All Journals - View by date 

Posted by: snusieYesterday and last night were a complete success. We had no fights, very little fussing, and lots of play!

I can't believe the difference in Shikoni, he'd never shown any signs of loneliness except sometimes barking in the night, which made me feel sad --- it sounded like he was calling out, and listening for a response that never came. Otherwise, he was happy: curious, energetic, good appetite and always willing to play with me. Well, in just one week of visits from Washi and a day of two new friends, he is now twice as curious and energetic, and playing with things I'd never seen him touch before, like the cat balls.

Yesterday afternoon, all three boys were snugged up in the nest. When I went in to find an herb book I checked on them, and three little faces crowded into the entrance hole looking at me, all had their eyes half-closed just like contented cats ... what a wonderful sight, I wished I'd had my camera with me!

I fixed them dinner: shrimp, mixed veggies, and frozen persimmon pulp. I made two bowls because I didn't know if someone would get possessive over the food; after all, it's their first shared meal.

Shikoni woke up as usual around 4:30. The other two habitually sleep until 8:30 or later; but yesterday Washi got up with him. When I brought dinner in they were scampering around and came over to see what I had, then went back to playing. I went to cook our dinner; when I came back in about 5:00 Kioko was up too! All three were eating out of the same bowl.

Later I saw Shikoni and Kioko on the wheel together. I'll be putting the Stealth into the big cage today; I'd put it into the small cage to trim nails. There just isn't room for two or more gliders in the Wodent wheel, it's fine for one; but the Stealth is lots bigger. And the cage sure is a mess, cat balls, monkeys and feathers everywhere ...

There were three fusses that I saw overnight. The first one, Kioko was in the nest and Shikoni just barged right in without asking first if it's okay; Kioko explained to him to mind his manners! Second, Washi was in a pouch with a yoggie and Shikoni came in; he's not really crazy about yoggies so I know he didn't want to take it, but Washi got defensive. Third, just a little while ago, I was handing out mealies and Kioko tried to steal Shikoni's; that didn't happen! He's always stolen Washi's treats and then Washi has to come to me for another (I guess he doesn't realize he's getting something with bites already taken, while Washi gets those first bites plus a whole new treat!) Anyway, I was glad to see Shikoni stick up for himself, and really glad Kioko accepted it.

I just went and checked a few minutes ago. All three are asleep, one in the nest and two in a pouch. And all the dinner's gone except one lone green bean, and a couple of carrot cubes that have fallen through into the tray.

I'm sure there were some more fusses but everyone seems to be intact, no blood or fur flying around. I know they'll sort it all out. For the time being, I'm going to forgo bathroom time and allow them to just get used to living with one another.

Posted by: snusieIt's only been a week since Shikoni and Washi decided to be friends! I've been shuttling Washi back and forth, morning and evening, to visit Shikoni and then back home. This morning I got Washi and Kioko, who were in their pouch, and Shikoni and we all went into the bathroom. I'd set up the room with two battery lanterns because Kioko doesn't like the bright overhead lights. I had to physically turn the brothers out, into the sink; Shikoni was running up and down my arms and shoulders. Washi came and joined him, and they jumped onto the towels hanging on the door. Kioko went to the floor, scurried around for a minute or two, then found the robe belt and up he went. They met at the top on the door hooks; I took a couple of pictures of them sniffing at each other; then they all disappeared into the dark space behind the towels. I sat down to wait and see what would happen.

There was not a single crab or fuss. I heard the tooth-clicking sound, and the soft hiss that always comes with it; and a couple of grooming sneezes. I saw the cloth swaying; every now and then a face would peek out, or a tail appear. At one point Kioko came to the top and tried to follow the door frame, but there was no where to go, so he went back down. I left them alone for a good half hour.

I brought the pouch over, and they all three ran right into it. Took them into the library and set the pouch down on the floor of Shikoni's cage; they all three came out. Kioko explored for a few minutes with the other two right behind him. Then Shikoni went into his nest; after a minute Kioko put his head in but waited, as if for an invitation. Again the clicking and soft hiss, then Kioko went all the way in! Washi soon joined them. I stayed just in case there was a fight, ready to destroy the nest if necessary to break it up. After about fifteen minutes Washi came out and went into a pouch. I looked into the nest; Kioko and Shikoni were curled up side be side, noses touching, eyes half-closed ... they're good friends already!

I believe that Washi acting as go-between made these two ready to accept each other. When he came to visit, he had Kioko's scent with him; and when he went home, he had Shikoni's scent. Both associated the scent of the other with their mutual friend, and so there was no trouble.

They've been together for an hour and a half now, from the first face-to-face to sleeping together. Dinner time will be the next challenge; I'll have two feeding stations set up and stay until they get it all sorted out.

