I adopted a 2 plus year old male ten days ago. I think I lucked out and got an extremely sweet SG. What would be helpful would be a guide as to "How bonded is my glider?"...maybe a scale from 1 (brand new glider that runs and hides) to 12 (runs up your leg if you put him on the ground).
What are the in-between stages? Mine allows me to pick him up from his cage without having to chase him. He allows me to pet him while I'm holding him. A treat (especially a live treat) is enough to coax him from his pouch. He reaches out to touch noses. He snuffled inside both of my ears! He sat on my shoulder and groomed, then curled up and fell asleep. It would be good to have an outline, a sort of progress report to help me judge my success in bonding. Ideas?
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Hm... That would be an interesting project... Collecting landmark behaviors and trying to put them into some kind of hierarchy... I'm sure there are some common behaviors that would be indicative of stages of bonding... But gliders are pretty diverse. Diverse enough that it might not be fair to judge them all with the same stick.
This is a great subject...
So....he sleeps on you...lets you hold him in your hand, and pet him...
By any stick I measure by, that's Suggie Nirvana right there.
Re: I lucked out.
[Re: TwoDog]
#1408224 03/27/1706:37 PM03/27/1706:37 PM
I am also jealous. I haven't had one that bonded since Tucker. I am working on his grand and great grand babies.
Kimberley Feathers-Sweetie, Mister Peanut & Big Mack Fur-Guinan, Mr. Spock, T'Mir, Cho, Toothless, Maverick & Maharet T'Pol, Elizabeth & Curzon TY, TJ, Light Fury, Madison & T'Pring Forever in my heart, Gizmo, Tucker, Khayman and the rest of my babies over the
Jubilee had been left alone for months after his cagemate died. The owner hadn't taken him out of the cage in months. I don't believe he was bonded at all to his previous owner. He was SM, 20 grams underweight and depressed. He's doing much better now. Even more so that I found him a friend a week ago. She's a sweet white face blonde that wad hand raised cuz mom couldn't feed her.
The three of us have tent time from six am to eight am each morning. Both of them run, jump, fly and play. When they're ready for a rest they dive down my shirt. After a rest, they play some more. What a blast! Jubilee is crabbing less. I don't think Miesha ever has. She's only a year old and still nips when she's playing hard. I just give her a sharp "psst" and it usually stops.
Since I've had them, they sleep all day with me...in a pouch, my shirt or sports bra (they like the bra the best). The last couple of days Jubilee will wake up in the early afternoon, perch on my shoulder checking out the area for a few minutes, then back in my shirt. Too cute!
I feel very fortunate to have found two SG that are so sweet and willing to bond.
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Do you keep the pouch tucked into your shirt? I'd like to carry my gliders in a pouch more often, but it moves around so much that I feel like it can't be very restful for them in there when I'm moving around. I'd love to hear your solution for that!
Kimberley Feathers-Sweetie, Mister Peanut & Big Mack Fur-Guinan, Mr. Spock, T'Mir, Cho, Toothless, Maverick & Maharet T'Pol, Elizabeth & Curzon TY, TJ, Light Fury, Madison & T'Pring Forever in my heart, Gizmo, Tucker, Khayman and the rest of my babies over the
They sleep in my sports bra all day. Yes, i move around a lot. I also practice piano and violin. They don't seem to notice. I can feel them twitching while they are dreaming and they stay sound asleep from what i can tell. Riding around in mom's pouch while she jumps and flies must aclimate them. I think they feel more secure with me than in their cage.
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My late Tucker would sleep very soundly when I had him in my bra or in a bonding pouch.
Kimberley Feathers-Sweetie, Mister Peanut & Big Mack Fur-Guinan, Mr. Spock, T'Mir, Cho, Toothless, Maverick & Maharet T'Pol, Elizabeth & Curzon TY, TJ, Light Fury, Madison & T'Pring Forever in my heart, Gizmo, Tucker, Khayman and the rest of my babies over the
Update: My colony of three, Bella (leucistic 2 year old female) Meisha (7 month old white-face blond) and Jubilee (2 yr old neutered male, classic grey) is doing really well. I get up at five am for playtime in the gueatbath turned playroom. Meisha jumps onto my shoulder as soon as I open the cage. Jubi no longer crabs at me. Bella rarely nips me anymore. I'm the center of the action in the playroom. After eating a couple of bugs the kids climb, hop and fly on and around me. If I stand up, the girls leap to my shoulder. At around 6:30 am Meisha and Jubi dive into my shirt. (Bella would continue playing for hours so I put her in the cage until she's sleeping.) The three spend the day in my shirt or pouch. I put my hand in the pouch at times during the day and cuddle with them. All three will let me pet their bellies.
They come out of the pouch between nine and ten ready for dinner. When I try to put Meisha in the cage with the other two to eat, she frequently jumps back to my shoulder. I have to put her back in the cage so I can go to bed.
The playtime, no matter how short, cuddling time in the pouch periodically through the day and being with me during the day (hearing my voice and surrounded by my scent) over time wins. It's hard to be patient but patience is rewarded. The first time Meisha jumped back to my shoulder rather than go in her cage I was thrilled.
My experience is with 2 adults and one juvenile glider. I just wanted people to know that adult gliders can and do make wonderful pets so don't be afraid of rescue gliders or ones that are being rehomed for whatever reason.
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