aggressive behavior

Question
QUESTION: I recently was given a male and female glider that the lady had for 3 years.  we have had them for 3 months. The owner thought the female might be with a joey because of her pouch time.  however we still have not seen a joey even thought she does have a walnut shaped knot on her belly.  lately that have been making aggressive sounds in the pouch. When they came out yesterday my mail had no tail.  Its not bleeding however we can not find the tail anywhere in the cage or pouch.  I have seprated them due to the fact the female seems to climb on the mails back and hold on in a aggressive behavior and aggressive noises.
However I separated their cage into 2 sections and they seem to be going crazy looking and trying to get to each other.  Even thought they can still see each other and are in the same cage just separated.  Have you incountered such behavior and will his tail ever grow back.  and is it possible they ate the missing tail.   Any helped would be appreciated.  As I'm a new owner and just learning about them.

ANSWER: Hello Caryl,

Your mated pair should not be separated unless it is absolutely necessary.  They work as a team to raise the joeys.  The behavior you described sounds like typical mating behavior.  Are you sure it was the female on top?  Fussing and squabbling is normal behavior.

It is probable that the tail got tangled in some threads somewhere in the cage.  In that case, the gliders would do anything to free him, including biting off the tail.  Sorry, but the tail will not grow back.  He needs to be careful now, as they use the tail for balance and steering while gliding and climbing.  Yes, it is possible that they ate the tail.  Please cleanse the wound site and treat it with a topical antibiotic like Neosporin or Bacitracin.  

You will not actually see a joey until he is so large that he no longer fits into the pouch.  However, it only takes about two months for a joey to develop in the pouch.  

Good luck, please keep me updated.

Betty

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

QUESTION: HI BETTY,
THANKS FOR YOUR QUICK REPLY. BEFORE YOUR ANSWER I WAS READING MORE ON YOUR SITE AND REALIZE NOW THAT IT IS THE MAIL ON TOP.  THE PERSON THAT GAVE THEM TO ME TOLD ME WRONG BUT HE HAS THE DIAMOND SHAPE BOLD SPOT ON HIS HEAD.  ARE THE FEMALES SMALLER THAN THE MAIL? BECAUSE SHE IS HALF HIS SIZE.  ALSO WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER A GOOD DIET.  THE OWNER WAS ONLY GIVING THEM APPLE,GLIDER STICKS. AND VITAMINS.  I HAVE FOUND THEY LIKE GRAPES, RAISIENS, CARROTS, ENGLISH PEA'S .  BUT AS A NEW OWNER I'M ONLY GOING BY WHAT I'VE READ.  ALSO COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT BREEDING, SUCH AS HOW OFTEN AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR IF SHE DOES HAVE A JOEY.  THEY HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 3 YEARS HOW LONG BEFORE THEY ARE MATURE ENOUGH TO MATE AND CONCEIVE .  WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE . I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY.  ALSO I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAD 2 AND 1 DIED .  DO THEY DO WELL ALONE AND IF THEY DECIDE TO GET RID OF THE OTHER COULD I TAKE IT IN WITH MINE WITHOUT PROBLEMS ARE HOW DO YOU INTRODUCE A NEW MEMBER .

Answer
Hello,

I appreciate that you are doing research to learn about gliders and their care.  Please check out sugar-gliders.com., glideruniversity.org, and http://www.sugarglider.com/gliderpedia/

Okay, so the aggression is simply the male trying to mate.  Males and females are equal in size, depending on genetics and diet, just like people.  Gliders should weight around 100 grams.  I feed my gliders BML, fresh fruits and veggies, aqnd sometimes meal worms and crickets.

Gliders are ready to breed at about ten months of age, so yours are more than ready. You'll know when the female starts to "nest,"  putting leaves inside the pouch.  Soon thereafter you will notice a small lump on either side of the female's belly.  These bumps will grow, then one day you will see a hand, tail, or foot sticking out of the pouch!  By that time, it should be only about a week before the joey(s) emerge.  

If your friend's glider is female, they should get along fine.  It is nearly impossible for two unrelated males to live together.  Please my website for information about introductions.

I hope this helps.  Keep in touch!

Betty