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Biting and Hand Feeding
#1380998
10/31/14 01:59 PM
10/31/14 01:59 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 42 Alberta, Canada
Raelea
OP
Out of Pouch
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OP
Out of Pouch
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 42
Alberta, Canada
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HI, I'm new here. I recently got two baby girl gliders from the same breeder. They're about 10 weeks oop now. They seem to like me okay, they come to the front of the cage to see me whenever they're awake. My biggest concern is that they've started biting me, all the time. One will jump from the cage onto my shirt or hop up onto the back of my hand and any exposed skin she finds she bites. The other isn't as forward but will walk up to me in the cage and bite my hand hard! They've both drawn blood, the second more than the first. Once one of them leaped from across the cage onto the back of my hand as I was placing food in the cage and bit so hard I couldn't get her to let go! They don't seem afraid, they don't run away or crab at me. I always wear long sleeves and I've tried washing with unscented soap first. What I'm hoping to figure out is: a) is this normal behavior, is it something they'll grow out of like puppies who chew? Everything I've read says that gliders will hardly ever bite but I can't do anything without them biting me. b) should I hand feed them so they have something else to chew on besides my skin or should I avoid hand feeding to not form a bad habit. They're more than happy to take food out of my hand or sit on me and munch fruit but I'm concerned that they'll continue biting forever if I don't always give them treats or that they'll bite anybody else who lets them climb on them or plays with them. Please help. I'm so worried that this is going to be a life long thing and that in under two weeks I've managed to teach them this awful habit. Thanks
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Re: Biting and Hand Feeding
[Re: Raelea]
#1381006
10/31/14 03:06 PM
10/31/14 03:06 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,389 Maryland
Terry
Serious Glideritis
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Serious Glideritis
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,389
Maryland
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Hey again, good questions.
I've never had joeys, so I can't say it's a phase or not, but usually biting is either of these three reasons: fear, testing, and warning.
Fear biting is usually fierce and done because they've not had enough interaction with big humans and they are terrified (I learned this was the case with my Lulu).
Testing, well it's just testing, could be testing you, could be tasting you, not really sure what all the reasons, but these can be from light nips to seriously hard biting (my experience). This should diminish over time, or at least lighten up on occurrence and intensity as they establish their relationship with you (building trust and becoming familiar) usually.
Warning, is again just warning, they will sometimes nip, usually light once relationship is established, some may nip harder, but probably don't realize their biting hard, or maybe really upset, can't really know for sure. If you try to handle them when they don't want to be, or they don't like how you're handling them, they will warn you with a nip, their way of saying "stop, I don't like that". This will usually not change over time, but may be more rare as your relationship develops.
One last one I didn't include is because I don't consider it biting, it's actually scraping their teeth which is done during grooming in combination with licks or just an occasional scrape, it's not pleasant, but the licking part is quite sweet.
Lives with: 1 God 1 dog, (Willow) 1 Sugie, (Ollie) R.I.P. Lulu (2/28/12-10/13/17) R.I.P. Skadoosh (2/28/12-3/26/18)
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Re: Biting and Hand Feeding
[Re: Raelea]
#1381033
10/31/14 06:31 PM
10/31/14 06:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,979 Wisconsin
Feather
Administrator
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Administrator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,979
Wisconsin
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I would back off a bit on the speed that your trying to bond with them. Offer them treats from the other side of the bars for now so they can't reach out and take a bite. There are several good articles on bonding in the forum for you to read. This one is by far the best: Building a Relationship with your Glider
Kimberley Feathers-Sweetie, Mister Peanut & Big Mack Fur-Guinan, Mr. Spock, T'Mir, Cho, Toothless, Maverick & Maharet T'Pol, Elizabeth & Curzon TY, TJ, Light Fury, Madison & T'Pring Forever in my heart, Gizmo, Tucker, Khayman and the rest of my babies over the
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Re: Biting and Hand Feeding
[Re: annabanana]
#1382126
11/13/14 02:14 PM
11/13/14 02:14 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,389 Maryland
Terry
Serious Glideritis
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Serious Glideritis
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,389
Maryland
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I'm glad to hear that things are getting better. Keep to their pace, and you will gain their trust more and more.
Lives with: 1 God 1 dog, (Willow) 1 Sugie, (Ollie) R.I.P. Lulu (2/28/12-10/13/17) R.I.P. Skadoosh (2/28/12-3/26/18)
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