Bonding pouch in cage????

So...I've had my baby sugar glider about a month now and she still hasn't bonded to me. She'd always sleep on my old shirt draped over her heat rock, but every time it came to putting her in her bonding pouch she'd freak out, leap out of the folds of the shirt and start running around the cage. This got to be such a hassle that I eventually just put the bonding pouch in the cage and tied it to the bars. It was MUCH easier just to zip it up while she slept. However, the breeders told me NOT to do this as it would make the bonding process much harder. I'm so confused now...should I stop putting the pouch in the cage and just deal with trying to catch her?

Hi and welcome to GliderCentral.

We're glad you're here! You've come to the right place to ask questions and learn all you can about sugar gliders!

Gliders will learn to love and trust you over time, some take longer than others.

Remember that your baby is most probably still very afraid, this is normal for any new glider and will get better.

How old is your baby? If joeys are 8 weeks and older, they do NOT need a heat rock. Joeys less than 8 weeks out of pouch can't maintain their own body temperature. Heat rocks can be very dangerous. Gliders have over heated, burned and even chewed the cords. You can rather set up an incubator if necessary. Also, their nails can get caught in the T-shirt, I suggest you use a piece of fleece for this purpose

I think it is wonderful that you are doing research to be able to give your glider the best possible life ever.

Does your bonding pouch have a removable strap? If so, you would want to remove the strap as it can pose danger.

Please don’t chase her to catch her, you will do more harm by chasing her. We need to go on their time and terms with bonding.

Please read the following articles to help you get a better understanding on bonding with your baby.

Into the bonding pit

Building a relationship with your glider

Hi there! I'll agree here with Gizmogirl - please take the heat rock out of the cage, it's not necessary and could very well cause an injury.

Putting the bonding pouch into the cage isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does depend on what it's like. Does it have hidden seams so there's no chance of your glider getting fingers or toes caught in loose threads? What is the strap like? If it's any sort of rope-type material, you don't want to leave it in the cage - again, for fear of a finger or toe getting wrapped up. Also...in the cage, please do not zip the pouch, you want your glider to have full access to the cage. What if she decides she has to go to the bathroom? Or needs a drink of water? Please keep it unzipped.

As for her jumping out and not into the pouch - it simply means she isn't ready for it. She will tell YOU when she's ready. If she wants to run away from it and won't just willingly go in, it's not time.

Thanks for the advice! I didn't know about the heat rock. As for the pouch, I don't think it's really dangerous; There aren't any loose threads or anything. I also only zip it when I take it out to wear. I'm just worried because everyone tells me she'll be so much harder to bond with if I let her sleep in the pouch as opposed to letting her sleep on an old shirt or something. I guess that chasing her around to put her in the pouch is just as bad though. What do people usually do with their gliders? And how do they get them into the pouch for bonding? Letting her crawl into the pouch herself and then taking it out is working, but if there are any better ways I would love to know!

You can try cutting up the t-shirt into little blankies and put those in the pouch. That way she can still sleep with your scent.

Hi, when I first got my boys, I did leave the bonding pouch in the cage, that way I could take it out and they would already be inside sleeping. I wore it around for a couple of hours and reached in the pouch petting them from time to time. Just carring them around and them smelling your scent, feeling your movement, feeling your heartbeat, hearing your voice, allthese things will get them to bond with you. It really does just take time. I have had my guys 3 months now and they have come a long way, but it does get discouraging. Don't rush things. All gliders are different and go at their own pace that is comfortable for them. I would leave the pouch in the cage for them as long as it is safe and put a piece of fleece inside that you have scented with your scent for them to snuggle with.

Hi, when I first got my boys, I did leave the bonding pouch in the cage, that way I could take it out and they would already be inside sleeping. I wore it around for a couple of hours and reached in the pouch petting them from time to time. Just carrying them around and them smelling your scent, feeling your movement, feeling your heartbeat, hearing your voice, all these things will get them to bond with you. It really does just take time. I have had my guys 3 months now and they have come a long way, but it does get discouraging. Don't rush things. All gliders are different and go at their own pace that is comfortable for them. I would leave the pouch in the cage for them as long as it is safe and put a piece of fleece inside that you have scented with your scent for them to snuggle with. :Do you have a tent yet for tent time? This is a great way to bond. If you don't you can use the bathroom as long as you glider proof it first. Beware of open toilets. They will drown quickly if they accidently go in. Also sink or tub drains, they are dark, if they can get into them they will too. They are curious little critters.

I strongly advise against this. T-shirt material is unsafe for gliders - they can very easily get their fingers and toes caught in the threads of a t-shirt. Please take the t-shirt out altogether and use fleece and fleece blankies in the pouch.

