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Message:
I was vacationing in Florida when I first saw a wonderfully tamed sugar, and I will admit that I did then go out and buy a 3 month old glider on impulse. I did not know the difficulties I would face in bonding, the barking at night and the work involved in caring for a sugar glider. That said, even not knowing, I am a lover of animals and take my responsibility toward them very seriously. Now that I am a sugar glider owner, I would consider doing no less then my best to give this darling -- if not cantankerous -- little animal the best life possible. We have a great cage -- very tall & roomy. We have sleeping pouches, toys, trees, etc. I select fresh fruits, fresh veggies, yogurt, cottage cheese, baby food graduates and some bits of chicken & monkey biscuits. But what I'm really worried about is the bonding issue. My sugar glider lets me pet him when he's asleep in his sheepskin pouch, but that's as far as we've gotton. When I open the pouch to talk to him, he crabs very loudly. In fact, he crabs whenever he sees my face & hears my voice. It's as if he likes being pet, but doesn't associate my face with the person that pets him. I carry him around during the day in his sleeping pouch tucked into a little cloth handbag that is just the right size for the pouch. But if I take him out and hold him in my hands, he bites ...hard. He'll bite multiple times until I let him loose. My husband thinks he wants to go the bathroom and is upset because he is in a confined space. Could that be? Also, if I let him run around, he wants nothing to do with me and doesn't want to be caught. He won't take fruit from me, instead he gets very irritated. I have a hamster ball for him, but I wonder if that is a good thing to use right now, because it may isolate him & take away from the bonding process. I have a home office, so I can afford the time to carry him around & pet him. I'm worried, however, that I am not doing all the things I should to support the bonding process, because I'm afraid of getting bitten. He's drawn blood and I'm a little skidish. He is so cute -- his name is Willie -- and I don't want to be guilty of keeping him a lonely sugar glider. I certainly want the best possible relationship with Willie, but I also want him to have a top quality life. Could anybody give me specific details on a daily program for bonding? Also, how to get over the fear of being bitten? Thanks for the help. Debra
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