I had 2 females, one around 1.5yo (Izzy), one around 3yo (Mia). When I got home from work this morning, the youngest one was at the bottom of her cage dead. *sigh* I am not the most experienced owner of gliders but I just don't understand.

I've had them since around late august of last year (I bought them cage and all from a guy who couldn't care for them anymore because of changes in college), and I've had them on Judie's BML (plus the mixed frozen fruit and veggies she instructs on the side) since the first week I brought them home. They have a big cage, a wheel, and I make certain to feed them every night, change their water - and remove the leftover food in the morning so they don't nibble on food that's been out all night.

I hadn't observed any odd activity in the last week except in the last 2 days Izzy was up around 12pm in the afternoon for a little bit each day but she seemed very lively - running on the wheel, and eating and drinking. But she did that a couple months ago too for like 3 days than went back to a normal sleeping schedule so I didn't think anything of it.

I'm really worried about Mia, that she will be depressed now and maybe die too =( Really if anyone has any insight about this please let me know!

You'll probably want to take her in for a vet check and I would even suggest a necropsy for Izzy. It isn't a pleasant thing to have to do, but you would find out the cause of death. If you decide to do that, please keep her in the fridge, not the freezer and it should be done by tomorrow. I'm sorry to even bring that up. With unknown causes of death, it helps to know "why" and possibly prevent anything from happening to the other. I'm very sorry. :(

I am so sorry for your sudden loss. My thoughts go out to you and Mia, please give her some extra cuddles and play time!

I agree with Kyro, get Mia to the vet as soon as possible for a check up, even if she is acting normal. And if you can, get a necropsy done on Izzy. It's always good to try and get answers. It could potentially save Mias life or even save others just by finding out how Izzy died.

Again, I'm so sorry about your loss and hopefully you can find Mia a new buddy soon...I'm sure her heart is breaking too.

so sorry. Yes I agree to take her body to the vet so you can learn the reason why maybe. That might help the other one....

I'm so sorry for your loss... *hugs*

Definitely seek vet advice and like the other suggested, get a necropsy.

I know it seems soon, but you could start looking for another glider on craigslist, hoobly, and kijiji....

I didn't even consider the necropsy thing..damn. I hastily took Izzy outside after I found her and buried her with her favorite toy...I don't want to dig her back up. I will have to take Mia to a vet though just to be sure. She got up and ran all around the cage sniffing and searching, than ate a little and went back to her pouch to sleep.

Thanks for the advice and such, I really appreciate it.

I am so sorry your baby died,I will keep you in my prayers.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Thank you =( I took Mia to see a vet today, and he said she looked good. Not emaciated, no patches of fur missing, no nasal leakage or from the eyes, and not dehydrated etc. He asked me about the cage conditions, and diet.

Anyway he said because I buried Izzy and didn't bring her in it kinda left him in the dark (still feeling dumb about that one, I was too hasty) but to know much more he'd need to sedate Mia and do blood tests, and he said to watch her for a 2-3 days first and see how she does.

Right now she's awake and making back and forth trips to munch on bml and fruit, but she isn't doing much else. She sits in her wheel and doesn't run I'm just really worried about her now..

Don't beat yourself up about burying your baby. We have all done this-making a grave and burying them with a few words and their favorite treat or toy. A necropsy is not your first thought, if it is even a thought. And I agree that you should not have dug her up, because burying is a sacred rite and the body would have already started decomposing and the vet might not have been able to do a proper necropsy anyway.

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Spend lots of time and love with your other suggie and look into getting her a cage mate. I'm not saying it will replace your loved one, but it might help with your other glider's loneliness.

I am so so very sorry!

I just wanted to update for everyone who was so thoughtful and gave me suggestions and such.

Mia is doing good, she hasn't shown any signs of sickness or anything. She still has a healthy appetite. After Izzy died at first she didn't do much but eat sleep and sit around but a few days after she started acting a lot more energetic again, running around on her wheel and playing with some of her toys.

I still may have to get her a new cagemate, we'll see if I don't find one needing a new home in the area soon. Anyway thanks all, I just wanted to let you all know she's doing OK!

thanks for letting us know how she's doing.

There could have been any of a dozen different reasons as to why she died. As you don't really know where she originated from or who her parents were, its quite possible that there could have been something internally wrong with her as a result of bad genetics or possibly even inbreeding. I've had conversations with individuals who owned gliders that were the result of inbreeding (they were rescues) and some of them would seem perfectly healthy and normal and then just die for no visible reason one day.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I hope you are able to find the other glider a companion soon. Just spend as much time as you possibly can with her. Even during the day. Take her out and let her sleep in a bonding pouch or in your shirt in-between layers. Her being close to you right now will help with any depression that she is experiencing.