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Posted by: WyndeeI have been meaning to start this for a while. I am a proud parent to a little female sugar glider named Piper. She is CRAZY. I had researched for a couple years. I visited gliders. I saw them at the flea market and didn't get one and then when I couldn't stand it anymore I got on here. I read everything! I got what I thought was a big cage, made a cage set, bought everything for a BML diet and food. I was just waiting to find the perfect addition for our family. Piper came home at 10 wks OOP and we were so excited I don't think I slept for a week. She was so interesting, funny, and most of the time upside down! We put her into her cage (1/2 inch spacing) and she scurried around the cage through the top and up my drapes! We cannibalized the net from around the trampoline and at 2am was finally satisfied that she wouldn't get out.
So far she is very verbal, very pouch protective, and very lazy. She loves her belly rubbed and when I stop I get bit. She started barking last night when her favorite toy wasn't working like she wanted it to. She is so spoiled. I totally got up to fix it at 4am.
She is getting a cage mate in January. And a BIGGER cage today. The little one will be used for quarantine.
This is it....the start of a beautiful friendship!

I am having problems with trust, bonding and her running off. Any suggestions?

Posted by: snusieHaven't been writing lately, my mornings have been really busy between Christmas stuff and work.

I moved the brothers' cage into the library on Sunday. It's basically in the middle of the room on the floor, since there's no stand for it. It's a few feet away from Shikoni. That night all three spent a lot of time bar-hanging and looking at each other, scurrying around. Not much vocalization. Everyone ate well, played well, looked but didn't talk. I slept on the futon to be there, in case of what I don't know, just in case.

Everything went just that way every day. On Wednesday family came over, Hunter (10) wanted to see my glider, and when I told him I had two more, he was so excited! He's another animal lover, our family seems to be full of them. We went in and I got the boys out in their pouch, they had been sleeping and so were very docile. Kioko didn't even crab, and that's unusual. Hunter petted and loved on them for a few minutes. Shikoni heard our voices and came out to see what was going on, so I put the boys back and got him out onto my arm. He jumped onto Hunter, which really tickled him! then back to me, then back to bed he went. Little sweetie.

I've heard some barking and other sounds from time to time, but nothing to worry about, until ...

Yesterday morning I was getting dressed and I heard the most god-awful noise, it sounded like crabbing but not quite, and sustained instead of dying out the way crabbing does. It sounded like the fighting or SM sounds I've heard online. I went to check, thinking maybe one of the little guys had gotten out somehow and was attacking the other cage. Nothing was happening at all, the sound had stopped and all three were in their pouches. I went back to my room and it started again, took their pouch out and this time I found Kioko on Washi's back, biting his neck. It looked like mating or fighting, I wasn't sure which. Reminded me of the way a cat will kill a mouse by biting the spine. I managed to get Washi out of the pouch and into the big cage, got severely bitten on the thumb and two fingers. Then I got the pouch with Kioko in it into Shikoni's little cage which is on top of the wardrobe, there's nothing in it but two bird perches, I couldn't reach well enough to hang the pouch but just laid it on the floor. I had to go to work, already running about ten minutes late so I left it that way. He should be sleeping all day anyway.

When I got home the first thing I did was check Washi, the back of his neck had been wet and I hoped it wasn't blood. Well, it wasn't, I looked him over really well and there were no wounds, he was moving fine. Gave him a drop of honey and put him away. Then I got Kioko, boy did he yell! Looked him over too, also no wounds and moving well, he didn't want any honey.

I started a post about this, and was very reassured to find that it's not abnormal behavior, so as long as no one gets hurt I won't let it distress me again. I thought that it might have been a dominance thing, I would have expected that to already be well-established between the two, but maybe Washi was getting rebellious and Kioko had to call in the Guard. Or perhaps it's from being so near Shikoni, that Kioko feels a little threatened in his role as the alpha male and so had to reassert himself, though I would have expected that a little sooner. I sure wish I knew what was going on in their little minds.

