GliderCENTRAL

HELP!!! Adopted older gliders.

Posted By: Tynk3287

HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/05/18 06:25 AM

My husband and I, adopted a breeding pair of gliders from a trustworthy glider owner and friend, she just didn’t have the time that was needed to dedicate to them with being in and out of the hospital for a family member and work.

It’s been about 4 months now and no progress with bonding I’ve tried all the tricks and bonding techniques I’ve read on this forum and others and I’m about heart broken that they don’t like either of us.

We’ve used bonding pouches, bribing with treats, cloths with our scent, not putting our hands in only to change their pouches or bedding, giving food and water. Trying to hold them or have them come to us is impossible. They’ll go it to a pouch easily if we hold it but do not like to be held or touched. Constantly crabbing and biting. The female is worse than the male I’m not sure if it’s because she has two babies right now or what but she’s been getting progressively worse.

All I want to do is be her friend and make sure all is well with the babies, her and dad. But she acts as if I’m the devil trying to take her kiddos away.



Please help!!! :bb: :leu:
Posted By: Terry

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/05/18 11:24 AM

I understand how you feel. I never dealt with a pregnant glider, so can't tell you if being extra protective is normal for sure, but it does make sense if it were the case.

Even so, with some gliders four months isn't that long to be in the trust building process. I understand when you read how quickly they bond, and the it doesn't happen feels. All of my gliders have been that way, mine took forever it seemed. Be patient with them, it pays off.

Just keep your practices in building trust, continue to love and nurture them, they will eventually develop more trust in you. Gliders have different dispositions and personalities, they relate accordingly. Also, please keep in mind that for the most part, more gliders prefer not to be held or handled than those they do, or even tolerate it. Additionally, if they do tool rate being held and handled, it's during sleepy time (daytime hours), not when they are up and about.
Posted By: Feather

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/05/18 01:27 PM

Not all gliders like to be held in our hands. I would try doing tent time with them. Be patient, they both may come around if he is neutered and they are no longer having babies.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/05/18 02:47 PM

Thank you all for your input. I shall try tent time once more. I stopped because all the female did was bite. And hard to the point I would bleed.



If anyone else has some input I would greatly appreciated it.
Posted By: Ladymagyver

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/06/18 12:47 PM

Have you tried making glider noises when she bites like " tsk, sssst, shht"? That is glider talk for "I don't like what you are doing". I've also used a firm No afterwards. Our second glider took 9 months to bond.

Soft voices, reading or singing lulliby type songs helps to when you are in the room. When you approach the cage let them know you are there. They will probably crab. When they do, try to talk to them. They may get more upset, but stay until you have the last word. They will learn you don't go away that easy. Feed snacks through the cage bars.

I'm sorry, but my grandkids just woke up. They are here doe the weekend. Cant focus. To be continued... Hope this helps.
Posted By: Ladymagyver

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/07/18 03:46 AM

Ok, I'm back. Trust is what you need to earn from the gliders. Were they ever handled by their first owners?

Are you planning to breed? Or planning to have dad and sons neutered?

Momma may have issues trying to protect her babies. She may not choose to bond during this time. The best thing to do would be to let her have her space for now. Work with the male so she can see how you interact with him.

Have you tried tent or bathroom time?
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/07/18 05:03 AM

Dawn thank you for your input. I do not know how often they were handled with hands or if they were ever hand tamed.

to answer a couple of your questions yes I have done tent time and talked with them while in the tent. I’ve made some noises when talking to them. Not sure if they are exactly glider sounds. they don’t seem to like being touched ever they typically crab when touched or even put hands near them and/or bite really hard. which to me kind indicates that they weren’t hand tamed necessarily. Also I do not plan to fix dad though his sons once able to leave mom will go into a separate cage away from mom and dad and if I must fix one of the boys as I’m still a little hesitant to do so being that it’s hard to find a proper veterinarian to do such procedure.



I’m just not sure how to bond with these little boogers anymore so any advice helps.
Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/07/18 04:16 PM

I understand your frustration in wanting these precious cuties to bond quicker than they are. Unfortunately, for the human caretakers, they bond at their pace rather than ours. It would be much easier for us if we could know for sure how they think, but we can't.

Your little ones are now in their second home, and there is no way to know what kind of bond they had with their first owners until they no longer had the time to spend with them.