If this works for twenty-four hours, I'll take the other cage to the basement and just have one, plus my small hospital cage. Then I can get a tent!

Posted by: prettyinpinkAs I've written on the board today... Pixie went shopping for the perfect pouch... I had to sit there for a half an hour to wait for her to finish... They are already coming out with the perfect personalities.

Tinkerbell... I didn't hear a single crab out of her yesterday. Something personal happened yesterday and I started crying. I was pretty upset. Pixie decided to get out to see what was happening... and well Tinks. She kept crabbing at me until I stopped. They both brought a smile to my face when I really needed it.

They are still not eating their veggies or fruit on their HPW diet. I'll have to blend it up or something so they will eat it.

They were barking at me last night after I was done playing with them. It was the cutest thing.

I've already been whipped... Am I officially a slave?

I'm still trying to tell them my hands are fine... NO need to bite them. Tinks is only bitting me when I have treats. Pixie bites a lot harder. I'm sure it will go away with time because they are not biters. I'm still working on it.

I'm having so much fun decorating their cage all the time. Here's an old pic of it.


And a new pic of Tinkerbell!

Posted by: snusieYesterday evening I put Washi in with Shikoni. The boys were playing on the wheel, eating together and generally just having fun. Kioko slept late, when I went in to check on them at about 7:30 he was awake but moving very sluggishly. He had eaten just a few glider bites of a piece of chicken. He went and hid behind the wheel. He wasn't the least bit his usual perky, sassy self. I offered him a mealie, which he accepted, and while he was eating I got Washi back into their cage. He didn't seem to notice; I went to the back of the cage and tickled his feet until he got annoyed and moved away from the back wall, and when he saw Washi he immediately ran over and started washing his face! He was lonely!!! Now I KNOW they get depressed; he hadn't been up even half an hour, but he saw his brother and life-long companion in the other cage with the other glider, and it made him sad! Poor baby! I felt so bad ... They started running and playing, everything was okay once he had his brother back.

About half an hour later, I heard loud, persistent barking from the library. I went to check it out: Shikoni had gotten his cage door unlatched and was on the outside of the other cage, yelling his head off! He ran and jumped all over the outside, while Washi did the same inside. Kioko just watched all the excitement. I had to get a mealie to lure Shikoni back to me so I could put him away. Twist-tied the door shut for the night.

Now this morning when I let Washi play with Shikoni, Kioko was fine. Maybe he knew Washi would be coming back?

I cooked chicken breast in apple juice, then cut it up into chunks and froze them. Domino asked for some, but turned his nose up when I put it into his bowl. I guess cats don't like apple juice! Anyway, the boys love it. Sprinkled the chicken with sesame seeds, celery and frozen strawberries. Everyone ate everything, there was half a strawberry in Shikoni's dish and about six celery slices in the brothers' dish. I like my clean platers, they leave just enough that I know they got full.

Right now (6:30) Washi and Shikoni are together. Kioko is eating his dinner. And all's peaceful in Gliderland.

Posted by: TiggerBellHey everyone. Unfortunatly I did not get the placement at the exotics vet. :( BUT I did get a placement at another vet who is not an exotics. It still should be alot of fun. I had my interview and she even said that I was the best interview for co-op that she had EVER had!! (talk about a confidence boost!) She hired me on the spot. :) I will let everyone know how it goes once I start!!

Posted by: snusieKeeping on with introduction of Washi and Shikoni. For the last week there has been no fighting, but they had essentially been ignoring each other. This morning:

Getting Washi into the second pouch proved to be a great challenge. He just wouldn't go in, he was running around all over the outside of his cage and even leapt over to Shikoni's cage. When I finally got him he fought me and bit savagely! I basically shoved him into the pouch, got Shikoni out (he's always willing) and off we went.

Once in the bathroom, Shikoni made immediately for the door which is his playground. Washi however stayed on my shoulders, wouldn't get off me for anything. Shikoni kept coming back and then running off again. Finally after about ten minutes Washi crept onto the towel and disappeared into the folds. Shikoni was already there. They stayed there for at least forty-five minutes, I could see the cloth shaking as they moved around. I tried to leave them alone, but every now and then I would peek in and see them close together, sniffing at each other, possibly grooming though I didn't bring them out into the light to make sure. The only noises I heard were the clicking and small chirps.

Well, at about 4:20 my cat started really fussing, he needed his breakfast and then outside! now! so I managed to get Washi into the pouch again without getting bit; Shikoni immediately followed. The only previous time they had been in a pouch together it led to a fight instantly; not today! I took them into their room and opened Shikoni's cage, he jumped in and Washi was right behind him. I stayed and watched; Washi went exploring with Shikoni right behind him. They visited the water dish together! I took care of Domino, poor patient kitty, and went back into the room. Turned on the lamp for light, they're running around and playing. I've left them in there, it's been over half an hour now and there's been not one single fussing sound. I just went and checked; they're in the pouch together!

