Sexual maturity

[kev 27]

At what age do gliders reach sexual maturity?
Also we have a male glider who is neutered, and a female, when she reaches maturity will she have any problems with, erm... not getting any.
I don't want her to get angry or stressed because he doesnt want her. Also Is their any internal reprocussions to her lack of love? ( i once had a hamster who had ovarian cancer, i was told this was caused because she had never got laid .... in as many words) I dont no how true this explanation to the cause of her cancer was but it has stuck in my mind.

vic xxx

[Rhianna]

She will still "get some". Neutering don't take away the urge, just the fertility.

[hayley]

my male is nutered, they are always at it! they don't care who sees!

[munshkin]

Hi Vic,

Your question made me smile!

Your hamster would have been more likely to develop this type of  cancer because she had never had babies, nothing to do with the sex bit  !!
It’s a bit like how we are more prone to breast cancer if a woman never breast feeds.

[kev 27]

Thanks for the replies!
So if the problem was caused because she had never had babies could this be a problem for my heidi? x

[hayley]

that sounds like a marie question!
id be interested in that answer too, because yindi will never have mini syds. 

[munshkin]

Hi Again,

Having babies can also be life threatening so not having them is actually safer than having them! the downside will be an increased risk of cancers.

This is avoided in dogs by spaying, but i dont think this is possable with a sugar glider.

[kev 27]

Hmmmmmmm , intermeresting!  thanks for your answers. So how will i know if she is ready to make the babies? x

[Rhianna]

just because there is an increased risk, doesnt mean she will definetly get it. you also need to remember that hamsters in pet shops are often badly bred and are often riddled with bad genes which link up to cancers. Sugar gliders are not often badly bred, and if you got them from a good supplier, then they wont be.

There has only been 1 case of a sugar glider dying of cancer and that was in America. There has been a suspected 2 over here but not confirmed but again, wasnt ovarian cancer.

So the chances of your gliders getting cancer are slim to none at most.

Just because an animal CAN breed, doesnt means she should. Some gliders do not take motherhood well and that in itself can lead up to a whole range of problems, not just for the babies, but for the mother herself.

[kev 27]

Well i happen to know they have come from a very good supplier, my two actually came from Marie so they must be like Super Suggies or something!!!! Heidi and Chev are our first Gliders so we wern't planning on breeding.
Thanks for all your answers, very helpful and put my mind at rest! xxxx

[Rhianna]

well then thats even better news! LOL

nothing to worry yourself about!