It may take some time for them to trust you and accept they aren't going to be put in another home. Just keep doing what you are doing. I'm sure they will come around.
Posted By: Claralice

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/10/18 12:23 AM

Hi and this may be off topic but I just had both my boys neutered. Initially, I was very distrustful and hesitant but after a couple of months and some personal issues, it was completed. BEST decision ever and it might calm down your male - not sure of vets in your area but this site has a data base-which is how I located my vet. She was an hour plus away but worth the drive!
Good luck with your gliders!
Posted By: Hutch

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/10/18 09:36 PM

Howdy Tynk,

As many of the very knowledgable people here have already mentioned, these little buggers do things at their own pace, in their own way, with each their own limit. That doesn't mean you should be without hope... just may require more patience than you originally planned. To top that off, you have rehomed furballs, with babies, who do not -sound- like they were handled very often before coming to you. Hope you like challenges, because you climbed stright in to the heavy-weight ring wink

Don't fear though. Look at it from the view point that YOU are trying to join THEIR colony... and they are basicly experiencing an episode from 'Lost in Space' or similar: new territory, family to protect, strange unknown creatures who communicate funny & may want to eat them...

I'm not saying any of this to put you off or scare you... just, perspective. Once you make it over the hump it will be sooooo worth it all. They amount of happiness these crazy critters can bring is amazing.

As far as what to do... step back & slow down. Trust me, I know it's hard, I had to do exactly that a few times during the first many moons I had mine. Each time I gave them that break... just sitting near them, reading outloud or talking to them... letting them get use to my continual presence really... when we resumed fully interacting through bathroom/tent time, pouch time, or just inviting them to come out & play, there was noticiable improvement. I came to kinda looked at it like time to let things soak in. A couple weeks of interactions, then maybe a week of space.

Even with that & two years of them putting up with me, my four have different levels of bondedness (new word, maybe?), each their own tolerances for handling, & not one agrees on how much time or how to play with me. It was a learning process for all five of us smile My boys do not like to be handled much, though Arthur will always come investigate me (in the hope it involves a treat, really). It is infrequent that Arthur makes an effort to come out to play, but he's pretty easy to coax out. Merlin... its rare to get him to come out of the cage once he's awake for the night. He doesn't want to be far from the action... but he's quite content being on the sidelines. If I try to offer Merlin more attention, it is more likely he'll retreat to the cage than interact more.

My girls are the opposite. They love to come out of the cage & interact with me; get quite pushy about it. Even with them, there are differences: When active, Morgana will only let me pet her tail, anything else & she'll scurry to the other shoulder, but she's okay if it's been a while since pouch time or a long play date. Gwyn is very tolerant of being petted but will loudly proclaim how upset she is during the wee hours of the night if she isn't given enough attention... & if that doesn't work, she'll become louder & do it more often. (I wish I was exagerating... it's a really good thing she's cute.)

But it has been a two year process to get this far with them. Does it mean it'll take you two years before they'll tolerate you? I doubt that! What you'll see is little gains that, like interest, compound on each other for a time. Then, for no apparent reason, you'll seem to plateau. Give them a little space & patience (yup, that dreadful word again), then progress will resume. Why? Because they're hyper balls of dryer lint with as much personality as most people & that's what they feel like doing, hehehe.

Okay, that's a lot of rambling & examples to try to make a some small, but very important points:
- You're starting from a rough place, take it slow. No, slower than that.
- You just want to love on them while they're wondering if you're hungry.
- You've decided they're part of your family, but they're still deciding on you.
- Changing all that required time, patience, more time, more patience, & patience.
- It is totally, 100% worth even minute of every effort.

If you're looking more for techniques, I can offer those as well... but first, taking a deeeeeep breath & keeping those points in mind is what got me on track.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/11/18 06:16 AM

I really just need guidance as to what to do. I’ve never experienced it this bad.

No matter what I do they scurry at any sign of us.

The only time they are interested is if we have food for them.

The female bites anytime she can. With me only she bites my husband if he goes near the pouch. And the male follows her lead.

Until the babies are ready to be separated from their parents. I’m planning to leave them alone and even after that.
Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/11/18 03:26 PM

Originally Posted By: Tynk3287
My husband and I, adopted a breeding pair of gliders from a trustworthy glider owner and friend, she just didn’t have the time that was needed to dedicate to them with being in and out of the hospital for a family member and work.
Originally Posted By: ynk3287
Until the babies are ready to be separated from their parents. I’m planning to leave them alone and even after that.


