Sugar glider social housing — colonies in wild; keep in pairs/groups
Source: Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com), a copyrighted professional veterinary reference. Per COPYRIGHT_POLICY §3, the points below are paraphrased derived fact summaries: numerical values and proper nouns are preserved from the source, but sentences are rewritten and not quoted verbatim.
Claims
*[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Sugar gliders live in colonies in the wild and are highly social animals. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* In captivity they should be kept in groups of two or more. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Gliders like to crawl into pockets or pouches where they feel safe and relaxed. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* They are best maintained as a group with one male and multiple females. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* If breeding occurs, the young should be removed soon after weaning to avoid violent attempts to disperse them. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Housed alone, sugar gliders need substantial attention and enrichment to minimize stress and self-mutilation. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Behavioral disorders can develop in gliders housed alone, with incompatible mates, or in inappropriate cages. *[Paraphrased derived summary — non-Open-Access source.]* Housed singly without enough social stimulation, a nest box or pouch, or room to exercise, they may self-mutilate, develop stereotypical behaviors, or become aggressive.