I'll give them a little while and then get Washi back into the cage with Kioko. Don't want Kioko to suffer separation anxiety. I'll keep up with Washi and Shikoni every morning, giving them play time probably in Shikoni's cage, then put Washi back with his brother.

Next Sunday when I have unlimited morning time I'll start bringing Kioko into the mix, starting in the bathroom again. It'll be a Sunday and Monday thing until they are all three getting along well; but it looks like we're on the way of having an all-male colony of three.

Posted by: GoldwingerWow.....where do I begin. Four suggies and three cages. I can't wait for all the quarantine to be over.

I bought a brand new cage that is 52" tall x 20" deep x 32" wide. It's for Lucas and Cosmo. I got it from Bird.com and I love it. It's so big for just two babies. I also purchased alot of toys and bridges and rope things. I was amazed at the quality. They were all on clearance for really cheap and I thought it would be just poorly made or junky but they are just wonderful. Better than anything I've seen in the pet stores. I can't wait to start fixing up their new cage to move them in. I still have a few more things to purchase and then I'll be done with it. I'm hoping by next weekend as I have to go out of town this weekend for a family emergency. Once the quarantine is over for Milk Dud and Luna they will get the boys cage all cleaned and fixed up for them with a bunch of new things I have purchased for them as well. It's a little smaller at 22" deep x 31" wide x 35" high but still a nice size. I can't wait for my two cage families.

Cosmo and Lucas are just the best babies. Lucas was such a mean glider when I got him but Cosmo was a sweetie right from the first day. As soon as we got home with him and put him in his cage he jumped on my daughter and it's just gotten better. He helped us train and bond with Lucas and now I can't even open the cage door without the both of them jumping on my arms or climbing out of the cage onto my body. Sometimes I have to peel them off of me. I feel like I'm in the suggie remake of "The Birds".

Luna my "I know I shouldn't have But!" baby. What can I say about her. She is just still very timid and scared and it's taking a really long time with her. I try to stick my arm in her cage every night and just leave it there. Sometimes she'll come to it and smell it but mostly she runs or crabs or bites us. It may take a really long time with her. Maybe once she gets out of quarantine and in with our other baby she'll get better. She has started to eat a little better though. I'm very pleased with her progress there. She still doesn't eat much but I do get a glimpse of her eating from her plate sometimes and she loves her wheel. She runs in that wheel almost all night long. Sometimes she plays with her monkey's I think she knows how to play and has been with other gliders before so I'm hoping the intro's from her end will go over well. This leads us to Milk Dud.

Milk Dud my newest addition to the family. She was given to us by a very nice lady named Jennifer in Maryland who was looking for a nice forever home for her and she picked us. I know she loves Milk Dud and I try and update her about Milk Dud's progress. Milk Dud has just the cutest most curious look on her face when she peeks out at us from her "cave". I really need to get rid of that so I can get her to the Vet. It is going to be my job next week to work on that. It will be two weeks we've had her on Sunday. I think it's time to take away the "cave". She doesn't eat cat food anymore. I gave the bag away to my girlfriend who has a cat and Milk Dud's staple is a glider staple now but she eats her real food very well and hasn't touched a staple in at least a week. She's enjoying every food I give her. I need to get her out of quarantine and start intro's with Luna but can't do anything yet. No Vet visit as of yet and she really needs her nails clipped, but she is doing well. She crabs and bites and runs from us but I also can't bond with her because of the "cave". Don't get me wrong I think the "cave" is really cute and would love to keep it but I have to take it out temporarily. Maybe in a few months I'll reintroduce it into her cage with Luna (hoping intro's will be done and they are cage mates). She really doesn't play much and just kind of just hangs on the walls of the cage. Maybe it's because she's still getting adjusted to our house and her new family of people making all that noise....lol. I don't even think she's ever seen another glider. I think she was a lone glider since birth, (other than of course maybe mom and dad), and I think jennifer had her for about 2.5 years. I think she got her from a pet store. If she's been alone for so long I hope she can still bond with another of her kind. All in all she is doing well though and I don't think she is unhappy as I hear her bark sometimes and she's not over grooming and she's eating very well. I think she just needs a friend and she'll have one soon I hope.

Anyway this is my sugar glider family and all about them. My friends think that I'm absolutely nuts and going through a mid life crisis with so many, as they call them "flying rats". I Love each and everyone one of them and thanks to Cosmo and Lucas I have the patience to wait on the bond that will take place with Luna and Milk Dud.

