New Member to colony

Question
Background: I did my research and built a cage large enough for a colony of 4 to 6 gliders. Cage is 11.5 long 6 foot tall and 30 inchs wide. I started with a pair of twin sisters 13 weeks oop. Everything went perfect, i have had then for 5 months now I am adding 2 more One female is 13 weeks OOP the other is 17 weeks oop. all are females - that's all I want I don't have the heart to breed and try and find homes for the joeys..So I am building a colony of females.
The 2 new girls have been here about 14 days. The smaller one is fitting right in and plays with the orginal gliders. She is still shy, but I have been able to pick up with no crabbing. The older one is my question.. She stays in her pouch, day and night. If I hold or touch the pouch,she crabs.. so I hold tighter and pet her through the pouch,and talk softly until she calms down.. then she *might* come out and eat and play with the other gliders. She likes to play with a extra glider in the wrodent wheel.. and the other gliders seem to enjoy the play as well.. But the next night she is back hiding in the pouch, till I get her via petting or remove her and then close the zipper, so she can't get back in.. Again, she is fine and doesn't crab at the other gliders, just me.. The female I bought her with the two of them sleep in the same pouch, with out trouble.My orginal pair will pick a different pouch I have 6 pouchs, 3 12 inch wheels and one 8 inch wheel. Lots of swings, and ropes and toys to get lost in.. So How do I get her to stop being shy? and why does she play with the other gliders, yet she will not come out on her own. She still crabs at me, but it's only been 14 days -and I figure she not ready yet.. She crabs and does NOT nip or bite - so it's her why of saying she is not happy, and I have to figure out - what it is she wants.. Any suggestions?

Answer
Thanks for taking the time necessary to interpret what your gliders are telling you.. most owners won't go the extra mile.. so KUDOS!

Each glider is very much so an individual.. as you have probably noticed in your troupe already.. your girl will come around so don't you worry! She is just needing the extra time to familiarize herself to her new clan members and also her new home and surroundings.. it can sometimes be a scary time which will need some extra TLC and patience.. I have one rescue that would crab at me for months on end.. but eventually came around to trusting me.. it is all about TRUST and EXPOSURE in the glider world..

Please don't worry.. as the more time you spend with her the more she will come to know you and your scent.. In order to bond with her more you could question whether or not you could take her to your job with you (only if it was safe to do so)I have many adopters who use this method successfully.. Other ways are for you to keep her in a bonding pouch which you can wear all the time you are at home.. you will be able to walk around and do multiple tasks with her hanging around your neck.. this will give her the correct exposure to what YOU as a human sounds like and also the feel of motion in association to riding on a human.. all the while taking in your scent.

In my experiences with Gliders a social glider is a happy glider.. and when she has finally opened herself up to the world around her she will rejoice in her new surroundings just wait and see!

In the future "if" you do decide to add any other gliders to the cage..please use caution in introductory methods.. Some gliders will greet each other with open arms while others will not recognize the other's smell and might have a hard time in the beginning. Initially you can let them meet thru the bars & see how things go.. being cautious and ready to break up a fight if one ensues.. Glider squabbles can be VERY dangerous resulting in massive injuries & further mental trauma.. if a severe fight does result, it would be strongly advised to be prepared to keep them separated until formal introductions have been completed..

There are a number of ways to go about a new intro.. patience will be of utmost importance here as these things could take time. Our favorite method is what we call sack swapping.. which consists of swapping the sleeping sacks of the different gliders to be introduced for a number of days.. while a glider sleeps the scent of the opposing glider will be embedded into each other's sensory glands.. and before long each will smell like the other making the bonding & introductions much smoother..

Works Every Time..!! ;)

also.. try eliminating a few of those pouches.. like maybe just 1 or 2 as gliders like to sleep cuddled together.. mine all sleep in 1 large pouch.. by giving them so many it might inadvertently segregate the group..  

I hope this info helps & I would be interested in knowing how things work out so please keep me informed if you have the time..

Best Wishes

kaden O_o