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Re: Creating a Colony (Two Trios)
[Re: StitchsMom]
#1301840
10/29/12 01:08 PM
10/29/12 01:08 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,839 roseville, mi
hwh4ev
Glider Addict
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Glider Addict
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,839
roseville, mi
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congrats. on this big undertaking jenny. i was very happy to read this and find out it worked out well. i want to take my one pair that is no longer breeding and introduce them to my other pair that never bred(sterile).
i am going to start with the pouch swapping, etc. as soon as their last joeys are gone.
i am assuming that your trios once bred. this is what give me some hope that i can get my pairs together.
regards, nancy in detroit
Last edited by hwh4ev; 10/29/12 01:10 PM.
regards, nancy in roseville (formerly in detroit)
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Re: Creating a Colony (Two Trios)
[Re: StitchsMom]
#1302228
11/06/12 11:48 PM
11/06/12 11:48 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 12,099 Vulcan, MO
Meg_n_Von
Glideritis Anonymous
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Glideritis Anonymous
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 12,099
Vulcan, MO
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Uber congrats, Jenny! This is exactly what I want to do when I retire my breeding pairs. You've given me great hope!
Megan & LaVaughn Sugar Exotics Kira Sadie - Neal Pip - Violet Logan - Charli - Tyler - Seamus Chloe - Cas Boone RIP David Your life was short lived, but your memory will last forever.
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Re: Creating a Colony (Two Trios)
[Re: StitchsMom]
#1302689
11/08/12 07:20 PM
11/08/12 07:20 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569 IL (St. Louis area)
StitchsMom
OP
Glideritis Anonymous
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OP
Glideritis Anonymous
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569
IL (St. Louis area)
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Yes. This was me combining two retired breeding pairs and each one had one offspring with them because I always keep the last joey from my pairs. One trio, my older trio, had been retired for several years. The other, I retired right around this time last year.
I'm still adjusting to play time with six gliders. The tent just doesn't do it for this colony so they get full run of the glider room to play. They just all seem to shoot off different directions. I always feel like one is missing even though the room is safe. It's hard to explain. I'm sure I'll get used to it in time. I know that they love it so that's really all that matters.
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Re: Creating a Colony (Two Trios)
[Re: StitchsMom]
#1303233
11/10/12 05:07 PM
11/10/12 05:07 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569 IL (St. Louis area)
StitchsMom
OP
Glideritis Anonymous
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OP
Glideritis Anonymous
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569
IL (St. Louis area)
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I've got more good news!
So, all six have been using one large pouch for awhile now. It's awesome to open it up and peek in at all six cuddled up together. That's not the good news though.
The good news is that last night, I went in to feed them and only four could be found. They came right out to get dinner. I started looking around and found VanGogh climbing out of the family pouch a bit late for dinner. I was only missing Keeper. It was her and VanGogh that were the last to get along. So, I checked everywhere else before checking the family pouch. Not only was Keeper in there, meaning those two troublemakers had been sneaking in some alone time, but VanGogh was back in the pouch too...with some food! He brought her food!
I know he got this habit from his Daddy, Gizmo. Giz does this for Sprocket all the time. It's just something he has always done for her. I had never seen VanGogh do the same...until he decided to snuggle up to Keeper!
So, it looks like those two have finally settled their differences. It actually looks to me like they have grown quite close which just warms my heart. I'm feeling more and more confident that this colony is going to work out just fine.
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Re: Creating a Colony (Two Trios)
[Re: StitchsMom]
#1309102
12/01/12 10:28 PM
12/01/12 10:28 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569 IL (St. Louis area)
StitchsMom
OP
Glideritis Anonymous
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OP
Glideritis Anonymous
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569
IL (St. Louis area)
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The colony is doing great! I'm so glad things seem to be working out with them. I really need to get some good pics of them. I'll have to dig out the ol' camera.
