So, as you probably know by now my wife and I re-homed two female gliders that are about 3 years old. The previous owner gave us their cage and all accessories, but we are wondering if they might need more. The cage is the Madagascar Cage (We think) and it has a wheel in it, though I am replacing that with a safer model (already have that ordered). The cage also has the two shelves and the ladder in it. Then there are "vines" for lack of a better word made of fleece that stretch across the cage in diagonal patterns. That was all that she had for them, besides a sleeping pouch and some bondingpouches and a big clear ball she put them in when cleaning their cage, which they seem to love.
The ball is NOT Glider safe. Those slits intended for ventilation can trap a glider's toe and cause a severe injury or even a broken leg if the glider struggles to free itself.
Gliders generally sleep very soundly during the daytime when you would be cleaning their cage. You can either hang their sleeping pouch in a small cage (like ones sold for hamsters) or you can keep the gliders in a zippered bonding pouch while you are cleaning the cage.
The Madagascar is a nice cage. I agree about the ball, even if it's not the exact one, they typically are considered non-safe for gliders.
When I clean my gliders cage, I usually put their sleeping pouch in their canvas carrier (small pet carrier). After weekly cage cleaning, I put in a clean cage pouch for them.
As for the toys, mine are the same way, no food, no play, well pretty much. They are pretty much food driven, but throughout the night I will sometimes notice some of the toys tossed about the cage, so they must engage in some of the activities I set up.
Key toys that are popular include: -Ball pits and/or toy bins, although my gliders aren't as enthused about those as other gliders I've read have been. On occasions I'll see signs someone spent some time with them. -Foraging toys, my gliders all time favs, but I don't fill them every night. When I do, I alternate which ones I'm using that week. -Reset toys, these provide activities for both your glider and you You set things up for them to take apart or pick things off. Sometimes they'll just toss or drop them, but some gliders will carry their favorite things to their pouch. The you get to search and pick up the parts and put back together again. -The wheel, but, safe ones, but you have that covered having ordered one. My gliders love their wheels. -The fleece vines, mine prefer the braided ones, stretched tightly across one bar to another, so they can climb up or across them, or just hang out on them. Also, the braided ones, you can hang stuff from to give them additional activities. You can reconfigure the setup of them too. -Noise makers, these can any toy type that jingles or clanks, even if that's all they do, some gliders enjoy the noise. -plastic toys to chew on, mine love to nibble a bit here and there, plastic army men or animals and the like are favs for many gliders. -Teaser toys, these are usually interactive toys, you can use through cage bars or during out of cage play. I recommend not buying cat teasers as they may contain or have been exposed to catnip which is bad for gliders. I have purchased plastic fly swatters and created toys from them, including cutting one down to a smaller section and attached spiraled straws and fleece, also laced some beads and made my own glider safe teaser toy. Not their favorite, but they'll play a little now and then, some gliders like that sort of thing better then others I guess. I'm considering getting some feathers and making a new one.
I think I covered it, but others can recommend ones I may have forgotten.
Don't feel bad if some toys seem a bust. Sometimes they may check them out when you're not watching them. But if they don't, it's just not their thing, and how are you to know until you try it.
Thanks for the input, everyone, this is what I am looking for. Anyone have links or pics of specific toys their guys/girls just love? Where did you get your stuff from if purchased?
Thanks again, Phil
Re-homed 2 females on 04/24/2015 Doll Face ��� Sug
Re-homed From Stephyy24 on 11/06/2015 Bella ��������� Luna
Re: What toys should our gliders have (newbie)?
[Re: Philwojo]
#1389754 05/08/1510:02 AM05/08/1510:02 AM
Well, my gliders really just love anything that offers food, lol, so their favs would be forage toys, when they're filled
I'll try to get some photos posted when I can, I'm short on time now, Thursday-Friday is typically my busiest parts of the week and depending on weekend activity plans, they can be too.
Here's a toy I made, it's a foraging toy that kinda moves if they don't grab the cup(half Easter egg) when they try to get the treat. I could make one for you if you like, just send me a PM. Or I could explain how to make it, it's pretty simple. Making toys is pretty easy, just takes a little practice!
Pibble pup Jenson Glide free: Smoke (6/16/15) and Zoey (10/2/15)
Re: What toys should our gliders have (newbie)?
[Re: Philwojo]
#1390191 05/20/1505:41 PM05/20/1505:41 PM
Hi, I'm so glad I found this older post. I hope you guys see my comment!
Kris N Zoe, did you use plastic "yarn" to make your toy? It's super cute and looks like it would provide a challenge. I'd like to make one.
Is there a website or anything that gives ideas/instructions on how to make various toys? I feel that I'm lacking in providing Houdi with challenges.
Also, foraging cups...do you just set them on the bottom of the cage here and there? I don't use any of the platforms and ladders that came with the cage. Do they like those?
Thanks!
~Beth~
Houdi and Lulu
Re: What toys should our gliders have (newbie)?
[Re: Philwojo]
#1395993 11/15/1504:30 PM11/15/1504:30 PM
small hanging bird dishes make good foraging cups. You can hang them in different places any where on the cage walls.
I do not use ladders - gliders do not need them but I do like to have at least one shelf in the cage for the gliders. I put it next to their water bottles so they have some where to sit while drinking. They also seem to like a high perch in the cage to look around the room.
Another favorite in my cages are ferret tunnels hung at the top of the cage. I have 3 sections in each cage with various openings they can crawl in and out of.