So, Karen, you were right about stranger things....
First, I want to explain why I chose "Glider talk and Traveling" over "Bonding and Relations"...
First and foremost because I'm documenting their travel, personality, eating habits, housing, and their interaction to each other. Second because we take a rather unorthodox way of keeping our gliders that doesn't comply with basic glider ownership. Most people have other pets in their house. We don't. So our gliders can free roam more than should be allowed. We are also bonded to our gliders to the point they stay near us and can be supervised. Our sleeping hours also allow us to observe and spend a lot of time with them while they're awake. Even if it's in shared shifts with hubby.
Ok, whew, got that out of the way... I shared that only to tell a story of the last 3 nights... It's been interesting...
It all started while I took a nap... Hubby and I decided that day to open the cage doors once they ate so they could explore each other's cages (they are side by side in the living room). So once they ate, he opened the doors. I guess all went well. Stewie of course was first to bolt out and check out Dot's cage... Dot got up and they were smelling and kissing and chirping to each other (finally!). Stewie has learned his manners all over again and stayed out of her cage. Dot climbed out and they played for a bit (yay!!!). Hubby closed the doors of the cages for about an hour and a half... They did snuggle on top of Dot's cage for a bit (fleece cage cover on both) and both wanted back in their respective cages for a drink and snack). This was when I woke up... It was 1am...
So we watched movies, hubby napped and I observed what happened next... Stewie carefully made his way into Dot's cage, marked, but didn't touch her food. Dot watching him. Stewie ran on her wheel, marked here and there, and slowly made his way to her open environment pouch where she was watching him from. The grooming began... Stewie had Dot in quite a head hold while he dug and chewed and groomed the back of her head and neck. Dot was sprawled out eyes closed and in pure bliss. She hasn't had a grooming like that in well over a year... They snuggled and napped for awhile... Dot under blankies and Stewie one eye open watching me... Both heads would come up and observe me as I would walk past the cage. And then curl up again...
About an hour later, they were climbing around and I petted each of them head to toe, making sure there were no injuries... Nope. Just soft slick coats!
Fast forward to their bedtime: They were both in Dot's pouch, but Stewie was too wiggly... Dot was too tired to put up with it, and he got kicked out. Instead of him taking over a different bed in her cage, he opted to go back to his bed and groom and sleep...
The next night, same kind of routine, but this time Stewie did all his grooming before he tried to snuggle with Dot for the day... I think he gets so excited, he just can't lay still... He got kicked out again. He used to this as Fiona would kick him out as well and he'd sleep in the other pouch a lot. Sometimes all day, sometimes he'd sneak back in with her.
So, I did some thinking and I think there just isn't enough room for both of them in her pouch. Stewie likes to stretch out on his back and Dot lays on her side in a ball. Yesterday morning Stewie made a bed on top of Dot's cage and slept there instead of going to his bed.
I decided to scoop him up and let him sleep on me for the day... He was so tired, he slept hard enough I could snap a few pics...
This morning, I am observing them preparing for bed. In Dot's cage each are on their own hammock grooming themselves! Yay! Dot has chosen the larger 'dustpan' style OE (open environment) pouch to sleep in... Stewie followed her in... I tried to take another pic, and well they don't like my phone, but trust me, they were side by side...
Still waiting to see if they settle down...
Here is a link to pics of Stewie sound asleep and Dot's OE pouches...
https://photos.app.goo.gl/o5uBTUaicpMat63s7I'll let you know how it goes today...