My fiance and I just got 2 female sugar gliders that are a year old. I have since read on the internet that the ideal time for bonding with a glider is when they are 8-12 weeks oop or about 4 to 5 months old. Should we return our gliders and get babies or is 12 months old still young enough for them to form a tight bond with us? Any other glider tips you could give would be helpful as well, we are first time owners. Thanks!

I think the age thing is a myth. My first two gliders were a year and a half old when I got them and they bonded JUST fine. In fact, I later got a 6 month OOP female who was scared to death and has taken months to actually get to where she will approach me.

I think that the reason people think that about 'older' gliders is because usually these 'older' gliders are coming from homes who have lost interest and no longer handle the gliders. So sometimes these gliders have a little more time trusting again. But not always!

Basically, You guys should be fine.

Welcome to the site and to having gliders! There are a lot of very informative posts here!

I agree. An older glider may come with a longer past, but if they were well handled and treated with some kindness, they should be as readily accepting as a well handled joey. Now if they have a past, it may take some time to build trust, but this is the same with any rescue. We have a rescued german shepard who was beaten by her cop owner to become more aggressive. She is one of the sweetest dogs I have had the privelage to meet. Of course we had to work on trust, and to work on her fear behaviors when she heard a loud sound or if we even raised our hands above waist level around her.

That is definitely a myth about the bonding ages. I had gliders come to me as adults that were easier to bond with than one of my joeys born here.

I laugh every time I see this. I have three gliders that I rescued and the two adults are far easier to deal with then the 8 month old ( despite having suffered from abuse and neglect longer). The 8 month old is the one that is taking a lot of patience and time and really is coming around, but I had to take some serious licks from her in the beginning that were outright malicious.

Age really has nothing to do with it.

I agree. I think this myth was actually originally propagated by the mill breeders who are trying to keep themselves in business. It is true that gliders can come with some baggage if they are older. However, Molly was three when I got her. She didn't have a lot of handling prior to coming to me. She was terrified, and crabbed up a blue streak when I first got her. However, I got a pop up tent, and spent lots of my free time bonding with her. I even put her cage in our bedroom where she could see me when I was sleeping at night...we had a mammoth sized bedroom in our previous house! Molly is the sweetest, most tame and bonded glider you'd ever want to meet. Don't give up on these guys!

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mollysmom

I agree. I think this myth was actually originally propagated by the mill breeders who are trying to keep themselves in business.

---

Thank you everyone!!