Message:

Subject: Re: Parents are killing their young!
Posted by Jane on September 24, 1998 at 08:51:28:

In Reply to: Parents are killing their young! posted by Kathy on September 24, 1998 at 07:14:32:

If these guys were suffering from calcium deficiency then it is completely expected that they ate their young. This stopped the babies draining them and killing them. It is a survival trait. My question would be if they have started to now associate babies with killing. Leave them be for a few months and up the protein and calcium immensely then watch the first litter carefully. If they kill it is now a behavioural pattern and I would neuter the male to stop grief. But with a good diet I would give these guys one last chance. Oh and thank you for rescuing these gliders. There are too many abused animals out there, it is nice to hear of someone trying to help.
Jane
: Hello Everybody!

: I'm a new sugar glider owner and also new on the internet, so please bear with me, ok?

: Recently someone gave me a pair of sugar gliders. This is my second try - I had one a few months ago, which died from a vitamin deficiency. I researched the subject and found out what I did wrong, so I'm more confident in that area with this new pair.

: Both of these guys came to me suffering from calcium deficiency - the previous owner lost interest & unfortunately didn't keep up with the correct diet. Now that I have them back on good food and supplements, they are getting stronger every day.

: I am very interested in breeding them, but the previous owner said that when they've bred in the past, they've killed the babies. She said she's had them for 3 years and they bred 13 times. I don't know if thats even possible, or at what age the babies were killed, but I've never heard of anyone complain of this. Does it happen often? Why does it happen? How can I get this to stop?

: If anyone out there can help me, please e-mail me at Kifkaf@yahoo.com. I'd appreciate any info I can get!

: Thanx -

: Kathy

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