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Hi! Never joined any sites before!
#1409385
04/29/17 04:38 PM
04/29/17 04:38 PM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 38 Florida
April
OP
In Pouch
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OP
In Pouch
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 38
Florida
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Hi!! I'm new, have had my gliders since February. I have a male neutered and a female. I think I'm doing good with the bonding, they recognize my scent, even when they are sleeping in the pouch. I clean the bottom of the cage every morning, and clean the wheel once a week. I've heard you shouldn't clean it that often, but they seem to be used to it. My husband really complains about the smell. I'm 50 years old, and these are my first. I've wanted them for about 10 years or longer, and finally made the commitment. I carry them in the pouch at least 3 hours a day during the week, and not much on the weekends. My biggest problem is that I don't want to stick my hand in the pouch, or pick them up, because I worry that they will bite me. If anyone has any advice, that would be great. I've gotten them out twice in the bathroom, with door shut, and they climb all over me, but I'm afraid to put my hand into the pouch. Thank you in advance. April
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Re: Hi! Never joined any sites before!
[Re: April]
#1409391
04/30/17 04:30 AM
04/30/17 04:30 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,321 SW Missouri USA
Ladymagyver
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,321
SW Missouri USA
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Hi, and . I'll tackle cage smell first. Gliders are scent oriented. They mark their territory. If their territory is washed frequently, they have a tendancy to get a bit carried away, trying to keep their territory marked. The tricky part is how/ and when to clean. Cleaning the bottom tray daily is fine. Most people only use water vinegar solution. What kind of wheel do you have? The bestway to keep from being bitten is to keep something between you and the glider. Like a piece of fleece. It also helps them not to associate your hand with scary things. A piece of fleece about the size of a hankie will do. Sorry it took so long for a response, please keep us posted on your progress and we love pics!
Dawn Be patient, and Trust your journey.... Grace Ruby Mom Fiona, Dot, Stewie and Dad Wish I could turn back time... Miss you all...
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Re: Hi! Never joined any sites before!
[Re: April]
#1409395
04/30/17 08:19 AM
04/30/17 08:19 AM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 38 Florida
April
OP
In Pouch
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OP
In Pouch
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 38
Florida
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Thank you for the response, I currently have the wonder wheel. I know... I have a new raptor wheel on order from etsy. I was one of those people who stupidly bought my gliders from the fair. ☹️ So I bought the starter kit, a wheel.. and since have bought more food, treats and more pouches. I'm also starting to switch the diet over to mlb.. I'm not sure if that's better than the whp diet. Suggestions on that would also help 😉 I can use all the advice I can get. I made a new cage.. it's 2'x3' and 5' tall. I have to figure out how to post pictures on here.. 😳
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Re: Hi! Never joined any sites before!
[Re: April]
#1409398
04/30/17 10:08 AM
04/30/17 10:08 AM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,321 SW Missouri USA
Ladymagyver
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,321
SW Missouri USA
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Very good pic! Your babies are beautiful! The wheel you have is difficult to keep clean, however you may want to clean every few days. You will love your Raptor wheel! You may want to add the nail trimmer kit to it. It really helps. Many people use the wheel you currently have as a ball pit or toybox. The BML diet is one of the best, mine have been on it. We travel a lot with our job so I converted them over to Critter Love complete (which is also considered one of the best) for ease of making. Click on the word diet in blue and you will see other diet options as well.
Dawn Be patient, and Trust your journey.... Grace Ruby Mom Fiona, Dot, Stewie and Dad Wish I could turn back time... Miss you all...
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Re: Hi! Never joined any sites before!
[Re: April]
#1409402
04/30/17 12:31 PM
04/30/17 12:31 PM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 38 Florida
April
OP
In Pouch
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OP
In Pouch
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 38
Florida
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Thanks so much for your suggestions! Should I switch the diet gradually, like I would a dog? I've made up the mixture, and fed them with it, but it looked like one had a dirty butt the next day, so I went back to the dry food I purchased from Pocket Pets. I purchased enough dry food, that I could take my time gradually switching them. They did give me the glider gravy. I never tried it. I figured I would put the wonder wheel into the small cage I purchased with the kit. I will use it when I go on vacation. What do you suggest between the bml diet and the HPW? Sorry I got the abbreviations mixed up. Thanks again. April
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Re: Hi! Never joined any sites before!