Posted by: shygurl0189Well i Just got my new Sugar glider yesterday. I feel excited and alittle nervous. I have spent a year doing research on them and now that I got her I feel unprepared. is that normal? there are some things that I have noticed that she does alot: sneezing while holdeing her nose and also she loves to bite and it is HARD! If any one has ideas to stop the biting i would love the help! and any other tips to bonding/feeding ect would be helpful.

Posted by: snusieI got the boys together again this morning. Today I skipped the tub completely and had them on my lap when I opened pouches. They both came out slowly and met in the middle. Sniffing and some moving around, though very slowly; they stayed within a few inches of each other and almost always nose-to-nose. After a few minutes, both on my right leg, Shikoni started grooming Washi. Again, very slowly, almost hesitantly; at one point Shikoni took a toe of Washi's left foot into his mouth and just held it for about ten or fifteen seconds, until Washi pulled it away. Shikoni was marking Washi with his chest gland, and trying really hard to push his head under Washi. Washi was very passive though he did return some of the grooming activity, kind of nibbling and licking Shikoni; and would not allow him to put his head under.

They stayed on me for about twenty minutes, after I stood they moved around, still keeping within a few inches of each other. Then Shikoni jumped down and ran to the door, up the robe belt and peeked out; Washi didn't follow. I think Shikoni was disappointed; he came back and ran off two more times. It was as if he was saying, come on, let's play. Didn't happen. When Shikoni made for his pouch, I got Washi into his also and took them home.

I was curious to see how Kioko would react to Shikoni's scent on his brother. There was really no reaction. Kioko was awake and running around the cage. When I opened the door to put Washi in, he came scurrying immediately, sniffed a couple of times and then wanted his treat. I gave everyone a yoggie. When I went to hang Shikoni's pouch he jumped out onto the floor, and ran under his cage. I closed the room door immediately, finished hanging the pouch and got a mealie. He came right over, of course, and I got him put away.

Right now everyone's tucked away in pouches and barking. I hope they're saying, Hi, neighbor!

Posted by: snusieI've been pursuing the introduction of Washi to Shikoni. There hasn't been much progress; they had quit the serious fighting but wouldn't have anything else to do with each other. Both boys seemed quite distressed and I didn't let the sessions last more than ten minutes, partly because of that and partly because of my morning time constraints.

This morning everything went differently. I put Washi into a clean pouch and took Shikoni's nest. I put them in the tub as usual, with a towel down. They sniffed, and spat and hissed, but no contact. Then they BOTH jumped up onto my arm! I stood; they climbed around on me up and down, back and forth; every time they came face-to-face they would stop and sniff, but no hostilities. Both ended up on the floor; Washi went under the sink and Shikoni stayed outside that area; they were face-to-face again. Shikoni sniffed all over Washi's head scent gland, while Washi crouched down and let him. His ears were laid down and he seemed totally submissive.

Then Shikoni ran for the door and up the bathrobe belt. Washi followed him; it took him a minute to figure out the route (he was jumping at the door itself, then turned around and saw this convenient vine). Up he went too, and they both disappeared into the folds of the towel. All was perfectly quiet; I could occasionally see the towel shake, but that was it. After about ten minutes I peeked; they were right next to each other, kind of snuggled up head to tail, tummies together,and both wide awake.

I held the pouch up for Washi to climb into. He hurried in, and Shikoni followed! They settled in, then after just a minute I heard them fussing. I let it be for a couple of minutes, and when it didn't let up I took Shikoni out and put him into his nest. Both back to their cages, where a mealworm awaited.

I don't think they're ready to sleep together yet. But I do think I'll have to get up earlier to continue with this, every day, giving them more time and more room. I had been trying to keep them confined to the tub as a neutral and confined area, but they did lots better with the whole room to run around in. Once they're doing well I'll have to start with Kioko. I won't separate Washi and Kioko yet, as they've always been together; but I am so ready to eliminate one cage altogether. I will allow Washi and Shikoni more play time together and soon put them into the same cage for an hour or so every evening.

When I start introducing Kioko I will do it one-on-one for a while, then try bringing all three together. That may be the more successful strategy, but I don't want them to gang up on Shikoni. My main goal is that no one get hurt.

Posted by: madd4m0neyI walked in on my suggies while uhh.... u know what I am trying 2 say but they have no joeys yet. *sadness* but I want 2 make a incubator b4 it is needed just in case I don't want 2 repeat a incident like that again. (If u don't know yet my suggie joeys just got rejected) But I do have a fish tank so how do u make a joey incubator with a fish tank less than 10 gallons? If u know how please leave a link or some advice on how 2 make a incubator with a fish tank. thank you 4 your advice! :)

Posted by: kazkoIce is finally on the ground this season in Dallas Texas! Because of this, schools all over have closed at noon, businesses are shutting down, chaos is abound... The number of vehicle accidents has already spiked and the death toll from this day is expected to be very high.

 

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 of 145