Hello, I'm new to this forum and was just wanting some advice on Bonding with my new girls Thelma and Louise I got them from a sugar glider rescue and are sisters about 6 months old. They have been doing great and have made great progress with them from start (had them almost 3 weeks now) Louise used to stand up crab like crazy lunge and try to bite kept startling me at first and I stopped and let her bite me and didn't move she hit me twice then came to me took the fruit and has came to me since but now Thelma who was I thought was going to bond a lot quicker (not aggressive at all) is very timid, they both take dried papaya bites from me Louise very readily she even greets me at the cage door but I can't coax her into my hand they both do honey licky treats and just started mealworms I have been doing this every night and talking to them and bonding pouch every day I can, I want some help and opinions on if I am doing enough and if they will bond to me like this and when will they be ready for bathroom time lol I have no tent I have a small glider proofed bathroom but I don't want to rush it too soon I love them both very much and want to make sure it all goes very well.
-thanks

I would think you could start playroom time now.
1. keep it dark, low light.
2. let them explore, you sit and watch, leave them be. having some toys in room would be good idea.
3. you can feed them treats.
4. bring SLEEPing pouch, at end of playroom time, turn up lights some and offer them sleeping pouch. they should go back in easy, but give them some time to decide they want in pouch. if not, then you will have to put them in pouch.

I am in the same boat except with a single glider. Ten months old is what I was told. The last owners had him since 12 weeks oop. He was bonded to them but with me he is just scared. He bit me once. It bled. He still tried to bite me unless I have a treat. He will also turn his back in the pouch and curl up in a ball and try to get as far away from me as possible. I know he is scared and this is all new to him. I picked him up Monday night. I have been pouch wearing but he seems to just want to be left alone. Should I try tent time or give him a few more days to adjust? I just want to not stress him out and scare him any more than he already has been by being uprooted. And I really want him to like me and want to be with me. He was rehomed (I was told) due to her other gliders being mean to him. He is supposed to be neutered already.

I am in the same boat except with a single glider. Ten months old is what I was told. The last owners had him since 12 weeks oop. He was bonded to them but with me he is just scared. He bit me once. It bled. He still tried to bite me unless I have a treat. He will also turn his back in the pouch and curl up in a ball and try to get as far away from me as possible. I know he is scared and this is all new to him. I picked him up Monday night. I have been pouch wearing but he seems to just want to be left alone. Should I try tent time or give him a few more days to adjust? I just want to not stress him out and scare him any more than he already has been by being uprooted. And I really want him to like me and want to be with me. He was rehomed (I was told) due to her other gliders being mean to him. He is supposed to be neutered already.

Sorry that posted twice. I feel like I had a breakthrough today. I followed my gut and just let him have the day in his cage to relax. It paid off! He was awake when I came in (his cage is in my room away from cats and kids) so I offered him some live meal worms and he got into my hand and sat in my bed with me feeding him meal worms. (And spitting the less desirable bits on my blanket.....thanks for that.....also pooped in my hand....again, thanks Rupert lol) he was so engrossed in the container that when we were done I gave him the rest of the sawdust and stuff to dig through and okay in. Then I put him back and gave him his healthy food. I think we are finally bonding!

Hey there. I know how frustrating it is when you first start out with gliders. I have more scars from bite marks and claws than most. I know that sounds crazy but trying to bond has been a nightmare. So after 6 months of trying to get them into a bonding pouch I tried the bribery method. They can be bribed with certain snacks. Mine love hard boiled egg pieced chopped fine, yogurt with fruit ( Yoplait, but no more than teaspoon) they like dried papaya and yogurt drops, and their favorite is yellow corn.( I use low sodium sweet canned corn) only a few pieces tho they can be spoiled very quickly and not eat their regular diets. I had more success at snacktime than bonding pouch time with mine. I don't know the ages of my females, they came from 2 different families and I was lucky they bonded together. I named mine cuppy-cake and Lolly-pop. Patience is the key to forming a relationship with your glider/gliders. It's normal for them to feel intimidated by humans,we are huge compared to them.I place my hand in the cage everyday, so they could get use to my smell and see that I was not backing down from bonding with them. It took me 8 months to get lolly to let me reach in and pet her. She lets me pick her up but lightly bites me still. Just to let me know she doesn't fully trust me. I think it's in their wild nature to feel that way. I also give mine a bath every couple of months so they won't smell so pungent. The females that aren't fixed will have a strong scent during mating seasons. Which is quite frequent. I use dawn dish soap on the cage and in their bubble bath. They need the house very warm if you bathe them. No drafts or they could catch cold and die. I also put mine in a hamster ball for exercise when they are fighting and arguing alot over food. Sometimes the females will take food from the other gliders to show dominance. I have cleaned up baby food from the strangest places when I hear them arguing. Mine don't hurt each other but they sure sound like it's a big deal going on in their cage. I thought owning them was easy until I realized you have to spend time with them everyday, talking to them, touching them and letting them explore. When you don't take the time with them they will withdrawal from you and it seems like you have to start all over again with bonding. I let mine bark and call for me when they crab and play the biting game. Now Cuppy comes to the side of the cage and begs to come out and get a snack from my hands. Everything I do with these gliders is a learning experience. I know I love them and they are pets, but then again I know they are still wild animals and will revert back to nature when they are not happy with their human.