Kioko is back in with Washi, and all's quiet this morning. I gave them all crickets, which were very well received. I'll see about play time, I have to do the flashlight thing with Washi and Kioko and probably yogurt to entice them out of the pouch. More later.

Later -- well, someone had fun today! Washi was out playing, Kioko in the pouch, so I took K. into the bathroom. Flashlight on, overhead off; bowl of yogurt. He stayed in the pouch for the first couple of minutes, then jumped out and ran around on my shoulders and back for a little while. He got down and checked out the floor, under the sink; went to the door and tried to jump up on it but never climbed up the robe belt (Shikoni's rope to the top); only played five or six minutes then back up onto my lap and in the pouch. When I took him home, I was getting the cage door open and he jumped out! Gone before I could react. He ran around the library for probably twenty minutes! The room is crowded right now (still) with end tables, shelves, chairs from when we had the new floor put down: there's still work to be done in the front, so we don't want to put everything back just to move it again when the workers show up. Anyway, I couldn't see him half the time, but I could hear him running around. I sat on the floor with his pouch with two mealies in it close by; he'd come and sniff at it, but wouldn't go in, then explore a little more. Finally he got onto the cage, ran around on it for several minutes. I held the door just a little open, and he went in to get a drink of water.
Whew! All the while he was loose, Washi was watching him, clinging to the cage on the side closest to where he was. Poor little guy, he wanted to go play too -- right; I'd have had a nervous breakdown!

When I only had Shikoni, when he got out I could leave the cage door open and know that he'd go back home when he was done. I'm sure the new boys would do the same; and when we finally get order restored in the library, I may let them out to romp when I have time to stay and supervise.

I wonder how long it will be until I can start introductions. Right this minute someone's barking and someone else is answering ... communication!

Posted by: tink761Well I am getting 2 more gliders from some one that don't want to give them a chance at all. I just don't understand why she won't give them a chane at all. They are asking for this to be done to them. All they want is a home and some to love them and take care of them. When my friend told me about them I was shocked this lady only had them for 3 weeks and won't give them a chance at all. Yes the female is biteing right but she is scared still becouse that was her 3rd home and she don't know that place yet. So I am going to take them in and I hope they know they will have a home here for the rest of there live's. I won't have to get a cage for them becouse there cage they are in now will come with them so at least they will some thing they know. But my heart just hurts for them. I will be meeting that lady and I am going to keep my cool with her and just get them and get them home whare they belong and feel wanted. I wish peaple would think of them as there kids. Hello would you throw out your kids becouse you can't handle them or that you just don't want to take care of them any more. Ummm I think not so why do that to them. They are like kids so why do that to them. I just want to take hands and ring there necks but I know I can't do that so I will help the little guys out and give them a better home and spoil them. I wounder what they are though right since that lady don't want them. I wish I could get them now but I will have to wait tell Tuesday to get them. That will give me time to get toys ready and there spot too. I am going to put them in my liveing room for now so they get use to all the noise and to use. Hmm I have to more goody to help with the bonding. So many stuff to do. How to spoil them frist lol. yea I know I bad but all my gliders get spoiled some how.
My humane kids shocked me yesterday. They got $10 each for christmas and they got each other one thing and then bought toys for each of the gliders too. Even Tinkerbell and Peter Pan got a toy too. I am raising loveing and careing kids. They will be like me and take in a animal that is in need for a good home. I am so proud of my kids for what they did and my gliders has a new toy to play with in there cages.
Tinkerbell and Petter Pan are doing realy good. They eating so good for me. when I feed them they look at me with those little eyes with all the trust they have. One that is so neat is when my hubby is holding one and I feeding the other one. The one he holding and playing with is looking for me. As soon as they see me they get all excited that they try there best to get to me and they are only 3 weeks old. Petter Pan will get fixed as soon as I can fix him.
Peanut and Lucky are doing realy good too. I am going to try to get them back together with Oscar and Titus again. But I have to do the pouch swope again though. But it won't be hard to do though. By the time they are back with oscar and titus the joeys will be ready to be in there own cage. So it is all working out.
Oscar and titus feeling like there are the kings becouse they are the bigger cage of all. They are loveing it. But I think they are missing the other 2 so I am going to work hard to get the other 2 back in that cage with them so they can have there friends back.
But all in all they are all doing good and getting spoiled as ever. I would not change my life at all. I would go nuts if I don't my little fur kids. They are my life and will alway be. I will alway give them all the best home as I can and of course spoil them lol.

