Hello everyone! I just signed up for this site in hopes you all could help me out. So, March 1st I bout Gizmo who was 3.5 months OOP at the time. Well, he started eating less and grooming himself more, so I decided to go back and buy his twin brother, Taz, March 29. I have had Giz a month and a half and Taz about 2-3 weeks. I am extremely confused because Taz is much more calm and more bonded to me than Gizmo, and it doesn't make any sense because I've had Giz longer. He just doesn't have any interest in me and always crabs at me. They have a large cage, a wheel, and toys and I feed them the BML diet and get them out every night between 9-11pm. All gizmo does is want to go back to sleep or run away from me. Can someone please give me some advice! I know these things take time, but we haven't seemed to make any progress. :( thank you in advance for the kind and helpful words!

Hey !

I have a cutie pie nerf (one of my boys) who was a runner .. Everytime he saw me he ran away .. And even now that were bonded I've noticed it's simply his personality he doesn't like to be held per say but he will come and sleep with my every now and then or play on his own so I just let him roam freely and he comes when he wants to lol but I can now pick him up and pet him... The most important thing is to let things go at his pace no chasing him or forcing the bonding process .. Also what helped me were treats and apples when he saw I always had goodies he was always looking to see what my hands had in them lol ! Hope I have helped :)

So he doesn't hate me?? Good to know! :) lol I don't chase him except when it's time to go up and then it's not so much of chasing as it is trying to keep him in my hand long enough to get him in the cage. I think it's got a lot to do with his personality like you said, so I will just try to continue being patient and hopefully he'll let me pick him up and pet him eventually! :)

He definitely doesn't hate you...he would be lunging and biting you thru a pouch...

Another thing you can try is...instead of grabbing him and trying to confine him with your hands...

Take his sleeping pouch when it's time to go back to the cage and let him jump in it then hold the top closed if he decides he would rather jump out and continue play time.

You can put a little treat in there to help coax him in too.

Grabbing them and chasing them can set you back because they will feel like you are a predator coming after and catching them.

Even reaching in over their heads can make them very nervous until they know you and trust you completely. Treats and patience is the key.

If you have to grab them, you can use a big piece of fleece or use a pouch like a mitt, then they won't associate your hands with grabbing them. Your hands should be associated with good petting and treats.

You have only had them a very short time and you are already seeing great progress.
It is really hard on us to wait and we get to thinking things are not progressing but it's really about how long the gliders take to trust you, and you can't really rush that.

Some of my gliders I have had a less amount of time are definitely more bonded to me that my first gliders I have had for 2 years.

Keep doing what you are doing, keeping a schedule for play time will help a lot too.

Do you have a bonding pouch? If you can keep them in a bonding pouch on you for 1-2 hours a day(or even a few days a week)while they are sleeping is great for bonding too.

That is such a brilliant idea! I had never thought to offer up the pouch to him when it's time to go back in! He definitely bites and crabs a whole lot less than when I first got him. I am doing my best to be patient, but I feel bad too because Taz gets more affection because he lets me give it. Hopefully Gizmo will decide I'm one of the colony soon! :) I do feel good though when I bring a friend in and they both love me more lol I know it's silly, but it makes me feel like they've made progress! :) thank you both for your advice :)

My two girls had the exact same story, actually very similar details. But after two years, thinking my older one hated me, whenever scared, she will run into my lap. I always thought she was scared of me but she loves to snuggle against me. She will still run away from me during play time, but I find she isn't actually afraid of me if I observe her behavior closely.
I am sure she loves you, just doesn't show it the same as your other glider.