I think all of us concentrated on the issue of bonding and completely missed the fact you had a breeding pair of gliders. I did until I read the part in your last post about "babies" or joeys.

IMO, this could be why you are having more problems with bonding. First, they are in a new home, and second they are trying to protect their joeys.

You are going to have to step back and give them space until these joeys are at least weaned, and you are able to handle them. I have no doubt the biting is their way of telling you to keep your distance from the joeys.

Continue to talk to them through the cage as well as offering treats through the bars. This will probably be a very slow process but it will be rewarding in the end.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/13/18 09:40 PM

Well thank you all for your advice and input.

This is definitely going to be a tough and challenging breeding pair to bond with. any of you have any ideas or techniques in helping do this, I would greatly appreciate that input. I’ve tried tent times, I’ve tried treats, I’ve tried everything that I can possibly think of or have read to do and nothing seems to be working. even before she had Joey’s, she was a definite biter. the male is not so bad but he does take her lead if she starts crabbing and getting aggressive with me which is when I usually just Put her in a fleece pouch and let her calm down. she did take a piece of my finger more like a chunk of my finger recently and I am not sure what else to do at this point I’ve all but given up hope of these two especially her.


I now have a new concern. I was cleaning the cage today and giving the gliders freshwater I pulled mom out to get put her in a different pouch as well as check on her two current joeys (5weeks OOP). while everything was being cleaned. she dropped two fresh Joey that were still pink and tiny the size of a fingernail pick them up and eat them. she still has two Joey’s. Is it normal for pregnancy to overlap? As well as her eating the new joeys while still having two on teet?
Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/13/18 10:05 PM

Originally Posted By: Tynk3287
I now have a new concern. I was cleaning the cage today and giving the gliders freshwater I pulled mom out to get put her in a different pouch as well as check on her two current joeys (5weeks OOP). while everything was being cleaned. she dropped two fresh Joey that were still pink and tiny the size of a fingernail pick them up and eat them. she still has two Joey’s. Is it normal for pregnancy to overlap? As well as her eating the new joeys while still having two on teet?


I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to back off from this mom/pair and leave them alone except for the bare necessities.

You have an extremely stressed mom based on your last post. Assuming this has been a successful breeding pair, the fact they have five week old joeys now with joeys in pouch which is not abnormal, for her to get rid of them is not normal. Extreme stress will cause her to act out in ways she would not normally.

It takes both mom and dad to raise the joeys, so she is doing everything she can to tell you to back off. There may have been something wrong with the ones she was carrying, but there is no way to know for sure.

Please let them bond with you on their time.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/13/18 10:31 PM

That’s just the thing I have been doing only the necessities.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/13/18 10:36 PM

I can’t even put food in there without her coming out of the pouch and attacking my hand. I’ve tried talking and giving treats. The Joeys that are out of pouch are doing just fine. Am I supposed to just take the juries out it eight weeks when the wind and leave mom and dad alone in a dark gr am I supposed to just take the Joey’s out at eight weeks when their weened and leave mom and dad the hell alone in a room.


I don’t think you fully understand how violent she is, with or without joeys.


I’ve set an appointment to get the dad fixed.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/13/18 10:39 PM

KarenE, she doesn’t have new joeys in pouch she ate them.
Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/13/18 10:51 PM

I understand that she cannibalized the joeys she did have in her pouch so she no longer has new joeys in pouch. The only joeys she has are the five week old ones.


Originally Posted By: Tynk3287
Well thank you all for your advice and input.

This is definitely going to be a tough and challenging breeding pair to bond with. any of you have any ideas or techniques in helping do this, I would greatly appreciate that input. I’ve tried tent times, I’ve tried treats, I’ve tried everything that I can possibly think of or have read to do and nothing seems to be working. even before she had Joey’s, she was a definite biter. the male is not so bad but he does take her lead if she starts crabbing and getting aggressive with me which is when I usually just Put her in a fleece pouch and let her calm down. she did take a piece of my finger more like a chunk of my finger recently and I am not sure what else to do at this point I’ve all but given up hope of these two especially her.


I now have a new concern. I was cleaning the cage today and giving the gliders freshwater I pulled mom out to get put her in a different pouch as well as check on her two current joeys (5weeks OOP). while everything was being cleaned. she dropped two fresh Joey that were still pink and tiny the size of a fingernail pick them up and eat them. she still has two Joey’s. Is it normal for pregnancy to overlap? As well as her eating the new joeys while still having two on teet?


