curious

Question
i have recently heard about sugar gliders and want to know more. i have been thinking about acquiring one maybe two. i am 17 years old and have taken care of many animals in the past and know how much work and responsibility they take. is it ok to just get one or do you really have to have two? i live in Ohio is that a legal state to own one? i understand they have an odor is there way to cut the odor dawn like bathing them? can they have multiple owners of are they a one owner animal, i live at home and probably will be for a while so i want to know if my family will be able to participate in the joy of owning one. i understand that they need lots of attention and i would love to take it/them with me everywhere i go however is the cold going to be a problem or is it something that i can do so that i can take them with me if i go out? any information that you feel would be important to know would be great currently i am doing my research on them. i want to be educated before i make a decision. thanks for you help its much appreciated.

Answer
Dear Heather:

You have many questions in one here.  I am going to cut and paste your questions and provide you some answers.

is it ok to just get one or do you really have to have two?

Sugar gliders do better in pairs.  Most people decide to find a friend for them later.  It is much easier to introduce them as babies.  

i live in Ohio is that a legal state to own one? Yes

i understand they have an odor is there way to cut the odor dawn like bathing them?

Sugar gliders have a musky odor.  Breeding or un-neutered males smell worse.  You are better off with females or have any males neutered.  That cuts the worst odor, but some odor will still remain.  Best to wash pouches and wheels regularly and cages once a week.  Wood absorbs urine and odor, so I try to limit the amount of wood in their cages.

can they have multiple owners of are they a one owner animal, i live at home and probably will be for a while so i want to know if my family will be able to participate in the joy of owning one.

They tend to bond to one person.  The problem with more than one person handling them is that the glider may decide to bond with another family member rather than you.  I always recommend that people bond with their gliders first before they allow others to handle them.  

i understand that they need lots of attention and i would love to take it/them with me everywhere i go however is the cold going to be a problem or is it something that i can do so that i can take them with me if i go out?

You must avoid cold and extreme heat.  They do best in warm climate 72-85 degrees.  I would not allow them to get cold.  

any information that you feel would be important to know would be great currently i am doing my research on them. i want to be educated before i make a decision. thanks for you help its much appreciated.

There is so much to learn.  You need to make sure they have a proper diet, proper cage and toys.  But the biggest thing you must research is about your lifestyle and what changes may happen to you in the near future.  You must ask yourself what changes you will go through over the next 10-12 years.  If you plan to go off to college, get married, have kids.  These are just a few of the reasons that young people that got gliders at your age come to me later to find a home for them -- Please make this a big part of yours and your family's decision process.  

To help you research all the information you need to make your decision you can visit my website at:  
http://affinitysugargliders.com/

Here are a couple of other excellent resources:

http://sugarglider.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php

http://worldwidesugarglidernetwork.com/board/index.php

Best of luck in your search for information and sugar gliders.  Please let me know if I can assist you further.