He doesnt seem to trust me...

I know I seem a little desprate and stupid right now. I've only had Chris for two days but I still feel kind of sad cause he'll play when you get him out of his cage and pouch and stuff, but it's hard to get him out cause he doesnt seem to trust me and I dont know what to do. I've tried luring him out with a treat and he just nabbed the treat and ran. I know it's going to be hard on both of us because he's a year old. He's a little old to bond. I just wish he'd trust me. Any suggestions? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I don't know as much about gliders as alot of other people here on GC but I have learned with my three gliders that it takes time and lots of it. I just got two new gliders a week ago and their still very standoffish around me but we're growing on eachother. Just give him time and as much love as you can.

2 days isn't long enough to create a bond. Some on this board suggest leaving them in there new home for 2 days before trying to get them out. Have you been carrying Chris around in a bonding pouch with you? that will help.

i'd have to agree with tedscastle. usually its a good idea to keep them in the cage without bothering them (other to feed them) for ATLEAST 24-48 hours for them to get used to the new smells and sounds.

if you go too much too fast you can actually make it harder 'cause he'll be afraid that everytime you open the pouch or cage your gonna be "grabbing" at him.

besides.. too much too fast can also stress them out really bad and make them sick.(in which case get to the vet cause these guys can get real bad rather quickly).

MY personal suggestion... which by all means is just an opinion... is to leave 'em alone for the next 48 hours (other than food and water) and try not to have too much activity around the cage. THEN put the bonding pouches (my suggestion is with a "window" and a zipper, i got mine from suncoast www.sugar-gliders.com) in the cage as sleeping pouches (which makes it easier to zip the pouch and be on the go) and start carrying them around during the day for about 1 hour increasing to 4-5 hrs for about 1-2 weeks. occasionally open the pouch and, if they'll let you, pet them... they'll probably crab, nip, and try to hide in the corner so don't feel bad.

after that you should see it start to get MUCH better. (yu might also want to give them a couple of treats with your hands so they see your hand as a good thing! it takes time and A LOT of patients! GOOD LUCK!

I am no expert for sure but...I certainly don't think that he won't bond because he is a year old. The fact that he is not attacking your hand when he nabs the treat is one of the first signs of trust. It just takes time and patience.

My little girl was 6 months old when I got her. It took me a good 2 months to bond with her. I have heard of it taking longer than that for some gliders.

I have a little boy right now that is giving me a run for my money in the bonding department. I will win him over inspite of what the adorable little rascal thinks of me now...lol

Jackie

It's completely normal for them not to trust you in the beginning (and "the beginning" can be anywhere from weeks to months to years, depending on how much patience and time you put into it). After all, to them, you are a great big giant! The fact that he will take the treat from your hand at all is really a terrific sign that he will most likely bond to you very well, given enough time and love.

I agree with Nemesis about giving him a break for a couple of days, not reaching in the cage except to feed and water him. But as long as it doesn't seem to stress him out, you can sit close to the cage and speak quietly to him and feed him some treats through the bars of the cage. Cover the cage with a t-shirt or something that you've worn a lot so he starts to get used to your scent. Then after a couple days, try hanging a bonding pouch in the cage as his only choice to go to bed in. Once he's sound asleep, quietly take the pouch out of the cage and start carrying him around in it, not opening it or reaching in.

After the first week or two, if he's getting used to you and doesn't seem to be stressed out by your hand anymore, it will probably be a good time to start doing tent time. Just set up a little pop-up puptent (around $20 at a discount store) in the house and get in it with him and some toys and a little container of licky treats (yogurt, applesauce, stuff he can lick off your finger). Be sure to put an old blanket or something on the floor of the tent or the rustling sound the floor makes when you move around on it will scare them.

Look at the bonding links at the top of the page for more tips, and welcome to GC! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" />