|
Note: You must be registered in order to post a reply.
To register, click here. Registration is FREE!
|
| T O P I C R E V I E W |
Amandabrkbl Posted - Aug 12 2016 : 02:31:30 AM
Okay, so around last Christmas, I got a sugar glider. I had wanted one for a very long time, did a lot of research, and made a total commitment that I would take excellent care of my new pet. The thing is, I got it when I was being homeschooled, didn't have a job, and didn't go out a lot to hang out with friends. So I looked and looked for gliders, and I absolutely fell in love with this baby from Gliderpets. I bought him, and he was shipped to me (I felt so bad, he was probably so scared on that airplane but the only gliders for sale in my area were selling at outrageous prices). When he got here and I opened up the crate he was in, he made his little crabbing noise and jumped out of the crate into my room and it took me, my mom, my boyfriend, and my little brother an hour to catch him and put him in the cage. Poor little guy was probably so stressed out:( Shortly after he arrived, I went back to actual school and got a job. So I'll admit, I didn't spend as much time with him as I should have. Not nearly enough. He has always let me touch him without fussing, but he runs away from my hand so I only get to touch him if I can keep up with him. But this is the farthest I got with him for months. I didn't wear his pouch every day, or interact every day like I should have. I'll be the first to admit that I should've waited to get him, because now that I have more of a life, I don't have as many opportunities to be with him, and when I do, I spend a lot of it sleeping because I suffer from depression so I am literally exhausted like 24/7. Anyway, I kind of just gave up on trying to bond with him, and it stayed like that for 5 months. But I was extremely selfish and I didn't want to get rid of him because I really do love the little guy.
NOW to get to the point, I've been a lot more motivated to bond with him lately. I've been wearing him in his pouch every day after work, and at night, I sit on my bed with the pouch open and try to get him to come out with yogurt treats because he loves those. He does come out, but it's only to grab the treat, and then he runs back in and eats it, and slowly comes out to grab another one. He also has been letting me put my hand in his pouch, so I've been trying to use this to bond with him. I basically just lay down on my bed and keep my hand in the pouch with him and at first he nibbles at my fingers (I think because he's so used to the treats now, he nibbles as a "hey, where's my treat?" kind of thing) and then he settles down and tries to sleep while I gently pet him for about 20 minutes. It seems like he's been getting used to me, but every time I approach him while he's out and about in his cage at night, he FREAKS. Like, jumps around extremely fast like he's trying to run away. But then in the mornings when he's about to go to sleep for the day, I wake up for work and he sits at the edge of his cage because I usually give him treats so he waits for me. So I honestly can't tell if he's getting used to me or not. I've been spending a lot of time with him, I just wish I wouldn't have waited months.
And he doesn't seem depressed. He doesn't have any of the symptoms of depression or anything. He plays around his cage at night and everything.
I just really want to make up for the time I lost being really selfish and not spending time with him. What do you guys think? Do you have any advice for me to help the bonding?
|
| 1 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
Leela Posted - Aug 12 2016 : 10:02:31 AM
Your putting a lot of pressure on yourself for things you "didn't" do. I used to be one who spent every day all day with my gliders ( I am not saying this to brag or make you feel bad there is a point ) Which was easy, I don't work, or have kids at home, or leave the house for much of anything I'm pretty much a hermit so I have lots of time to spend with them. With one it was easy, with two it was no different, with 4 I had to do two shifts, now I'm up to 7 with an 8th coming in a few weeks.
I currently have 3 cages, a trio in one cage a trio in another and single guy in another waiting for his cage mate. My life has gotten a little busier though I'm still home all the time I just don't have as much time. My gliders are fine, they still get attention just not as much and ya know what they don't need it as much, they have each other. Do I feel guilty, sure sometimes, but they are far from neglected.
The trios are "bonded" to me however, the single guy is a work in progress. I don't take him out nearly as much as I did the others. Not because I don't have time, but because I am more active now, and if I have chores to do he gets stressed over to much movement. He was also shipped to me, he was a very sweet baby with his Gramma, but for me is still crabby and pouch protective but getting better everyday. Still super sweet, just very vocal lol He is young and intact and very full of himself. I know I have some work to do with him as well before his cage mate arrives, which also may mellow him out. AS I was typing this I just got him out of the cage since I'm still sippin coffee n not active yet, he got treats, nails clipped and into the bonding with a little loving in between...
My point is, it is ok. Don't stress over what you didn't do before and focus on where your at today and where you would like to see your relationship at with the glider tomorrow. Gliders are adaptable and very forgiving, the "bonding" only means your building a relationship with him and relationships grow over time, they don't stop growing. Your paying attention to his behavior, your getting to know his personality just as he is getting to know yours. I could give you a few bonding tips and pointers but I think your already doing what you should be doing. It takes a little time just try not to have expectations of him or yourself and where you "should" be You are where should be, and it will continue to progress. Every glider relationship is different I can't compare one glider to the others, they may be a colony but they are still individuals too.
Relax, and enjoy your glider... if you have depression he will be an excellent companion for you ps I take naps everyday, and there is always a glider in a bonding bag on my head takin a nap with me. You can "bond" with them while you both sleep.
I'm not one to preach about single gliders neeeeding a cage mate, so I won't to you either. But I will ask this
how big is his cage?
does he have a glider safe wheel?
does he have stimulating toys in the cage?
The answers to those questions may have something to do with his "freak out" in the cage behavior |
|
Home
Glider Gossip
Gliderpedia
Journals
Resources
