Posted By: Cooky_luvs
Tail biting glider - 10/25/19 05:21 AM
Hello everyone. This forum was recommended to me so I figured i’d post my issue here to get some opinions.. On 09/14 I adopted two sister female gliders to house with my two existing females.
All are 9 months to 1 year old. The two new ones came from a group of 4 so I thought this arrangement would work. Anyway I kept them separate and did pouch swapping for about two weeks and then started doing group tent time. Hazel did show the most aggression but since she didn’t ball up I put them together after two weeks. Looking back I probably put them together too soon. Everything I read made it sound like if they didn’t ball up and fight they’d be good though.
They all seemed to be getting along great. Little squabbles with crabbing here and there but nothing major. On Oct 11 I found one of my original gliders Snowy with a horrible tail injury. I didn’t know if another glider did it so I only separated the injured girl. She ended up needing a partial tail amputation. Then on the 19th I woke up and caught Hazel in the act of biting her sister Luna’s tail. Luckily she didn’t need an amputation but the tip of her tail did fall off, about an inch. Luna didn’t even fight back during the act but tried to get away but Hazel practically was dragging her by the tail. It was so sad to see. It was weird because it didn’t seem aggressive, more like compulsive.
So since then Hazel has been by herself because I don’t feel I can trust her with the others after two injuries. Well now she is grooming her fur off and I am scared that she will do worse, bite her own tail off or toes etc. i’m sure the grooming is from depression due to now being alone but something had to be bothering her before also for her to be so aggressive. I’ve had several suggestions to get Hazel a neutered male friend. Is that a good idea? I am pretty scared she’d injure a male too. I am lost on how to help her. Has anyone had a similar situation and if so what worked? I’m worried for poor Hazel. I hate seeing her depressed and lonely but can’t risk my other girls getting more injuries.
All are 9 months to 1 year old. The two new ones came from a group of 4 so I thought this arrangement would work. Anyway I kept them separate and did pouch swapping for about two weeks and then started doing group tent time. Hazel did show the most aggression but since she didn’t ball up I put them together after two weeks. Looking back I probably put them together too soon. Everything I read made it sound like if they didn’t ball up and fight they’d be good though.
They all seemed to be getting along great. Little squabbles with crabbing here and there but nothing major. On Oct 11 I found one of my original gliders Snowy with a horrible tail injury. I didn’t know if another glider did it so I only separated the injured girl. She ended up needing a partial tail amputation. Then on the 19th I woke up and caught Hazel in the act of biting her sister Luna’s tail. Luckily she didn’t need an amputation but the tip of her tail did fall off, about an inch. Luna didn’t even fight back during the act but tried to get away but Hazel practically was dragging her by the tail. It was so sad to see. It was weird because it didn’t seem aggressive, more like compulsive.
So since then Hazel has been by herself because I don’t feel I can trust her with the others after two injuries. Well now she is grooming her fur off and I am scared that she will do worse, bite her own tail off or toes etc. i’m sure the grooming is from depression due to now being alone but something had to be bothering her before also for her to be so aggressive. I’ve had several suggestions to get Hazel a neutered male friend. Is that a good idea? I am pretty scared she’d injure a male too. I am lost on how to help her. Has anyone had a similar situation and if so what worked? I’m worried for poor Hazel. I hate seeing her depressed and lonely but can’t risk my other girls getting more injuries.