FAQ
exoticpethome.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Have Any Question?
Sugar Gliders
Anything with teeth can bite. Sugar gliders bite for various reasons ranging from fear, unfamiliar smells, or self-defense. Biting is the prime source of defense when a sugar glider feels threatened or trapped. A foreign scent or a human hand can be a scary enemy to a glider. However, once you earn their trust and form a bond with your glider(s), this type of biting rarely happens.
The cost for sugar gliders can vary widely depending on their age, colors and patterns. A healthy baby sugar glider from a reputable breeder can cost anywhere from $250 to $1500, while an adult can cost between $150 and $1000.
Not really. Sugar gliders have their natural musky smell, which is tolerable and manageable through regular cleanings. Male sugar gliders have more scent glands, and their musky smell tends to be more prevalent, especially during the breeding season.
Tip: Do your cleaning in a rotation because you can clean too much at one time. Gliders rely heavily on scent. Each glider has its own specific scent signature that other gliders recognize.
None are needed.
No. Gliders will eventually learn with age to potty in their cage. It’s more so centered around routine and habit.
Yes! We recommend having at least two gliders because they are social and can get lonely which can lead to behavior problems. This is not a requirement, we have many clients with only one glider that lives happy and healthy.
Before deciding to purchase a sugar glider, research whether they are legal to own as pets in your state, city, and county. If you are traveling with your glider out of state, know the legal status of sugar gliders in all areas you will be traveling. Many places in the United States require a permit for gliders. You’ll need to carefully look into all laws and restrictions — even your homeowner’s association or similar association might have rules about these unusual animals.
Male and female sugar gliders can be equally sweet and curious, but each will be unique. Depending on how much time you spend with your glider and how they are raised, the personality may vary. It is not dependent on gender. However, female gliders are less territorial than males. This is good to know and consider when purchasing pairs.
Larger animals may frighten them, I would recommend not having direct contact with larger animals. You can purchase a ‘hamster ball’ and let them roll around without worrying about direct contact. They can also be very afraid of some species of large birds – since in the wild they are commonly preyed upon by large birds.
In general, sugar gliders are not good pets for kids. Sugar gliders are exotic pets and have more complicated needs than your average small pet, such as a guinea pig. It would only be advisable for kids to get a sugar glider if they have a responsible parent who is willing to take on the major responsibilities of owning a glider.
With supervision. It’s much safer to keep them in their cage when you can’t be there to watch out for them than it is to let them roam free with all the household hazards that could potentially harm your baby.
Some people keep cages in their bedrooms, which is fine if you’re a heavy sleeper. If you’re a light sleeper, this could cause some problems since they can get noisy at night.
Never take your glider outside to play, they may jump into a tree and never come down. They should always be in a bonding pouch or carrier. Yes, they will take off even if they are bonded to you.
NO. You should never use any type of harness, collar, leash, or other restrictive gear on these animals.
When a glider family is established they become very bonded, what exactly does that mean? Simply, they are a part of each other’s pack and they will live together for their whole lives. Gliders in the wild form family groups and they will stay together when possible. In captivity they are normally caged together by design of the human caretakers with two or more gliders and can be anywhere from friends, very close friends, bonded or breeding.
When gliders are raised up with another glider from the time they are babies they can form very strong bonds- they will be asleep together all of the time, eat together peacefully, look for each other, be more comfortable when the other is around. This type of glider-glider bond can be very strong over the course of their 15-year lifespan. If gliders are bonded for long periods of time and one of them passes away there have been cases of the remaining glider self-mutilating because of stress. This can lead to infection or death. They are confused, scared and alone. This case would benefit from adding another glider to help the remaining glider have another companion to rely on.
When gliders are kept as a single baby from the time they are brought home they have no bond to another glider. They can live happily in their cage alone, provided they have adequate entertainment and enrichment. This is not cruel, it is just another way to raise a glider. Some glider enthusiasts or breeders will demand or require gliders to be kept in pairs or they will not flourish but that is simply not true based on our experience.
Hedgehogs
Anything with teeth can bite. However, this is not your hedgies’ first line of defense. They will most likely roll into a ball and hiss until they feel the danger has passed. Often your hedgie will start by licking your finger before nipping out of curiosity, meaning you probably smell like something they want to try.
If your hedgie bites, don’t immediately put them down. This will teach them that biting gets you to leave them alone. Try not to flinch or yank your finger away, instead try gently blowing on your hedgies face.
