Hi, I just acquired 2 sugar gliders today. Their cage and hammock smelled
Incredibly bad!!! I placed them in a new cage with new hammock and new toys
Basically new everything and they still smell absolutely terrible! Could this be due
To the diet they were receiving previously? One is a male and I know they will
Mark their territory but this smell is so pungent I almost can not tolerate being in
The same room with them. I also don't think they were socialized. I know I am
New to them and everything is different and scary but the male bit me when I was
Placing toys in their cage. He didn't look frightened so I thought all was well and
Bam... I'm afraid these sweet little things have been mistreated and if so I wonder
If they will ever bond with me :(. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Maybe you could read around here on the site for a while. You can wash some, but not all, of their stuff at one time. The cage setup can be done while they are asleep in their pouch.
You are new and unfamiliar to them, give it time. Months. A year. If they are adults, give it lots of time. Scent the cage with your scent from fleece squares that you have tucked under your shirt for a day.

Perhaps you would consider neutering the male.
As far as whether they will ever bond, it seems to me that time and gentle treatment and hand fed mealworms and other treats can overcome a lot of history. If you want instant results and gliders cuddling with you, joeys might have been better, but the cuddles from these two when eventually bestowed upon you will be so much sweeter, because you had to earn them.

First, calm down. Everything will be fine and we are here to help .

Odor. They probably smell due to their previous diet (whatever it was). What are you going to feed them now? Hopefully, no pellets or kibble. Gliders always have a light musk to them, but there are ways to control their stink. One, do not wash the cage or their stuff too much. The more you clean, the more they mark, period. Two, on SunCoast Sugar Gliders (www.sugar-gliders.com) under health&nutrition they sell a spray for toys and the cage itself. It is called, Clean and Green. It controls and eliminates the odor. Three, do they have a wheel (hopefully a safe one that is specifically for Gliders)? Wheels hold a lot of the odor, pee, and poop. I'd wash that down REALLY well. Four, do not put in too much wood in their cage. Wood absorbs urine, which will cause it to smell. Five, put some baking soda in the drop pan. This will absorb any odor leaving the room smell clean. Six, clean with a 50% water 50% vinegar solution rather than Clorox wipes or baby wipes. These are safe, but they can make the smell worse. **DO NOT use any sprays like Febreeze or Glade. DO NOT bathe your Gliders, AT ALL because they smell. Bathing is only required when the Glider can not groom himself**. Lastly, GET THE MALE NEUTERED unless you want babies. Getting the male neutered will cut back on the smell A LOT, not some, but A LOT!

I have to go, but later I will post about bonding

Possible Bonding Methods:

1). Some SG hate bonding pouches, so an alternative is tent/bathroom time. You basically glider proof the room (cover cracks, close toilet lid and drains, etc) and let the glider explore the room. If you use a tent instead, you don't have to worry about glider proofing, just lay a blanket on the tent floor. (Some SG get scared from the crinkling noise). For the first time you do this, your glider may not even want to cone out of the bonding pouch. Use mealworms or other treats to bribe him out. You may want to bring your book or something, because mainly for the first couple times, you will just watch them. When he is more comfortable with you in the tent/bathroom start bringing in a toy or two (feather teaser, ect). If he climbs on you, let him. He is exploring. It may be easier to do tent/bathroom time an hour or two before he usually wakes up. He would be too tired to do any fighting back. When you are ready to stop, put a treat inside the pouch to bribe him back in. (I personally use my walk in closet instead of the bathroom or tent). If you chose to use a tent, many people recommend the Genji tent.

2). Get some fleece and cut it into squares. Sleep with the squares over night to get your scent on them. Put these squares in SG sleeping pouch. While he is sleeping, he will breath in your scent and learn you aren't going to hurt him.

3). Talk, sing, read to him. Let him get use to human voices.

4). GIVE HIM TREATS!!!! Mealworms and yogurt drops are a big hit. Put some applesauce or LOW FAT, not fat free, yogurt on the tip of your finger. He will lick it off and wont bite you. Pull your finger away before it's all gone. This prevents him biting your finger to get to the source of the "good stuff"

*Note, do not overwhelm him with too many people. Don't make him do something he doesn't want to do. Go at HIS pace. Do not play with him too much during the day. This is when they are suppose to be sleeping. They need undisturbed sleep or they will get grouchy! Hahaha. Good luck. They will come around, it's ALL about TRUST!!!

I posted this on another thread and copied and paste. He will come around!

Hi and congrats on your new babies! So glad they are going to be with someone who obviously wants the best for them. Yes, they will bond with you. It took me about 8 months to bond with my first girl who was given to me. she had been alone in a small cage for 5 years! She had no toys,wheel, fleece blankets or pouch to sleep in. They fed her the PP diet-pellets, apple and wheat bread. She was scared and would exhibit very depressed behavior- turning repeated flips, running in circles around the cage, etc. Now, she is such a sweet girl. She is very laid back and just content to play, jump on and off me,play with her cage mate Maxine etc. She has never bitten her vet, just tries to get back on me-her mommy. Do not give up! It takes time, trust and patience! Stay in touch, we are all here for you.

Wendy

Intact males can stink. I have one, normally he isn't too bad but occasionally he will absolutely stink! He will jump on me and scent me. No peeing necessary, just a lot of body oil. By putting them into a cage of all new stuff he will have had an absolute field day scenting things. Wash things rotationally from now on.

If he is living with a female tho be sure to expect joeys within the next few months. Neutering will control the smell if you aren't planning to breed :)