Can anyone tell me why my parent gliders ate the joey for the 2nd time? Last year they had a baby and it appeared to be something wrong with it, it seemed to be OOP way to early, it was very small and all pink and only like 1/2" long, when I seen that baby it didnt look healthy and so I just dismissed it when I looked in the cage and found nothing...they completely ate the baby...but this time around...a year later...they had another baby, it appeared healthy, infact it was about 2 inches long not incl. tail, it was walking all over in the pouch, infact the mom allowed me to hold the baby, i snapped a photo of him, and mom gently grabbed him and yanked him in the pouch when he began to cry..the father didnt show an interest in the baby when he cried, infact when the baby was climbing on him he didnt seem to want anything to do with him...maybe he was just tired. But the baby was big and healthy or so it appeared two days ago. Tonight I fed the gliders and I opened the pouch to take a peek only to find them laying next to a carcus <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> they ate the entire baby except the skull, the ribs, tail and one back foot. I feel so bad, and almost got sickened to my stomach removing the baby. I wrapped him in tissues and put him in a box. Can anyone tell me why they would do that twice?Could the father feel threatened by a baby? Or threatened by the other set of gliders that are next to their cage? They are both hand tamed and friendly and have never acted mean. I'm just heartbroken. My other glider set has never done this, but I wonder why they dont have babies as often as they should. (they seem to have maybe one a year, they are about 6yrs now. Do they quit having babies later in their life?) Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

attached is a photo of the baby 2 days ago...looked fine to me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

another pic of the baby

mabgab101,

If this is the second time they've rejected or cannibalized their joey, I would recommend getting your male glider neutered as soon as possible. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worried2.gif" alt="" />

If they are rejecting their babies, it's a behavior that's likely to be repeated again and again. In fact, they may never accept a joey after that, based on what I've learned.

I'd definitely get second opinions and talk to a vet, but this is what I would do. Hope this helps...

Ron

It could be so many things. Mom might not have enough milk to support the babie, the could possibly not like their neighbors and feel threatened, they could be just to old (I know of older gliders that still have babies though). Some gliders just don't make good parents.

I also would just have the male nuetered so neither one of them have to go through the stress and you through the heart ache <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" /> it is always hard to find that but dion't take it out on the gliders, for some reason they felt it would be best, for them or for the joeys sake <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug2.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the advice. Its weird...the girl that I got them from said they had 2 babies, one survived and the other one died too, so guess this makes three down <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I dont think it was the mother, she seemed to interested, if anything I believe the dad did it just because he showed no interest in the baby. I still love Abby & Bandit...its just sad. You all know that feeling when the baby finally comes out...its like your own kid being born <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> But I think I will get him neutered, unless anyone else comes up with any ideas?

What diet are they on?
Like the others said, there are many reasons this can happen... But one of the more common reasons, and one of the first things to look at is the diet. If they're not getting the right nutrition, then they might eat the joey for protein, or the mother's milk won't be adequate...

They all eat the BML...with calcium and vitamins added, I also feed them grasshoppers, mealworms, and crickets. They also will get tuna fish or canned turkey. As well as zookeepers secret (insectavore fare), new world primate diet,and bugs & berries that I purchased from exotic nutrition, and they get monkey biscuits and fruit and veggies (I usually steam the veggies) Is my diet for them alright? I just dont understand them. I guess they know best....My two males always seem to be staring at eachother thru the cages and almost like chase eachother or maybe show dominance? I noticed tonight the female that the baby died is kind of playing with the older male in the other cage...perhaps she wants an affair? LOL I read also to put her with a more experienced male...but I dont know how that works...can you have 2 females and 1 male in the same cage? I know alot of people that have colonies...are they all females and one male or how are people doing that? If I would put Abby in the other cage with papa bear and mama bear(who have been great with their babies when they had them)...how do I introduce them all together? Is it possible? I'm fairly new to the breeding aspect, so any help is greatly appreciated!! Thanks to all...

____Proud parent of:___________________
mama & papa bear - 6 year old gliders
Abby & bandit - 3/4 year old gliders
Molly - mutt we saved from the streets as a puppy
Roscoe - pure white mini schnauzer
Ricky & Lucy - jenday conures
1 15 year old son and 1 husband.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nopity.gif" alt="" />
E - I - E - I - O <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shakehead.gif" alt="" />

I would keep them seperate. There are trios that work but more often then not they don't, especially with older females who were not raised together. You will more the likely incounter joey stealing. Each female will steal (canabalize) the other females joeys to make sure that her off spring have a better chance at surviving. If you have the cages close enough they will taunt and tease each other through the bars. They are trying to prove that they are tough! You can always buy a cage cover for one or both of the cages which will help some but they will still taunt each other through the bars! I used to hang a sheet inbetween my cages and every now and then I would see one of each pair on the side doing that dance (scouting their back legs back and fourth!). I would still have the male neutred though.