That was the post I was responding to about leaving her alone. When she took a chunk out of your finger, she was more than likely protecting the joeys she had in pouch at that time.

As for separating the joeys when they are about eight weeks old from mom and dad - after dad is neutered -yes, that is what I would do so mom is possibly not as protective of them. You may even need to put them in another room if you intend on keeping them.

Then I need to find How To Bond with a Biter.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/13/18 11:01 PM

Is neutering dad the better choice or should I just leave them alone because I’m in New Mexico and I can’t find a proper vet that I absolutely trust with these little guys. I was just gonna leave it alone and let them do their thing because I don’t want to take a risk of getting dad neutered and it causing more problems between them two and one of them die.


I honestly was contemplating keeping the Joeys and getting mom and dad help with a friend who’s had gliders for five years as I’ve only had gliders for a few years. Before this pair.
Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/13/18 11:10 PM

You cannot keep them as a family unit unless you have dad neutered because if inbreeding. If you have male/female joeys, you cannot keep them together either without having that male neutered for same reason.

This Archived Thread is about Bonding With A Pouch Protective Glider which you do not have I don't think, but there is some really good information in it that might help you with her.
Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/13/18 11:14 PM

New Mexico Vets in our Database
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/13/18 11:17 PM

Thank you karenE.

I wasn’t planning on keeping them as a family did to Joeys will go into their separate cage in another room.


I love gliders though I feel like the mom and dad will never bond to me. I don’t know if I’ve done something wrong Or the techniques I’ve tried or not anything that they have done before and they don’t but I’m not sure what else I can run to Joeys are weaned from mom and dad. I would love for both of them want to bond.


Do you think that it’s a good idea to leave mom and dad alone for about a month after the joeys are weaned and then try something as simple as giving treats and start talking to them without touching.
Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/13/18 11:39 PM

Like you mentioned, there is no way of knowing what their previous home life was like. Were they simply used for breeding or were they pets as well dunno

At any rate, once these joeys are moved, you should be able to tell if mom was simply being protective or if she is indeed going to be difficult with bonding. IF they were only used for breeding, then you may have a more difficult road, but that doesn't mean she won't bond. However, if the male isn't neutered, and she has joeys again, then I'm not sure how this is going to go.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/13/18 11:54 PM

Okay thank you. For everything.


May I PM you if I have anymore concerns or questions
Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/14/18 12:12 AM

Of course, however, we like to keep as much as possible on the board so others may benefit agree We never know when someone might just be reading and searching for this very information. Just too hesitant to ask wink
Posted By: Hutch

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/14/18 04:47 PM

Originally Posted By: Tynk3287
I was cleaning the cage today and giving the gliders freshwater I pulled mom out to get put her in a different pouch as well as check on her two current joeys (5weeks OOP).


This isn't necessary, Tynk, just put a clean pouch in the cage, they'll move when they're ready.

Originally Posted By: Tynk3287
Do you think that it’s a good idea to leave mom and dad alone for about a month after the joeys are weaned and then try something as simple as giving treats and start talking to them without touching.


You'll need to play it by ear & eye. They -should- start paying attention when you're around & showing curiousity or mild interest in what you're doing, instead of fear or aggression. Ears up, relaxed body, & eyes up versus ears down & squinty eyes, tight/ready to pounce body.
Posted By: Hutch

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/15/18 10:54 AM

I've thought about it some more since last night. I wouldn't plan on any bonding until the babies are about 10-12 weeks OOP. Reason: 8-12 weeks seems to be the range joeys can leave mama-glider, depending on the breeder. Since it's been so rough so far, I'd say the more time for both the humans & the fuzzies would be better. This is assuming, of course, you get papa-glider fixed before mama-glider get knocked up again... that would just restart the clock.

In the meantime, I'd keep everything as low-stress as possible:
-- Put food in before they wake & do not remove until they're asleep for the day.
-- Don't clean their cage all at once & only during the day.
-- Don't change all their fleece/toys all at once, swap one or two items as needed.
-- As I said about, don't force moves, just give them the option for when they're ready.