Posted by: GoldwingerThis was my latest post about My Christmas Eve and my new little girl.

Well today has been quite a Christmas Eve. I set out this morning to purchase two shower curtains and a new toilet seat. My husband calls me around 11:30 a.m. and says the pet store has one glider, do you want to go get it for yourself as a Christmas present. Evidently he had called them. I told him NO because of the quarantine and illness and it being a girl (maybe this time), anyway I just didn't feel like it was a good idea. Well knowing this pet store like I do and the condition my boys were in when I purchased them I just couldn't resist going. I need mealies anyway (that was my excuse). I really had run out of them. Anywho, I went and of course my heart just broke. The cage was absolutely filthy, tiny and small, sitting on the floor underneath a shelf of other animals.It was on a cement floor this little cage with no wheels under it. Nothing in this filth except a pouch, some pellets and a water bottle. I was so angry I could barely restrain myself. I confronted them about this poor baby. Told them about this site and how much I have researched and learned from all the people here, talked them down in price and walked out with my new girl. I hated doing it as I know they will just get more and things will not change but it's Christmas Eve and I just couldn't bring myself to leave her there. I know it was wrong as I've read so many posts about not doing it but I did and so now I have this little girl.

I came home, threw her cage in the shower, cleaned the few things in the cage. put it back together, put in some new things I have here including a new pouch with some fleece and have now put her back in her clean cage. It's small but will have to do for the quarantine time.

After all that I realized I didn't get my mealies so my husband went back and got me a few until I get back out on Friday to buy somemore and I plan on getting a bag of dried ones too for scrambled eggs.

I plan on taking all of them to doctors after New Years because I want all of them to be checked for health and I need at least one neutered. She's not friendly at all and may never be but at least she won't die in that horrible place.

After posting this I had a decent night with her but she did bark all night long. I inquired about why she might be doing this. AngieH came back with she was possibly looking for her family. That hadn't even dawned on me and I remembered then that she had been dropped off by a man with two other gliders. They were her bonded family. The realization that was probably true just broke my heart. I mean I was just devastated by the thought. Imagine that happening to us. Being ripped away from your family and then my head and heart thought "she'll never see them again either". This is so very sad and disheartening.

I'm so happy even more now that I took the leap and got her away from that pet store and brought her home. I hope that she will bond with my boys and that will fill the hole she has from not being with her family anymore and that my boys will become her new FAMILY.

Posted by: STFUKelsey Fooled again, I am...
Well Evett...She's 10 weeks old, and well, hates me.
I've tried everything in my power to get her trust and love me and she's not taking to me.
I've bonded with her for +3 hours a day, hand fed her treats, bought her several toys, put my scent in her cage.. and she still wants NOTHING to do with me..
I get bit about 5 times on a GOOD day, but the crabbing is none stop!
My God!
I'm on the verge of giving up all hope..
Anyone care to give me advice?
Thanks.

Posted by: snusieSo at about 7:30 I was sitting on the couch, dozing off over a book, when the phone rang; it was my friend Rick. He needed me for a few minutes to "come get my truck and take it back to your house"; he was about three blocks away. I asked why, he said he's just been rear-ended on the highway turning into my neighborhood! I'd heard sirens just before the phone rang; didn't know where they were going. Well, I threw on a denim jacket (mistake! It was full dark, the wind blowing, and about 28 degrees) and walked up there; sure enough, his pickup was in the ditch on the side of the road, and EMTs were strapping him to a stretcher. I talked to him as long as they would let me, asked him if he wanted me to ride with him, and he said, no, I want you to take care of my truck. So I told him to be good and don't go pinching any nurses, and got his keys, checked in with the trooper who was directing traffic, and went home. I walked around the long way and looked at the car that had hit him, it was a small white four-door sedan, and had nothing left of the front end but the engine block -- it was horrible, I don't know if anyone was killed; I do know that at least three ambulances were called to the scene.

