GliderCENTRAL

Am i doing something wrong?

Posted By: Sunshine

Am i doing something wrong? - 12/30/09 04:37 PM

Okay so I got a new glider yesturday and she was sweet as a button untill i got her in her cage. I know that you have to leave them alone to let them get used to their surroundings but i just couldn't stop helping her. She wont eat or drink ANYTHING. I have a wide variety of glider foods open for her, she is scared of water, and i can't come near the cage to even feed her. The only way she will eat is if i put some hpw in a suringe and feed it to her that way. She is 8 weeks and 5 days oop and she is weened to the hpw diet. She knows how to glide already. She can't really figure out how to get in the pouch. It is wide open but she can't seem to get in it. I have to show her the opening. What should i do?? Am i doing something wrong??
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Am i doing something wrong? - 12/30/09 04:51 PM

Are you sure she is 8 weeks OOP? It almost sounds like she didn't get taught some of the things her suggie parents would have taught her. You're doing fine. Great job actually! If she is afraid of water but will take HPW from a suringe, will she take the water that way as well? Do a tent test to make sure she isn't dehydrated. Also, maybe try a pouch located either lower on the cage or on the cage floor until she gets use to getting in and out of the pouch without you showing her how. Has she seen a vet? This is about all i can think of. But Im sure someone with more experience with young gliders will come along. I hope this helps! Good luck with your new glider baby!
Posted By: Sunshine

Re: Am i doing something wrong? - 12/30/09 04:55 PM

I am 100% positive she was oop on october 31, 2009. She won't take water from the suringe at all. She will only drink water if i have it spilled in the bottom of the cage. so that is what ill keep doing untill she learns. The pouch is at the bottom of the cage. She has ony been able to get in the pouch by herself once and i was asleep so i couldnt see it.
Posted By: Dancing

Re: Am i doing something wrong? - 12/30/09 05:00 PM

Try using a water bowl instead of a bottle or syringe. She might not know how to use a bottle yet. (have both for her). Putting water on the bottom of the cage can't be very hygenic (mixing with pee and poop).

Have you talked to the breeder you got her from? They should be able to help.
Posted By: LSardou

Re: Am i doing something wrong? - 12/30/09 05:04 PM

My feeling is that she is feeling stressed, confused, sad, and is probably missing her parents and siblings. The best thing you can do for her right now, is to try and give her as much love and attention that you can.
If you have a small child proof stuffed toy, try and place that inside the pouch for her to cuddle with. You can also put several cut up pieces of fleece for blankies for her to snuggle under too.
You can put some watery fruit out for her to nibble on - grapes (seedless), apple pieces, canteloupe, or honeydew.
Do you have a water bottle or a dish? It would help for now to have one of each, this will at least give her a choice. Gliders do not drink that much water, most of their liquids will come from their diet.
Try and avoid offering her too many selections of food. Sometimes when they have so many things to choose from, the become picky.
If you have a bonding pouch, you can try and carry her around in that during the day to help keep her from feeling lonely as well.
Did you get her from a Breeder? You might want to call and find out a little more background as to what her behavior patterns were prior.
I hope things will start to settle down for her, it sounds like you're doing a great job in trying.
Just be patient, and persistent with maintaining a a routine to where she will grow to expect your attention.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Am i doing something wrong? - 12/30/09 05:06 PM

Ok. It is still possible she just didn't learn everything from her suggie parents. But she is drinking water from a bowl? I had to use a small bowl for water until my suggies got use to their water bottle. I think she will be just fine. You're doing a great job with keeping an eye on her. She will learn soon enough how to get in and out of the pouch on her own, that the water bottle is nothing to be scared of and how to eat her food without the suringe. But has she been to a vet since you got her? I'm no expert (only had my suggies for about 4 months) and what sounds/looks good to me doesn't mean its exactly that. If she hadn't had a check up, you should take her in just to be on the safe side. There is a list of glider knowledgable vets in this forum. That and someone with more experience with gliders will come by your post soon and will leave you some good info as well i'm sure. smile
Posted By: Kryssidog

Re: Am i doing something wrong? - 12/30/09 05:17 PM

I agree water on the bottom of the cage really isn't good but I know you were just trying to make sure she had something to drink. I would check my water bottles every time I messed with the girl's cages. I freaked out when I found the metal ball wasn't releasing water. I know it was fine several hours earlier but it scared me nonetheless. I have resorted to a small, shallow, thick glass bowl and I check the water twice a day and change it at least once a day. Sometime when I change it in the morning it is still "clean" that evening. These "water bowls" I got from my mom they were "coasters" she use to use them under the legs of certain furniture. (I did mention they were thick, right?) They are not even 1 inch deep. I keep them on the shelf pushed up into a corner and they stay pretty clean that way. I think they spit food in them sometimes. But they seem to like them.
Posted By: ValkyrieMome

Re: Am i doing something wrong? - 12/30/09 05:20 PM

I would say that the only thing you are doing "wrong" is being too excited and impatient!

She is scared and overwhelmed. She doesn't know you from Godzilla. She just had a MAJOR move - and doesn't comprehend that she is no longer with her parents. All the smells are new. All the sounds are new.

If you could communicate with her telepathically, you'd tell her she is safe, and you love her and will care for her. But, you can't. So, all you can do is show her. Move slowly. Talk gently. Let her see you mean her no harm.

And - a water bowl and a water bottle together is always a good idea. A wide variety of food is overwhelming to a little glider. What was she eating at the breeders? Try feeding only that for a few days.

Good luck! Remember, you are HUGE and scary, and smell and sound unlike the things she is used to. Go slowly.

Vet check up scheduled soon?
Posted By: Sunshine

Re: Am i doing something wrong? - 12/30/09 05:53 PM

I have a water bottle, suringe, and water bowl available for her. If i have a bowl she wont drink out of it, she will spill it her self. The bowl is only about a half an inch high. She has some grapes in her bowl, she nibbled at them last night. She has ate a little bit of yogurt. She loves corn. I have a bonding pouch should i put her in it and cary her around? because i thought you were supposed to leave them alone for 2 or 3 days before you do that. I got her from a breeder. She was weened on hpw and she ate vegetables at her house. I am a very impatient person. It is hard.I have two other gliders and i had to deal with this with them.. Should i give her some applesauce and some yoggies? She hasn't been vet checked but i dont think this problem is that far out of hand yet.
Posted By: Sunshine

Re: Am i doing something wrong? - 01/05/10 09:09 PM

mods can lock this add she is doing way better know. I finally relized to leave her alone and knew that she was scared. She is so used to me know and is in my shirt know!!(:
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