No, they do not have scent glands and do not produce an odor. If they are kept in a clean cage they are virtually odorless.
Try to give your hedgie a bath only when it’s necessary since it can be stressful and drying to their skin. They will keep themselves clean and have no odor if they are kept in a very clean environment.
Thankfully, None are needed.
Hedgehogs will not constantly or reliably use a litter box. Often times they pick a place in their cage they like to potty the best and it’s easiest to spot-clean that place.
Hedgehogs are hearty animals and low maintenance! They are a great first pet for children. I have taught children as young as 4 to 5 years old to hold hedgehogs and as long as there is a willing family to help with daily care they are fantastic pets.
Before deciding to purchase a hedgehog, research whether they are legal to own as pets in your state, city, and county. If you are traveling with your hedgie out of state, know the legal status of hedgehogs in all areas you will be traveling.
There are very few differences between males and females, and they are all anatomical. Each hedgie has its own personality and habits. Their personality in the long run will depend on many factors, the main one being handling. Regardless, most hedgies bond well by simply sleeping on their owner’s lap. Females do not go into heat or have a period. If you see blood in your female hedgehog’s stool or urine get to a vet immediately.
Larger animals may frighten them, we recommend not having direct contact with larger animals. You can purchase a ‘hamster ball’ and let them roll around without worrying about direct contact. Hedgehogs can be easily stressed and intimidated from exposure to large animals and should never be housed in the same cage with any other species.
The main necessities for owning a hedgehog are a cage, method of heating, hidey house, pine bedding, hedgehog food, and water bottle. All supplies are available.
Hedgehogs are easy to sex. Males have a prominent “belly button” (the penile sheath) located about halfway up the abdomen, whereas females do not. Both sexes have nipples.
Besides anatomical differences, male and female hedgies are pretty much the same. Each individual hedgehog has its own personality. No particular gender is a better pet.
The best way to pick up a hedgie is to scoop him up with both hands under the belly. Keeping your hands very flat they will unroll – do not touch the quills if they are erect.
My hedgie is foaming at the mouth and spreading on his quills! This is called “self-anointing”. When a hedgie finds a new smell or one they just like, they will froth at the mouth, contort themselves, and spread the saliva mix on their quills. Some hedgies do this often, some, or not at all. Hedgies especially like to do this with new smells.
It’s important that you are capable and comfortable with nail trimming. If they get too long they can cause discomfort and curling. Having an extra hand is always helpful when trimming your hedgies nails. If you don’t have an extra hand, you can try using a wire grid. Have your hedgie walk on the grid and when their foot falls though, grab it and start trimming. To get your baby used to you touching their feet you can play with them during handling time. The best thing to use is human baby nail clippers. If you cut the pink part use quick-stop, corn starch, or flour to stop the bleeding. If this happens, don’t feel too bad. Almost every hedgie owner has done it at one time or another.
Hedgies don’t need baths very often but do get dirty feet from running on their wheel. If this is the case, a foot bath is better than a whole bath. To give a foot bath, simply run an inch or 2 of warm (not hot) water in the sink or tub, and let hedgie walk around. This will loosen and wash off the residue. You can use coconut oil in the water for cleaning and you can splash the water on the baby if they need further cleaning.
A heating pad under the cage is the best option for heating the baby. Some people recommend heat lamps, but in my experience, they are too hot for hedgehogs and dangerous to use.
The proper temperature would be indoors at a warm 73-78 degrees F. This needs to be consistent around the year.
There are no quills there because there are muscles that help the hedgie roll into a ball.
There is some debate over whether a dish or a bottle is better. The bottle is the only acceptable means to give your hedgehog clean water. Using a bowl is not sanitary, the hedgehogs will step in the water or can push shavings in which can contaminate the water.
No, artificial light should never be used. They are nocturnal and will hide completely during the day and come out only when it is dusk or dark. Do not keep your hedgehog in a darkened room or closet during the day. They will adjust to regular room lighting and will develop a proper sleep schedule for the day.
Hedgehogs are solitary and do not want or need companions. Males should never be housed together. Male-female pairings are acceptable when one is altered. Female-female pairings can work under the right circumstances, meaning you must have a larger cage and two of everything. Housing hedgies together does not always work and you need to be prepared to separate them at the first sign of aggression.