It's only been a week since Shikoni and Washi decided to be friends! I've been shuttling Washi back and forth, morning and evening, to visit Shikoni and then back home. This morning I got Washi and Kioko, who were in their pouch, and Shikoni and we all went into the bathroom. I'd set up the room with two battery lanterns because Kioko doesn't like the bright overhead lights. I had to physically turn the brothers out, into the sink; Shikoni was running up and down my arms and shoulders. Washi came and joined him, and they jumped onto the towels hanging on the door. Kioko went to the floor, scurried around for a minute or two, then found the robe belt and up he went. They met at the top on the door hooks; I took a couple of pictures of them sniffing at each other; then they all disappeared into the dark space behind the towels. I sat down to wait and see what would happen.
There was not a single crab or fuss. I heard the tooth-clicking sound, and the soft hiss that always comes with it; and a couple of grooming sneezes. I saw the cloth swaying; every now and then a face would peek out, or a tail appear. At one point Kioko came to the top and tried to follow the door frame, but there was no where to go, so he went back down. I left them alone for a good half hour.
I brought the pouch over, and they all three ran right into it. Took them into the library and set the pouch down on the floor of Shikoni's cage; they all three came out. Kioko explored for a few minutes with the other two right behind him. Then Shikoni went into his nest; after a minute Kioko put his head in but waited, as if for an invitation. Again the clicking and soft hiss, then Kioko went all the way in! Washi soon joined them. I stayed just in case there was a fight, ready to destroy the nest if necessary to break it up. After about fifteen minutes Washi came out and went into a pouch. I looked into the nest; Kioko and Shikoni were curled up side be side, noses touching, eyes half-closed ... they're good friends already!
I believe that Washi acting as go-between made these two ready to accept each other. When he came to visit, he had Kioko's scent with him; and when he went home, he had Shikoni's scent. Both associated the scent of the other with their mutual friend, and so there was no trouble.
They've been together for an hour and a half now, from the first face-to-face to sleeping together. Dinner time will be the next challenge; I'll have two feeding stations set up and stay until they get it all sorted out.
If this works for twenty-four hours, I'll take the other cage to the basement and just have one, plus my small hospital cage. Then I can get a tent!
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