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Selected Physiological Data for Sugar Glidersa

Lifespan

4–15 years

Adult body weight

Females: 80–135 g

Males: 100–160 g

Respiratory rate

16–40 breaths/min

Heart rate

200–300 bpm

Body temperature

36.3°C (97.3°F)

Thermoneutral zone

27–31°C (80–88°F)

Food consumptionb

15–20% body weight/day

Dentition

Diprotodont (having two incisors)

Dental formula

2 (I 3/2 C 1/0 P 3/3 M 4/4)

Puberty

Females: 8–12 months

Males: 12–14 months

Estrous cycle

29 days

Gestation period

15–17 days

Litter sizec

2 (81%)

Birth weight

0.2 g

Pouch emergence

Approx. 60 days (50–74 days)

Weaning

Approx. 100 days (85–120 days)

aExcept as noted otherwise, data are from a chart in Brust DM, Mans C. Sugar gliders. In: Carpenter JW, Harms CA, eds. Carpenter’s Exotic Animal Formulary. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2023:496-510, supported by the following sources:

  • Booth RJ. General husbandry and medical care of sugar gliders. In: Bonagura JD, ed. Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy XIII: Small Animal Practice. Saunders: 2000:1157-1163.

  • Brust DM. Sugar Gliders: A Complete Veterinary Care Guide. Veterinary Interactive Publications; 2009.

  • Jepson L. Sugar gliders. In: Jepson L, ed. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide. 2nd ed. Elsevier; 2016:231-257.

  • Pye GW, Carpenter JW. A guide to medicine and surgery in sugar gliders. Vet Med. 1999;94:891-905.

  • Shaw M, Jarman A. Nutrition. In: Vogelnest L, Portas T, eds. Current Therapy in Medicine of Australian Mammals. CSIRO Publishing; 2019:225-248.

bFood consumption data are from Brust DM. Sugar Gliders: A Complete Veterinary Care Guide. Veterinary Interactive Publications; 2009.

cLitter size data are from Suckling GC. Population ecology of the sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps, in a system of fragmented habitats. Aust Wildl Res. 1984;11(1):49-75. doi:10.1071/WR9840049

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