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Crabbing
- Sounds like: a locust, graduating in pitch then decreasing, gurgulling
- Very loud and can be heard across the house, screeching noise that is emitted repeatedly
- Considered the most common sound that sugar gliders make.
- Reason: aggitation, fear, warning call, cry for attention.
Barking
- Sounds like: yipping from a chihuahua.
- Reason: boredom, excitement, annoyance, calling to someone, sometimes seems like no reason at all.
Fighting
- Sounds like: a mix of crabbing, barking, and general noise from the cage because the sugar gliders are usually jumping around.
- Reason: annoyance, fussing, fighting, dominance.
Crying
- Sounds like: whining.
- Basically only made by joeys, or a new sugar glider missing its family.
- Means: bad.
Hissing / Sneezing
- Sounds like: snake hiss, very short and deliberate hisses, repetitive.
- Sugar gliders frequently groom themselves by spitting into their hands (making a sneezing or hissing sound), and then washing themselves with it. It’s a ritual that’s very similar to a cat licking it’s paw and then grooming itself. This activity could cause the hissing/sneezing noise.
- Watch their body language when they make this sound to tell if they are in pain or just annoyed/afraid. If the tail is straight up in the air and they seem to be hunched over, chances are they are having a hard time going to the bathroom and this problem needs to be corrected. Or if it's winter they may be sneezing from a respiratory infection.
- Reason: agitation, fright, pain, sometimes seems like no reason at all, sound made during grooming.
Chirping / Chattering / Clicking
- Sounds like: teeth chattering mixed with low pitched squeaks, similar to the noise a guinea pig makes, half-purring / half-chirping.
- Reason: happy, content, usually enjoying a favorite food.
Purring
- Sounds like: a cat’s purr, or a small drum beating very fast and low, or a fast heart beat
- Very faint - sugar glider would need to be within inches of your face for you to hear
- Reason: happy, content.
Singing
- Sounds like: a song, changes in pitches and sounds, a churcling noise.
- Basically only made by female sugar gliders singing to their joey.
- Reason: wanting to comfort joey, happy, content.
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Please Note: Exotic Nutrition is not in a position to provide specific health and care guidelines on an individual basis. Please visit our animal info tabs or consider purchasing a care guide book for additional information. If you have a health or pet emergency issue, please notify your veterinarian or a specialized technician.