GliderCENTRAL

they aren't bonding!

Posted By: Anonymous

they aren't bonding! - 06/18/08 01:12 AM

I got one sugar glider in about...i think it was in february. i got the other one almost two months later. i introduced them, and they seemed fine. they have now been living in the same cage for a while now. but they have still not gotten over their fighting. they still get in big fights. i tried separating them, but they both just got completely sad and wouldn't do anything. i need help!!! i don't know why they aren't bonding better and liking each other more... anyone who has advice, please help me. i don't know what to do.
Posted By: glidergrl1513

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/18/08 01:15 AM

wave Welcome to GC!

How did you introduce them?
How big is their cage?
How many feeding stations do you have, and where are they?
How many wheels?
How many pouches?
How old are they?
What sexes are they?

Sorry for all the question, but the answers will help us try to find a solution to your problem. thumb
Posted By: hipbchik

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/18/08 01:17 AM

Welcome to GC!!

Also...where did you get them?
Were they socialized at all?
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/18/08 01:30 AM

i introduced them by putting their cages like...not quite a foot apart, then i switched their pouches, then cages, then introduced them face to face.

their cage is about three feet tall by three feet wide, i dont know exactly.

i have two feeding stations, either both on the front of the cage, of on either side, both near the top.

one wheel

i used to have two pouches, but they both started sleeping in the same one, so i took the other one out.

they are about three months apart...i think one is almost 8 months and the other is almost a year

they are both female

i got one from a friend that didn't want hers anymore and one from a breeder in West Jordan.

I'm not sure if either was socialized, but the new one is A LOT tamer than the one i have had for longer.

Posted By: glidergrl1513

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/18/08 01:38 AM

A lot of that sounds good. But I would put that other pouch back in there (or even put 3 in) because they do need to have a choice. They might not always want to sleep together even if they do most of the time. Like with mine, sometimes mine will get pinchy and want to sleep alone, so I keep at least 5 pouches in the cage.

Also, with the food dishes, do you have them in kitchens? Sometimes the fighting is food-related, so it might help it they each have their own place to eat where they can't see one another.
Posted By: hipbchik

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/18/08 01:50 AM

I agree about adding pouches back in to the cage...they may be tussling for dominance, trying to decide which will be the Alpha female. If they are fighting all the time, I'd keep them separated, and give them "together" time only when you can upervise them and split them up if necessary. If they are only occasionally getting into it, keep an eye on them to make sure it's not serious, but let them work through it. If you want them to be together all the time, one will have to accept that the other is the dominant female. This will take a lot of patience and supervision on your part.
Posted By: KattyM

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/18/08 02:37 AM

Glider kitchens are also great for helping to contain the mess. Here's a thread: Help with a "Glider Kitchen!?!"

Did you put them together while they were still having big fights? In other words, have they always had these fights ever since being together? You may have to take a step back and reinforce the introductions. Here's a link that may help: Extreme Introductions.

Also, when's the last time they had a wellness exam with a glider-knowledgeable vet? You want to rule out any physical problems that may be making one or the other extra crabby.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/18/08 05:11 AM

ok, i will put extra pouches in tonight and get two kitchens as soon as i can to see if that helps them...

also, what do you do about mean gliders?? my older glider, the one that i got from a friend, is very mean. if my hand is even on the cage she will go all the way around the cage just to bite me. and i'm afraid that my newer one is picking up her habits because she is becoming more afraid of me.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/18/08 05:32 AM

i just read something about glider fighting. i have never seen them like rolling around mad at each other, but they have like lunged at each other and scratched each other and stuff... so i dont think that i need to introduce them all over again, but its not exactly super great either...and i want so bad for them to like me and to be able to hold them, but they just wont let me...
Posted By: LSardou

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/18/08 05:42 AM

I'm concerned that with their constantly fighting that eventually one or both of them are going to get seriously hurt.
I suggest that you separate them for a few weeks and try to start over again with the introductions. The next time just go at it slowly rather than putting them together right away. You can try and play with them together for a few hours at a time, but put them in separate cages during the night.
During the daytime you could try and have them sleep together in the same pouch and see if this will help with their behavior.
Just don't take the risk right now of keeping them together if all they are doing is fighting.
Posted By: hipbchik

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/18/08 09:18 PM

As far as "mean" gliders go...I personally don't think there are "mean" gliders, just scared gliders!! Chances are she's just afraid...maybe she just hasn't had the chance to build trust with you. I agree with LSardou about keeping them separate if the fighting is constant...this will also give you time to spend with each glider separately, so you can create a stronger bond. Remember though that bonding is always at the glider's pace, not ours which is often frustrating, whether they are bonding with a human or another furry friend. jmho.

