with his urine. I get upset when I see this so I jump on the willow tent and peepee all over the places North just marked. Then Mom insists on wiping down the areas we peed on because she doesn't want our tent to stink. We've tried telling her that we work very hard to make the things we love stink but she insists on cleaning our stuff all the time.

Mom: I originally bought this tent from a random eBay vendor. Once the tent got here and I saw the boys go crazy over it I hunted down the company that made it, The Busy Bunny. Right away I ordered about a dozen other items from them and so far the gliders like all the Busy Bunny products but they only go crazy for the tent. The Busy Bunny products range from super-inexpensive to high yet reasonable prices.

Barrel of Monkeys & Eggfull of Bunnies

2007-10-17T00:58:00.001-04:00

Barrel of Monkeys bought from my local grocery store for $3.99

Eggfull of Bunnies bought from http://thesugargliderstore.com/MiscellaneousToys.html for $3.25

North: I love it when Mom hangs the little, red monkeys all over our cage. Sometimes I just knock them down but other times I get ahold of one and I chew on its hand. I can tell you from experience that it's the most delicious part of a plastic monkey. I like to knock the bunnies down but I never chew on them. It may be because the bunnies are made of smooth plastic but there are lots of ridges on the surface of the plastic monkeys which makes them more fun to destroy.

Nocturne: Mom always sets up plenty of stuff in our cage for us to destroy overnight while she's sleeping and the monkeys are one of my favorites. I find them hanging off the sides of the cage, the ceiling, perches, ropes, and anything else Mom can get them hooked onto. Then I knock them down and sometimes I capture one of the monkeys and chew his foot off. The bunnies are also fun to throw around but they're just not as fun to bite as the monkeys.

Mom: The monkeys and the bunnies are both pretty great from my point of view. It only takes me a minute to hang them in strategic places in the boys' cage and then they get to search out all the monkeys/bunnies and figure out how to get them unhooked before they throw them to the cage floor or nibble on a plastic extremity. For all the small plastic toys (including the monkeys and bunnies) that get dirty after spending some time in the cage, I bought a mesh lingerie wash bag that I collect them all in and then run them through the wash with the boys' bedding. That way I don't have to spend time scrubbing monkeys one by one in the sink.

Stealth Wheel

2007-10-16T20:44:00.001-04:00

Stealth Wheel bought at http://atticworx.com/ for $36.95

North: Yep, that's a picture of me in our old, green Stealth Wheel. No, I'm not running in it. I'm just sitting in the wheel and eating a piece of chicken. I'm not the most athletic guy in the world but I do enjoy running in this wheel a bit every night.

Nocturne: I love our Stealth Wheel and use it a lot more than North does. I'm an energetic guy so I like to go for long runs in this wheel. North and I love to chew on plastic things but we haven't been able to do more than put a few scrapes and bite marks on the Stealth.

Mom: I consider this style of wheel to be the only small animal wheel available on the market today that is safe and practical for glider use. Wheels with crossbars, solid running tracks, or other issues can be dirty, dangerous, and even fatal so wheel choice is one of the most important decisions a glider owner will make. The boys currently have three Stealth Wheels. Their oldest is green and it somehow warped so it's now reserved only for out-of-cage playtime. They also have two blue Stealths and I always keep one or both of them in the cage. Besides one of the Stealths I bought warping, I really don't have anything negative to say about the wheel itself. However, I do think Stealth Wheels are over-priced and unfortunately that leads to a lot of glider owners choosing the cheaper, dangerous wheels because the Stealth makers pretty much have a monopoly on this wheel style at the moment. Hopefully some new vendors will be selling similar wheels in the future. There are several sets of instructions available online for constructing wheels like Stealths so if anyone is interested in making their own I can email you some helpful links.

