I have 2 females that I have owned for over 1 year, Stitch is about 4yr and Kahlua is 1yr. I recently got a male/ female pair, Merlin is 1 1/2yr & Nimue is 4yr. I have 2 cages. I have not even begun to introduce the pairs or anything because I am not sure if I want them all together. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" /> I need advice! My questions are?
1. Do you think I would have problem with all 4 together? 2. What about when/if they get pregnant? {They are ALL intact} 3.Now I do want to mate them but won't my poor boy be really tired if 2 or all 3 get pregnant at the same time? 4. I thought they bonded together to mate, how would they do it with 3 females & 1 male?
Any advice could help me in my decision. I know there has to be someone out there who did this before... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" />
1. Do you think I would have problem with all 4 together? 2. What about when/if they get pregnant? {They are ALL intact} 3.Now I do want to mate them but won't my poor boy be really tired if 2 or all 3 get pregnant at the same time? 4. I thought they bonded together to mate, how would they do it with 3 females & 1 male?
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Hello and welcome… I will try to answer you questions…
1) glider introductions are not guaranteed to go well… but I think you get that and that is why you are asking…after letting them settle in to you home in a separate room from your current gliders,,, for about a month.. this is recommended to prevent transfer of a infection…. Put the new cage next to the original cage… far enough apart that they can not reach each other through the bars… 2) 3 females 1 male…. Well I already have a zoo ...... that’s a big Q…. everything could go fine and they might all help each other… as colony animals… but I have also read about baby steeling… and some females are just jealous and tensions arise…. Wow I encourage you to read more about this…. 3) Uhmmmm……. I would not worry about him… the issues mentioned in 1 and 2 are more important… 4) they bond…not to mate… but they bond… to us (the slave)…to each other…they do develop bonded connections… but I think that is different from nature’s push to procreate…
Gliders are naturally communal animals, but they do sometimes insist on establishing a pecking order. With the variety of ages that you have and the fact that you are introducing two new females to an already established pair, the combination of everyone might be interesting. This really depends on your females. Not to be pessimistic, but I'd be quite surprised if you don't run into issues with such a grouping.
One of the issues not mentioned is nipping and baby stealing. Your females may steal & kill eachother's babies and/or nip the babies IP resulting in babies missing hands/feet/tails, etc... It's very sad & stressfull on all involved. If you would like to try a colony situation with these 4, I would suggest getting any mating/breeding out of the way beforehand - then neuter your male - then try intros. As stated above, keep in mind that they may not get along & one or 2 gliders may be left out <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> My advise, if they are happy as they are and you are wanting to breed anyways, leave well enough alone! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
See my concern is that in my male/female pair, the ones I just got, the female Nimue is, well um...big. I mean to put it bluntly, obese. {See attached picture; the female is on the bottom & the male is on the top} <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> They have been trying to mate the last few days but I was told they have been together for 4 months with no babies; could her weight be an issue? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" />
They were on the modified BML. I just give all my gliders the regular BML. I think from talking to the prevoius owner, she just got to many treats and mealies. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" /> The previous owner also was giving Nimue Hawain Delight Baby foods. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nixweiss.gif" alt="" />I am hoping that is the only problem {to many treats} and she will start to slim down. I am concerned about her health! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />Nimue is almost 2X the normal size. *BTW... I am getting her a vet check soon. So I will also be asking the vet. I just would like general experiences/opinions before I go.** <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thanx.gif" alt="" />
I actually have 2 wheels in there because I thought maybe Merlin was hogging the wheel from Nimue. So now they each have there own. I am hoping all my changes help and all she needs is time... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/muchlove.gif" alt="" />
I have an obese glider and she does not breed.. well actually her man does mate her but she never has joeys.
I would not put all 4 of them together because you will get joey stealing. You might want to try putting your big one with one of the girls and then moving one of the girls in with the boy. You will still have to do the ntroduction though for each of them.. just don't put them together and expect them to be fine with each other.
I have a boy that looks like her. I wonder if it is thyroid sometimes. Other than that he is a hunk! Mine is fixed too so that can be some of it. All my fixed boys put on some weight as they got older.