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Re: Creating a Colony (Two Trios)
[Re: StitchsMom]
#1321420
01/23/13 04:23 PM
01/23/13 04:23 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569 IL (St. Louis area)
StitchsMom
OP
Glideritis Anonymous
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OP
Glideritis Anonymous
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569
IL (St. Louis area)
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I thought I'd do an update on my colony now that they have settled into a routine together.
It's fairly obvious that Lafayette and Gizmo are co-alphas of the cage. It makes sense to me because they were both the alpha males of their previous trios. It's neat though to see a senior glider, Giz, and a younger male, Lafayette (La-La) work together to run the colony. I never expected to see that. I thought one or the other, not both. Of course, my gliders are weirdos like me.
They even share duties. La-La does the more time consuming and difficult tasks such as waking up first to make sure the cage is safe for his family, spending time every single night checking on each and every other glider periodically, responding to crabs or cries, etc. Giz does the easier stuff like guarding the family in the pouch during naptime ( ), grooming the family, and his famous habit of bringing food to other gliders in the cage.
VanGogh would be the beta if glider colonies have betas ( ). For example, if the colony is out playing and I introduce a new toy, Giz and La-La are the first to check it out. After they decide it's safe, VanGogh will explore it next before any of the girls will even move toward it. VanGogh actually seems to have gotten a bit more confident in his new colony. He used to be rather shy and a bit withdrawn. Now, he's much more like his father (Gizmo) when he was in his prime.
The girls have formed a pretty solid unit as far as I can tell. They tend to stick together most of the time. They all come out out to eat after the boys. They wait in the pouch until all three boys have given the all clear then all kind of trickle out together. Keeper is the boldest but Coraline is the dumbest so it's 50/50 as to which one will come out first. Okay, she isn't dumb. She's just...spacey. I don't know how to put it. If one of my gliders was going to get into trouble, it would be her. She will leap wildly around the glider room with no regard for where she is going or how high she is leaping from. It freaks me out sometimes! I throw blankets down on the floor just in case she decides to take a leap of faith during playtime. Crazy girl...
The only real exception is Sprocket. She is my senior female. While she does still explore during playtime and run in her wheel for awhile here and there, she is really slowing down. I know that it's just how it is with older gliders, but she's been a part of my life for so many years and it breaks my heart. The good news is the two younger girls really watch out for her. One of them is always with her anymore. If she doesn't want to come out and play, one of the girls will go into a pouch with her to snuggle her. They treat her like she's their mother. They are so sweet together.
I'm very confident that this colony will continue to thrive. These gliders were all very sweet tempered prior to the merge so I think that helped a lot and will continue to come into play. Sure, they will have their spats, but I think they all truly love each other and are very happy to have so many gliders in their family.
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Re: Creating a Colony (Two Trios)
[Re: StitchsMom]
#1321660
01/24/13 01:02 PM
01/24/13 01:02 PM
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 361 MI
GidgetsMom
Glider Lover
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Glider Lover
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 361
MI
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This is such a great story! I loved reading the entire thread! And I'm so happy things have worked out so well.
Jen Mommy to girls Gidget, Gizmo and our new additions Guinness & Genevieve
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Re: Creating a Colony (Two Trios)
[Re: StitchsMom]
#1321794
01/24/13 10:40 PM
01/24/13 10:40 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569 IL (St. Louis area)
StitchsMom
OP
Glideritis Anonymous
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OP
Glideritis Anonymous
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 10,569
IL (St. Louis area)
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Thank you!
This was a huge adventure and I'm so pleased that they all seem to have put their lives as trios behind them. Honestly, at this point, I would feel like I was being cruel if I were to split them back up into their respective trios. That's how bonded they already seem to be.
I'm also pleased that my older guys, Gizmo and Sprocket, will now be able to retire with a large family. As much as I hate to talk about it, I was concerned about when one or both passes away. How would Giz react to losing the love of his life and having no more female in his life? How would VanGogh do without his parents around? I didn't want anyone to be left feeling alone. I know that no glider will replace a mate for these two seniors, but I think having a large family to lean on when the time comes will really, really help.
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