Posted By: Anonymous
trying to bond - 07/24/04 02:45 AM
I recently bought two male sugar gliders. I left them alone for a few days and put a blankie with my scent on it in a pouch I made for them. Dobby is a very "crabby" aggressive boy and Dakkota is a very quiet shy boy. The two days before I put the pouch in and they just had a little house they would come out to play and if I went into the room while they were out I was able to hand them some treats through the bars.
Since I put the pouch in all they do is sleep in it. I took the pouch out of the cage yesterday for the first time and when Dobby woke up and realized I was holding it and had closed the top he began crabbing at me. I kept holding the pouch and talking to him so he would know I wasn't going to hurt him or go away and once he quieted down then I put the pouch back in the cage and left them be for a while.
Later on I went in and they were moving in the pouch but didnt want to come out. I actually put my hand in the cage and lightly touched the pouch and talked to them and Dobby instantly crabbed. I took my hand out and closed the cage but continued to touch the pouch through the bars and he kept crabbing and then began lunging at the bag where I touched. I held a treat at the top of the bag hoping he would realize when I was there he would get a treat. Once he actually lunged out of the pouch to try to bite me but he couldn't get me. Finally he just took the treat and went back in the pouch to eat it.
I am actually scared to take the pouch out! I hate that crabbing noise and it makes my heart pound and I feel like I'm really stressing him out if he's that scared. I also feel like if he wasn't so aggressive that I could be bonding with Dakkota who is so quiet and timid. Dakkota won't even come to the top of the pouch to get a treat. He just waits for Dobby to get it and they share. How do I get Dobby over this aggressiveness so that I can enjoy them?
They also never come out of the pouch until way past when I need to go to bed to go to work the next day. Before the pouch was in there I could catch them out playing around 10:30-11, which is fine because I usually stay up till 11:30-12:00ish, but since I put the pouch in I sit in front of the cage until midnight and they never come out! I have actually fallen asleep in this room and my fiance has to wake me up to go to bed. I figured being nocturnal like my hamsters they would be up around 8,9, or at least 10 pm. If the light is on in the room will they think it's still daytime and continue sleeping?
I don't want to give up on them. I was attached the first night when I saw them snuggled together. They are pet store gliders though as I couldn't find any breeders around here so I know it will take longer. Any advice or similar experiences with happy endings?
Sorry for such a long post but I wanted to give as much info as I could to show my situation.
Thanks for any help!
Kristy
Since I put the pouch in all they do is sleep in it. I took the pouch out of the cage yesterday for the first time and when Dobby woke up and realized I was holding it and had closed the top he began crabbing at me. I kept holding the pouch and talking to him so he would know I wasn't going to hurt him or go away and once he quieted down then I put the pouch back in the cage and left them be for a while.
Later on I went in and they were moving in the pouch but didnt want to come out. I actually put my hand in the cage and lightly touched the pouch and talked to them and Dobby instantly crabbed. I took my hand out and closed the cage but continued to touch the pouch through the bars and he kept crabbing and then began lunging at the bag where I touched. I held a treat at the top of the bag hoping he would realize when I was there he would get a treat. Once he actually lunged out of the pouch to try to bite me but he couldn't get me. Finally he just took the treat and went back in the pouch to eat it.
I am actually scared to take the pouch out! I hate that crabbing noise and it makes my heart pound and I feel like I'm really stressing him out if he's that scared. I also feel like if he wasn't so aggressive that I could be bonding with Dakkota who is so quiet and timid. Dakkota won't even come to the top of the pouch to get a treat. He just waits for Dobby to get it and they share. How do I get Dobby over this aggressiveness so that I can enjoy them?
They also never come out of the pouch until way past when I need to go to bed to go to work the next day. Before the pouch was in there I could catch them out playing around 10:30-11, which is fine because I usually stay up till 11:30-12:00ish, but since I put the pouch in I sit in front of the cage until midnight and they never come out! I have actually fallen asleep in this room and my fiance has to wake me up to go to bed. I figured being nocturnal like my hamsters they would be up around 8,9, or at least 10 pm. If the light is on in the room will they think it's still daytime and continue sleeping?
I don't want to give up on them. I was attached the first night when I saw them snuggled together. They are pet store gliders though as I couldn't find any breeders around here so I know it will take longer. Any advice or similar experiences with happy endings?
Sorry for such a long post but I wanted to give as much info as I could to show my situation.
Thanks for any help!
Kristy