New Older Gliders, agression issues

Question
QUESTION: Okay so I just got 2 new gliders. there are male and female about 3 years old. I know bonding doesn't happen over night with the babies so I know these guys will take time but the boy is crabbing all the time! when i touch the pouch, when i look at him, the only time he doesn't crab is when he has food in his mouth. I know he needs attention but he crabs when ever i try to do anything. and I've tried to calm him down which works sometimes but other times he just keeps crabbing! i don't to stress him out and kill him but I'm not really sure how much is too much and what is not enough. his sister is great she is sleeping in my pocket right now. I'm really worried for her brother, what should i do?

ANSWER: Jessica,

Congratulations on your new "babies."  They are all babies to me.  Your male has not had the socialization he should have had when he was younger, so it is up to you to get him to trust humans.  This will not be easy, since he has a history of being fearful of people.  He does not hate you, he is just terrified.  

You will have to start from scratch.  Please read my article about bonding with sugar gliders.  When you do these steps, do it with both gliders together, even though your female is already tame.  Take your time, this could take weeks or months  My first glider was pretty wild, and it took me four months to be able to handle him.  He is now the sweetest of the bunch.  Please keep me informed, and write if you have any questions.

Good Luck,

Betty


Bonding with Sugar Gliders will take a lot of time and patience. The objective is to convince them that you are not scary, and that having you around brings pleasure and enjoyment.  For now, get a pouch/purse to put them in, and wear the pouch next to your skin during the day when they are sleeping.  You want to get them used to your scent.  Don't try to handle them yet.  Next, try holding them from OUTSIDE the pouch.  Just cup them in your hands.  They will probably fuss, but do not back down.  Continue doing this until they no longer fuss.  Get some licky treats such as applesauce or yogurt.  Put some on your finger and put it at the opening of he pouch to see if they will lick it off your finger. The idea is to get them to trust you.  When they are readily eating from your finger, start the next step:  While they are sleeping in the pouch, put your hand INSIDE the pouch.  Cup them as you did from the outside.  At this point you may get some bites.  They don't trust you yet.  Don't back down.  You don't want them to think they can get you to go away by biting.   Keep doing this until they are comfortable with you holding them.  Get some treats such as fruit or yogurt.  While holding them, bring them part way out of the pouch to eat.  Keep doing this until you have them completely out of the pouch.  All this could take weeks or months.  It took me four months to tame my first one.  He was captive bred and still a baby.    

Note:  While you are taming your gliders, never chase them.  Either coax them with treats, or just leave them alone.  The best time to get them out of the cage is when they are sleeping in their pouch.  If one gets out, try using a butterfly net or toss a towel over it to catch it.  Again, don't chase.  If it runs away, make sure the room is safe, close the door, and just wait.  Remember, they can't swim.  Make sure toilets are closed, aquariums are covered, etc.  The glider will find a nice spot to sleep (usually up high).  You can look for its sleeping spot during the day, or listen for it running around at night.  Leave food and water out in a good location for the butterfly net. Be patient.  

You can get a head start on taming babies.  If the parents will let you, stroke them as soon as they are out of the pouch.  Do NOT take the joeys from their mother.  The joeys can be handled as soon as the parents leave them alone in the pouch.  At that time you can hold them for short periods, extending the time each time. It would be best to keep your hand and the babies where the parents can see them.  Parents, especially the mother, get upset when they don't know where the babies are.

Good luck.  


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

QUESTION: Thanks for the advice but how do i know how much is too much for him? i mean he has crabbed for 8 minutes straight before! i felt so bad! but he didn't seem to be to sore in the throat because soon after he was at it again. I'm just afraid i am going to scare him to death or he is going to hurt himself from crabbing too much. also, should i be worried about the bites he gives me? he has broken the skin 3 times already and i know they don't carry any know diseases but i just want to be safe :)

ANSWER: Jessica,

I don't understand your question.  If you follow my suggestions, he shouldn't be crabbing much at all. Maybe I didn't explain it well enough.  The procedure I described takes weeks to complete.  You stay with one step until he is comfortable before moving to the next step. You keep the pouch with you and hold it from the OUTSIDE to get him comfortable to your scent and touch.  Don't move to the next step until you can hold him from the outside without him fussing.  He needs to learn to trust you.  If he is crabbing too much, stop what you are doing. Just keep the pouch with you all day while he sleeps so he can smell you.  Trust me, it will work if you are patient.

He shouldn't be biting you if you do this properly.  If you do get a bite that punctures the skin, be sure to wash thoroughly.

Please keep in touch.  Good luck,

Betty

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

QUESTION: Thanks for answering my questions, I guess I will just have to take things slower than I have been with him. Where cannot I not take them? like if i go to the beach on day, I know not to swim with them but can I take them and keep them in the shade or is that bad? i hope that is not a dumb question, lol. also can i keep them on me when I'm cleaning? i have more questions but i forgot, ill right them down next time i think of them. thank you so much for all your help!

Answer
Jessica,

I can't answer to every possible situation, but you just have to think logically.  The beach is probably too hot to bring your gliders.  They should not be too hot or too cold.  You shouldn't have them close to strong chemicals, either.  Just imagine that you were a small creature like them.  Would you feel comfortable?  

Your male is probably not ready for tent time yet.  If you do take him into a tent, do not try to handle him unless he comes to you first.  

Patience is a virtue...and pays off in the end!

Betty