This morning, while I was away at my boyfriend's house..my sister called me to tell me that Titan had passed away.


Apparently while I was gone, the ferret I agreed to babysit for a friend managed to open the cage door with it's teeth..and then open my glider's cage with it's teeth..and kill Titan, one of my favorite gliders.

I have no idea how this managed to happen and I am so, so ,so upset that Im having a hard time writing this..

But the reason that I am writing this, is not for sympathy or condolence, but rather for the well being of his life-long mate; Venus.

Titan and Venus have been a pair since they were joeys..and they have had many babies since then..They never want to be apart and bark for each other when they aren't together.

She is going crazy looking for him and won't even sit on me for a minute without jumping off me and running to her cage following his smell.

I don't know how well she is going to do without him and I am really really concerned about her.

Should I try introducing her to my other pair? Or maybe get her a female friend? I am really confused and any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks so much

jess

I am so sorry… my first thought … do you have any of their joeys still with you?? maybe that would be an option… ??

Jess, I'm so sorry about what happened.
Venus is definitely going to mourn him and it will take some time for her to adjust. Suz went through this recently w/Pika and she did choose to intro a new glider to her. (Pika's blind so Suz chose a joey for a friend). Pika's been doing better since she got her new friend. No two gliders are alike though, and you'll have to be the one to make the decision as to whether or not you feel she'd be better w/a cagemate. Definitely spend extra time w/her. It breaks my heart everytime I read a post like this because at least we can understand (logically, not emotionally) that the glider is gone. I'll keep you in my thoughts and know that we're all here for you and Venus.

I'm so sorry Jess! it's never easy to lose a glider buddy!

My boyfriend and I have been talking about getting her a new companion very seriously because our hearts really go out to Venus.

However.

Last night as I was holding her I noticed she has a little joey IP.
This made us really happy because this could really help her out.
We are hoping it's a girl so that the companion issue will be taken care of.


So should I wait? Or just get another girl in the meantime.

What a difficult situation for you to be in right now. First of all I am so so sorry for what has happened! My heart goes out to you and I will keep you in my prayers.
On the otherhand what terrifc news about the joey!

Everyone has given you some wonderful advice and the best decision would be what you feel your little one can handle. I feel that if you did get another new mate for her right now might cause more stress, she not only has to deal with the loss, a joyey in pouch, and to add a new companion might put her over the edge.

If she has had inneraction with your other gliders and are comfortable with them, yes, I'd allow her to try and accept one or both since she is at least familiar with them.

For now, I would just hold her as much as possible, give her lot and lots of love and attention. Keep her close by while your sleeping etc. I wouldn't leave her alone for awhile.

Again I am so so sorry!

Thanks L

See Titan was a HUGE alpha male glider..and since she's been with him her whole life, she's taken on a lot of the distinctive characteristics he used to have (marking, biting, lunging at anything that's not me or my boyfriend or titan)

But on the other hand, she's definately my sweetest glider affection wise.


I tried a brief intro with Luna, my other female, and Venus last night and Venus just wanted nothing to do with it.

I wish I could pair them together because Lunas pretty sweet too...but venus thinks she's the alpha female and Luna definately understands that..so Im confused

She won't even sleep in the bonding pouch with me..she just tries really hard to get out, and then continues looking for Titan.


This is so sad..I wish it didn't have to be like this

I'm so sorry about your loss of Titan. Sending love and hugs to you and your family.

I'm so sorry for your loss.
This has happened a number of times with ferrets, unfortunately.

The thing with the new joey-either she OR he can stay with mom-you just need to neuter if the new wee one is a boy. We let our family all stay together...Mom, Dad, 2 male joeys, and 1 female joey...just neutered the boys, then dad, at the earliest opportunity-and since baby is born into the family, no trying intro periods to get thru, either, and not all the stress. Plus an intro to an unrelated glider at this point could possibly put the joey in jeopardy if another female (or male) becomes agressive or jealous.

Hope all works out, and I'm very sorry your little one was taken from you that way. Do, as suggested, spend lots and lots of time with the grieving girl, plenty of treats and try hand feeding her some of her dinner each day (normal rules are suspended in these situations) to help her thru this rough time. Hugs to you both.

-iam so sorry, i have a ferret, sweet as can be, but i recieved warnings, and they are good at opening anything, i moved him in my sons room,your heart must be hurting, i pray you find love for your little girl again, iam thankfull he did not hurt her, god bless, oh i lived in bridgeton N.J.for 15 yrs..........pennie

Thanks everyone.

She's still not doing too well..
She hardly ever comes out of her pouch..and when she does..it's only to look for him.

This is honestly the most depressing thing I've witnessed in a long time. I feel so bad for her.


It's awesome she has a joey though..some part of Titan lives on .

Jessica, I really wish I could just reach out and make this all go away for you. It is so sad to see them hurting like this. Since it's not in the best interest to put another glider in with her, the best thing to do right now is to just hold her as much as you can. If you can tuck her in under your shirt, rub her softly, and make soft sounds to her just like your singing to a baby to get them to go to sleep. I would try and put something in there with here that has his scent just for a day or two until the "shock" of him not being there subsides. They do grieve just like us, let her grieve, but also comfort her too. Keep her close by for a few nights also. My heart aches for her too.
I have you and her in my prayers.