Even while you're waiting, you can help them think of their new home as a happy/safe place:
-- Keep plenty of toys & brain teasers in their cage.
-- Hide treats before they wake all around.
-- Put small things that smell like you (fleece squares you've carrier around or slept with, for example) around areas of the cage they like to hang out. Not too many, but just so your smell is associated with their territory. I'd avoid putting them in the pouch until closer to the end... but if you're lucky they'll pull them into their nest themselves smile

I truly understand treating these guys as 'window pets' will be hard for the few weeks. Think of it like an investment: the interest you'll accumulate letting them relax will pay off when you resume/restart bonding.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/18/18 03:23 AM

So the vet I thought would be able to fix my daddy glider said he wouldn’t do it so now i am totally not sure what to do.

I’ve kinda accepted the fact that the breeding pair will never bond and that I will only just have their babies to bond to and find absolutely great homes for.
Posted By: Ladymagyver

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/18/18 09:18 AM

Did the vet say why he wouldn't neuter?
Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/18/18 02:41 PM

Originally Posted By: Ladymagyver
Did the vet say why he wouldn't neuter?


That is a good question. I have looked back through this thread and could not find where the age of this breeding pair was mentioned anywhere.

How old is this male?
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/19/18 03:55 AM

3 year old male. Just said he would only neuter if it was a Pom off procedure
Posted By: BYK_Chainsaw

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/19/18 05:33 AM

Originally Posted By: KarenE
Originally Posted By: Tynk3287
My husband and I, adopted a breeding pair of gliders from a trustworthy glider owner and friend, she just didn’t have the time that was needed to dedicate to them with being in and out of the hospital for a family member and work.
Originally Posted By: ynk3287
Until the babies are ready to be separated from their parents. I’m planning to leave them alone and even after that.


I think all of us concentrated on the issue of bonding and completely missed the fact you had a breeding pair of gliders. I did until I read the part in your last post about "babies" or joeys.

IMO, this could be why you are having more problems with bonding. First, they are in a new home, and second they are trying to protect their joeys.

You are going to have to step back and give them space until these joeys are at least weaned, and you are able to handle them. I have no doubt the biting is their way of telling you to keep your distance from the joeys.

Continue to talk to them through the cage as well as offering treats through the bars. This will probably be a very slow process but it will be rewarding in the end.


after thinking about it, I came up with what karen posted.

you have a protective mother that doesn't know you.
you (and me) seem to lack the skills to bond with a pregnant female and unneutered male.
you need to NOT BOND with these gliders right now. You should get the male neutered and let the mom finish with her babies. before you get in their face.
Posted By: BYK_Chainsaw

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/19/18 06:02 AM

Originally Posted By: Tynk3287
3 year old male. Just said he would only neuter if it was a Pom off procedure


as far as I know all our males are neutered pom off. if that means the jewels are missing, then that is how all ours were done.
Posted By: Feather

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/19/18 12:08 PM

Pom off laser is what my Veterinarian does. It is a very quick procedure and I have never had any problems afterwards.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/19/18 12:49 PM

He just wanted to cut it off and let it heal on its own. Not a good vet in my opinion that’s why when he said he wouldn’t I was kinda happy he didn’t seem to know about gliders a whole lot
Posted By: Ladymagyver

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/19/18 03:27 PM

Be sure he doesn't shave the area. It will make healing easier. Gliders do not like to be shaved. He will lick it raw trying to 'fix' the funny feeling of no fur.
Posted By: Hutch

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/20/18 03:59 PM

Originally Posted By: Tynk3287
He just wanted to cut it off and let it heal on its own.


That pretty much describes the standard procedure as I understand it.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/23/18 03:15 AM

Shaving the area isn’t good though. And isn’t Pom off not a good thing to do after a male have been breeding. Or have I been reading the blogs all wrong
Posted By: Feather

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/23/18 04:56 AM

Former breeding males can have a pom off neuter. The important thing with neutering with pom off it not to shave and not to laser or cut to close to the belly.

I recommend that you discuss this with your veterinarian.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/24/18 07:16 AM

I’ve decided to get rid off this breeding pair. And find it a home where they can just be breeding window pets. I am not usually one to just give up when it gets tough but this has caused me far too much stress and anxiety to the point in which I’ve miscarried.

This is definitely not what I signed on for. I thought we were doing a good thing by rescuing these guys but it seems as if we should have left them with their first owners.


Thank you all for your comments, concerns and knowledge.

These gliders need much more work than I can give them right now.

I may be a bad glider owner to some of you and I’m sorry you think that way but y’all don’t know how hard it has been to just take care of this pair specifically the female. She is the worst I’ve ever had.

