I have 3 (supposed to be) sisters about 2-3 years old who came to me together from someone who was tired of taking care of them. I decided to introduce a 4th, who was younger and smaller and I decided to take it slow - keep cages nearby etc.

When it was time to introduce I was trying the switching cages thing, and put the 2 friendlier sisters in the cage with the smaller one. One started a fight so I removed her but the other one was sniffing and exploring and over the evening they started playing and eating together and eventually hopped in a pouch and went to sleep. They seemed so happy I let them be.

Because of the fight I am thinking having all 4 together isn't an option but having 2 and 2 together (both cages are 3x2x3 feet) seems to be working out. I just think it's a little strange that the original 2 sisters don't seem to be missing the third and the one that left seems to be thrilled to have a new friend. I've heard the crying of seperation before and nobody is making a peep.

Has anyone seen this before? I thought they were more devoted or something and I don't want to scar them unintentionally.

It is an option, you just need to do the intros correctly...

You shouldn't just put a glider into another gliders cage. They can be very territorial.

You've already done the pouch swapping so you should be good on that. When you want to do the actual intro, you should do them in the morning when they are tired and do them one on one. Take your lone girl and ONE of the others and place them at opposite ends of the bathtub and let them come together as they see fit. More often then not they will sniff, groom, follow eachother, get acquainted.... if they do that, I wait about 5 minutes or so then toss them a clean, neutral pouch. Odds are they will climb in and snuggle.

I keep them on me for the day to make sure no one fights.

In the evening I return them to their own cages. The next morning I do the same thing, introducing the lone glider to another of your girls...repeat.

On the next day I would intro. the last of the 3 to the lone girl...if they get along I would add another, then another until they are all four in the tub getting acquainted.... toss a clean pouch and let them snuggle for the day. I'd either return them to their own cages that night or if you feel they will be alright, you can spend the day cleaning the cage they will share...I powerwash mine and deck it out with all clean fleece and toys. I place them in the cage IN THE POUCH THEY ARE SLEEPING IN before they wake up so when they do, they can begin exploring THEIR new environment.

I've done this will all 7 of mine and they are all together so it's been successful for me. Good Luck!

Thanks - I will give the bathtub a shot later down the road. Then they can have a 3x2x 6 foot cage :)

Jazz...I think you will have meet your match with my Kodi lol. We made it to tub intros with all 8 together and everything went GREAT! They even all went to sleep together in the fleece I put in the tub. I sat reading in my bathroom and folding laundry in my bedroom.....after thirty Kodi went after Shyler and ONLY Shyler. The remaining 7 get along wonderfully, only Kodi won't play nice. Kodi's situation is a tad complicated tho.

Resa

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Originally posted by ResaJane

Jazz...I think you will have meet your match with my Kodi lol. We made it to tub intros with all 8 together and everything went GREAT! They even all went to sleep together in the fleece I put in the tub. I sat reading in my bathroom and folding laundry in my bedroom.....after thirty Kodi went after Shyler and ONLY Shyler. The remaining 7 get along wonderfully, only Kodi won't play nice. Kodi's situation is a tad complicated tho.

Resa

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I'm in the same boat Resa - got two gliders that just aren't accepting each other...ironically they were together before at one point(separated for health reasons) but for some reason(hoping its just one of them going into heat or something) she keeps chasing her over and over and won't let her eat now that I put them back together...

I've heard say it before and have found it to be true that 7 is really the max colony size. I had 9 together and they just got too hot and started targeting one, so I separated out two and they get along with my other colony and its two other girls causing the problems!

Ooh wow! Shy won't defend himself either, just runs and screams (at least that's what I call it since its not crabbing, it's louder and worse, as if someone is being murdered. Shyler is also the biggest wuss i've ever seen in an animal and I think it's bc he was only with his mom and dad before I got him (he's 4 months old and I've had him for 2 weeks).

