Why Neutering is important!!

[Marie]

It seems that people can't appreciate a Sugar Glider for what it is - they need to breed them, but with breeding comes certain responsibilities like finding a good knowledgable home for the joey's.  Either that or keep all the joeys but then you'll end up with THAT many suggies you won't know what to do with them.  In the UK the Suggie market has already dipped, when I first looked into getting some they were £600 a pair!  Now they sell on the classifieds for a pittance. It is such a shame, they're wonderful animals and deserve (and need) the best care.  They shouldn't be in shops or with wholesalers it's just not the right environment for them.

Have a look at the numbers below, how long is it going to be before the UK is saturated with unwanted Suggies?  Getting your male/s neutered is important to the quality of life future Suggies will get, it's important to keep the gene pool clean, so far our Gliders are healthy, but how long will it take for them to become riddled with genetic disorders and immune system weakness because every man and his dog are breeding them and not keeping them properly?

These numbers were calculated by a lady called Cyndie in the USA.  A suggie can have more than 4 joeys in a year!!!

1 male glider lets say he has 4 babies a year look what happens in lets say just 5 yrs of breeding

1x4= 4 add babies and dad 4+1= 5 at end of yr 1 (5)
5x4= 20 add babies and dads 20+5=25 at end of yr 2 (25)
25x4= 100 add babies and dads 100+25=125 at end of yr 3 (125)
125x4= 500 add babies and dads 500+125=625 at end of yr 4 (625)
625x4=2500 add babies and dads 2500+625=3125 at end of yr 5 (3125)

So ... that's 3125 joey's to find GOOD homes for ...

© Shropshire Exotics 01/01/07

[Edwin Margulies]

I agree. We run a rescue and the first thing we do after quarentine and stabilization is to neuter.

Also, allowing them to breed as pets can be heartbreaking because of the high instance of cannibilzation and rejection.

[roxyandboys]

It also important to add here - BREEDING DOES NOT MAKE PROFIT!

I know some folks may think - ohhh.... £100 a babe, BUT, to look after mum, dad and babes PROPERLY, it will cost you more than this.

Also, dunno about you, but would you wanna send off your sweet little baby babies to someone who you dont know will care for them properly???

[jungleflockmom]

Neutering is the biggest convenience when you just want wonderful little companion gliders. It eliminates a whole constellation of behaviors that can get in the way of gliders' full pet potential - marking, pit bull biting, etc etc

The neuter surgery is a snap, too. Mine never missed a beat.

[ellerslie83]

I was just wondering if a male is neutered, how long do you have to wait before you could introduce him to a couple of girls? To set the scene - My young male  Midge is about 6 months old and is still happily with his parents  :there there: They all live next door to two females who are about the same age as the parents 2/3 years old. These two girls were dumped on us and are rather reclusive and shy -  so I had hoped that putting the male in with them would make a good group? Obviously I could be very wrong....so please let me know! Otherwise would leaving him with his parents be ok, or would they push him out or end up fighting?

I'd be very grateful for any input....

[Marie]

You need to wait until the youngest glider is about the same size as the others, if you get your little male done now then by the time he's big enough to go in with the girls he will be infertile.  He will be fine with the parents until that time.

For an adult male, you would need to wait a month after neutering before putting him in with females

[ellerslie83]

Thanks Marie!    Midge is already the same size as them as they are not the biggest girls in the world and he's a good size.
I guess it will help that they already live next door to each other so they already know each others smells?!

[Marie]

Yep indeedy!  Get him neutered asap then

[jinglejoys]

At what age can a glider be neutered and what's the average cost?
  also could any small animal vet do it or are there special problems that need a more exotic experianced vet?If so is there a  list of vets who could do this job?

[Rhianna]

its best if you find an exotic specialist, but not many vets know about gliders.

my lot went to a VERY good small animal vet, and he thouroughly researched them before he snipped. thats why biscuit still has a pom, coz he was neutered different from the others as he was first. the same vet has just done my chinchilla, and he doing nicely.

the problem is, they are so small and they not in very many ved med books, so the vet has to go off his own mind or the advice of an expert.

but there is vets that will do it. you just need to find a vet that you trust and is willing to learn.

where abouts are you?

[Marie]

Most people get them neutered from 12 weeks, it's best to 'catch' them before they reach sexual maturity.  As to whether can any vet do them, it depends on your vet really, my vet had never neutered a suggie until I made him!  Lol!  But now he's a dab hand!  If it would help I could let you have my vet's details and your vet could speak to mine ...

[jinglejoys]

Thanks,its a research question really as I was not aware many people had neutered gliders and I think its such a good idea.It would make it so better in keeping pairs without having to breed and so many are advertised as brother and sister out of the pouch so they could I presume not have to be seperated too long while they are convelessing (Or maybe even stay with each other to cuddle together for comfort?...sorry rambling a bit but just thinking out loud.
  would still like a rough cost guide,knowing that Vets vary,so i could budget for that on top.

[loulou]

well here it costs £47.50 and we are one of the more expensive vets about just to give you an idea

[Marie]

£45 here!  I don't seperate them after neutering, it's important to keep things as though nothing has changed, less stress that way .  And it is a bloody good idea, we've been pushing the neutering thing as a part of responsible suggie ownership.

Welcome back by the way

[jungleflockmom]

Neutering just makes life so much easier for your little male glider.