Agreed.

I did this when I first got Mo and Ouiji. For those that don't know... Mo WAS a very aggressive, pouch and cage protective, scared glider that would lunge at any part of me he could bite. I thought it would be a good idea if he was just always in his bonding pouch. That way I could just take him out whenever, zip it, and we were good. Actually that seemed to make him worse. As I found later, that made him even more scared of me. Please do it the right way, take the time YOUR glider needs to bond. There is also a GREAT post (I think it was written by Bourbon) about how your glider views you. Please find and read it. Also, after a while I noticed a bare spot on Mo's shoulder. As soon as I took the bonding pouch (which has a zipper on it) out of the cage, the hairless spot healed. Apparently he was rubbing that shoulder on the zipper and causing a bare spot. And the best part of all, once I slowed down, did exactly what Elena and Bourbon said to do, and spent the time learning my glider's personality, HE BECAME THE GREAT LITTLE GLIDER HE WAS MEANT TO BE. And even better, it helped my relationship with all my gliders for now and the future.

I have an odd technique I use with regular cage pouches. I don't like putting pouches that close into the cage. I'm just too afraid that I'll forget to unzip it or something and my poor glider(s) wouldn't have access to food/water. So, what I do is a remove the entire pouch by grabbing it in a way that holds it closed as I take it out. I have larger bonding bags that hold a pouch, so I can just take the cage pouch with the glider inside and slip the whole thing into a bonding bag. This allows the glider to be removed easily and get in some bonding time. After awhile, I don't have to do this anymore as the glider will bond to me.

Thanks for all the advice. One more question though...how do you get them to stop biting? I've been hand feeding her by reaching my hand into the cage, which usually works pretty well, but lately the only thing she wants to do is stand on my hand and bite. Any one else have this problem?

They do go through stages of nipping when they are young. Is he drawing blood or is it only nips?

You should try to refill the licky treats on your fingers. You can also distract him with a toy like a feather whenever he bites or simply make the "tsssst" sound and see how it goes.

You can also keep an eye on his body language, this will show you when he is ready to bite and you can act in time to prevent the bite. Are you using any yummy smelling lotion or soap that you have not used before?

Also, when they DO bite you, it is imperative that you do not startle him by jerking back. Just take the bite.
You don't want him to train you, you want it the other way around.
(licky treats on the fingers can help, but expect bites at first until he realizes that finger is a good finger)

Never grab your glider/chase them around the cage. It will just make bonding take longer.
And you WILL think that you are making 0 progress, and some days you may think it is getting worse. (My first experience with gliders lol)
Just stick with it and let him get used to you. It may take 6 months or 6 days... but it will happen.

Edit: Oh and in your situation, I would leave the pouch in the cage and just remove it when he is in it for bonding time.

I used to think that one must take the bite, but I have learned that this is not necessary. If you watch your glider's body language, you will know when they are about to bite, and you do not have to take the bite.

I'm not one to "take the bite" as long as I know when it could be coming I either psst or move my finger lol! Mainly with Baby Face and Ezzie I just move it to their head and start petting them. Baby Face has a tendency to look all cute and wanna sniff but then will give me a nice "love bite" when I'm not quick enough

I also agree...NO ONE should just "take the bite". It's not necessary and like Liezl said, as you get to know your gliders, you WILL see body language that will tell you when your glider will strike.

its quite confusing, i wouldnt deal with the bites but dont make them feel unsure of themselves
They need to feel comfertable, i would suggest while she sleeps gently waking her up and finding what she likes to make her understand you just want to love her and care for her

about the Not take a bite, I think is depend on how long u had been tamed and how feel you bond with ur joey. For my joey(2month ++) ,the time i spend with he is about 1 week ++. he is now rely on my hand. When he gets freak out by some sound he will just jump on my hand and hold it tight. Although is familiar with my hand, some time it will bite. I mean not that bite like attacking, is a smooth bite. He love to lick my hand and some time half the way licking he will get me a smooth bite. Not pain,just let u knw he is biting. And becoz of he like to lick my hand, i will put some honey on my hand to let he lick when he is awake on the day. I think this will make a good intro to your joey and your body.

*Wash your hand before to do so * ^^

xLemon, you are referring to a nibble more than a bite, this is when they don't break the skin.

Yiup =D

Yeah, I agree with ya Gizmogirl.
It is better to not get bit in the first place. I was only saying that if they DO bite you, to not jerk back.

Learning their body movements is obviously better.

agree..i still cant estimate when they are going to bite