Hello Everyone!
I am a new Suggie Mom to 2 year old Sweetness and soon to be mom to 7 month old Gizmo.

I plan to introduce the two and was hoping that maybe you guys could give me some advice for what has worked for you. I've done lots of research and read about methods such as using vanilla extract and swapping pouches and what not, but I thought I'd get a better idea of what works from you.

Just a little insight, Sweetness is a female and Gizmo is a male.

Hope to hear from you! :D

Sweetness


Gizmo

Welcome to the forum. What a pretty girl!

Read these articles on introductions. http://www.sugarglider.com/gliderpedia/index.asp?Introductions

Before you start, you should quarantine the gliders from each other for thirty days. That means separate rooms, no pouch or toy swapping, and wash your hands after handling one. There will be a vet check for both at the beginning and end of the thirty days, including a fecal float and smear to check for parasites. One particularly nasty parasite, giardia, can stay dormant in an animal for some time; stress will cause it to manifest, and it can take as long as thirty days for the infestation to show in a fecal exam. It also will give your new glider time to adjust to his new environment and gain some self-confidence before meeting the older glider. They'll each know the other's in the house! You'll hear them barking and communicating.

At that first vet visit, it would be a good idea to have Gizmo neutered. Gliders will breed like rabbits, and unless you're prepared to deal with joey rejection (it happens more often than people think) it's best to not go there. If you do have joeys, he should be neutered as soon as possible after you know she's expecting, or you could end up with a second litter and more males to neuter, or the possibility of inbreeding.

After you've gotten that second all-clear from the vet, you can move the cages into the same room and start swapping pouches. Don't put the cages close enough for them to reach each other. Gliders are very territorial, and instinctively want to get rid of the "intruder"; they may fight through the cage bars.

Make sure that the gliders are both about the same size and weight before you let them meet. This could mean extending the separation period until Gizmo catches up to Sweetness. If he weighs, for example, 60 grams and she weighs 80, then he'll need a little more time. He's got to be able to defend himself if they fight.

When I introduced my boys, I did it in the bathtub. They fought like cats! I broke up the fights immediately and checked them, then put them away. This went on for about three weeks, every two or three nights. One night they were both on my knee and one took the other's paw very gently in his mouth; they stood still for about thirty seconds in that pose, and from that moment they were best friends. So don't get discouraged if it isn't all cupcakes and balloons at the beginning. Sometimes it is! I'll wish you that kind of introduction.

Thanks, do you think it would be best to wait until both are fully bonded to me?

Bonding can take years.

I would introduce as soon as they match in weight and you have completed the proper quarantine process....

Lone gliders can suffer from a whole host of problems from self mutilation to depression. They will still have the same ability to bond when paired and you may even have more luck that way.

Thanks for the reply.

I've had Gizmo now since Monday and he's quite smaller than Sweetness, so right now we're trying to get his weight caught up to her's.

Please don't introduce them too soon...take it slow and hopefully you will get good results. I noticed from your picture that you seem to have an unsafe wheel for gliders in your cage. Please don't use that type. They are very dangerous for our babies. Only use glider approved wheels...like stealth or wodent wheel.

Oh! actually the picture posted was from the prior owner. She did give me the wheel but I refuse to use it because it has the cross bar.

I've heard a few bad things about the Wodent wheel too though... Regarding suggies getting injured. Do you know of a good site to buy wheels from? One that isn't over priced. I want to be able to get one that I can buy a trim track for because my suggies nails are long =[

There aren't too many places that sell them. I personally think the Wodent Wheel trims nails the best but the Stealth also has trim tracks you can attach. I have both and I wish the Stealth trimmed better. It is a great wheel, though.

www.atticworx.com

www.sugar-gliders.com

Thanks, which would you refer?

when you take them for their vet visit have the vet cut their nails. the trim trim track is just for in between cutting their nails so that you dont cut them as often.

Actually, after the first time I had the vet trim their nails, I've never trimmed nails again...and it's been years! I like both for different reasons but if you're basing it on which trims nails better, it's the Wodent. There are differing opinions about both but as far as which wheel is better overall, the Stealth is it. It's quieter, easier to clean and easier for them to jump in.

I have both and mine love the stealth. I do like the trim track in the wodent but it tends to really get smelly. It is hard to get the odor out of the sand paper. I finally tore the sandpaper off of mine. The stealth has sandpaper too. After the first time you can cut your own to replace the old. I file my babies nails sometimes. I'm always afraid of nipping them when they jerk. I got my stealth fro attixworks. They had the best price.

Awesome. Thanks