In Reply to: Breeding information and a way I can give my glider enough calcium posted by Maly on January 16, 19100 at 17:40:46:

Breeding isnt and should never be anything you do just because you want babies, first you have to think about the adults. You have a female, how old? Here's something good to remember- Always get a female glider a male mate who is the same age, or younger. If he's older he'll most likely rape and/or kill her OR she'll have joeys too young and joeys almost always will end up dying, her health deteriorates quickly because she is not ready for joeys. In any case, just dont go that route and risk the females health and life.
Here's what's been my experience with keeping males together. My 2 males(father and son) dont have many problems. Father is alpha male and will NOT allow son to breed with the mother, why? because he's alpha and will defend his position even if it means fighting his son. In my situation the son tried once to breed with mama glider and got himself in trouble. It wasnt a bad fight, but Jerry(dad) held his position as alpha male. Sacer(son) hasnt ever tried to breed again. Alpha males(from what I know) will try and breed with the daughters because alpha males breed all the females in the colony. I haven't had experience with this, but this is just from what I know.
As for your vet idea, bad move- dont do it! Female gliders depend on the male gliders to help raise the babies. Male gliders NEED(I cant stress this enough people)NEED to be there, taking the male away after breeding is cruel. Just like with people, they are family, a mated pair and they both raise the babies. Taking the female gliders "hubby" away stresses her out, she will get depressed, not eat, kill the joeys, lots of things can happen so just avoid this. Not just with the female either- males know about the babies too and get very protective and it would be mean to take him when he wants to be with his babies. Thats a bad route.
Now, after you decide what age male to get for the female(Im assuming you'll avoid the vet's males idea) then you need to be able to keep him. They will become a pair. If you want babies to keep for yourself(again, Im assuming you want them for yourself). Neutering- best to neuter the male while the babies are still in pouch so they wont breed again(they re-breed once joeys come OOP). That will make it so you only have 1 set and no more surprises later. It will also avoid inbreeding with any female joeys. If you have any male joeys, I would suggest neutering them too or you can just seperate by which sex they are. I think I covered that subject.
One thing that annoys me is when people blindly jump into breeding and then the gliders end up suffering. I am so glad you asked before you leaped.
Here's a page I wrote about breeding gliders and joey developement.
As for the calcium question, I'll let someone else handle that cuz Im not into diet discussion right now.

• My glider page

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• Re: a way I can give my glider enough calcium katie 22:42:18 1/16/100 (0)