alxsparks Starting Member 5 Posts
Hi,
A coworker of mine bought 2 sugargliders at a stand at the mall a few years ago. The female was the sweetest little glider you could imagine. The male very much the opposite. When we went to get him, they wouldn't handle him without gloves, and I could see why. After a chase around the cage, they finally grabbed him and got him out, which was followed by at least 5 minutes of screeching and rapid biting (if he'd been holding the glider with his hand that would have been some serious damage).
My partner and I, who've had luck taming some reptiles, thought we could take this on, but we also have no idea what we're doing, so we're coming to the community. We have no doubt that this'll be a challenge, but we're taking this on.
Is there anything special I need to know about starting with a 2-3 year old? Can I bond with it through gloves? Does the pouch work? Sleeping with shirts? Can we start with the pouch and then progress to handling?
Any guidance would be helpful.
alxsparks Starting Member 5 Posts quote:
Originally posted by alxsparks
Hi,
A coworker of mine bought 2 sugargliders at a stand at the mall a few years ago. The female was the sweetest little glider you could imagine. The male very much the opposite. When we went to get him, they wouldn't handle him without gloves, and I could see why. After a chase around the cage, they finally grabbed him and got him out, which was followed by at least 5 minutes of screeching and rapid biting (if he'd been holding the glider with his hand that would have been some serious damage).
My partner and I, who've had luck taming some reptiles, thought we could take this on, but we also have no idea what we're doing, so we're coming to the community. We have no doubt that this'll be a challenge, but we're taking this on.
Is there anything special I need to know about starting with a 2-3 year old? Can I bond with it through gloves? Does the pouch work? Sleeping with shirts? Can we start with the pouch and then progress to handling?
Any guidance would be helpful.
I couldn't edit, so I want to clarify: We were bringing over some of our pets to show her kids, and they brought out the sugar glider that they haven't had any luck taming. Since we had so much luck with our reptiles they suggested we give the glider a try to see if we could do anything for him. alxsparks Starting Member 5 Posts quote:
Originally posted by Lola03
They only have you one? Or both? I've worked with older gliders that where not tame at all and it took a while but they came around....some have gliders that would just not let their wild roots go....I found it easier to tame mine when I paired it with another....I like to think he was more calm and they enjoy the company.... Binding pouches work wonders... Wear them all day if possible....I rotate mine (2pouches with 4 in each 1pouch one day, the other the next) holding them up to 5hours each....also talk to him get him use to your voice so when you try and handle him he knows you...treats are great to associate good things with you (mine love yogurt and mealies).
Thanks for the advice. I guess my story had some holes in it (I think I skipped some important stuff when I was summarizing). The female they bought died a year or so ago, so there was only the male left (who was never friendly, with or without his partner). Avbjessup Face Hugger   USA 768 Posts quote:
Originally posted by alxsparks
quote:
Originally posted by Lola03
They only have you one? Or both? I've worked with older gliders that where not tame at all and it took a while but they came around....some have gliders that would just not let their wild roots go....I found it easier to tame mine when I paired it with another....I like to think he was more calm and they enjoy the company.... Binding pouches work wonders... Wear them all day if possible....I rotate mine (2pouches with 4 in each 1pouch one day, the other the next) holding them up to 5hours each....also talk to him get him use to your voice so when you try and handle him he knows you...treats are great to associate good things with you (mine love yogurt and mealies).
Thanks for the advice. I guess my story had some holes in it (I think I skipped some important stuff when I was summarizing).
The female they bought died a year or so ago, so there was only the male left (who was never friendly, with or without his partner).