Keep us posted!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/19/08 01:37 AM

um...the only thing is, i can't really PLAY with them...they will not let me hold them. Well, my newer one Pepper will, but Mimi-NO WAY!!!! and i do not have another suitable cage to put one of them in, the other one is very small...

they do not fight constantly, just is little bursts sometimes. and they both sleep well together.
Posted By: LSardou

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/19/08 03:45 AM

Some gliders just plain don't like to be held. This is not unusual.
Do you try and carry just Mimi around by herself? Maybe if you started off 10 minutes or so a day just carrying her around with you in a bonding pouch might help her to get past her dislike of being held.
The worst thing you can do is force her. Doing so will only cause her to remain fearful of being held.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/19/08 04:05 AM

ok...i used to take her around in the pouch everywhere...she seemed a little less aggresive then, but maybe that was too much for her...

i will try slowly trying to get them separately in pouches each day to bond with me, and in turn this will hopefully help them be more comfortable and bond with each other better too. i think that aplitting them up however, may have a negative effect. i tried that for even a couple of days once, and all they would to is sit at the wall that was closest to eachother and poke their noses through the bars and move everywhere that the other moved. then they both seemed to be more standoffish, and i decided that keeping them apart would not help.
Posted By: LSardou

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/19/08 05:50 AM

Are they fighting during feeding time?
I'm glad that you're going to start to carry her around in a bonding pouch more often.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/19/08 01:18 PM

glider_girl, have you tried tent or bathroom time? This can really help with the bonding process and help your gliders overcome any scared feelings they have with you. During this time, they will learn to trust being on you as well as learn that you aren't going to hurt them. I love tent time because it gives me time to "join" my babies in play time. They love it and so do it.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/19/08 03:51 PM

they don't fight during feeding time, sometimes they choose to eat out of the same bowl, rather than separate ones. i will tell you how the pouch works out!!! laugh

i used to do bathroom time, but little Mimi will start crawling on me, and instead of just running around she stops and starts biting me. i was thinking about getting a tent, but the same thing may happen there. she just likes to bite me, and sometimes she will go out of her way just to bite me. is there any advice for biting gliders?? cuz i sure need it...
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/19/08 04:50 PM

Ok, the biting I may be able to shed some light on. My new little boy, Apollo, is a blood biter. This means that basically, every time he sees my hand, it looks like a target. Here are a few suggestions I can give to help:
1. Make sure your hands are washed very well before handling them. They will bite if you smell like yogies, mealies, any type of fruit, even fruit scented lotion/handwash.
2. Don't dangle your fingers in front of them. They look like super big mealies!
3. Wear long sleeves when playing with them. Make sure your hand holes are long enough to hide your hands if necessary.
4. Make the psst sound every time they bite. My first pair starting biting out of what they call "teenage rebellion". This means they are testing you.

Remember the one rule that I feel is the most important. I don't believe gliders can hate. I don't believe gliders are evil...even the most vicious pit bull biters. They are just scared and don't trust you yet. You have to earn their trust, on their time. Remember, it may take awhile and not every glider is going to be what many consider "perfect". We have flaws and so do gliders. You have to take it slow.

I just received 4 rescues and trust me, I have many issues I am working with. You just have to be patient and give them as much space as they need to build their trust. Some take 1 month and some take 1 year. Once they realize how awesome of a mom you are, they will learn to trust you. Also, bribes ALWAYS work! grin Yogies, mealies, favorite fruit! Keep us updated! I will be watching and can't wait to hear how your progress goes!
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: they aren't bonding! - 06/21/08 02:35 AM

thanks so much!!!! i will definitely try all these things. i'm so happy you finally have some advice for me about the biting, cuz it hurts!!!

thanks again!
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