I was folding laundry when he started screaming and when I got there Kodi was not biting him but was right in his face...Kodi left when I came in. I stayed watching and one min later Kodi only approached Shyler and Shy started screaming even tho Kodi hadn't even pounced or anything, just approached. I couldn't take it anymore when Shyler retreated to a corner looking sullen...I picked him up a cuddled him for a while.

I know why Kodi's behavior changed...Shyler is the only one he picks on. I'm working on a remedy now but if plan B and C do not work plan D is rather risky.


Resa

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Originally posted by ResaJane

Ooh wow! Shy won't defend himself either, just runs and screams (at least that's what I call it since its not crabbing, it's louder and worse, as if someone is being murdered. Shyler is also the biggest wuss i've ever seen in an animal and I think it's bc he was only with his mom and dad before I got him (he's 4 months old and I've had him for 2 weeks).

I was folding laundry when he started screaming and when I got there Kodi was not biting him but was right in his face...Kodi left when I came in. I stayed watching and one min later Kodi only approached Shyler and Shy started screaming even tho Kodi hadn't even pounced or anything, just approached. I couldn't take it anymore when Shyler retreated to a corner looking sullen...I picked him up a cuddled him for a while.

I know why Kodi's behavior changed...Shyler is the only one he picks on. I'm working on a remedy now but if plan B and C do not work plan D is rather risky.


Resa

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Sounds just like my two - the one girl is super submissive and now freaks whenever the other even thinks about approaching. They are fine in the pouch together during the day asleep - I just don't think its worth it to stress them out as I already had to pull her once due to weight loss. I never saw /heard the chasing before but it makes sense that it could have been going on and preventing her from eating enough in the group...

Kodah acted up when I intro'ed him to Ariana...so much so that I put him in his own cage. He was right next to the other cage with Jasper, Zoey, Mala & Ariana in it (out of grabbing range tho) and I continued to pouch swap daily. On day 5 Kodah decided he didn't like being alone much and gave me some really good signs that he was ready to join the group. The next morning I re-introduced him to his colony, including Ariana and they've been together ever since.

Not saying that will work in all situations but it may be worth a try if you haven't already.

Yeah....Kodi still loves the others bunches...i am trying to avoid taking another one from the 7bc they are all happy together. Each one of them has their own little personality and the older babies are teaching the younger babies...my Arwyn is even warming up to me fatter now that they are all together, how weird is that lol.

uh oh...I think I high jacked the thread...sorry.

Sandman, keep us posted with progress reports please :-)

Resa

No problem Resa, reading all the stories make me feel less crazy for adding to the brood :)

The other reason I didn't put the third sister back in her old cage and left her with the new munchkin is because she (the new one) was crying constantly because she was lonely (newly seperated from parents and her twin). She was not handling being alone very well at all so I didn't want to subject her (or me) to it again, and everyone seems so happy.

All there is since they've been together (several days now), are some happy chirps and an occasional squeak or hissy noise. Which beats non-stop crying.

Ooh wow! Shy won't defend himself either, just runs and screams (at least that's what I call it since its not crabbing, it's louder and worse, as if someone is being murdered. Shyler is also the biggest wuss i've ever seen in an animal and I think it's bc he was only with his mom and dad before I got him (he's 4 months old and I've had him for 2 weeks).

I was folding laundry when he started screaming and when I got there Kodi was not biting him but was right in his face...Kodi left when I came in. I stayed watching and one min later Kodi only approached Shyler and Shy started screaming even tho Kodi hadn't even pounced or anything, just approached. I couldn't take it anymore when Shyler retreated to a corner looking sullen...I picked him up a cuddled him for a while.

I know why Kodi's behavior changed...Shyler is the only one he picks on. I'm working on a remedy now but if plan B and C do not work plan D is rather risky.


Resa

Jazz, Kodi went three days without his group after the other 7 were introd just fine....the bath tub incident happened after three days of separation so now he's back in solitary. I will try 5 days this time and pray it works lol.

I want to exhaust every possibility surrounding his circumstances...I fear surgery may be needed but it's a last resort.

Resa