When the trooper called, I went to get the truck. The trooper first had me put on the turn signals and step on the brake so he could check the lights; all working. Then I drove home. The driver's seat is sprung, the back half-reclined; the seat belt is jammed; I don't know why the air bag didn't deploy, but I'm glad of it. The truck looks okay except for the back bumper; but she is probably totaled. She drives like her rear end got pushed up about six inches; there's a thumping noise and a serious shimmy; she is not a happy girl. (I'd be happy if my rear end got pushed up six inches; but that's a story for another day. Or not.)

Rick called me just a little while ago. He couldn't talk long, just for a couple of minutes; I got which hospital he's in and let him know his girl made it home with me. I'll have to check on him later, I figure about 10:00 or so they may be through with him and he'll have time for a friend. I'm glad he's talking, and seems to be in reasonably good spirits, considering; I hope he's not too badly hurt.

I know sometimes I joke around even when it's a serious occasion. I don't mean to make light of anyone's pain, I guess it's my way of pushing back the darkness. I've been praying for the people in that little car ... and for my best friend Rick.

Update Tuesday 4:40 a.m. Rick called last night about eleven, he still hadn't seen a doctor but was getting CAT scans, MRIs, etc. etc. A trooper had talked to him shortly before, it seems the woman who hit him had been drinking, an open container in the car; her passenger was a teenager who suffered some broken ribs ... Anyway, no fatalities, Thank God! I'll find out more today.

Posted by: snusieWashi and Kioko think I'm the Treat Lady. As soon as I come into the room, they're running over and hanging on the side of the cage. If I get up from the chair, the same thing. Any time I'm vertical, they come to see what I'm up to. I don't always have a treat, but they still come to see what's going on. Washi is really getting tamer! The last few days he's come onto my arm when I open the cage, he'll stay there for just a second or two but that's a big step. This morning I had a mango-peach puff in my left hand, he was on my right arm; when I gave him the treat he stayed there to eat it, and to get another one. Kioko won't come that close; he still likes to have wire in between us. But he gets just as many treats as Washi. I don't think he'll ever be a cuddler.

Bathroom time this morning, first Shikoni. He was in his pouch, so I took the whole thing in. He came out pretty slowly, got onto my right arm and sniffed all around; smelling Washi no doubt. He was very interested! After a few minutes he got to playing: down on the floor, climb up the towels, back onto my hand, running all over me, onto the window, back to the door -- just really having a good time. At one point he jumped from my knee onto the chair rail on top of the wainscoting; he scurried along that with his right feet, the left feet just providing stabilization I guess. I got a pic of him climbing onto the towel on the wall rack. From there a leap to the door towels again, back and forth. He's quite the little athlete! I had put his pouch in the sink; he went to it from my shoulder, that was the end.

After picking up all the little poops and getting a fresh cup of coffee, it was Washi and Kioko. I've been thinking the light bothers Kioko, so I got the 6-volt lantern and set it on the edge of the sink, and turned off the overhead light. Sure enough, it wasn't a full minute till both boys were out. I'd brought in a dish of strawberry yogurt, and put it on the floor. Well, Kioko went down my leg and under the sink (which has no glider escape holes, I checked before I ever took anyone in there); I turned on the overhead light again so I could see. Washi never left me, he stayed on my back most of the time. Kioko went exploring, but didn't try to climb up the towel the way Shikoni does. He stretched up and looked at it though, so it's probably just a matter of time. He found the yogurt, I got a pic of that; and I managed to get Washi off my shoulder by practically laying down on the floor. When he saw Kioko at the bowl, he had to go check it out himself. I did get one nice clear picture of them both at the bowl. I wanted it to show the difference in their sizes, but I don't think it worked; the angle was wrong. Our bathroom is long and narrow, so I couldn't get to the right spot.

