Wasn't sure if I should put this in bonding or Behavior, but decided that since it IS a behavior, I'll drop it here.

Mochi and I have been working together a couple weeks now and I think our progress has been good. He's still 'crabby' whenever I open the pouch or wake him up to go in his bonding pouch, but he never lunges and hasn't actually bitten anyone. He 'tested' barely putting his teeth on a finger that was in his pouch, but didn't apply any pressure, just sort of held his mouth there. He's become happy to take treats- and now almost expects that he will either find one in his bonding pouch, or be handed one after getting inside it. I've also given him treats inside his cage, and he takes these very delicately, usually happy to start eating them while I'm still holding them.

There are two hiccups I'm finding however- The first is that he doesn't like his bonding pouch until he's already in it. For example, I'll get him out and move him to go into the bonding pouch, but he'll just grab tightly onto my hand for dear life, or run up my arm and avoid going into it. Today was the first time he's ever -willingly- gone into his pouch when I held it open for him, so I'm hoping maybe this phase is over.

The second hiccup is playtime. Or ...what -should- be playtime. Originally I would take him out in the bedroom. However he wanted only one of two things. The first of these is to run across my arms and try to leap in any direction that will lead back to his cage and sleeping pouch. Because of this we moved playtime to the bathroom, which brings me to the second thing- that he will sit on my shoulder or in the center of my back and just...sit there. He might shuffle back and forth, from one shoulder to another, and he might let me reach up and pet him, but that is -all- he wants to do. He sits there and occasionally makes the little 'tweeting' noise, or sneezes, but he never wants to go explore.

My room-mate was in with us for one play session and he would likewise sit on her shoulders- until he saw me and hopped back to mine.

I've tried to introduce him to a feather toy- but he -really- seemed more offended by that- screaming little glider obscenities until it went away.

Does anyone have any suggestions that might prompt my little guy to be adventurous? He's not much of a 'snuggler'- although he's grown to appreciate me putting my hand in the pouch and holding him/petting him as he sleeps.- But I'm wondering if he's just ...quiet? Do you think in time he will grow more outgoing? Or do I just have a shoulder-buddy?

You might just have a shoulder buddy. Maybe you could try putting him on the shower curtain rod and see if he will jump back to you.

It seems as if he goes to you instead of your girlfriend, so he may just jump back to you.

Well, I tried to attempt this as an experiment- The trouble of it was he absolutely refused to detach! He let me pick him up off my shoulder, in fact even grabbing onto/crawling into my hand, but then when I tried to place him on the shower rod- or the towel rack, with a fluffy towel for extra grip, his response was to dig his little claws in as tight as he could and rush to crawl up my arm.

He wanted nothing to do with any of that! XD

For the first few times he will probably need to be pried off your hang.

Bet he double times it to get back to you.

We're going to try putting him on my husband and seeing if he just wants to stay where he's put, or if he tries to get back to me. He's been better about getting into his pouch, we had not a bit of a fuss today, he just went from my hand into the bonding pouch and looked at me expectantly.

(He did complain a little when my husband gave him his mealworm- I've never heard them crab with a full mouth before!)

He'll sometimes climb up to peek out the pouch window at me, but he doesn't want to leave it- or leave my hand if it happens to be in the pouch with him.

I've had a 'skittish' Glider before, my original male, Romeo was very hesitant and though he loved his mate and loved to be handled, he was a bit 'jumpy' - Mochi isn't anything like that, he just seems to be pretty chill.

He does love running in his wheel though- so at least I know he gets some play/exercise that way!

EDIT:
Experiment - He did not want my husband, and very much wanted back on my arm once he was placed on him. Reaching out and grabbing for me. He's not much of a 'flier'.

In the play area's, regardless of where it is, do you have anything from the gliders cage? You are taking them from somewhere they feel is safe to something that is totally new to them. If you bring in things that smell like them it could help.

My wife and I have large sections of fleece, like 1 yard long, and we use those during play time to block the bottom of the bathroom door as well as to put it on our lap. Gives them somethings soft as well as something to curl up in too. It also allows them to put their scent on it for future use.

If you can try and bring in those things that might help your glider feel safe, it won't hurt to try.

Phil