My previous pair was never this bad.
Posted By: Ladymagyver

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/24/18 12:30 PM

It's never easy to take in rescues. My experience was with a 12wk oop Joey who was terrified of humans. I didn't mention her because she was so young. It took us 6 months to earn the smallest trust, and another 3 months to bond. She only tolerates us now and she is almost 4yrs old.

There were many times I wanted to re-home her, but I knew she would never change, and going through the rehoming process would make her worse. Our solution to Dot's issues is to keep her mentally stimulated, and she has to stay on a strict feeding schedule. She has food aggression issues and we have to be present while the girls eat every night. Dot has separation issues too from Fiona.

I understand how you feel, and this pair may never warm up to you. It takes a lot of time to teach and unlearn bad habits.

Dot and I still work through who the alpha is. I'm the only one who wins. Sometimes it's a fight. Sometimes I think she tests me to see if I'll give up.

I have no experience with a bonded mated pair. I can only imagine what it's like to work with two. At least they have each other for now to get through being rehomed again. I wouldn't even attempt what you have tried. Kudos to you.

This is what makes each glider unique. Some are social to humans right away. Others need work, and you have to earn a lot of their trust. Others just prefer to be left alone. Fiona bonded within 2 weeks. She was a single at the time. Fiona loves to have 1on 1 time. Dot took 9months and still prefers her cage to hanging out with us.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Take care of yourself please.

I hope you can have gliders in your future and we will see you here again soon!
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/24/18 02:49 PM

Thank you.


Listening to you and a few others. I’ve changed my mind.

I won’t be rehoming these guys again. I’m just not going to try to bond or touch or anything that requires human contact. Obviously they were never bonded but to each other. This really sucks but I’m just going to feed and water them I’ll leave the cage door open at night while we are home during their play time in case they want to come out and explore.


Rehoming then again would just make it absolutely incredibly hard to do anything with them.

As for fixing the male it’s not what I want to do but I’ll leave that alone for now and think about that again at a later time.



Will someone help me and coach me in what to do and how to handle this pair?

I really need guidance and knowledge.
Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/24/18 03:50 PM

Originally Posted By: Tynk3287
Thank you.


Listening to you and a few others. I’ve changed my mind.

I am glad you have changed your mind, however, I do think you will need to reconsider neutering the male.


I won’t be rehoming these guys again. I’m just not going to try to bond or touch or anything that requires human contact. Obviously they were never bonded but to each other. This really sucks but I’m just going to feed and water them I’ll leave the cage door open at night while we are home during their play time in case they want to come out and explore.

This is basically the advice that was given within this thread. Leave them alone until the joeys are separated from the parents and then give mom some time to settle down before trying the bonding process again. The only additional piece of advice was to get the male neutered so there would be no more joeys to trigger mom's vary protective behavior.

Letting unbonded gliders possibly roam free is not always a good idea. How do you propose to get them back into their cage? Chasing them down will only set back any tiny little bit of progress you might have made. You will be shocked at how good they are at finding places to hide you never thought about or even thought they could get into. You will also need to make sure you house is glider safe so they cannot get lost within walls or inside furniture shock


Rehoming then again would just make it absolutely incredibly hard to do anything with them.

As for fixing the male it’s not what I want to do but I’ll leave that alone for now and think about that again at a later time.

Personally, I'm don't understand why you wouldn't neuter the male unless you just want more and more joeys dunno

Will someone help me and coach me in what to do and how to handle this pair?

I really need guidance and knowledge.

If you read back through this thread, I don't know what more advice we could give you. Truthfully, I think we have given you the best we have based on what we know a bout this pair and our experience.

If you don't neuter the male, if the female is indeed a very protective mother, if you don't want to take the time (and it is going to take lots of time with this pair), then I'm not sure what more we can tell you.
Posted By: Ladymagyver

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/24/18 04:32 PM

Tynk, I agree with Karen on neutering Dad and all boys if you plan to keep any.

We are here however and can share our own experiences and what did and did not work for us.

