Hello all! I am a WAHM and have PLENTY of time to carry around my babies! We are animal people at heart and I can't wait for these two babies to be bonded to me and feel safe in our home. I have done my research (although first hand knowledge is always best and that will come in due time). However, I do have a question about mating. We DID get a male and female. However, we were told they were only 12 weeks and tonight is day ONE of having them home. Well they seem to get along very well and I haven't heard as much crabbing as when I first brought them home this morning. Well, the male (who is a little smaller than the female) keeps mounting the female. He is grabbing at her neck just like all the links said he would. But aren't they TOO YOUNG? This just started as they have only been in the same cage for 5-6 hours. Either they are too young and I'm missing some other behavior pattern here, or the breeder said they were 12weeks when they are slightly older than that.

Question is what do I do with them for this immediate situation? Do I separate them right this second or is the damage done? They both bit my husband today so I'm not wanting to mess with them tonight and let them get used to just seeing me and being near them. He grabbed them the wrong way each time and so he probably deserved it a tad bit as I would have freaked out too! ANYWAY, we didn't intend on dealing with the mating issue the FIRST night home! Any tips on what to do? I wanted to bond with them before they even attempted to have joeys.

Oh and I meant to ask, I hear when he starts doing this there is the 24 hour rule meaning MOVE FAST! He was making the movements like something was going on, but I'm just not sure if it is what I was thinking I was seeing. I felt like I did thorough research on these babies but this caught me off guard and now I'm trying to figure out what to do with them for these next couple days. I would think separating them would be traumatic and they need less of that since they were just ripped from everything the knew.

I also meant to say we did not intend on any mating issues for a long while. We knew we would have to separate them each time etc. I just had no idea this would happen NOW.

Though it's early, it IS possible for your little girl to get pregnant. At 12 weeks, your male is old enough now to be neutered. I would have this done sooner rather than later. If you're intending to breed, separating them will be a bit of a crap shoot as to whether or not you do this at the right time. Keep in mind that it can always cause them extra stress, having to be separated from one another.

We hadn't planned on becoming "breeders" and especially this soon. We planned on separating them for a few days each cycle and having 1-2 litters later on before neutering Ranger. I can't tell which one, but one bites now when you reach in there. I need to get them out of this pouch because they went potty in it and get them into the clean pouch so this one can be washed. I also need to separate them. I know the bite wont' be HORRIBLE, but I KNOW when I put my hand in there one will bite me. Am I just supposed to stick my hand in there gently and get them whether I'm going to get bit or not? Or wait until they are out of the pouch later? I stuck an apple piece in there and the one that bites "bit" at the apple before realizing it was a treat.

If they're in a pouch, gently push up from the bottom so that they are eye level with you at the top of the pouch instead of sticking your hand in there. This is terrifying for them.

As Aimee said, although it is early, it is entirely possible that they are becoming sexually mature at 12 weeks OOP. It's too bad the breeder you got them from didn't tell you this.

If you are not wanting to breed them right away, the best solution is to neuter the male. Trying to catch the female when she goes into heat to separate them for a few days really isn't a good method, and quite honestly with some females is impossible to tell. Trying this method you could wind up with joeys way sooner than you want. Additionally, many of us recommend waiting until the female is around a year old before exposing her to the male to prevent premature breeding.

Additionally, I don't really recommend a new owner to breed right away. Regardless of how much you have read, there is no better education than "hands on experience". This is the information that I have on my website:

Right. We had NO intentions of breeding for a long while and never as regular breeders. Only hobby breeder for friends/family and to have a small colony . But that was not for a LONG while and I guess this was sprung on us very early. It is very frustrating the breeder did not tell us this as we were newbies and wanted to experience owning them before thinking about babies. I guess it's time to make an appt with the vet and snip snip before we get in over our heads!

I have to admit, I am scared of being bit! I will try the nudging them to the front, but I'm afraid the one will still bite me! I read about not being scared etc but I can't help it after my husband was bit several times. I will take baby steps with them as I'm sure they are taking with me


OH and should my husband be trying to bond with them at the same time as me? He is the one that got bit several times in one sitting so I wasn't sure!

If these joeys were just separated from their parents, and put together when you purchased them, the smaller glider may also be clinging to the larger one as joeys do when riding on Mom or Dad's back.

Honestly, trying to separate them each month is almost impossible. The ONLY way I know when my female is in heat is when I hear all the noise from the pouch when they are carrying on.

You did not mention lineage. Did your breeder provide you with documentation of your two joey's ancestors so you can guarantee they are NOT closely related. That is also an important consideration.

I would have the male neutered as soon as possible. Just love these babies as pets first. Get familiar with handling and caring for these gliders then, in a year or so, if you decide that you do wish to breed, you can get either a lineaged breeding pair or, if you have lineage on your female, add an intact male to the group and allow her to breed. Your current male, if neutered before he becomes mature, will probably be fine with the pair and will act as a 'babysitter' for any joeys when they come along.

You may want to start a thread under Bonding & Relations with these questions. You'll get a lot of responses, advice, and others experiences there.

After reading more about neutering...how would I even put an Ecollar on him when he bites and we haven't even bonded yet? We are on day two here. I don't know where to move this thread if it needs to be moved so I apologize if it's in the wrong spot. I'm still learning this forum

Putting an e-collar on a glider can be tricky, even for bonded gliders. A quick explanation is that you would take a piece of fleece and wrap them up like a burrito so their hands can't get loose. Then you would be able to put the e-collar on them.

Keep in mind that most neuters are done and have no issues. There are more neuters done that do not require an e-collar than there are that do. But, you should have one on hand just in case.

How to Make a Satellite E-Collar

Thank you so much! I will prepare just in case! Worst case scenario I will have the hubby do it!

You will most likely need 2 people to put the e-collar on anyway. One to hold the glider, and one to put it on; especially if you have never had any practice doing it.

Your best bet is to go ahead and have the male neutered ASAP. Then when you think are ready to have a litter go ahead and get a lineage pair you plan on breeding or if you have the lineage for your female, just get a lineage male you can have breed with your current female.

Lineage is very important when breeding. Even if you are only breeding for yourself.

Thank you! I'm calling around today because the vet I had lined up isn't lined up anymore He didn't seem to know a lot of the answers I asked him which means he isn't that experienced with sugar gliders. I may have done some of this backwards, but I'm determined to do it right now!

That's the most important thing! Great attitude

Where in Texas are you located? My vet does pom-on neuters for around $100 (it used to be $100, but it might have gone up to 110) including pain meds if you request them. Good luck!