GliderCENTRAL

Glider Dominance

Posted By: BridgitKBruce

Glider Dominance - 12/31/17 02:28 AM

So, Suki and Tem are a whole week home and both really getting used to things and showing their true colors. Psycho Suki and Timid Tem.
I’ve been getting the girls up around 730 / 8 for tent time. Suki jumps, explores and plays for a solid 2 hours, and seems to enjoy her exercise and exploring of us.
Tem on the other hand usually stays in the pouch. I keep my hand in the pouch. She has taken to light nips and licking and cleaning my hand. She comes out after about an hour, but spends much of her time content to groom.
Tonight, Suki joined her in the pouch and licked my hand all over - not in the nurturing cleaning way that Tem does but more of a territory marking.
Suki is quick to grab food from Tem, and really seems to be the alpha / boss. Is this typical behavior for one to assert so much dominance?
Posted By: Feather

Re: Glider Dominance - 12/31/17 02:40 AM

Yes, you always will have a dominant one in the cage. With larger colonies you will see the chain of command right down to the lowly private.
Posted By: Claralice

Re: Glider Dominance - 12/31/17 05:49 AM

I have had three pairs. Not a lot of experience but the mature older pair I had, (the second pair) definitely had a pecking order and dominant one.
The first pair were young-just a few months and this pair is just over 10 months and not seeing a dominant one yet-guessing over time they will establish their pecking order as Kimberly stated.
Posted By: Hutch

Re: Glider Dominance - 01/05/18 05:14 AM

Originally Posted By: BridgitKBruce
Is this typical behavior for one to assert so much dominance?

Originally Posted By: Feather
Yes, you always will have a dominant one in the cage. With larger colonies, you will see the chain of command right down to the lowly private.


Or in my case, King to a servant, lol. To paint the picture of what Kimberley stated, I have four in one colony & the pecking order is pretty obvious: Arthur, Gywnevere, Morgana, then Merlin.

The best you can do, if it appears to be an issue or causing bickering, is to show them there'll always be enough for both. I generally know if one of my little turds is about to steal a treat from another furball, I'll give the 'victim' a new treat right after it happens. It cuts down on the bickering after I did this a few times.
Posted By: KarenE

Re: Glider Dominance - 01/05/18 04:00 PM

Originally Posted By: Hutch
I generally know if one of my little turds is about to steal a treat from another furball, I'll give the 'victim' a new treat right after it happens. It cuts down on the bickering after I did this a few times.


These little guys are smarter than most of us give them credit. You would be surprised what works. Time outs and treats accomplish so much.
Posted By: Ladymagyver

Re: Glider Dominance - 01/05/18 07:04 PM

Originally Posted By: KarenE
Originally Posted By: Hutch
I generally know if one of my little turds is about to steal a treat from another furball, I'll give the 'victim' a new treat right after it happens. It cuts down on the bickering after I did this a few times.


These little guys are smarter than most of us give them credit. You would be surprised what works. Time outs and treats accomplish so much.


I agree with both.

I've done timeouts when the bickering gets to be too much. And they remember next time to look at me, not their sister when they want a treat. It's all in the timing..
Posted By: KarenE

Re: Glider Dominance - 01/06/18 05:59 PM

:agreed:
Posted By: Terry

Re: Glider Dominance - 01/06/18 08:00 PM

When I had just the girls, I really couldn't tell which was the dominant one. Then I added Ollie, and got even more confused.

At first I thought Lulu but then sometimes I thought Skadoosh, no Lulu, hmmm. At the introduction of Ollie, it appeared it may be Skadoosh then I thought Ollie (soon after intro), than back to Skadoosh, now with just those two left, there isn't too much bickering, so maybe it was Lulu.

(scratches head=we need the emocon!)

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