The other night I fixed scrambled egg; to make it a little different, I put some plain yogurt in it. Shikoni didn't even taste it! The brothers of course ate it all up. There's nothing they won't eat, I have to be really careful about what I put in with them.

Today is the day I bring them all together into one room. I'm interested in how all three are going to behave. I'm pretty sure Washi and Shikoni will do just fine, they're both pretty friendly; Kioko is the one I'm mainly worried about, he's more aggressive. I expect a lot of noise, barking and other sounds. We'll see how they do over the next week, as I bring them closer together. I plan to have the cages pretty much side-by-side in a week or ten days, depending on how everyone acts; then leave them like that for another week. So it'll be sometime in the first half of January when I do personal introductions.

Posted by: snusieFeeling much better today! We had playtime right after I got my shower. First I checked on Shikoni, he came running over as if to say, "where ya been?" He got up on my hand and arm, sniffed around and back down. Well, I got my shower and a cup of coffee, got the bathroom set up, and then the little snot wouldn't have anything to do with me! I had to chase him down, of course, as soon as I cupped my hand around him he was back up on my arm as if it had been his idea all along.

Well, he had a blast. One snag; I had forgotten to hang my robe back up on the back of the door, so he didn't have anything to climb up. He kept running over there, jumping, then back to me. So I stood by the door -- that was it; he'd run up my leg, jump onto the towel and hide. We had a really good time today, he was on the curtains, the hand towels, the door towels -- he even for the first time jumped over to the sink, explored my coffee cup; just had a blast. I didn't want it to end, unfortunately it had to. Got some pretty good pix, I'll upload them probably on Sunday.

Washi and Kioko were awake when I got up; looking for the Treat Lady. After playtime with Shikoni they were in their pouch, so I got it down and took them in. Kioko did nothing but crab the whole time! Now, he's crabbing and even lunging through the pouch; yet I can put my hand in and pet him, no problem. I really think it's the light, overhead flourescent; I'll have to figure out another light source so I can still see.

Washi didn't want to come out either, I had to tempt him with a dab of grape jam in a bowl (I had the camera, so couldn't do a licky treat - need another hand!) Once he came out, for the first time ever, he ran up my arm and onto my shoulders, back and forth; sniffed my face from both sides; it didn't last long but it was really pretty cool.

Dinner last night: frozen shrimp, mixed berries, mixed vegetables, with a little leaf lettuce thrown in. Bowls this morning: Washi and Kioko, almost completely empty, just a half strawberry and one lonely blueberry; Shikoni, about a third of his fruit and greenbeans left. He's getting on an anti-greenbean kick, won't touch them. I'll have to give him nothing else for his veg one day, see what he does. He used to love grapes, then suddenly one day he wouldn't touch them, and hasn't eaten more than two grapes the the last two years. Funny little guy!

I've decided to move Shikoni into my room on Sunday, and then on Tuesday after work I can move both cages into the library. I can sleep in there on the futon as long as I don't have to work the next day, I just want to make sure old grumpy Kioko doesn't overreact to having a new glider too close, and get aggressive with Washi. I have the small cage to separate someone into if that happens. Just trying to be prepared ...

Posted by: snusieI haven't been feeling well. Monday night diarrhea, so no play time Tuesday morning, though I did go to work. This morning I woke up with a slight fever and chills; again no play time, and I am not going to work. Hope I get over it today.

Not much new. Washi is still very friendly, pokes his head out of the pouch to say Hi or comes running to the cage door. Kioko still is not. And sweet Shikoni ... sure hope I get to feeling better so I can play with him!

Dinner Monday night: spring mix, bell pepper, ground beef, pomegranate seeds. All gone. Dinner Tuesday: pork tenderloin, broccoli and cauliflower, a tiny dab of mashed potatoes no butter, pomegranate seeds, strawberry yogurt. All gone, except Shikoni didn't eat all his yogurt. No surprise there, it's not his favorite food.

