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What’s the best way to build your own chinchilla or sugar glider habitat?
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3 Responses to What’s the best way to build your own chinchilla or sugar glider habitat?
Sugar gliders need an adequate size cage – at least 20 x 20 x 30 inches. A taller cage is better than a wider one because sugar gliders love to climb. Wire cages are best and commercial bird cages work well. You don’t want to use screen door mesh wire, as this is too small and your pet can easily get his claws caught in it. Cages with removable trays are also very handy, because they are easy to clean.
Keep the cage where your sugar glider won’t experience large differences in temperature (usually the best place is indoors). Since they are nocturnal, sleeping during the day, you will want to put the cage somewhere out of the way where it won’t be disturbed by people’s daily comings and goings. But do make sure to keep him where he can see whether it is night or day, so as to not mess up his biological clock.
Inside the cage provide a nesting box where your sugar glider can sleep during the day. Put aspen shavings, shredded paper, or an old cloth in the nesting box for more comfortable sleep. Put shavings on the bottom of the cage also, to absorb droppings and pushed out food. DO NOT use cedar shavings – these can cause respiratory problems. It is also thought that pine bedding may cause problems as well.
To make your sugar glider’s habitat more natural, it is a great idea to put branches in the cage (many bird perches work great, also). Just be sure that the branches you use are clean and don’t have any chemical residues left on them.
Including toys in the cage will give your pet exercise and enjoyment. Many bird toys work great, and also hollow logs or pipes that they can explore and hide in.
Here is info for making a Chinchilla feel at home> http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/chinchillas/a/chichillahome.htm
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A friend built a chinchilla habitat many years ago from wood and welded wire. he made it about 5ft x 3ft x 4 ft and made platforms they could jump up on at various heights and covered them with carpet. They had a blast in that cage bouncing from platform to platform chasing each other.
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I have no experience with chinchilla’s, but I have 5 sugar gliders – something to keep in mind to add to Chetco’s answer is that Sugar Gliders are very sensative creatures and can be deathly allergic to some things. This includes household things like catnip and mint, and many wood products – therefore you definitely want to check out what types of branches and building materials are safe for them.
This web forum, http://www.sugarglider.net has a forum for talking about housing and I know there are numerous posts on what is glider safe and how-to’s.
Hope that helps!
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