Regardless of him being friendly or not, he will do much better with a partner. It may be more difficult to find a suitable cagemate now that he is older but it would be worth a try. Yes, you can bond with him using gloves in the initial stages. You didn't say how long you have had him but you should just leave him in his cage for the first couple of days. Talk to him while you are in the room and while you are cleaning the cage and feeding him. Btw, what was he being fed? If you haven't read up on what they should be fed, check out the Diet section in the Gliderpedia (link at the top of the page). Good diet will help in the long run! Don't be overwhelmed by all the choices...it really isn't difficult once you sort it out. Pellets are not a good diet!! Pellets with an apple slice is not a good diet either  ! Yes, you can start carrying him in a bonding pouch after the first few days. Make sure he has the opportunity to get at least 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep everyday, which means in the cage. Otherwise, carry him around as much as possible. Once it gets dark and he awakens, he won't want to be restrained. Many people, including myself, use a small pop up tent to allow them play time. It works great for building trust. You will want to use a tent with mostly mesh sidewalls so that he can climb. Yes, we set them up inside our homes, get inside with them (that's the whole point) and let them climb all over us! As Lola03 says, treats are great tools for bonding. Mine also love mealworms and yogurt drops. You didn't say, did she give him to you permanently, or are you just trying to tame him for her? It would be really hard on the little guy if you are only taking him temporarily. Poor thing, his last year or so of life has been spent confined without even a friend to snuggle with or to groom and be groomed by. I wish you and him well! Ask lots of questions, there are a lot of knowledgeable people here. Minnesota Zoo Fuzzy Wuzzy USA 1999 Posts First off...welcome to GG and glider parenthood!:) For the first 1-2 weeks he will be getting used to his new home, people, smells and sounds so only really putting in and taking out food dishes and toys. Sit by his cage and talk to him and get him used to your voice, put in fleece squares(see below) in his sleeping pouch so he can get used to your scent and if he comes to the cage bars to seek you out give him a treat like a yogurt drop or mealie worm. So... Ok...here's more questions for you...:) Are you keeping him or taming him for the neighbor kid? How long has he been with you? Are you considering getting him a cage mate(he should have one, he's probably very lonely and scared)? How big of a cage does he have? Does he sleep in a fleece pouch? What diet do you have him on? Does he have toys in his cage? Too start off with if you have some 5" x 5" fleece squares(blankies) you can sleep with or wear on yourself to get your scent and put one in his sleeping pouch(switch out blankies every day), start doing that if you haven't yet. If you don't have a bonding pouch(zippered top so he can't escape), you could get one. Don't use shirts or anything tht can unravel, their toes can get caught or toenails ripped off or entanglement can lead to amputation of toes or even paws. I would try to not use gloves but if he bites like that you may have to. I would not try to grab him at all, if you must pick him up use a fleece square or pouch so your hands never grab him, it will only cause him to be in defensive mode. Do you have a tent or a glider proofed bathroom? You can go into small secure places and let him out of his pouch(carry his cage pouch in with you while he is still sleeping)about an hour before he would usually get up for dinner and play time and bring in some meallie worms or vanilla yogurt drops and "treat him" when he comes up to check you out. alxsparks Starting Member 5 Posts In answer to your questions: We literally just picked him up yesterday. Knowing how difficult it can be to tame some animals, and seeing that my coworker wasn't able to just figure it out, I thought I'd come here first. My coworker basically said that we can have him or she'll take him back if we can't figure him out. I definitely want to give the guy a chance. I had not been looking at cagemates for him, in part because of his advanced age and ill temperament, and in part because he has had a cage mate and it has not helped his temperament in the past (although it's something we'll consider if it's necessary). I'll take a better look at the cage when I get home. It didn't appear small to me, but not knowing what he needs, that doesn't mean much. He does sleep in the fleece pouch. Given that we got him last night, we don't really have him on any diet per se, but we were given pellets and told to give him fruit with vitamins and yogurt as treats, as well as bread every few days. I'll definitely check out the links here. He has toys and a hide in his cage. quote:
Originally posted by Minnesota Zoo
Ok...here's more questions for you...:)
Are you keeping him or taming him for the neighbor kid?
How long has he been with you?
