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Subject: Re: EVERYONE PLEASE READ .. I am tired..
Posted by Drue on August 19, 1998 at 20:56:28:

In Reply to: EVERYONE PLEASE READ .. I am tired.. posted by Bourbon on August 18, 1998 at 09:32:29:

Bourbon:

I agree with you wholeheartedly. I have had my gliders for over two years, with never any problems, and then I read all the posts from people who's gliders seem to die right and left. Along with neglect and improper care, another reason may be those who continually inbreed generation after generation. I don't know other's views on inbreeding, but I cannot see how it could be a good thing, and it seems to me that it would produce inferior, genetically defective gliders. As with all exotics, people think they're *neat* to own, but when it comes to the work they don't want to do the time. I raise both cockatiels and gliders, and I have stopped selling my 'tiels because I don't think most people will go through the hassle of chopping up fresh fruits and veggies EVERY morning. And I can't stand to think of my babies not having their groceries, only seed. What a dismal existence. With the gliders, I had hoped that because of the initial cost, that people would be more willing to take care of them, rather than lose money. But I sold one a couple of weeks ago and it was all I could do not to take it right back. You see, she already had one glider, so I (incorrectly) thought she knew how to take care of them. When I was getting the glider she purchased out of its cage, she spotted the bowl of food and said hers wouldn't eat any of that. I thought she meant something specific in the bowl, so I asked what hers wouldn't eat, and she said, "ANY of it." I asked her what she fed hers, and she said all he would eat was strawberry yogurt. So that's all she fed him! I keep a pre-printed list of all the things they like, along with the Leadbeater's recipe, and I gave her that and explained that she HAD to feed the one she bought from me the stuff on the list, and that if she wanted her male to live she needed to expand its diet. She had bought a book that day on gliders, so that gave me some reasurrance, and I told her about this site. She seemed sincere about feeding them correctly in the future. I hope she does. I even went out and caught a grasshopper to show her how much mine enjoy them. And, boy, do they ever. Anyway, I'm sorry this post is so long, but I understand exactly what you are saying. People never fail to amaze me with how they treat animals.

Drue

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