strange behaviors

Question
I have a male sugar glider almost a year old and he is mostly friendly. He knows me well and greets me at his cage, while his brother isn't as social. Last night i let him out of his cage to play and he greeted me as normal. I pet him as he crawled up and down my body and played. I was sitting on a chair and he jumped down to the carpet and attempted to jump back up to my legs but couldn't get back up to me ( which isn't normal).  he then laid on his side with his feet spread apart and his arms spread to each side above his head.  His mouth was open wide and little sounds escaped his mouth. I immediately moved the chair thinking that maybe his tail got caught under it. He then got on all fours (like a cat that is startled) with his tail pin straight and there was a gob of spit coming from his mouth.  I tried to pick him up and comfort him and he was terrified of me.  he was running strangely and erratically, running into tables and walls.  After an hour of trying to put him back into his cage he was playing and fine.  I am very concerned and i think it was something like a seizure. I think he associated the incident to me and I'm afraid he isn't healthy and our bond is ruined.  Have you heard anything like this? He is fed BML and veggies.  I have given him oranges as a new treat but his brother isn't acting any different.

Answer
Cassie,

I have never heard of behavior like you described.  I really don't know what could have happened.  Has he ever demonstrated this kind of behavior before? If he is eating BML and seems otherwise friendly and healthy, perhaps he was just stunned by the fall.  Gliders normally are very hardy and are used to clumsy landings. Maybe he just landed wrong and hurt himself temporarily. The erratic behavior could just be a reaction to hurting himself. Also, his little brain might have been a bit scrambled for a while.

Please watch him carefully for the next day or two.  See if he is eating properly, interacting with his brother in a normal manner, and is moving around like usual.  If he shows any signs of abnormal or erratic behavior, please take him to a veterinarian.  

Gliders don't hold a grudge, and he will be loving you just like before, so you don't have to worry about that.

I'm sorry I can't be of more help. Please keep in touch and let me know if he shows any other signs of distress.

Good luck to you and your little one,

Betty