Are you considering getting him a cage mate(he should have one, he's probably very lonely and scared)?
How big of a cage does he have?
Does he sleep in a fleece pouch?
What diet do you have him on?
Does he have toys in his cage?
Too start off with if you have some 5" x 5" fleece squares(blankies) you can sleep with or wear on yourself to get your scent and put one in his sleeping pouch(switch out blankies every day), start doing that if you haven't yet.
If you don't have a bonding pouch(zippered top so he can't escape), you could get one.
Don't use shirts or anything tht can unravel, their toes can get caught or toenails ripped off or entanglement can lead to amputation of toes or even paws.
I would try to not use gloves but if he bites like that you may have to.
I would not try to grab him at all, if you must pick him up use a fleece square or pouch so your hands never grab him, it will only cause him to be in defensive mode.
Do you have a tent or a glider proofed bathroom? You can go into small secure places and let him out of his pouch(carry his cage pouch in with you while he is still sleeping)about an hour before he would usually get up for dinner and play time and bring in some meallie worms or vanilla yogurt drops and "treat him" when he comes up to check you out.
alxsparks Starting Member 5 Posts If we were to pursue a cage mate, what would we need to look for? I don't know if he's neutered, so that means a female. would it have to be a 3-year old? Would a 2 year old work? Does the fact that he's aggressive with people mean we have to expect he'll be aggressive with another glider, or would he be more tolerant to a playmate of his own species? I don't know how quickly they reach adult, or at what point 3 years is in a glider lifecycle (am I looking for an adult to partner with him)? quote:
Originally posted by Avbjessup
Also, is he neutered? It would be helpful if he is and also make it easier to pair him. Two boys can be together if they are neutered.
Tigerlily88 Face Hugger KY, USA 842 Posts If you don't know whether or not he is neutered, you DO NOT want a female, you certainly do not want to add joeys to this situation. Also, if he is not neutered, that could greatly help calming him down. A neutered male would probably make the best cagemate, they are typically the calmest. The buddy doesn't have to be the same age, just around the same size, so if they get into a tussle, the new guy will be able to hold his own. He also needs to be on a better diet, the pellets and fruit don't give him adequate nutrition, and bread basically has no nutritional value for them. If you go to the gliderpedia and look under diets, you will find a list of some of the approved diets for gliders. Take a look through those and then choose one that will work best for you, and of course, if you have questions, most of the members here are fairly knowledgeable on feeding. Another thing that may help you is changing his pouch to an open-environment sleeping arrangement. Instead of using a traditional pouch, an OE pouch with have an open top, so that he is not hiding down out of sight. This way he can see you coming and will be less anxious about being removed from his sleeping quarters. The trouble with you doing all this work for you coworker is that he will become YOUR glider, and they need to realize this. He may become calmer overall, but if you do end up giving him back to them, they will have to go through the bonding process from the beginning with him as well. Gliders are very unique in that aspect, very few of them just readily take to different people, especially if they have not been extensively handled. Avbjessup Face Hugger USA 768 Posts quote:
Originally posted by alxsparks
If we were to pursue a cage mate, what would we need to look for? I don't know if he's neutered, so that means a female. would it have to be a 3-year old? Would a 2 year old work? Does the fact that he's aggressive with people mean we have to expect he'll be aggressive with another glider, or would he be more tolerant to a playmate of his own species? I don't know how quickly they reach adult, or at what point 3 years is in a glider lifecycle (am I looking for an adult to partner with him)?
quote:
Originally posted by Avbjessup
Also, is he neutered? It would be helpful if he is and also make it easier to pair him. Two boys can be together if they are neutered.