[Re: April]
#1409403
04/30/17 12:59 PM
04/30/17 12:59 PM
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,319 LittleRock, AR USA
KarenE
Owner
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Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,319
LittleRock, AR USA
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Normally there is no need to switch diets gradually with gliders, however, you can offer the new food along with a little of the old if you wish EXCEPT if your new diet is BML. BML has very strict guidelines on what can be fed with the staple meaning fruits/veggies and the occasional treat.
Critterlove or the Glide-R-Gravy is a little more forgiving.
The dirty butt you may have seen could have been some diarrhea or one may have simply gotten some BML on them. Hard to know for sure without watching for a reoccurrence.
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Re: Hi! Never joined any sites before!
[Re: April]
#1409406
04/30/17 03:08 PM
04/30/17 03:08 PM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 38 Florida
April
OP
In Pouch
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OP
In Pouch
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 38
Florida
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Hi, I just ordered the sample from critter love. Considering that I was choosing between the bml or the hpw diets, it seems to be approximately the same. I was considering the bml because it would be easy for me to make, as I'm a stay at home empty nester. But I will check out the critter love diet,as if I go on vacation, it should be easy for my pet sitter to deal with. ( I have 2 dogs, an African grey parrot and a 500 gallon koi pond) I also grow orchids. Back onto the bonding subject, should I be trying to put my hand into the pouch? They do climb on me when I'm closed off in the bathroom with them. I would like them to be friendly with my husband and family. Thanks again, April
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Re: Hi! Never joined any sites before!
[Re: April]
#1409409
04/30/17 04:44 PM
04/30/17 04:44 PM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 274 Free Like the Wind!
Stef333
Glider Explorer
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Glider Explorer
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 274
Free Like the Wind!
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Hi April! I had a hard time telling my gliders apart at first as well, and it was their behaviors that tipped me off. When I got mine from Pocket Pets, I remember that the girl was especially crabby and the boy was quiet as they were handed to me. She stayed crabby for the first few weeks, making it easy for me to tell them apart. As I got to know them better, first I noticed a little nick in my girl's ear. Then I noticed that their face shapes are just a little different. Then I noticed that the boy's color is more cream, while the girl's color is more gray. Next I noticed that his tail just has a tiny dark tip, while her tail has a few inches of dark at the end (and is usually curled). The more time you spend studying your gliders, the more differences you'll surely notice. It's hard to get them to stay still for a close examination, but you might be able to catch some close up pictures to study if you're lucky.
Yoda (Yodins) Jabberwinky (Winklefritz)
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Re: Hi! Never joined any sites before!
[Re: April]
#1409413
04/30/17 09:57 PM
04/30/17 09:57 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,321 SW Missouri USA
Ladymagyver
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,321
SW Missouri USA
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Stef is totally right. There are subtle differences. Fiona is a touch smaller, Dot has bigger ears. The stripe to their nose is different too. Fiona's stripe touches her nose, and Dot's doesn't. Wait. I got that turned around... I mainly use ears and personality. And when they jump on me, Fiona lands like a feather, where Dot lands like a foam brick.
When it comes to handling, well they tolerate it eventually. They would rather hangout on your back or sit on your shoulder than be held.
You might try "Fist time" in their sleeping pouch during the day. I used to do this while watching a movie. You will want to be relaxed. Just make a tight fist and slowly insert it in their pouch. Sit there a bit and then try to slip your fingers under them. They will get comfy, and may nibble/taste.
Dawn Be patient, and Trust your journey.... Grace Ruby Mom Fiona, Dot, Stewie and Dad Wish I could turn back time... Miss you all...
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Re: Hi! Never joined any sites before!
[Re: April]
#1409429
05/01/17 09:26 AM
05/01/17 09:26 AM
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 38 Florida
April
OP
In Pouch
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OP
In Pouch
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 38
Florida
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Thank you guys!! Without the bald spot, and without trying to see if it has a pouch or not, I guess you can't really tell the sexes apart. They don't know their names anyway. I will try the fist in the pouch!! They are almost always awake and alert when I have them in the pouch with me. They've only peed in it twice... I can tell when they need to go usually, because they come to the top, and are really restless. I don't need to grab them or handle them, I'm totally content to just have them with me. But when they wander off, I just want to be comfortable with getting them from a potentially bad situation. I just cleaned the gross wheel. Dawn, you recommend the nail trimmer for the wheel, when I put it in the wonder wheel, they refused to use it. Will it be different with the new wheel? Thanks again, April
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