I just got out of another tent time with Chip. I was going to wait until tonight (which I will do also), but I noticed he was awake this morning, and he was in his pouch so I thought, why not? the more we do it, the faster he'll get used to it so I took his pouch into the closet area with some snacks on the fleece.

He was really crabby this morning and was crabbing in the bag until I got him out of it and onto the fleece. He then started exploring the fleece and was timidly eating the snacks. I did my own thing for a little while and then I decided to try to give him a snack from my hand. I cupped my hand and went over top of him and he crabbed but didn't snap nearly as much. With my right hand, he would sorta try to snap, but I guess because it was above him and cupped maybe it didn't seem as threatening as fingers?

Anyway, I decided I would try it with my left hand and at first he crabbed a little bit, but then he allowed me to pet him for a long time with my left hand. He was just sitting there and then he found a snack to snack on while I was still petting him. After he finished that snack, he began sniffing my hand (haha man was I worried he was going to chomp down on my finger) so I pulled back slowly, got a snack and he took a snack from my fingers twice.

I then got a small piece and put it on the edge of my palm and he was sniffing my hand until he found it and then he took it from my hand! After all of that he crawled slowly back into his pouch (I had thrown a piece of fruit deep into it so I think that's what he was trying to get) and by then it was time to end tent time, and he was probably ready to sleep so I put his pouch back in his cage with him in it. The motion of it made him crab a lot, and the pouch opened slightly to reveal my hands and face and he began crabbing from within his pouch, but I figured he would do that, he seems to get 10x more grumpy when he is in his pouch.

Alright well I just thought I would share that. With that step back that I felt I had taken, I think I have taken a step forward this time.

I am going to get more food supplies today, and will pick up some honey because I haven't introduced him to that yet, maybe he'll like it..

I'll keep this thread posted on the situation, thanks for the help so far everyone!

Jon - it really sounds great to me. It sounds like he is developing a lot of pouch protectiveness - that's why this morning's first interaction seemed negative.

However, as you saw, once he was out of his pouch, he seems much more accepting of you! It really sounds like huge progress to me.

I think your biggest problem now is the pouch protectiveness - which could be a phase. He is letting go of some of his "issues" which makes him cling harder to what he feels is his. The bonding and closet time seem to be resolved and progressing by leaps and bounds!

What diet are you feeding?

I am feeding him the Suncoast diet. He seems to like it and I vary it up as far as fruits and protein go every night.

He doesn't seem to eat a whole lot of his staple food (which from what I read is okay), and really only goes into that dish if I put a fresh piece of fruit in there with it.

As far as snacks... apple sauce is okay, he'll eat it, but I don't think its his favorite. I thought grapes were his favorite until I introduced him to cantelope, right now I think that's his favorite. I'm gonna try honey at some point because from what I hear, most gliders love it.

I don't think he's discovered how tasty mealworms are yet, because I put one on top of his food every night and he hasn't eaten one yet.

I know it is kinda gross, but sometimes if you break a mealworm in half and kind of squeeze it, they will find all the yummy goodness inside.

It sounds like your tent time this morning went well. Hopefully a few more like that and he will realize how much fun he can have. You're doing a great job.

Honey is alright to give as long as you give it sparingly!
Have you tried yogurt? Most gliders love that too!

Glad to hear tent time went so well!

He may be like my Jynxie - sweet, unless she is in her pouch. Then, watch out - she still nips me in her pouch. I have to roll her out.

I've heard good things about the "pouch protective" pouch, but haven't tried it yet.

sounds like he is coming right along, though! Congratulations!

Jon -
You completely inspired me.

I took my 4 for a Looong tent time. I started introducing Linus and Rocket to the girls before I had to go to California for a family emergency. Then I came back sick, and it has been a week ...

I owed them a tent time!

It went great ... they are all 4 completely sacked out now, from a rousing, fun, play time! They are all so funny and so unique. I've gotten to where I can tell who is on my shoulder just by personality.

Mel -
my 15 year old son was sitting by me a few days ago. Your quote made him laugh out loud. He asked me to tell you he likes it!

I'm glad I am an inspiration lol

Chip has been crabbing at me pretty much all day. He was in his pouch at lunch and I carried him around during my lunch break (in pouch) and he pretty much crabbed at every movement I made, and if he had a chance to see my face or hands, he would snap.

This is pretty tough... I know patience is all that is needed though.

Put your scent in his pouch.

Cut squares about 5 inches to a side from an old t-shirt. Pin them into the armpits of a work shirt. Take a shower and use non-scented soap if you have it. Put on the shirt.

Go outside and work up a sweat. I mean make the squares wet.

Now place on in his sleeping pouch and one in his bonding pouch.

This lets him get used to you smell even while he is asleep. Eventually he will come to identify your particular scent with comfort.

I know is sounds nasty but it does work.

thanks! I will try that...

I work out in the morning and usually put my sweaty shirt on top of his cage, and I've been rubbing pieces of fleece on my body and putting it in his pouch, but maybe those methods don't work as well as the one you described.

I will try that one, thanks again!

I have also found that putting a fleece square in your pillow case for a few days and sleeping with it there is a great way to make little scent blankies of yourself..

i would probably only leave the blankies in there for a couple of days, then take them out and wash them and scent them up all over again.. i say wash them because if you dont, then it will still have his own scent on it which will probably over power your scent..

i have never really thought of getting things SWEATY, i mean sweaty lindsay smell is VERY different than normal lindsay smell.. thats why i sleep with mine, then they smell like ALL OF ME, including my shampoo.. And when i change shampoos and my gliders hate it, i just make more scent blankies