If he isn't neutered he will have a "pompom" on his belly. It literally looks like a little cotton ball. It sounds like he came from Perfect Pocket Pets based on where she got him and what he is eating so he is probably neutered. He could be paired with a female or another neutered male. Fear of humans in no way indicates whether he will not tolerate another glider. Gliders are communal animals and live in colonies in nature. They become very depressed as a single. The age of his cagemate is not as important as getting one of a similar size. Introducing a new glider has a protocol so I won't go into that until you decide to get him a friend. Guaranteed he will be much happier if he has a friend!! If his original owner never changed his cage from the one she got with him then he is most likely in a 2' x 2' cage which is FAR too small. For example my kids (2 of them) are in a 5' x 3' x 2' cage. They need room to run around and jump (glide). At three years old he is still young...gliders in captivity can live for 12-15 years if they are on a proper diet. Since you just got him let me suggest that you find a vet who has glider experience and take him in for a wellness exam. Gliders are expert at hiding their illness until they are close to death. Look under Gliderpedia and read some of the articles on bonding. With gliders it's important to be patient and take the "taming" process at their pace. Even though he is displaying what you interpret to be aggression he is really just terrified and is trying to prevent himself from being eaten by a predator (you). Try to see it from that perspective and his actions will make more sense. Remember, gliders are an exotic species and therefore are not domestic. He is only a step away from his completely wild ancestors. Keep asking questions and hopefully you will have a sweet boy within a few months! Candy Cuddle Bear FL, USA 8110 Posts First, take a deep breath, you can give this little guy a wonderful home. Give him a few days to adjust to all the new things in his life, sights, sounds smells etc. Don't try to handle him yet, give him 2 or 3 days to settle in. Do talk to him when you are near his cage so he becomes familiar with your and your family members voices. If he comes to the side of the cage, offer a small treat - a yogie or meal worm to help him learn to trust the hands that bring yummy things. Tuck a few small, 2-4 inch, square pieces of fleece into your clothing or sleep with them for a night in your pillow case to get your scent on them. Then tuck these in your glider's sleeping pouch to help him become used to your scent. Gliders are nocturnal but they need light during the daytime to regulate their sleep pattern. In the evenings, your glider will be more active and come out of his pouch when the room is darkened. Place his cage in an area that gets light during normal daylight hours (use a lamp if necessary) and that can be kept minimally lit in the evenings. My gliders are OK with the light of my laptop screen or a small television but NONE of them will come out of the pouch if there is a lamp on near their cage. He does need a more nutritious diet. Pellets should not be a main part of his feeding. There are a number of good feeding plans with recipes for a nectar-like staple mixture that will meet his protein, vitamin and importantly his calcium needs. These staples are fed with fruits and vegetables each evening. Gliders eat small amounts off and on all night long. I have links to the widely used feeding plans on my web page to help you review the information and choose a diet you want to use for your new friend. http://www.gliderkids.com/contact.html
Look these feeding plans over and ask questions here if you need help making a choice. Until you can begin one of these glider feeding plans you can feed him about 1 TBS boiled chicken or cooked eggs (no seasonings) along with 1 TBS each of fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. A well check up with a glider knowledgeable vet and a fecal exam will make sure he is healthy and does not have parasites. Gliders that do not feel well sometimes show their discomfort by their behavior. The vet can tell you for sure if he is neutered. From the description of his feedings in his former home, it is likely that he came from Pocket Pets and they do neuter all their male joeys before they are sold. If he does not have a bald spot in the middle of his head, then he has been neutered. If he is in his original cage - it may be too small. The smallest cage I would recommend for any glider (and up to 3 gliders) is the SunCoast Sturdy Cage (also sold as the Brisbane by Exotic Nutrition). It is 32 inches wide, 21 inches deep and 36 inches high. http://www.sugar-gliders.com/sturdy-cage.htm
Get your new friend all squared away and settled into your home, then you can look for a companion for him. A glider of similar size will be a good cagemate. Age is less relevant except you would not want to put a very young joey with an adult male glider. Keep his old cage to use for a 30 day quarantine when you do find him a friend. Feel free to ask questions, we are here to help you and your glider.
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