Hi everyone -

I have 2 gliders, both are right around 14/15 years old - Steve & Trillian. Other gliders have come and gone but Steve and Trillian have been together for at least 13 of their 15 years. Steve has had a struggle over the last year or two with low calcium (we have a GREAT vet locally who will do calcium shots every day if needed). I have been on the brink of putting him down at least 3 different times and have managed to get him on the better side of things every time but I think his QoL is at the point where it would be more merciful to put him down even if we could keep him going. He basically gets up at night, tries like the dickens to poop (it looks both exhausting and painful), eats and then goes back to bed.

My worry is for Trillian who will be left behind.. She just started to show signs of calcium deficiency last month which I quickly nipped in the bud. She is slowing down but still runs in her wheel and hops around, playing in tunnels and on vines. (She loves her tunnels!) She's never been alone and even though she's very self-sufficient, I'm worried about when Steve doesn't come home and she has to spend her days sleeping alone.. I can definitely carry her around more during the day but I'm usually asleep when she's awake.. I don't want to get another glider - both Steve & Trillian were a little anti social but absolutely loved each other from Day 1. Not only do I not want to get into an endless loop of gliders but she doesn't need the stress of introducing a new glider.

Would love any tips to help with the transition..

I absolutely hate this part of pet ownership. People who have never had gliders will never know that they are just like people - each has their own unique personality. Steve used to be my leaf stealer - they have a 10x10' room (not a cage) and I'd have the silk ficus trees near the netting on the walls and he'd carefully remove the leaves from their branches and carry them with his tail and hide them in their pouches. He is the only glider I've had that used his articulating tail! When I'd clean their room, I'd reattach all of the leaves so he'd have more to farm. He hasn't done that in ages even though I lay the fake trees down so he can easily get to them. I think it's just time.

I am very sorry you are going through this. You can give Trillian a small stuffed animal to sleep with.
I have found that geriatric gliders will pass close together, you could help her over the bridge when Steve passes.

I wish I had done that years ago when my stallion was helped over the bridge at 20 years old. I ended up helping my old guy over exactly a year later at 36.

It is a difficult decision and the take a peice of our heart when they go.