In Reply to: Picking up gliders, and getting them into pockets posted by Joe on April 08, 1999 at 03:10:40:

: I know this may sound kind of ignorant on my behalf, but how am I supposed to pick up my glider? I have had him for about a month and am yet to have to pick him up, say from his sides. For the most part I hold my hand out in front of him and he jumps on.

: My concern is should I try to "pick him up" so he is comfortable if I ever need to, or can I get by with how I am doing it?

It's good that he'll jump on to your hand, but you're right, you should develop a technique for picking him up should the need arise -- When I pick ours up whle sleepy, I use my hand like a gentle crane or like piking up a large ball gently. That way I can use a finger or two to dislodge their nails as they snag without letting go of the animal, and it seems to be pretty comfortable/secure for my kids. Otherwise, I use both hands and cup 'em from the sides and underneath.

: One other thing that has nothing to do with picking him up. He has no intention of going inside a pocket. I have tried numerous times, with different shirts, coats, etc. and he just wont. Is this a major set back in the bonding process if I can't get him in?

I have four, of them the two females refuse to stay in a pocket I choose to put them in. However, if they happen upon a pocket they will crawl in on their own and fall asleep in it, then I cant get 'em out. For the most part, I just use a pouch that they're used to sleeping in.

I gotta couple of ideas for ya --

1. You could put a shirt with a pocket in his cage to sleep in rather than a pouch or nesting box. He might get used to the pocket idea.

2 Or, you could pocket him while he's REALLY sleepy. They will usually just want to go back to sleep. At first, you dont want to move around much, but as he gets used to the pocket thing, you could start doing more. If he wakes up, stop/be still and let him go back to sleeep.

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