You can find sugar gliders at shopping malls around Christmas time, but wildlife officials are warning people to not take them home.

Companies try to sell these small, exotic animals to families as pets for gifts during the holidays.

Lisa Comer says her daughter begged for a sugar glider for Christmas last year.

"She was like 'oh they're totally cool mommy,' she was just all 'I'll drop my whole Christmas list I don't want anything, I got to have this, they're so cool, they'll be so cool," said Comer.

So the family got two sugar gliders, and a year later, Comer says they're still doing fine.

"They are pretty pricey, but they are well worth it. I mean, my son, he just loves them. They glide, they do little tricks. You know even watching them in the cage, it's fun, I mean they're just adorable," said Comer.

They may make cute pets, but Virginia Wildlife Center President Ed Clark says that isn't a good idea.

"People believe that they're doing well, but if they're not getting the right percentage of calcium and phospherous in the diet and the right balance, these animals can get very sick and will literally starve to death if that dietary need is not met," said Clark.

But Comer says she hasn't had a problem feeding her sugar gliders.

"We get the sugar glider pellets, but then we also put like dried fruits and stuff in with the pellets, I mix it," said Comer. "They love Doritos's, they love gummy bears."

Clark says even though they eat those foods, it's not good for them.

"It's just not fair, to essentially take an animal that's used to living in a family group and really genetically inclined and put it in solitary confinement," said Clark.

But for the Comers, the two sugar gliders have become a part of the family.

"We would let them out and we would let them glide and go across the beams or they would climb up my house plants or be laying with my dog or something like that," said Comer.

Clark says they need to eat insects that are only found in their natural habitats, which are tropical regions like Australia. The other half of their diet should be fruits and vegetables.

Plus, he says sugar gliders are nocturnal animals, so they'll make a lot of noise at night and sleep all day, which doesn't make them very good pets for the family.