 | Posted by: | Ashweed, sheena850@hotmail.com | | Subject: | New Family | | When: | 9:38 AM, 15 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.105.131.65 |
As some of you who have met me in chat know, I recently took in a glider family of 4. Adorable family, there is one problem, the breeding pair, Tiki(mom) and Kalua(dad) are 3yrs old, and they are still very skittish.Tiki and her daughters Truce and Peanut are doing great, Truce has aready bonded with me completely, unfortunately I promised her as a present to someone else. LOL. But Peanut still does the lil' "I'm gonna whack you with my paw, if you get near me again. So be afraid be VERY afraid!" thing upon occasion.LOL The dad nips, the mom is just nervous I think, she runs around and digs her claws in my bare skin, but my main concern is Kalua, he nips and it seems the more I try to spend time with him, the more aggressive he gets, I have tried hanging a shirt that has my scent over their cage, and I have kept him and his family in my pocket during the day and such, but almost everyday I get nipped once or twice, and I know the bonding process could take days or months, and this little pair of breeders has been, what I call abandoned twice and I am their 3rd owner, and I think that may have a lot to do with it. If anyone has any ideas, they would be greatly appreciated, and I have tried giving him pine nuts and Leadbetters mix on my finger, and he lift his head up and looks at it, but No Go. I really like him, and I hope that eventually he will trust me, and as I said any and all ideas to help the bonding process are GREATLY appreciated.
|
| Posted by: | Barb, blooprints@yahoo.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 10:37 AM, 15 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 63.178.69.34 |
Some will disagree, but I will relate my experience to you. I have some gliders that would not bond. I took them with me everyday all day for over three months, and they still bite hard. I have had them for 3 years - they were separated years ago because they did not even like each other. Those that say any glider will bond have not met Pudy Tat. Evey vet or other person that knows gliders and has seen the joeys I have raised will tell you that my gliders are exceptional, breeders included. I have always raised healthy, happy animals so I know that I know what I am doing. (I haven't had sick animals in nearly 5 years, so I have no experience in dealing with that.) Pudy and the F he came with were given to me to tame down so the breeder could sell them; they wouldn't settle down. Then I was given the pair and was to pay for them with babies. The pair never had them together. The F did not get along with numerous other males: she was pretty cantankerous herself.....She died this year - I think BooBoo jumped on the lid to their (bird)house with her between it. I gave her mouth to mouth and kept her going for awhile when I found her, but there was too much spinal damage. I say do the best you can, but I certainly would not blame myself if I had done all I could and the animal wouldn't respond. (Personally, people that imply that I don't know what I am doing or am a liar ought to grow up and get a life!)
| Posted by: | Ashweed, sheena850@hotmail.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 11:08 AM, 15 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.105.131.65 |
Barb, thanks. I am sorry to hear about ur F that died. I hate that. Kalua doesn't bite hard. Just nips, but last night he almost broke the skin.  and it was rather painful and thanks to Tiki and her needle-sharp claws, my hands look like I drug them trhough broken glass, lol. And they still hurt, and if Kalua won't bond, that would be ok, Like I said he doesn't bite hard and when he does it's usually when my hand is near enough to his mouth while I am moving him from the nestbox to my pocket or vice-versa and when I carry him back to the cage. Thanks for your input Barb, you know I greatly appreciate it.
| Posted by: | Brittney Jones, chdrfry@hotmail.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 12:13 PM, 15 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 65.6.222.166 |
I have had experience in the past with biters and gliders that took a while to bond. My first glider was completely uname when I got her. You could walk by her cage and she would crab at you from her pouch. It was BAD. I tried everything that I could think of to make her like me, but nothing worked. It wasn't until I began feeding her meal worm that she finally became more tame. I had her for four years before I ever found out about BML or anything like that. The pet store where we bought her told us to feed her Eukanuba cat food (Lamb and Rice formula) and fruits and veggies. That was all. Someohow she survived for four years on that diet. When I began reading this page, I started feeding her mealworms and BML and she was much happier.
She loved mealworms and eventually she would come when I chattered to her because she associated the sound with her favorite treat It was so cute. Within two weeks of feedig her mealworms, I was able to pick her up and she would sit in my hand while she ate. She had never let me do that in the previous fours years, and I had carried her everywhere with me. I know it sounds really weird, but maybe there is one special treat out there that would possibly help you too. Mine was mealworms.
Incidentally, two months ago I bought a 9wk OOP female that was almost as untame as my first had been. The mealworms are working with her too. The effects haven't been as fast, but then again I haven't owned her as long. She used to crab when I walked by her cage during the day too. Now she only crabs when I reach into her house to get her up. Once she is out, she will sit on my arm and lt me pet her and scratch under her chin. She has even started rubbing noses with me, kind of like cats will do. It is incredibly cute. She never tries to bite, she just touches her nose to mine and sniffs for a couple seconds, then looks away
I hope this helps a little. Please let us know how everything works out and if he ever starts to bond.
