We've had our new glider Deka for about 3 weeks now. He LOVE to take licky treats off my fingers, and if I put my hands in his cage without a licky treat he's checking over all my fingers trying to find it.

I've been working on him with the bonding pouch...but he Crabs CONSTANTLY!!!!!

He crabs when I talk, when I inhale, exhale, move, shift my weight, blink...anything I do he crabs!!!

How long before he starts to get used to the bonding pouch and I can actually walk around the house like a normal person??

Well, it can take weeks or months depending on the glider. In some cases it can take longer. You have to just be patient and keep working with him and letting him know you're not going anywhere.

At 3 weeks it's still early in the bonding process. Try going back to just sitting very quiet with him in his sleep pouch (so he doesn't feel trapped). Gently stroke him through the pouch and offer him a few healthy treats.

He will soon learn that it's not all that scary to be with you. As he relaxes more you can start moving around with him and increasing the length of time you carry him. Always pet him and talk softly to him when he crabs. When he stops offer a treat as a reward.

The trick is to take baby steps and move at his pace.. which right now is slow poke speed. Your doing great, it just takes some gliders a little longer than others.

I feel for you. ..... but isn’t is amazing how they know when you blink…. and you know the strange thing is sometime I miss those first days… when I would just walk by the cage and get Yelled at… for nothing…lol.... .... Now I get nothing…lol.. well except great kisses.. no biting… and play time.. I will take the trade off… keep working the more you have contact and bond the better it will get..

Yes..every glider is different.

my boy glider loki never ever crabbed at me.
he still doesn't, probably never will.
But he will crab at my boyfriend and sister.


Luna crabs like its her job.
If she were a human, she would be celine dion with
the voice that comes out of her little body.
Shes getting better though..
shes just very pouch protective

I say give her a month and she will be okay

If your glider is taking treats from you , then you know your off to a good start..keep up what your doing and do everything you can not to scare him (listening to music, moving a lot etc) and youll see the difference too.

Hermes is a crabber too, hence his nickname Crabby Patty What I've learned through all the reading is to make sure you're not reinforcing the crabbing. For instance, if you're touching the pouch and he starts crabbing, don't stop touching until he's quiet. Otherwise he'll learn that crabbing at you will let him get his way and he'll eventually end up doing more of it, lol..

Great advice.. ...remember not to force the issue ... offer reassurance... …

Thanks everyone for the wonderful advice!

I've started calling Deka "Crabby Patties" too! lol

I knew before hand bonding would be a long evolved process, I just feel bad when he crabs because I figure I'm scaring him.

Thank you Becki, for the reinfocing info...I do tend to leave him alone when he starts crabbing. I'll stop whatever I'm doing and wait for him to stop, and I'll try not to touch him though the pouch because it starts a nice long crabbing session. I won't go out of my way to make him crab, but I'll be sure to keep doing what I'm doing so he just gets used to me.

actually, if he is crabbing when you touch the pouch, you need to keep touching it, but talk to him in a soft voice and let him know it's OK. by stopping the action you're doing that's causing the crabbing, your letting him know that's what he needs to do to stop what he doesn't want you to do... I also start talking when I first get in the cage with them so that he knows I'm coming in, that has stopped some of the crabbing. Someone else recommended sitting by the cage reading, talking, so that they get used to you and your voice Best of luck with your bonding endeavours!

When I first got Pookey and Honey , Pookey would do the same thing. She would crab at me but I soon found out that if I just keep touching her through the pouch she would stop the crabbing and would be fine.
She still does it every now and then but not so much now.

What type of pouch are you using? Some of my gliders don't like pouches that 'bounce' when I walk or move. They like to be held still and close so I usually use my Sissy pouches or just plop them down my bra.

You've gotten some great advice!

I guess I didn't type what I ment to say very well....I ment to say, when he starts crabbing I will continue to do whatever I'm doing that caused the crabbing, and just wait for him to stop crabbing. I won't Try to make him crab, but if he does it I won't stop my world till he decideds to quit (which is what I'm doing now.) I can totally see how that would make him want to crab more.

Today was a good day, I put him under my shirt in his pouch and we laid on the couch for awhile, I was taking really deep breaths so he could feel me breath, and it seemed to calm him down...he went right to sleep and I was able to load the dishwasher and fold laundry without getting an earful from him!

Thank you all for your wonderful advice!!

It sounds like you are doing great!

Just remember that they take small steps each day he will seem a little less crabby and a little more used to you.

most sugar gliders usually crab when you poke your face in the pouch, even if there close to being fully bonded. this is just him saying "get away from my territory". there natuarly terriorial, and as a clony crab at a predator, or even attack it all as a colony if they feel like its getting way to close. once he accepts you as part of the colony, there shouldnt be anymore crabbing. just keep doing what your doing and soon enough, he will stop.

i got my shuggie back n july and she alwayz crabbed at me and now she dosent do it as much but she does it to people if she doesnt know their voice when shes sleeping, i think me and he bonded fast, but she got use to me alwayz handling her in her pouch and talking to her, probably if you handle her as much as you can and keep talking to her she will get use to your voice and know that your not something to be afraid of.

I have a foursome that has been in my house since Memorial Day (that makes nearly 5 months now) and they STILL give me nothing but CRAB every time I enter the room! The good thing is that their sessions ARE getting shorter.

Maybe after another 5 months, their tantrums may totally go away...or maybe not. At least I know they're acknowledging my existence!