Okay, so we've got a bunch of these going now. I have no doubt that marsupials CAN do this, but my question is, why? In the wild, there may be a drought or shortage of food- that I can understand. But why would an animal in captivity do this unless it was deprived of the necessities of life? I'm absolutely NOT saying that's what anyone has done- I'm just curious as to why the animal would choose to hold off. Perhaps the mother is tired of having all those babies and needs a break?

Lol, I don't think any of us can say for sure 'why' our critters do anything they do.

I had a female that held of a pregnancy for several months. In that time, she lost her mate, was given a new cage mate, then shipped to me... I think she just didn't feel 'comfortable enough' until all of the craziness was over to let those babies go IP.

That's understandable. I'm wondering if there's always some sort of "perceived" turmoil for the glider to do this, though.

I would imagine so. I really wish I knew what was going on in their little heads... They are such clever critters. I think there are a lot of things they are aware of that we have no idea about.

Brittany -

In trying to research whether or not it is possible - which I have found conclusive evidence that it IS in most marsupials - I also discovered many biological reasons for it.

Additionally, I discovered many surprising advantages to marsupial breeding, rather than placental reproduction.

Environmental conditions are a main one. A not conscious decision on the part of the mother based on a biological "instinct" which tells her that there is over population for the existing food supply.

Also there are other advantages of marsupial growth of the young, vs. placental. It was really fascinating to look into. Marsupials have much less "invested" in the rearing of their young - it is less taxing on the mother to grow her progeny outside of her body. The mother doesn't have to grow a separate organ (placenta) to nourish the baby. Multiple births are FAR less strenuous. And ... this one was really fascinating to me ... marsupial reproduction allows the mother to "design" milk specifically for the needs of the joey - and, in many instances, joeys of multiple ages nursing at one time.

Cool reading!

Most marsupial DO NOT delay a pregnancy. some do yes such as the Kangaroo and Feathertail Glider.

Rachael, while I respect the fact that you have your OPINION, there is no way to be 100% positive that this isn't a possibility.

Also, I have witnessed this first hand. I had a female that had not been with a male for over 6 MONTHS have 2 male joeys come OOP. Now, how would you explain that?

If the question is why do sugar gliders delay implantation then the most likly answer is evnviornmental and emotional stresses. Sugar gliders have been shown in captivity to be very sensitive to changes in situations that cause emotional stress like loss of a mate or joey. However sugar gliders are also senstive to sounds, light cycles, lunar phases, changing nutritional needs, and a host of other subtle factors not enterley controlable. Sugar gliders will delay implatation until the female feels her joeys have the best choice of survival.

Actually, I have a source which states that after MUCH study on delayed implantation in marsupials, it is now known that the phenomenon is widespread through the family. (that is a paraphrase, since I cannot quote it directly here).

Another source, a scientific research paper, presented that Delayed Implantation occurred in all but ONE of the marsupial species studied, and even seemed fairly common in some kinds of marsupials.

Sugar gliders definitely *can* delay implantation. You can ask my vet who worked with gliders and Australians who love them over in Australia for quite some time. It is a well-known phenomenon in Marsupials.

And yes, they do have a very interesting reproductive physiology I remember learning that males have forked penises and females have forked uteruses in biology, and thinking, "This is crazy!"

You think those are weird, check out the Monotremes...platypuses and echidnas...the egg-laying mammals...who have no nipples but secrete milk from by their armpits...swear to God I'm not making this up...there's your useless Zoology info for the day from a Zoology major

wow, Jen... you're just a barrel full of animal fun facts, aren't you?

I was just reading a website that had a bunch of those odd facts.
Makes me glad that I an human.

I have to print out some material on sugar glider anatomy for a bird breeder friend of mine. He thinks I am making it up that gliders have biforcated penis' and that females have two vaginas as well.

Will he be surprised when I see him next month.