I decided to write about cheap gliders. Recently, I have come across a few people who have made BIG mistakes when it comes to purchasing gliders. Yes, getting a glider is tempting, especially after seeing people who have joeys or tame adults sitting on their shoulders. I know that those that are interested are normally young adults and students. RM300 to RM400 for a joey may seem too much money to spend on a pet so they tend to make the mistake of purchasing adults because pet shops or suppliers tend to wave about a very attractive price in front of them. RM80 to Rm120 for 1 glider, wouldn’t you be interested to get 1? I know anyone would, cause that money is just a fraction of Rm400.
Many do not know the origins of adult gliders. Majority are imported wild stock. Some are either legally or illegally brought in to cater to the demand for breeding gliders. This is the reason why their price is cheap. Since they are super hard to tame, the only way is to sell them cheap to gain interest. Adult gliders actually live a very miserable and stressed life. Look at this picture taken by KJ at a petshop in Kuala Lumpur. Doesn’t it make you want to cry?
The wild adults tend to be malnourished, with sunflower seeds and mealworms as a staple. Some sellers would offer old apples and low quality dog kibble. The gliders have nothing to hide or sleep in, all they get is a few empty food containers to cuddle into but that just isn’t enough.
Some sellers would then say “Get a pair and let them breed, then you can tame your own joey”. Whoaaaaaa there!!!! Ask a newbie glider owner to breed??? Gliders are not breeding machines, nor are they as easy as keeping a hamster. I am quite disgusted by the fact that many pet shops actually advice newbies to get a wild adult pair to breed and to keep in a small cage meant for small birds. Some would even recommend hamster cages and hamster food. Breeding is a whole new level as they need a varied diet, proper living environment and also a keeper has to have things on standby just in case a joey or 2 get rejected by the parent gliders.
To new owners and also interested glider keepers out there, think carefully before you make a decision. Do not just buy because someone gives you a very cheap price. Think about the consequences of having a wild pair, think of the health of the glider and most important, think of the welfare of the glider when it comes into your care. Avoid getting cheap buys, just save up to get a healthy proper age joey.
I found a baby glider at pet safari Ikano, it look so miserable, stress and lonely =.=” All the other gliders were sold, leaving behind just that little fella. The glider is kept in a glassed cage & i don’t think they should do that…
btw, not just the glider, you should go checkout the other animals thats kept in there, terrible condition
so far i found one Rhino beetle, dead…and the staff don’t really give a damn about it
Yes, alot of us do know about the gliders there. We(LYN glider keepers) have made trips there, some even telling the staff that what they are doing is wrong but they act like we know nothing and that what they are selling and doing is 100% correct.
true enuff…at first i also thought what they told me about sugar glider is correct…for nearly a year i do research by asking in different pet shop…ask around the price and how to take care..luckily i met cukin in pet safari and he told me to do more research in LYN…and i scrap everything i learn from petshop, and follow advise from people in LYN..
money doesn’t matter compare to getting healthy and proper age sugar glider…
I agree with those saying that price factor is not the main point for getting a s.g. but the health and proper age, provided that it’s not overly priced. For me I got mine slightly more expensive than what I could have gotten. There again, it’s her size, age and health conditions that are important to me. But before doing so, I would have to say that you need to equip yourselves with the proper knowledge by conducting research over the internet and even in LYN. Do not let impulsive buying get into you. Impusiveness may lead on to more troubles in the end. Don’t go get an underaged s.g. and then ask how to nurse it. So make sure that you are really commited and ready to take in a furry friend.