Iv been kind of lurking on this site for a while, looking up answers to questions and learning new things. So this is my first entry, im hoping to get some insight and maybe a solution.
So about a month ago i was gifted my first sugar glider from a friend. I named him Patrick (you just gotta look at him, totally looks like a patrick). Of course, he was crabbing, biting, avoiding me, hiding when i look at him. New glider, not bonded, its expected. Anyway within a month id like to think i have made some good progress. Hes not crabbing at all anymore, He doesn't snatch food away from me anymore, he gently takes it and he even eats it right in front of me and lets me pet him for a solid 30 seconds now before he slaps my finger away. He doesnt go for blood when he bites anymore, its more of a "give me space" or "watch it or else" bite. Today i bought him some super worms for the first time and he absolutely loves them. He was climbing on the cage waiting for me to give him one, he has never done this before for anything so id like to take this as a small victory, even if it was just for the worm.
So i have been doing research and i already knew gliders are very social and they do not like being kept alone at all. In fact the only reason why he was alone was because of financial reasons and i had to save up a little bit before i could get him a friend. I bought a second glider just 2 days ago. I did this in hopes that it would ease the bonding stage a little bit and also i dont want my sugar baby to be sad or lonely. The previous owner of Patrick to my knowledge only had Patrick. He is a little over a year she said, so that is a very long time to go without a friend.
So i was hoping that Patrick would welcome his new friend with open arms but it was actually the opposite. I got in a tent (neutral territory) and after a 5 minute game of hide and seek with the new one, patrick finally had the other one face to face. After a stale mate for about 3 seconds, patrick lunges at the poor new guy (havent named him yet so its new guy, but ill just refer to him as NG from now on). I seperate them, let them calm down, and i try again. Same thing, of course they fought on my arm this time and patrick sunk his teeth really deep into my arm, i knew it was an accidental "blind fire" so i just took it. i didnt want to move or force them together, i was just there just in case. For the most part i just sat there and observed.
After the second confrontation i put patrick back in his cage and kept NG in the tent. So now im wondering, what should i do to have them get along? Some basic info about the 2 gliders. Both male, Patrick is over 1yr old, NG is 3 months old. Both have all their parts (not neutered). Patrick is usually either shy or moody, NG is really energetic and friendly. Is it possible that they just wont ever get along? Its only been one day since they have met so i know im mostly just being paranoid. Is neutering going to have to be done to one or both of them?
No matter what happens im willing to work something out, even if that means keeping them in seperate cages and handling them separately. I have 2 bonding pouches and 2 beds so that wont be a problem and NG can just use the tent as a home until i figure something out.
Any help or suggestions you guys can give me would be awesome.