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Fun with Food Aggression
#1421099
08/24/19 12:20 AM
08/24/19 12:20 AM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 158 DFW, TX
Xeno
OP
Joey Member
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OP
Joey Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 158
DFW, TX
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So a couple of weeks ago I measured out the food in my ice cube trays when I freeze my Critter Love and realized they were about 60% above recommended amounts and my gliders seemed to be eating less and less salad so I slowly tapered the Critter Love down. No problem.
Then I noticed they were getting more bitey and aggressive in playtime, especially the boys. I caught Dobby and Arwen fighting a few times but it was mostly posturing so I just observed and let them work it out. In the last week I was really busy and did not have time to do much more then check and play for a few minutes and generally not at mealtime.
Anyways, I was noticing increased angry noises but no one was getting hurt and I chalked it up to one of the girls being in heat. Today I fed them about 30 minutes after Sunset. The girls were up and happily pounced on the food. Then the boys woke up and Dobby and Arwen started taking swipes at each other. It looked like Arwen was the aggressor so I let her out to ride on me and took her downstairs and I fed her some apple. When the show was over I took her back and put her back in only to watch Elric chase her back onto my arm and realized I had a problem. Eilonwy was skittish and Dobby was guarding the lower critter love bowl and Elric the upper. I let Eilonwy out and got another bowl with more food for the two girls only to watch Arwen chase Eilonwy away to keep that bowl to herself. Now I felt really bad. The two sisters have never fought before. Eilonwy went and hid in the closet so I made another bowl and gave it to her. I got applesauce and started a rotation giving them all licks.
I realized I had to try to break the habit so I doubled the food in all the bowls giving them about three times total what they usually get. Elric to chatter with Dobby but I could not tell whether they were coordinating their defense of their “no girls allowed†club or warning each other to stay on their cage level. Arwen hissed as well.after they got the food levels low again I filled the bowls again. I could tell they were not hungry but Elric and Dobby were still vigilant. I moved Dobby’s bowl off the lowest level so he could not run in his wheel and guard it and he seemed to calm down. Elric did not and continued to patrol the top two levels and chase off the girls with crabbing if they encroached even though he had long since stopped eating, I switched out the furniture in the cage and that distracted him for a while but he caught Arwen eating again and crabbed her away. Dobby and Arwen explored a pouch and started grooming. Eilonwy ate out of one bowl unmolested and went back to exercising and playing but Elric would not stop his vigil. I then came up with an idea. Elric hates the light, both the boys do. So I turned on the closet light and he decided to join the others in the pouch. I turned the light back off and a few minutes later the other two climbed back out to play. Dobby and the girls went to town on “Elric’s dishâ€. He popped his head out, watched them for a second as I tended to open the door and block him but then he watched for a minute and did not seem to care and went back to his nap.
I am going to overfeed for the next several days and see what happens. All but Eilonwy seem to have a touch of aggression and she is usually the most submissive to everyone except me. I doubt the aggression has become too habitual but I plan to make sure they have plenty of food and I think the two boys will calm down. Also going to add more dishes tomorrow and rearrange the cage to put furniture out to block easy views of the dishes from other locations.
I almost wish they fought over their salad like that.
Dobby  Elric  Arwen  Eilonwy
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Re: Fun with Food Aggression
[Re: Xeno]
#1421100
08/24/19 06:28 AM
08/24/19 06:28 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,321 SW Missouri USA
Ladymagyver
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,321
SW Missouri USA
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I have had the same issues and this dish helped: https://photos.app.goo.gl/WgXQkxmRcainCykw9I bought my first set of 4 from Critterlove, and Amazon has them once in awhile. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075DFWNTP?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_titleI used to feed 2 gliders per bowl, but for now, each glider gets their own. I spread out the f/v. I have give about 2- 2.5 tsp per glider of nectar and spread the salad out. I also hide some of their favorite f/v throughout the cage. One of our other members used to set up their dishes under Igloos and make tent coverings so each glider couldn't watch the others dishes or watch the gliders eat. I learned not to put hammocks above dishes because Dot loved to ambush from above. I keep their dishes at different levels too. You're doing it right, I do feel changing it up helps. I like the turning the light on idea too. EDIT: I forgot to mention the dishes are heavy and won't flip over. I wash mine in the dishwasher when I'm home and over time I think it causes the fruits to stain them. However they can become a projectile from a high shelf. I cured that with some zip ties and clear 5/8" tubing. I made a lip so the dish couldn't be pushed off.
Last edited by Ladymagyver; 08/24/19 06:34 AM.
Dawn Be patient, and Trust your journey.... Grace Ruby  Mom  Fiona, Dot, Stewie and Dad Wish I could turn back time... Miss you all...
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Re: Fun with Food Aggression
[Re: Xeno]
#1421123
08/26/19 09:28 PM
08/26/19 09:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 158 DFW, TX
Xeno
OP
Joey Member
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OP
Joey Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 158
DFW, TX
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Well, the plan seems to have worked. They seem to getting along. Well, Arwen and Eilonwy are annoyed at each other but that is because Arwen fell onto her sister Now I can slowly taper food back to original levels or a little lower so they eat more salad but not back down to level that annoyed them.
Dobby  Elric  Arwen  Eilonwy
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Re: Fun with Food Aggression
[Re: Xeno]
#1421129
08/28/19 03:36 AM
08/28/19 03:36 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,321 SW Missouri USA
Ladymagyver
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,321
SW Missouri USA
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Great news! 
Dawn Be patient, and Trust your journey.... Grace Ruby  Mom  Fiona, Dot, Stewie and Dad Wish I could turn back time... Miss you all...
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