Jungle Bungalows

2007-10-13T23:03:00.000-04:00

Jungle Bungalows: lion, hippo & elephant bought from http://www.thesugargliderstore.com/FloorToys.html for $4.66 each

North: From the very first day we got these bungalows I've found them to be the best place to hide out and eat a chunk of chicken or piece of corn so my brother can't steal it. You can even see a crumb of corn stuck to my chin in the picture posted above of me in my pink elephant. I'm very attracted to the elephant and hippo bungalows but I never use the lion. I have my own secret reasons for this choice but Mom's hypothesis is that I'm naturally attracted to the bungalows that represent animals with a voluptuous figure like my own. Mom was a bit worried my full-figured body might not fit into any of the Jungle Bungalows but I have no problem getting into them at all. Once Nocturne was in my elephant when I wanted to use it so I crammed myself in there with him. That was not one of my best ideas but it did prove that two large gliders can fit in there together. It also proved that Nocturne should stay out of my elephant unless he wants to get trapped behind my big bottom in an enclosed space.

Nocturne: I love all these bungalows but I prefer the lion. I like to sit in the lion bungalow while Mom serves me my evening mealworms and I also sometimes fold myself up into weird, contortionist positions in there as you can see in my picture. Mostly the weird positions happen because I'm trying to properly groom myself in such a small space.

Mom: These three Jungle Bungalows are really amazing. The boys love them and when the bungalows get dirty I just stick them in the dishwasher to get them clean. I got all three for less than $15 so they're a good value. The owner of The Sugar Glider Store saw the pictures I had taken of the boys in the bungalows I bought from her store and she asked if she could use them on her site. I agreed, of course! If you click the link to the store at the beginning of this post you'll see North and Nocturne as supermodels.

Ferret Ark

2007-10-10T20:56:00.000-04:00

Marshall Ferret Ark bought in-store at Petsmart for $21.99

North: We have had the Ferret Ark in our cage on heavy rotation for almost the entire time we've lived with Mom. I just love this thing! As you can see in the photo above, I like to careen off the top of the ark on the occasions where I spaz out and jump all over the cage like a crazy monkey. It's kinda rare that I expend so much energy so Mom loves any products that seem to encourage me to burn off calories. I also like to spend time inside the ark because Mom puts little toys in there for me to discover.

Nocturne: Look closely at the right side of the photo posted above and you'll see me climbing into the ark. I love to spend time inside grooming myself. Since it's made for ferrets, which are much larger than us sugar gliders, I have enough space inside to hang upside down while I perform my beauty routine (illustrated below). The ark is my mellow hang-out spot and I like it so much that I've accidentally taken a little nap in there a few times. I'm an adventurer by nature but I mainly like to relax when I'm in my Ferret Ark.

Mom: It sounds superficial but one thing I really don't like about the Ferret Ark is that it comes in that ugly color combo. I didn't expect it to last very long when I bought it but the boys' current ark is about 1.5 years old and still has a few months use left in it. Both gliders use it a lot whenever it's in their cage and I run it through the washing machine and hang it to dry every 4-8 weeks. The ark defintely gets heavy use and takes a beating between the three of us. Unfortunately, all the seams inside are serged so I have to inspect it regularly and trim off any threads that come loose so little feet don't get tangled. That's a bit of a chore but it's worth it for all the enjoyment the boys get out of the Ferret Ark.

Introduction

2007-10-09T00:46:00.001-04:00

I am Mom to a pair of sugar gliders, North and Nocturne. They are both neutered males and are around 2 years old. They are unrelated and Nocturne is about two weeks older than North but he is smaller than his "little brother" and always has been. Both boys are now large adult gliders and they eat a healthy diet including a wide variety of fruit, veggies, and protein combined with proper supplementation. They each have very distinct and completely different personalities but I love them both with all my heart.

A very large portion of my money goes toward the boys' cages, food, treats, toys, fleece cage sets, cage accessories, out of cage playtime amusements, etc. To put it bluntly, I'm sick of spending money on things my gliders do not like and/or items that are of poor quality and construction. I enjoy the site http://www.birdtested.com/ so much that I decided to start a blog to post reviews of some of the things I buy for my boys. I may also post some of my own toy ideas that the boys have enjoyed plus other little things that they love. In addition to the reviews, I might also post glider-related stories that I think are cute as well as experiences I've had that may help out other owners. There is so much misinformation about sugar gliders out there so I welcome all questions and concerns. I'm always willing to help in any way I can.

All product reviews are subjective and based solely on the opinions of Mom, North, and Nocturne.