Hi Everyone,

I need advice. I am at my wits end with Spike.

Backstory - We rescued Spike and Sandy (Renamed sandy to tik. too many "S" Critters)about a month ago. The family we got them from told us that they didn't have time to spend with them and their schedules were too different to make it work. These 2 are from PPP and were on the PPP Pellets, Powder and an apple slice until they came home with us. We have moved them to BML and they love it. nothing left but dry half-moon shapes of fruit and veggies.

So we gave them 3-4 days to get used to their new surrounding while giving them fleece and fabric that had our scents on them to get used to us. Then we started to carry them around in a pouch and play with them in the bathroom (lid down!). Tink the girl is still kind of timid but warming up to us quite fine. She likes to nibble ears and is still not 100% excited to have you pick her up. She does this light nibble to let you know what her feelings on things... No problems there.

Spike on the other hand is just a mean little cuss. One minute he is fine with you petting him in his pouch then the next he will turn around and bite - HARD. He has yet to draw blood, but he definatly has tried to.

Last night was the frosting on the cake - He tried to bite me 3 times thru the bonding pouch and then 2 more times thru a piece a doubled up fabric.

We have 2 other gliders and in the past week or so have introduced them to Tink. All three get along just fine. but I don't want to bring Spike into the picture just yet as he is bigger than my other 2 gliders and I don't want to see them get hurt if he goes after them.

My hope was to have a happy colony of 4 gliders... I am 3/4s of the way there...

I have had all kinds of animals from Sheep and horses to African Greys - I know how to handle animals and I know a scared animal and a mean animal. This guy doesn't act scared. he justs acts like he wants to do harm.

Any Thoughts or ideas folks?

Handle the male in a pouch crabbing is usual. Also offer him food by hand so he will associate you with kindness.
The more you handle, carry and play the friendlier he should get.
Do you use a bonding pouch?

I have been feeding him food by hand every time i put him in the pouch. he of course won't turn it down. he will lick yogurt and honey off of my finger. I use a bonding pouch 5-7 hours a night with this little guy. One minute he will be fine the next he's the devil with Wing flaps...

I wouldn't keep them/carry them in a bonding pouch at night,they want to get out and play!!!Have you tried a tent?In a tent you can just relax and let them come to you and play on you.

Tent is a great idea My cage is big enough for my family to fit in comfortably so i don't use a tent.the pouch works best during day time. At night the need to jump, play, excerise, etc.

When I say night I maent 4pm till they wake up which is usually around 11pm. I haven't tried the tent with him but i do take him to the bathroom. all he does is sits there. If I go to touch him he bites. I don't keep him in the pouch once he gets active. I either take him to the bathroom and let him out OR I put him in his cage.

What do you do when he bites you? He has to know he can't get away with this behavior. If he doesn't respond to you hissing at him or telling him no in a loud voice, then try blowing hard on him. This technique has worked well for me with a couple of serial biters. Also, when he gets really pissy in the pouch and is trying to bite you as hard as he can through the material, reprimand him and immediately take him out of the pouch (turn it inside out if you have to in order to force him out) and put him back in his cage for a time out. This needs to happen immediately so he connects his time out to his behavior. I had to do this with my youngest one and it seemed to work. She's not 100% yet but she's worlds better than she used to be.

Has there been a vet visit since you got them? You want to rule out any medical issues. I've seen "mean" gliders who turned out to have UTI's or other issue.

Oh, is he neutered? If not, then that would probably help also with the mean behavior.

I have two males and they both bite. They will be having a really good time in a playful mood and running all over my legs, then take a chunk out of me. I have heard neutering really helps, but I am not sure the details of how safe etc it is for them. Also, be VERY careful when you blow on them. They are smart and will remember your face and that you just blew at them.

Here is what works for me. When mine bite, I go 'PSSST' fairly loud and place (NOT push, hit or smack) my finger on the back of their head. They cant see whose finger it is but the noise and the touch (again NOT hit) startles them to stop. NEVER hit your glider. They dont make noise when they are hurt so you wont know that you are actually hurting the poor thing.

We are going to the vet today at 2:50... wish us luck.

Ask him how much it would cost for you to have him neutered. Some vets charge an arm and a leg so it will pay to call around and find a better rate, while others are very reasonable. It would be very good info for you to have in case you decide to get him fixed at a later date, which might help with the agression.

I plan on asking. I have 2 vets withing 20 minutes of my house that are great with gliders. so I will be checking into getting "the snip" done... I honestly hope he has something wrong with him that they can fix that is causing him to be cranky. I hate to think he's just a jerk...

When you introduced Tink to the other two gliders did that mean Spike is now housed alone with out his former cage mate? He could be missing her companionship. I have two gliders that were like night & day when I got them as joeys. Alone Mehitabel crabbed and bit when handled, but when Missy was in the pouch with her she settled down.

Try carrying Tink in the bonding pouch with Spike and see if he is more secure.

Just got back. Tink Weighs 96 Grams and Spike Weighs 116. Anxiety and stress the Doc said. also a bit dehydrated which is surprising as they drink a good amount of water. Sowe came home with some antibiotic "just in case", some vitamins and some Anti-anxiety meds...

We'll see if it doesn't calm him down.

Oh and he bit on the the techs after I warned him and he brushed me off. lol...

but on the trip home he didn't crab once at me so maybe he realized that I am not such a bad person!