Bonding time/ after babies

Question
QUESTION: Hello, we purchased two Sugar Gliders several months ago and were told that they were both female. Things have been going beautifully but, last night we had two little surprises. Thinking they were both female we blamed the weight issue on over feeding, now we know.
We have been feeding them a very well balanced diet and the parents seem to be taking very good care of them. My question to you is:  How should we manage our regular afternoon bonding time with the parents? I know the babies need to stay warm so is leaving the adults (one at a time) with the babies the way we should go about it or should we leave them alone for a few days? Also, when may we start touching the babies.
Last, Sugar Gliders are a huge responsibility, how should I screen new homes for the babies?

ANSWER: Mary Ann,

How long ago did you get the gliders?  Are you saying that one is male, or that one was already expecting when you received her?  It is quite easy to tell male from female.  The females have a pouch, and the males have a little puff-ball and a bald spot on the top of the head.

In any case, gliders are usually good parents and care for the joeys together.  Have the joeys just now emerged from the pouch?  Have you seen them completely detached from the mother?  I would say to leave them alone at least for a few days.  Then, if you see one of the adults out of the pouch, take him or her out for some play time.  They will not leave the joeys alone for several weeks.  It is okay to take them all out of the cage while in the pouch and gently stroke or hold the babies.  Just don't take them away from the parents. Once the parents leave the babies alone in the pouch, you may handle them outside the pouch.  Just make sure the parents are aware of what you are doing.  They tend to panic if they can't locate the joeys.

The joeys need to stay with the parents until they are at least eight weeks OOP.  You will know they are ready when they eat solid foods and eliminate waste without help from the parents.  They will need to be separated by the time they are about 5 or 6 months OOP(unless they all happen to be female). What gender are the joeys?  They can only stay together if they are two male or two female.

I correspond with potential adopters through the telephone or email.  I make sure they have done their research and know what they are getting into.  There is a good article about new glider ownership at sugar-gliders.com.  Also, I would charge enough to avoid getting people who can't afford to care for a glider properly.

I hope this helps.  Don't hesitate to contact me again if you have other questions.  Check out my website at nc.sugar.gliders.googlepages.com.  Good luck!

Betty

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Betty,
Thank you for your prompt response. We purchased the Gliders around the beginning of August through Craigslist from someone who said that they had kept them for two months after purchasing them from someone else. The former owner did not have time for them. From what I have read so far, the babies must be around ten weeks old since they came out of the pouch yesterday. I was under the understanding that the lady we bought them from had "just" the two Gliders for two months before she sold them to us. But,I might be wrong. We studied them, and to be honest, they look identical. The heads look the same. Without upsetting the adults right now I don't think we will be able to tell for sure what the sex of the (father?) might be. But, if the seller had them for two months and we have had them since the first week of August, are we safe to say the timeline would make one male or without knowing for sure if she had other Gliders is there still a chance they might both be female?

Again, thank you so much for all of your help.
Mary Ann

Thank you again for all of your help,
Mary Ann  

Answer
Hello,

I went online to check on the exact gestation time and "in the pouch" time for sugar glider joeys.  I found a rather large range of answers.  All were pretty consistent with the gestation: 16 days.  The "in the pouch" time ranged from 60 to 80 days.  In my experience, it is closer to 60.  So.....taking the longest times, it could be 96 days from conception to OOP.  It is possible she could have conceived before you got her, assuming that other person had a male.  

The easiest thing is to check out whichever glider is not the mother.  It is perfectly safe for you to take that glider from the pouch to check him (or her) out.  You will quickly see the puff ball if it is a male.  It is about the size of an M&M.  If you Google "male sugar glider anatomy" you can see a photo.

Here is a link to a site describing the development of joeys:
http://www.firehow.com/201001198054/how-to-care-for-baby-sugar-gliders.html

By the way, due to the short gestation period, most people don't consider the birth date when describing the age of gliders.  We refer to the glider being so many days, weeks, or years OOP(out of pouch).  

Now I am really curious.  Please let me know what you find out!

Betty