So, I've had my two sugar gliders for a month now, and they're young ones (14 weeks yesterday). I love them and they are the sweetest things, especially compared to some stories and gliders I've heard about on here! I hold them every day and they sleep in my shirt and bra while I watch tv Only problem is....
I'm scared to hold them when they're awake! The cage is in my room which is the basement of my house (finished of course) but it has a large closet, bed, bathroom, stairs, and lots of hiding places! It kills me because in the morning they run to the door of the cage and wait for me to come play. I always open it up and give them treats and they jump right onto me, but I usually put them back within 5 minutes because I'm scared they will jump off of me and get lost! They're so speedy!
I have done 1 bathroom time (I don't have a tent) and now they think they can just jump off and run anytime they want to! The bathroom I use for them is upstairs (safer) so it's hard to get them into a pouch and upstairs when they're wide awake..(VERY hard!)
I want to trust them and allow them to just jump on and off me, but I just can't! I love them too much to lose them!
In the bathroom the one time I tried to teach them to come when I made certain noises and I had treats but they didn't seem to care at all...
Any advice??!
Thanks!

I'm not sure what to tell you with this one. If your room isn't glider-proof, then I agree to not allow them to run around in there. A tent would be your best bet by the sounds of it.

If you can't afford a tent at the moment, your bathroom would make a good play room. That's what I used before I got my tent. Just make sure to glider proof it - like keeping the toilet seat down.

Bathroom. That's what I mostly use. I have a tent but my house is small.

I feel you there, my Sansbug tent takes up almost half of the living room. Bathrooms do make great play areas, though. I used my bathroom for close to a year before I got a tent that I liked and actually used. :O)

I have my gliders in the basement and was having the same issues. I gliderproofed my bedroom. Makes it alot easier. Is there any way you can purchase a pop up tent? It will be easier to set up and take down, and should fit well in a basement. Otherwise, I would glider proof a room.

I know just how you're feeling!! I only just started to have them on me when they're awake more often. Doing lots of tent time helped (glider playroom not ready yet).
I'm still nervous to do it if no one else is home with me, but they're getting way better.
You may feel foolish, but try one at a time and just keep moving!! Preferably in circles, don't let them lock onto anything. You can see when they're considering jumping, they look, bob their heads a little, then
leap.

Oh that's a good idea! I usually sit down and then yeah they see something and I'm like, no! Don't jump! Haha! Will try that! Thanks!

When they're awake, gliders very rarely want to sit still on you. They don't like being held at the best of times, let alone at night lol. Mine will tolerate being held and they're fully bonded.

It does take time

We had the same problem when we first had tent time with our gliders. Ending playtime was nerve-wracking for them and me because they wanted to play (and didn't entirely trust me yet).

For some time now all I have to do at the end of play time is shake the zipper of the pouch (we always use the same bonding pouch for this) and drop it on the floor. Four gliders seemingly come out of nowhere to converge on the pouch! They know that they are getting a ride back to the cage for dinner. Every once in a while one or two will decide not come when called, so I just come back for them. This all took some time, so be persistent and consistent.

Speaking of which, it's time to gather them up.

Also, after three years, I still don't trust our youngest gliders on me outside of a secure space. They will jump off at the first opportunity.

Lots of good advice! Thanks everyone!

I had an all-hands-off-deck bail on me today -- took my family of 4 out in the bonding pouch for mealworms and socializing, and since I had just washed it, it didn't smell familiar...so the minute I walked out into the livingroom, everyone jumped ship. Daddy ran up my chest onto my shoulder and decided to make me try to balance him on my back, while both babies jumped to the floor, and Mama climbed around the back of the pouch...which left me juggling it and trying to keep from dropping it as she's a major biter. So here I am trying to balance the adults while trying to watch where the two babies went so I can get to them. Luckily I'm OCD about keeping my house clean and HATE clutter/junk, so there is nowhere for them to get to that I wouldn't be able to easily get them out (like under the couch, behind a fish tank, etc). Plus my house has to be ferret-proof, so it in turn is also glider-proof.

The biggest piece of advice I got when first getting into gliders and has proven itself time and time again -- always carry a big piece of fleece with you or carry one of the larger fleece bags that your cage sets usually come in, whenever you have your gliders out of the cage. That way if one jumps and takes off suddenly, you can use the fleece to safely grab it without hurting it, scoop it up securely so they don't feel like they're being squeezed, and protect yourself from any defensive biting. Luckily my boyfriend and his daughter saw the major bail today and both knew to quickly grab fleece off the shelf (I keep quite a few pieces out for different uses) and catch the 2 little runaways and hold them in it until they got them back to the cage...while I tried to briskly walk into the animal room as I balanced the parents. Felt like a circus act! Thank HEAVEN for fleece though! LOL!

Haha!!! Yeah I better be careful! Good advice though! I'm usually pretty clean too, it's just a large room.

Have you gotten a tent yet? I haven't, but plan to do so now that I'm on summer break from classes and have a lot of extra time to spend with them. That way they can be loose without escaping anywhere.

No I haven't. I keep reading how everyone is getting them for $30 or $40 but when I find the same tent anywhere, even amazon, they're $50-$70 with shipping! I'd rather just use the bathroom free

I found a smaller size pet tent on amazon for 25 bucks, if that helps. Its blue.

I actually got a tent last week
Thanks though!

Hi I am new here but I bought this from ebay.com I am short so this will clear my head by three inches.

48"x48"x36"H 2-DOOR SOFT PLAYPEN DOG CRATE CAGE KENNEL. It was less than sixty bucks and it is totally enclosed, but big enough for me to have tent time and not have a big expensive tent to do it

I have a couple of tents but this one is above and beyond my favorite and only $44 with free shipping!
Glider play tent

It goes up and down in seconds and stows away nice and small, it's also completely enclosed so no worries of escape artists underneath

You guys are crazy to spend that much! I got mine a Walmart.com. It's a large explorer tent. It's a kids tent but it's 5x5x3 and great! There aren't any hooks nice though but it's completely zippered n and was only 21 with shipping and tax!!!!

Those are all really nice! I actually got a tent a few weeks ago...(:
And I love it!

Yes we are crazy, but we do what we can! I didn't spend money on a tent at all, we built them their own playroom!

For those that are wanting to buy a tent, watch the tents at Wal-Mart or other stores. Most of them are made primarily out of the nylon and not much mesh on the sides. Those are very hard for gliders to climb on and there's not much ventilation. You and your gliders will get very hot in them. You want a tent that is primarily mesh.

I got mine cuz I can also use for whelping pups and it has vented sides

http://www.ebay.com/itm/48-x48-x36-H-2-DOOR-SOFT-PLAYPEN-DOG-CRATE-CAGE-KENNEL-/140581735716?_trksid=p5197.m1992&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14%26meid%3D1300610340526683362%26pid%3D100015%26prg%3D1006%26rk%3D1%26

Less than sixty with free shipping