If you’ve just gotten your first sugar glider, you may be curious as to whether or not your sugar glider can have water baths and if they can get wet or not.
Do Sugar Gliders Need Baths?
No, sugar gliders don’t need baths and shouldn’t get wet, therefore sugar gliders cannot take traditional baths in water. If a sugar glider gets wet, it can cause fungal infections and other illnesses. You need to remove any water or dampness if your sugar glider does happen to get wet.
In most situations, you will not have had any issues related to this topic and a sugar glider will normally not get wet for any reason, nor should they. However, it’s important for you to understand what to do if your sugar glider does get wet and to understand some common reasons why they may get wet in the first place.
Sugar gliders are tedious groomers and therefore don’t need actual water baths. You should never attempt to bathe a glider if you think that their smell, as they naturally have a musky scent and there’s no getting away from it. If you happen to find your sugar gliders musk offensive, there’re a few things you can do to reduce it:
- Make sure you’re feeding your glider a healthy diet & clean the food bowls regularly.
- Consider getting your sugar glider neutered if it’s a male, as this will decrease scenting.
- Use an air filter & humidifier in the room they’re kept in.
- Clean the area around the cage regularly. You can also drape shower curtains or a fleece cover over the cage to minimize any debris that’s getting thrown about.
Hopefully, by the end of this page, you’ll have a clear understanding of the dangers of getting a sugar glider wet and how you can keep your sugar gliders’ hygiene in top shape the right way.
Why Sugar Gliders Can’t Get Wet
First and foremost, sugar gliders and water don’t get along very well. Hence, a sugar glider should never get wet.
Even small amounts of water can remain damp on a sugar glider for hours after it occurs (more on this later).
When a sugar glider remains wet for too long, you start running into issues such as illnesses that your sugar glider may develop from remaining wet for extended periods of time. Not to mention, it’s not comfortable for a sugar glider to get wet or remain wet for any period of time.
Don’t expect your sugar glider to be overly enthusiastic or friendly if they do get wet.
Why Sugar Gliders Should Avoid Water Baths
New sugar glider owners are also often curious if they can give their new pet a water bath or not. The short answer is no, Sugar gliders should never have a water bath.
Remember, sugar gliders can’t dry themselves quickly or adequately, as we have discussed so far.
A water bath can run the risk of your sugar glider getting fungal infections, respiratory infections, and can make a sugar glider extremely uncomfortable.
What Happens If A Sugar Glider Gets Wet?
Exposed durations of being damp or wet can bring on illness or fungal infections to sugar gliders. As previously mentioned, it’s very difficult to dry your sugar glider quickly after becoming wet, which makes the chance of a viral infection or another illness taking place is even higher.
If this does happen, don’t panic. First, we’re going to cover what to do if your sugar glider gets wet in just a moment. Secondly, anytime you think that your sugar glider has run the chance of becoming ill due to becoming wet, you should get in contact with a vet. They will give you the best solutions for the illness that your sugar glider may have. The sooner you can intervene to get this taken care of, the better.
What To Do If Your Sugar Glider Gets Wet
One of the most common reasons a sugar glider will get wet unintentionally could be because some of their drinking water gets on them. This is normal and sometimes your sugar glider moves from their water bowl, making a path of water which can cause them to get relatively wet or sometimes excessively wet.
Before diving into what to do once your sugar glider is wet, make sure you’re regularly checking their water drinker for any leaks. If your sugar glider does happen to get wet for whatever reason, be sure to dry them adequately and as quickly as possible. Sugar gliders should remain at an ideal temperature or they run the risk of overheating quickly.
Do Sugar Gliders Get Wet in The Wild?
No, sugar gliders rarely get wet in the wild.
Sugar gliders are native to the tropical forests of Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. These geographic locations aren’t exposed to too much precipitation or rain.
Sugar gliders in the wild are also masters of hiding and finding cover, which allows them to stay protected from the weather elements and the rain.
