Introducing Gliders...Help!

[rachel653]

I have been reading a lot of websites about introducing gliders. I am planning on getting a joey tomorrow. Right now I have a male who is around 6-7 months. I pretty sure they have both male and female but I don't know. Which does everyone think would be the best choice because I don't want either of them to get hurt. And from everyones personal experience, what is the best way to introduce them? Thank you.

[tiggar]

Go to www.sugarglider.net and I know that you will get your answers there...

[CritterHill]

If you are buying a joey you will not be able to introduce it to your glider until it is of similar size and of sexual maturity if you get a female. A unneutered male could seriously injure a joey. If you get a male I would encourage getting both neutered, as they have not grown up together they will probably not get along unneutered.

[AmberLove]

I agree completely with CritterHill... No matter what you get you will have to keep them seperated for some time. If you get a female, you will have to keep them seperated for 6 months, unless you neuter your male...If you put her in before the 6 month waiting period, she will not be sexually mature and the male could seriously hurt or even kill her trying to breed with her. If you neuter the male, you could probably put her in sooner-but you will still have to wait till her size is a bit closer to his AND till they get acclimated to one another...If you get a male they will most likely fight- You will have to neuter BOTH males and wait till both are healed AND till the new male is a bit larger and acclimated to the other...Either way, good luck...If you try to rush things...they could quite possibly BOTH be seriously hurt...please exercise caution in this introduction.
~M~

[ScootersPet]

Answer to your second question, Critterhill and Amberlove got the first one for ya.

The best way to introduce is by swapping each others pouches every couple of days, same with a few toys. Put their cages about 5-6 inches away from each other, enough room between for them not to be able to reach other. After you do that for a while, about a month or two, you can switch cages. Gliders rely alot on smell, if they get used to one anothers smell, it is easier to intro them. After a few months of that, (4-5, this takes alot of time) You can begin introducing them face to face. When i first intro'd my girls and boy, i put him in a small bird-cage inside the play-time tent, then let the girls take their time going to the cage and checking him out. I did this so that if they did get into a fight they could be very easily seperated. I let them check each other out for about an hour, then open the cage door and let him out but you still need to be prepared to seperate them, have a couple bonding pouches (with closures) ready to pouch them in necesary. Gliders are not like mice and hamsters, you cant just stick them together and expect them to get along. Some gliders, like my first boy, will fight with any glider i put in his cage, he has been alone since he was 8 weeks, and when i attempted to intro the twin girls (that i bought to be his cagemates) even after 6 months of slow intro's he would chase them and attack them when in the cage, but was fine when they were out playing. Take your time, and take it at the gliders pace. :) hope this helps a little (sorry it's soo long LOL)

[rachel653]

I ended up getting a female. All she does is crab constantly. I dont know what to do to make her stop and comfortable. When I got my male he never crab at me or anyone once, and he was so friendly....Any suggestions?

[AmberLove]

She is probably SCARED...She is in a new place with new sounds and smells. How old is she? Did you get her from a Breeder or a Pet shop? Was she Handled often? All gliders have different personalities. She may naturally be crabby, she may just need some time to warm up. Give her space, and be patient. Give her lots of healthy Goodies to Win her trust and love. Do not force her, don't grab her to hold her. Let her come to you. Some suggies take MONTHS to tame. Go at her pace.
Good Luck, and Congrats on your new suggie...But Please don't rush her to put her in with your male...that will only make a whole new mess of problems...

[ScootersPet]

You should put her in her cage and not mess with her for a few days, only feed her and make sure she has water. After day 3 you can start siting next to the cage and read a book outloud, but ignore her! she will eventually come over and want to investigate. have a treat ready for her when she does. You can get little fleece blankies and wear them on your body for a day or two, or in your pillow works well too, then put them in her sleeping pouch. This will get her used to your scent (very important) Continue sitting next to her cage,and talk to her and give her some treats (bribery works well lol) then after a week, you can start placing your hand in her cage, dont chase her or try to touc her, let her come to you. You can have a treat in your palm, or licky treats on your fingers, somthing good for her to get when she come close. Again, take it at her pace, no chasing, grabbing, nothing to scare her.

[rachel653]

She is only 9 weeks old and I got her from a breeder...They said they held them often but I dunno. Im not trying to pick her up or anything. And she is in a separate cage from the male, right next to him. I think he is trying to talk to her or something...its kinda cute. But no reponse from her. Im hoping she warms up to me and gizzy eventually though. And Im definitely not gonna rush into anything. I dont want either of them to get hurt. Thanks for the advice though.