Brittney
Kayla and Lily
| Posted by: | Brittney Jones, chdrfry@hotmail.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 12:17 PM, 15 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 65.6.222.166 |
I forgot to add that you have to be careful how many mealworms you feed them because they have a high fat content. This doesn't hurt the bonding process though. I've found that they look forward to the mealworms each day. I think having to give them only a few each day makes them think of the mealworms as more of a treat.
Brittney
Kayla and Lily
| Posted by: | Ashweed, sheena850@hotmail.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 1:00 PM, 15 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.105.131.65 |
Thanks Brittney! Both you and Barb have been really helpful, I put a different shirt over the cage that I wore longer than the other, and I moved their cage to a better location. But they are right next to two Chiffalaros (Haiwaiin plants that I am unsure of. ) The Gliders can't get to them though. Like I said if anyone has any more ideas, any and all suggestions are appreciated. So keep 'em comin'! lol.
Thankz,
Ashweed
Kalua, Tiki, Truce, and Peanut 
| Posted by: | Debbie, delliott@tulane.edu | | Subject: | Taming hungry gliders | | When: | 8:59 AM, 16 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.227.111.97 |
Hi
I have had my gliders now for about 6-7 weeks. They were fed a suboptimal diet by their previous owners. We are still LEARNING, thanks to this site and Glider Central. Anyway, my Dobby is very bold and although friendly would attack my shoulder, my daughter's head, and my fingers. He also grabbed crickets out of my fingers with such relish I suffered some bites that way, as well.
Because of several unrelated concerns, I started doing three things differently this week:
1. I now feed crickets and mealworms only in the morning (all other foods in evening)
2. I put Dobby's crickets in his carrying case and let him catch them and eat them in there (this spares my fingers, I put them in the case before I get him out)
3. Now his tummy is full of the protein he was obviously craving before playtime and he bites/attacks us much much less! (Wish I could say not at all... but the difference is truly welcome!)
So maybe Kalua is just hungry! Good luck and happy gliding!
| Posted by: | Jasmine, Spookie_Girl@yahoo.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 5:57 PM, 16 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 165.247.116.219 |
Never give up taming/bonding a glider. It can take a young glider 3-6 months to bond (longer for an adult). Those that bond faster are in the minority. I do agree with Barb, though, that some may not truly bond. These are usually wild gliders or animals that weren't raised properly when young. My Zelda (had her 5 years) was either wild-caught or farm-raised, and she has never warmed up to me the way my captive-bred boys have. She's very playful and rarely nips, but she crabs alot and rarely cuddles the way Murry and Loki do. I still love her all the same though...silly little nut!!! She and I found "games" that we play with each other (feathers are great).
Anyhow, hand-feeding is an excellent way to bond to gliders. Mealworms are actually not really high in fat and should be at least 25% of the diet (unless you use other sources of protein - crickets). Waxworms are the fattening insects you need to watch out for.
I've used peach baby food or peach/nectarine nectar (grocery store juice aisle) to bond my guys. It works great with younger animals and you can give it to them via an eyedrop or let them lick it off your finger. I think it works so well because they associate it as nursing from their mom.
I also watched TV in the dark (or dim-lighting) during bonding sessions early in the evening. I'd cover the youngster under my hand on my stomach or chest (kind of like a cave) and feed them. As long as it's early enough in the evening they are usually really mellow because they are sleepy and will enjoy having the dark warm shelter. Even the crabby ones relax after enough of this. It's important that you are relaxed, too, because they can sense it when your not and that makes them edgy (phermones, heartbeat?)...that's why vegging in front of the tube seemed to help me.
Another practice (old trick to tame fiesty reptiles) is to take an old unwashed shirt, rip it up and use it as bedding. Sugar gliders have a strong sense of smell, and your smell in their bedding will get them more used to you.
I hope you have more success with your little crew. Please keep us updated if/when you make any breakthroughs.
| Posted by: | Ashweed | | Subject: | Update | | When: | 7:21 PM, 16 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.105.131.65 |
Well, Kalua is getting better he just nipped me a minute ago, but it wasn't painful he just put his teeth on my hand and pushed down a little bit. He's doing better, he's the only one in my pocket at the moment, he won't take food from my hands, not Leadbetters or Pine nuts, I'm trying not to give up on him. I do have some crickets, but they are for my lizard, and they are and have been dead for about 3 months, so I don't think it would be a good idea to give them to Kalua and his family. He doesn't crab near as much, the mother does, but with four gliders it's kind of hard to give them all an equal amount of attention, but Truce and Peanut are already spoken for so as soon as they are 9wks o.o.p they have very loving homes to go to, so then spending time with Tiki and Kalua will be MUCH easier, oh another thing, Tiki has had three litters since March, I want her to take a break from joeys for a little while, any ideas? lol.
