Follow-up:introducing gliders

Question
Hi Betty,Jen here again.I had asked you about introducing 2 females to 2 males and you had said to wait til they were older,so I did .The girls are doing great!Now,I would just like some advice on introducing them to each other to have male/female pairs like you suggested.Ive read that I need to introduce them in a nuetral territory so that they wont fight and to not use food or let there be any food around when introductions are made.Is there any thing else that I should do or not do?And should I do each pair separately or take them all out and let them pick each other? Please help (again) Thanks soooooh much,

                           Jennifer

Answer
Hi Jennifer,

Your idea about letting them pick their own mates is very interesting.  I'm afraid it might not go well, though.  The two males might fight when there are females around.  Consider the personalities of the four gliders and decide which pairings are likely to be the best.  You could always switch them if they don't seem to get along.  

Introducing gliders can be easy or hard.  It mostly depends on the gliders' personalities.  I would try the easy way, and if it doesn't work out, back off and try the more complicated way.

Easy:  Take a clean pouch or small cage into the bathroom (toilet lid closed).  The pouch shouldn't have the smell of either glider on it.  Have a hand towel handy in case they start to fight.  In that case, toss the towel over them, separate them and try another day.  Hold one glider securely in each hand and let them see each other.  Slowly put them closer together.  If they crab or try to lash out, stop and just let them look at each other some more.  If you are lucky, they will let you get them close enough to smell each other.  If they are reacting to each other warmly, put the pouch in the empty bathtub.  Put the older glider in the pouch.  With the younger one still in your hand, put it close to the one in the pouch.  If all goes well, let it go and see what happens.  If there are bad reactions at any point in the process, switch to the more complicated process.

Complicated:  Begin by putting the cages together and letting the gliders smell each other for several days.  Switch bonding pouches every day so their scents will blend together.  

When you are ready to see if they can get along, give them a "bath" using a paper towel dampened with warm water and a drop of vanilla.  This will remove family odors and give them an inticing scent.  Then take both pouches and a clean pouch into the bathroom.  Have a hand towel ready to toss over them in case they start to fight.

Put all three pouches in the bathtub, with the openings facing each other.   At this point one or both of them will come out to see what's going on.  Just leave them alone, unless they make a fighting furball, in which case you'll need to separate them with the towel and try again another time.  They will sniff at each other, fuss, crab, and probably chase one another. If they fly out of the slippery bathtub, catch them and put them back in.  Be patient.  Hopefully they will settle down together in the neutral pouch. If not, then you'll have to repeat the previous steps.  It takes a lot of time and patience, but, hopefully, it can be done.  

Good luck.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Please tell me how it goes.  Thanks!

Betty