Before You Buy

These are some suggestions to follow when looking for a reputable breeder.
These have been provided by current and past members of USGN.

• Never buy a glider at a home show, trade show or exhibition.
  These types of places encourage "Impulse buying", the reason we have so many rescues.

• Never buy a glider at a pet store that has not had extensive experience with them, (preferably one that has the breeder onsite-not from a mill) and does not provide information on care.
  

• Inspect the cages in the store, if they are not very clean and have little odor do not buy a glider there! In addition, a special USDA license is required to sell sugar gliders, make sure the store has one!

• If the glider is being sold singly for less than $100, ask the breeder how they can sell so cheaply, if the breeder tells you they are overstocked, or gives you reasoning that sound fishy-MAKE sure to inspect the whole sugar glider area.
  A healthy glider from a loving and knowledgeable home should be sold for no less than $100.
  Now, rescues can be sold for a much lower price, as they are older and many times are not wanted any longer, so keep that in mind!

• If a breeder keeps gliders in fish tanks, do not buy from that breeder.

• If the breeder suggests a dry pelleted diet as the main form of nutrition, do not buy the glider from that breeder. Although there is a pelleted food that can be fed as a sole form of food (Brisky's) many reputable breeders do not support this as a whole diet and will recommend a better alternative.

• If you question diet, and a breeder says, cat food and fruit once in a while-- do not buy from that breeder.
  (A sugar glider's diet is a complex thing, not a simple one!)

• If, when you do look at the breeders, the cages are unkempt, water is in bowls that are not clean, there is feces in the food or any of these--Do not buy from that breeder.

• Remember, the breeder you choose determines the glider you get--be comfortable with them, get to know them.
  Make sure that they are willing to help you learn more about gliders.

We know there are a lot of gliders that need to be saved.
Buying from these kind of people and breeders will not solve the problem but only encourage this type of business.