Join Us On Facebook
|
|
|
Serious Fighting Going On
#45345
05/09/05 02:37 PM
05/09/05 02:37 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569 IL (St. Louis area)
StitchsMom
OP
Glideritis Anonymous
|
OP
Glideritis Anonymous
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569
IL (St. Louis area)
|
Some of you know about my feisty rescues Tripod (my three-legged female) and Radar (my playful male). Well, these two are starting to worry me. Radar has been nipping at her and chasing her around the cage. My concern is more than just the fighting. When he chases her, she sometimes mis-judges her landing and falls because of that missing leg. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I've put blankets across the bottom of the cage to cushion her fall, plus hammocks and pouches everywhere to help her out a bit. But, the fighting is getting worse. He is getting food possessive so now I've started two feeding stations. That doesn't work. He chases her away (biting the whole time) and takes her food too. Now she has to be fed in a seperate cage to ensure she is eating. I'm frustrated with these two boogers. His attitude seems to get worse with handling. When I first brought them home, they cuddled in my hands and played great with me during tent-time. Now they try to eat me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif" alt="" /> Just getting their food bowls out at night is getting tough. They leap onto my arm and start chomping away! The only way to get them out is to wait for them both to go to their pouch and then snatch it out fast! If I take one second too long, Radar and Tripod are out feasting on my fingers. I just don't know what to do with these guys. I actually have a very glider savvy guy interested in adopting them next month. When he and I first started talking about it, Radar was a sweety and Tripod was handlable. Now, I'm not so sure. I've told him about their recent decision to start putting up a fight. He seems fine with that. That makes me worry that he wants them for breeding only purposes and that is NOT what they need. He really knows his stuff though and has references and a vet lined up. I just don't know. I love these little guys...mean as heck or not. I want the best for everyone. What am I doing wrong? I have actually increased their playtime and bonding time. I'm scrapping licky treats as that is just asking for bloody fingers. Mealies work okay. Tripod freaks when she sees a treat. She will tear through you to get to it. I think maybe his aggression towards her is what is making her so darn mean. She is getting possessive over food now too because he takes hers! What should I do, guys? Why are they being such brats? Do I need to seperate them on a more permanent basis? I'm concerned for her safety, but they still sleep together and play together. I don't want them to be upset with me if I seperate them, but the fighting is really getting to me.
|
|
|
Re: Serious Fighting Going On
[Re: ]
#45346
05/09/05 03:38 PM
05/09/05 03:38 PM
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Wow... I am sorry you are having a tough time. I am not sure what to make of all this. I would separate them just to be sure that nobody gets hurt. As for your buyer I would say go with your instincts on that one. Ask him if he plans on breeding them (if you haven't already). Make sure you are as clear as possible about his intentions for them once he gets them. As for doing anything wrong... I doubt you are doing anything wrong as it seems as though you have not made any changes except for the better. Maybe they are just being more aggressive all around. Have you checked the normal things like smells and changes in routine?
Wish I could help more. Keep us updated.
|
|
|
Re: Serious Fighting Going On
[Re: ]
#45347
05/09/05 04:39 PM
05/09/05 04:39 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569 IL (St. Louis area)
StitchsMom
OP
Glideritis Anonymous
|
OP
Glideritis Anonymous
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569
IL (St. Louis area)
|
Well, I have started cleaning their cages more often (twice a week instead of once), but I'm still keeping their pouches "stinky" for them so they don't get upset. The guy interested in them is a breeder...but so am I. It's just that she is a special girl and I don't know how she would handle litter after litter after litter and if she doesn't get enough love, can you imagine how mean she'll get? Her joey's would be darn near feral if they all aren't handled properly. I think all gliders should be pets first and I'm not sure if he sees things that way. I'll talk to him. In the mean time, I'm going to go set up my spare cage for Tripod. Thanks for the advice!
|
|
|
Re: Serious Fighting Going On
[Re: ]
#45348
05/10/05 09:20 AM
05/10/05 09:20 AM
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" /> I really think if the male is not neutered that neutering may help with the agression you are seeing. I have had some males come in sweet, put them with a female and although sweet at first, start acting like your Radar. Usually within a month or so after neutering this behavior either stops or improves. I will seperate them until after the neutering though, there is no need for a female to suffer, just keep the cages side by side and switch pouches every 3 days or so if you can. I also find that if they know you are intimitated, you will have more problems. You must continue to handle them or they will just get worse. As far as breeding the female, it sounds like she is allready having a hard time getting away from Radar, what happens when she has a joey in the pouch and falls? I really think this pair would benifit by just being pampered pets and not breeders, and I hope you don't take that the wrong way. Its true that I am a rescuer before anything, and it sounds like these two may have allready had a hard time in the past. I applaud you for taking care of them, and giving them a good home. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelclap.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/heartpump.gif" alt="" /> Angie
|
|
|
|
Please click above to see how you can help!!
|
|
0 registered members (),
378
guests, and 88
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
Owner,
Admin
|
|
Forums132
Topics10,374
Posts159,160
posts in the last 24hrs0
Members7,324
|
Most Online2,693 Jan 2nd, 2020
|
|
This site was tested and is best
viewed in Google Chrome & Mozilla FireFox
Download your copy today!!!
|
|
|