I'm glad you're going to give it another try. smile We will try to help get you through this one way or another. smile
Posted By: 1daddyglider1

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/24/18 05:09 PM

This is a link that might help out at feeding time, without really forcing any interaction. http://newagegliderssuggiew.forumsmotion.com/t62-bonding-interacting-handling-sugar-gliders

Also you may want to work with babies after separated from parents and let the parents watch your positive interactions with babies. They do learn from each other they can learn bad behavior or fear from another glider but also can learn to trust as my Pin Head did. He followed Peanut after watching her climb back down my arm and into shirt pocket pouch. One day he just did it to Paulette with no coaxing or encouragement. We were putting his nesting material back in cage and HE decided it was time and climbed up her hand then her arm and then down into the pocket. I call it the ignore me and show me you want to bond.
Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/24/18 06:14 PM

Thank you, Art.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/24/18 08:41 PM

Do I have to neuter all the males?
Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/24/18 09:53 PM

Depends on how you intend to house them and how they get along.

Sometimes you can house intact brothers together with no problem, however, sons/fathers could be another issue. Plus you really should keep the bonded pair together, and in your case the only way you can do that without having more joeys is to neuter the dad.

If you keep brother/sister together then, yes, you need to neuter the male/s.

If you keep any related male offspring with the mother then, yes, you should neuter the male not only so there is no inbreeding but also so there is no fighting with the intact father when they come to maturity.

These are just a few of the combinations and reasons for neutering.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/25/18 04:52 AM

I plan on Keeping the brothers together in another cage in another room away from mom and dad. Should that be OK
Posted By: Ladymagyver

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/25/18 11:27 AM

It will for awhile. When the boys become mature, they will start over marking their territory and bark to the other gliders. They have an excellent sense of smell. You will also have to wash your hands between handling gliders in separate cages.

Daddy glider brought up some excellent points.

The "monkey see monkey do" tactic really works. Good or bad influences will carry over to the joeys. It doesn't work overnight so to speak, but over time.

Don't get stressed over this. Like all other animals they can sense your fear, anxiety,and stress. They also know when you are calm, and happy.


Posted By: KarenE

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/25/18 04:06 PM

Originally Posted By: Tynk3287
I plan on Keeping the brothers together in another cage in another room away from mom and dad. Should that be OK


As Dawn and I both said, it will for a while, however, as they mature more than likely there will come a time when dominance comes into play. These fights can be quite vicious leading to injury to one or both.

Most people have one or both males neutered to keep peace and to keep the brothers together if that is what they want to do.
Posted By: Tynk3287

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 05/29/18 01:52 AM

That’s really odd that y’all say that I’ve had brothers together in the same cage away from other gliders and they were just fine
Posted By: BYK_Chainsaw

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 06/02/18 06:07 PM

The best advice for bonding that I can give.
we got connor after the owner lost his cagemate and left connor alone in the back room. only feeding him, they had a picture of him on their arm, but I think that was a long time ago in glider time.
Connor would crab so bad, and even lounge at us, but it did seem like he was less likely to actually bite, but I did not test or push him to start. After a few weeks of talking to him, and him crabbing back at me, I found he liked yogurt drops and gave him a few.
I continued to give him a treat and talk to him. He continued to crab and at first lounge to scare me away.
After a month or more, I would wait till he was eating the treat and give him a pet, he wasn't happy but let me pet him some while eating, not biting me...a baby step.

I started taking his sleeping pouch out of cage, hoping he wouldn't pop up and bite me, he didn't, just a ton of crabbing. I would look at him in pouch, talk to him, let him crab. the more I did this, the less time he crabbed and would settle down faster. with a treat I could slowly pet the BACK of his head.

Finally I moved to bathroom time, let him explore, on second trip I did a gentle scoop up (using two hands on each side, this seems to be a better method, the gliders can try to jump over you hand, so the chance to escape seems to mean they are less likely to bit, small or big bite) and he walked on me.

He has only tired to bite me while cutting nails, like almost all our glider do sometimes, He is now with the 4 white gliders and seems to have made a 100% successful introduction, But he still crabs a LOAD at first, but will stop after a few words to him usually, I just let him crab, as long as he's not biting.

i did this over about 8 months, just one small success after another, at times pushing him to something new and hoping he didn't bite, and I still have more work, I just moved them to a new glider room and he will get LOTS MORE out of cage time in a big area.
Posted By: Trisha

Re: HELP!!! Adopted older gliders. - 06/11/18 12:49 AM

I used bonding spray from Suncoast gliders and it made such a difference in my adopted glider accepting me and my other accepting him. I spray his fleece and rubbed it all over him. It calms them down and they become accepting.

Then I tried spraying some in a pouch. The next day they are snuggled up together after 6 weeks of crabbing and sleeping separate.
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