Everyone's really sleepy today. I've been up since 2:25, and not a peep from anyone -- well, some crabbing from Kioko when I checked the food bowl. I'll check later to see if anyone got the runs from the pork; I gave it to them once before with no ill effects, but I want to make sure.

The weather has been so crazy! Saturday warmed up to about 65; Sunday even warmer. Monday cold, windy and damp; Tuesday not windy, high was about 38, frozen mist or light snow on and off all morning. Today will be an in-between day; tomorrow and Friday will be in the 70s; then by Sunday again cold. I wish it would get one way and stay there; preferably cold, since we have about 7 months of 85+ days in a normal year. Aargh, this Texas weather makes me insane! No wonder I'm sick!

Posted by: snusieHad the boys out this morning. Holding the pouch on my lap, I tried to tempt them out with freeze-dried pears, they love that treat but ... they love the pouch more, it seems. I got Washi completely out and on my leg; he stayed long enough to eat his little treat and ran back up. I tried to close the pouch so he couldn't get back in; no dice. He found the opening and disappeared! Meanwhile Kioko is in there yelling his head off; and yet ... they both let me pet them while they're in the pouch. They just don't want to be held, or to be loose except in their cage. They sure know I'm not going to hurt them; they seem to regard me as the Treat Lady. Whenever I come into the room at night they both come running over to see what I have -- usually nothing, but they're ever hopeful. Washi will nip at my hand; yesterday he got me pretty hard and I had to Psst! at him.

Yesterday evening I chased poor Washi all over the cage! I'd given them crickets; Kioko got the last one and Washi I knew would steal it from him, so I distracted him with a game. He sure can jump! Same thing, he let me pet him but wouldn't get on my hand or arm. Kioko won't come near me when he's running around, except to take a treat. I just don't know; maybe they weren't handled much before. I know Shikoni wasn't, with the two dogs and three little boys in his previous home. It took me a good six months to get him used to the idea. So -- patience!

Next week I move their cage into the library. It'll be interesting. I swapped out some toys yesterday, today I'll swap blankies. I'll do that again on probably Thursday.

Dinner last night: I made a pot roast, chuck shoulder. First I cut off a nice piece of beef and cooked it in the microwave for the gliders -- bad idea! It turned tough and dry, it was horrible (though Mike liked it just fine). So I gave them the last of the salmon that I was saving for Domino; carrots and celery, frozen berries. This morning in the brothers' dish there were two small pieces of celery left; Shikoni left a piece of carrot and half a strawberry. I'm glad they're getting enough.

I'm going to order some bee pollen and try Lucky Glider's recipe. I think that's the only thing I don't have; I wonder if it'll be at the health food store in Belton? And that powdered mix, whatever it is, I'll look it up. Make a small batch and see how they like it.

Cold and windy this morning! Saturday and Sunday were warm and windy, 20-25 mph. I'm sure getting tired of the wind. I only like it if it's raining too.

Mike's asleep on the floor just a few feet in front of the boys' cage. He has a big old tick on his shoulder -- yikes! I guess Mama didn't put his flea stuff on him, I'll have to ask. I don't want to do it and risk a double dose, that would mean serious vet time. Domino is due for his on Thursday.

Posted by: snusieNot much new to report. We're making s-l-o-w progress, Washi and Kioko and I; Washi starts to climb on my arm or hand when I offer, but always backs out. Kioko won't come close to me. Friday morning at bathroom time he did come out of the pouch (I had him alone) and onto my leg; he looked extremely startled to find himself out, and found his way back into the pouch in about ten seconds. Shikoni, as always, is delightful at all times.

Also, Washi is giving me little gentle bites, nips or whatever you want to call them; I think he likes me.

Bottlebrush flowers are all gone. Those boys love them! We're gonna have to find some plants. Ursula has one, I think she got it at that nursery in Harker Heights. I'll have to remember to ask her, I'm not driving all that way if that wasn't the source. Interestingly enough, Callistemon is in my houseplants book; looks like it'll be fairly easy to keep in the house -- for those up north. I'm not sure how much cold it can withstand; I do know that with just a little water it has no problem with a month or more of 100+ days -- not near as much as I do.

