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sneakysnake Joey   14 Posts
i know everybody says to have atleast to, and i get why. but i was wondering if anybody on this site had just one?
i just want to hear from both sides, i guess
and i'm sure there are people who have just one happy, healthy, sugar glider.
i don't know, i'm just curious after reading how so many people have two!
tisha Goofy Gorillatoes   OK, USA 2081 Posts I think its kinda ridiculous to say you can't tell if they are truely happy or healthy and then go on to say she was happier with another glider. I have had friends with gliders and raise them for 3 years with only one. If you show them lots of attention, feed them the right diet, make sure they dont overgroom or self mutilate they should be fine. There are a lot of warning signs to tell if they are getting depressed and if you actively learn your glider and find out what is adnormal you will know when they act differently. After i know my glider is bonded to me and is doing well i have promised him a companion when we are both ready. ^_^ WintersSong Fuzzy Wuzzy 1417 Posts Anonymous, Not all that long ago, One of my gliders, Munch, had to be kept separate for 5 weeks. He was badly injured, and needed to be in a hospital cage. This meant that I had two single gliders for 5 weeks. Sure, my other uninjured glider did not self mutilate. She didn't do repetitive movements. She didn't overeat. She played just fine. She ate okay (though not as well as she usually does). And she slept. She got plenty of attention from me. So, yeah. She seemed okay. She seemed "happy". But, in comparison to how she acts when she has her cagemate (which she does now)? She is much happier with a cagemate. When she was kept as a single for 5 weeks, sure, she groomed herself..but not as well as when she has a cagemate. Sure, she ate some, but not as well as she does with a cagemate. Sure, she played, but she pretty much just ran on her wheel -- didn't care for the other toys that she LOVES now that her cagemates back with her. And she just wasn't as active. When we'd do tent time, sure, she'd play, but she was nowhere near as active in there when she was in there with just me. Anyway -- why do you want to risk it? Why do you want to just "be pretty sure they won't SM"? Wouldn't you want to do all you can to prevent that? There have been so many stories of single gliders self mutilating.. and I guess if you want to risk it...that's all fine for you, but I honestly feel bad for the glider. Does the glider seem okay now? Sure. But that can change FAST. How many stories do we have to see that begin with, "well she was just fine the other night, but...." Things happen FAST in gliders.. Does this mean a glider can go from seeming perfectly happy for years to self mutilating from loneliness without any other signs? YES! Besides -- there is no good reason to keep just one glider (unless you've got one of those rare gliders that needs to be kept alone due to the safety of other gliders). The only added expensive from two gliders (after initial cost - and you can get a rescue) is maybe a little more for the food, and the additional vet bills. But, think of the vet bill that would result from a self mutilating glider.. Those can get pricey. And, 2 gliders are really no harder to take care of once you get them in the same cage. I have to say, anonymous, your glider is ready for the buddy. If you think that it'll hurt your bond with the glider, don't worry about that. A buddy might actually help the bonding. Essika Face Hugger ON, CA 581 Posts Hey anonymous.... We are social animals.... And even though people can function and could probably live comfortabley locked inside a house, alone, it's not a bahviour we encourage. We are meant to see other people, interact and socialize, it's just natural. Think of your glider as a good friend, how would you feel if she was locked inside a house with only a member of another species (say a cat), that she couldn't have a conversation with? Sounds pretty bad right.... Well that is what it is like for a lone glider.... I'm sure you understand this and you are probably just rationalizing not being able to afford another glider right now, but honestly.... there are some great (and inexpenive) rescues out there who come with a cage and sometimes even food.... Think about it.... Do what you would want done for you if the tables were turned. WintersSong Fuzzy Wuzzy 1417 Posts Anonymous, I see what you're trying to prove by posting that link. Link says that single gliders do okay. Some information on that page also says that a 36x18x18 cage is okay, with no mention of bigger being better (and in my opinion 36x18x18 is really too small!) It also says that "Happy Glider Food by Pet-Pro is a complete nutritional food source essential for growth, maintenance, and reproduction". Happy Glider Food is pelleted. Do we need to get into why pellets are bad here? I don't think we do.... Anyway, I hope for your gliders sake that you decide to get it a friend. If not, well, I will feel absolutely no sorrow for you when you come back in a few months (or even a year+) and post that your sugar glider is self mutilating. You know why having a friend is important. You've been told what could happen to single gliders. If you insist on keeping your glider as a single "until you're ready" (and really, that's a lame excuse IMO. A sugar glider needs a friend. if you can't provide your sugar gliders needs then you're not ready for even the sugar glider that you have..harsh, but true IMO)..well..then my pity is with the glider. sneakysnake Joey 14 Posts i totally agree, especially after having the example of us living with a cat. the lady i'm buying my glider off of in a week has two little boy gliders that were born from the same mother, at the same time. i'm going to try to get both of them so i don't have to go through the introduction. if she won't give me both cus she sold it, then i'll just go through the 30 day and introduction because it seems like my little man will need a friend! My Skittlez lived by herself for 3 years because I couldn't find her a cage mate in my area. She was happy and healthy, she never looked lonely, never over groomed, her coat was exceptional, and she played all night. We were bonded and I played with her for hours everyday. BOY WAS I WRONG! When I finally found her a cage mate, it was amazing. Waiting for the vet visits and the 30 day quarantine was terrible. She started over grooming because she could hear him in the other room and she wanted to get to him so badly. We even had to get the second vet visit done quickly and do intros before the 30 quarantine period was up because she was becoming so depressed. When I put them together in the tent for the first time, OMG what excitement, I even cried because they were so happy to be together. and they have been together since. They play together, chase each other, eat side by side, cuddle together and call to each other when they are separated. Please, don't subject a suggie to a life of loneliness just because you feel it is happy and healthy, chances are, looks are very deceiving. These babies need a family of their own kind. How would you like being in a cage all alone 90% of the time? Dahlia_2020 Fuzzy Wuzzy SC, USA 1419 Posts RodneyW25 Joey 15 Posts Wow the hostility on this board is kind of disconcerting. I have been reading through the links here for good information but I have been seeing a lot of signs of this incredible hostility. Is it really that hard to be intelligent and civil in these discussions. You guys almost had me won over to your way of thinking but honestly seeing the level of hostility towards people of differing views is making me think I have been duped. RodneyW25 Joey 15 Posts I understand where you are coming from tisha but to be quite frank I have yet to see this proof of which you speak. I have seen lots of conjecture for sure. No proof though. Please redirect me if you know where I can find said proof. I have been considering buying (I have had no luck finding a place to adopt one anywhere near me) but all of this contradicting information is a complete headache. Some people say they are loving others say mean. The contradictions are endless. I agree that animal cruelty can get my hackles up too but I also know a woman that thinks it is cruel to let her dog eat anything other than extremely expensive dog food so I just don't know who to believe. RodneyW25 Joey 15 Posts Ugh my head hurts. Is there any professional studies I can look at by people with degrees in zoo biology or something comparable? I am about ready to throw in the towel.
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