I'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.

 

snusie
Gender: Female
Occupation:Horticulture
Member since: Oct 29, 2008
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I work in horticulture for a good-sized city, so any gardening -- I love to read and work HARD crosswords -- also draw and paint. My News
Kioko and Washi came to live with me on 11/23/08: five-year old brothers. As of February '09, we're having great luck with bringing them all together into one happy little colony. Favorite Quote
1) ...I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center. ... Big, undreamed-of things --- the people on the edge see them first. Kurt Vonnegut, "Player Piano" 2) Beauty fades, dumb is forever -- Judge Judy, almost daily My Bio
Very old, b. 1957 in New Martinsville, WVa. Live in Central Texas now. I'm Mother to Ophelia, a 4-foot ball python; Domino, a regular cat; and Shikoni, Washi and Kioko, three lively gliders; and Step-Mother to Mike, a 13-year old former stray yellow shepherd. We and other humans all live together in quite surprising harmony.

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