I got crickets yesterday; asked for $2 worth and got probably twice that many. So we have a surfeit of crickets. I brought eight in this morning in the pint jar; Washi of course was in that jar the second I opened the cage. Kioko stole his first cricket; they went like that until all eight were gone -- less than two minutes. It's pretty funny to watch Washi doing all the work and Kioko getting half the reward.

Thursday night Shikoni didn't touch and fruit or vegetables; the protein was hamburgers. He ate all of that but nothing else. I thought I was going to have to give him only fruits and vegetables, since he did this same thing Monday; but Friday and Saturday he ate everything, leaving only a few small pieces of cucumber and spinach leaves. I guess his diet is well-enough balanced; he certainly looks healthy, and is energetic and interested in everything around him.

I am somewhat alarmed at the sick gliders this week! There are all kinds of things: Tyzzer's (which I had never heard of!); cold shivering babies; possible HLP; Gizzy's seizures ... it's quite scary. (I sure hope Noah gets Gizzy to the vet. I like Noah and his GF [who remains anonymous] a lot. All that excitement about the joey, and the tarantula; and wasn't he the one with the tornado down his alley? And his helpfulness --- seems to me that they're pretty good people.) And the recent bouts of diarrhea, and the abcessed face ... I'm really grateful mine have been healthy so far. I've had enough trouble with Domino and Mike getting themselves into scrapes.

Cage cleaning today. Floor fleeces are washed, along with some corner hammocks, blankets and my only spare pouch. Some toys swapped out, so all that's left is changing the newspaper and wiping down bars. Once I get my laundry hung out I'll get the boys into their bonding pouch and around my neck. I forgot to take the sleeping pouch out last night, so of course that's where they are; the last two nights they've slept in the bonding pouch. They're as bad as cats about doing just the opposite of what you want! In fact, they resemble cats in a lot of ways; sounds like an interesting topic for an essay.

Posted by: kazko When it started getting cold here, I decided to make Robin a nestbox out of a large foam cooler. I figured that the foam would insulate and keep her body heat in which it has been doing very well. As it got colder, I moved her cage into the garage. It still gets cold out there so I have been keeping the house garage door open to keep the room warmer which hasnt been the most cost effective thing to do. When it finally got very cold out, I decided to sit her nestbox on top of a heating pad. The bad thing about that is most of the heat is wasted outside of the box from this oversized heater and the pad also shuts off after a few hours so a comfy temperature is not maintained.


So I did some digging and finally came up with a solution. I found a Zoo Med Repti Therm 6"x8" flat nichrome heating pad to put inside of her nestbox. This thing draws only 8 watts, but since it is inside, it doesnt really take much to warm up the foam box. Matter of fact, 8watts can collect a good amount of heat over time, so I also ordered a Repti Temp thermostat with probe to turn it off which does the job well.




While experimenting with this stuff, I ended up cutting and bending some sheet metal to be the floor and a wall which acts as a heatsink and reflector for the heating pad. Now the heat is distributed evenly inside and my South American critter is now efficiently and safely maintained at a comfy 82F and she can go out to cool off and get some exercise.

The system draws only 8 watts when heating and the thermostat turns it off when temperature is achieved which helps to saves money. I no longer have to heat the entire room for her or manually try to keep her warm with a cruddy human hot pad. The warm sealed box also retains humidity for her so ive already noticed her tail being much healthier looking and not a bit chapped.

I am happy about this new setup and I think she is too.

EDIT:

Here it is a few days later and we had a big cold front come through. It is 30F outside, 53F in the garage where the cage is wintering, and it is 82F in her nestbox thanks to this little amazing 8 watt nichrome heater on a thermostat. The hottest Ive seen it is 85F and that was her own body heat raising it past the set point.


I have also been trending power use using my plug-in watt meter. When operating, the pad seems to draw 9VA. Recording for 84.5 hours, the system has used .57kwh. That equates to an average 6.7 watts per hour when it is cold out, so the pad is obviously shutting off some even with these lower temps.

 

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