Thanks,
Ashley
Tiki & Kalua
Truce and Peanut
| Posted by: | Ashweed | | Subject: | none | | When: | 6:15 PM, 17 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.105.131.65 |
Oh yeah I did the suggestion about an old dirty t-shirt cut up and put in the nest box as bedding, so hopefully that will work. Thanx, any more advice is welcome! lol 
| Posted by: | Barb, blooprints@yahoo.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 8:31 PM, 17 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 63.178.65.115 |
Just one quick question, Ash, are you washing your hands before handling the gliders? (If you have been handling another animal or eating - or smoking before handling the glider this could cause them to nip....Julie, a gal that got one of my first gliders kept a rigid schedule with her Gizmo. She woke him up at 9 PM every night and talked to him for 5 minutes, allowing him to wake up....Then she'd reach in and let him out for an hour or more - she let him have the run of the place, but was taught not to enter the kitchen --- she was afraid he'd get on a hot burner...Gizmo learned on his own to flip the stereo on when he wanted Julie's attention...Gliders do have distinct tastes and Gizmo did not like Julie's first boyfriend, so when he got too close, Gizmo crabbed...He doesn't crab at her current boyfriend. Julie called me one day to tell me Gizmo must be maturing because he was starting to smell. After questioning her about the location of the cage, I determined that she periodically bumped into it when passing...She moved the cage and the smell disappeared. Gliders will give off a musky odor when they are scared or upset. Hope that helps some.
| Posted by: | PreddyFairy, preddyfairy@aol.com | | Subject: | none | | When: | 8:57 PM, 17 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 152.163.207.183 |
Ash,
dont give up. I have had Wicket for 6 months and he still gives me puncture bites. We are working on it but the best thing you can be is patient. Like your gliders, he had a previous owner who did not care for him as well as they should. In fact, they left him with their parents when they went away for a week or a weekend or something and the parents didnt give the glider water, killing the female via dehydration. Hes been through some crap huh? I am sure yours has too. You seem to be doing a great job with them so far.Just spend as much time as possible and they should settle down some. It does take time to bond with older gliders I know this for a fact. Wicket was a year old when I got him he is now 1 1/2 so I know its gonna take some time. But he is semi tame I would say, even though he bites, he doesnt crab at me to often, he seems to have his mood swings. Zia I started bonding with when she was about 4-6 months OOP, and withint 2 or 3 months she was completely bonded and didnt want to spend a moment alone in that cage. Definitely spend some time with all your gliders concentrating on trust. Imagine yourself as your gliders and remember, youre still a stranger to them so be gentle and try your hardest not to startle them. Protect them and above all - Trust them!!! even if you know if you give them your hand to crawl into, youre gonna get bitten, do not pull away, let them do it, i promise the pain wont last for ever lol remember i get bitten very often!! If you get any questions feel free to ask me.. I will tell you all I know. Bourbon is a Godsend with it comes to taming gliders so if you can catch her in Chat take some of her tips and book mark her bonding page --> www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/bonding.html
I have it bookmarked myself!!! Follow it daily! Make it your 2nd bible!! and Good Luck!
=P
Your friend,
PF
| Posted by: | Ashweed | | Subject: | Good news | | When: | 9:34 PM, 18 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.105.131.65 |
This is a forum for discussion. Placements of messages wanting sugar gliders or selling sugar gliders will be deleted.
| Posted by: | Ashweed | | Subject: | Good News | | When: | 9:45 PM, 18 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.105.131.65 |
Whoops, sorry about that. Kalua is eatting LBM off my fingers! I got them a hamster ball until i get a wondent wheel and Kalua is currently rolling around my bedroom and Tiki is in one of my pockets and Truce and Peanut are in another. Tiki suffers from "Seperation Anxiety" lol. She hates to be away from Kalua, I can't blame her, lol. He just sooo cute. Newayz Tiki used to eat LBM off my fingers and now doesn't, Oy, when Truce and Peanut go to their new homes in January, I'm hoping spending time with both parents will be much easier. I think it is mainly trust, they've been abandoned twice, and even humans have trust issues after that, but I have been told by plenty of people that gliders are very tender hearted and I am finding that to be true. I need another Hamster Ball, for Tiki, she likes it to, so they have to alternate lol...Yes I know Hamster Ball= Bad, but they like it, oh yeah I gave my gliders egg and the mom ate out ALL of the yoke from like 1/3 of the egg and left the rest, which was all i gave them, i don't think they even ate any of the shell...Anyways, that's all for now, thanks!
| Posted by: | Ashweed | | Subject: | none | | When: | 11:24 PM, 19 Dec 2000 | | IP: | 216.105.131.65 |
Tiki is yet again with joey. Grr, I was kind of hoping she would have some time off, but I guess not.
|
|
Home
Glider Gossip
Gliderpedia
Journals
Resources