Male and Female Sugar Gliders

Question
QUESTION: 0I have 2 baby joeys, male and female.  I wrote a couple weeks ago, and we are still trying to work with the male, he is very terrified and we are trying to make him feel more comfortable.  He sometimes will take treats from us, but sometimes he just hides and crabs at us.  At night he doesn't like to play with the girl.  He does his own thing on the wheel, and the girl usually just runs around the top of the cage.  Sometimes when the male is in the sleeping pouch, and the girl goes in he still crabs at her, but we usually do find them sleeping together.  To me it's weird that they sleep together, but they don't like playing with each other.  Sometimes they stand there still, and when one moves, the other jumps like they are scared.  The girl started to make noises at night, sounds like barking and I'm scared she might be getting lonely, and i feel bad for the girl because she is so sweet and just wants to play.  Is there any way we can get the 2 gliders to have a stronger bond with each other so they like to play with each other, and not get each other scared?  The cage is pretty big, would it help if we made the cage a little smaller for a week so they have to be close when they are out at night?  The boy always plays on the wheel.  I was also thinking if i should take the wheel out for a little while, so then boy maybe will give the girl a chance.  What do you think the best thing for me to do so the girl doesn't get lonely?

ANSWER: Hello Joe,

This is an interesting situation.  You'll need to watch the gliders carefully and try to find a pattern in the behaviors.  See if you can determine why the male is acting that way.  Is he frightened, or is he demonstrating dominant behaviors?  Does he get upset in particular circumstances?  Once you figure out why he is upset, you'll be able to help him calm down.

Not knowing the answers, I suggest that you be patient and diligent with the bonding techniques I suggested last time.  Keep them both with you in a pouch during the day, gradually getting both of them used to your scent and touch.  This togetherness should help the two gliders bond as well.

Try a smaller cage and taking out the wheel.  Watch the gliders carefully to see if it is helping.

Good luck, please keep in touch.

Betty




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

QUESTION: The male definetly does seem very scared still.  It is getting a little annoying, and he just makes the girl scared.  He is still young, about to be 3 months soon, and the girl will be around 4 months.  I think he is too young to be demonstrating dominant behaviors.  The male stays on the bottom in the wheel, and it seems like the girl just circles the top of the cage, and makes noises like she is bored or something.  We are trying many different kinds of bonding techniques, including the bonding pouch, the girl is fine in the pouch, but the male still crabs sometimes, and this gets the girls scared.  They have been in this new home for about 2 weeks now.  I guess I will take out the wheel, and try to cut the cage in half so it makes them have to be close to each other all through the night.  It's weird because the boy is taking yogurt treats from my hand, and allows me to pet him, but still every now and then will crab and bite.  When the male is out the girl acts weird, but when the male is in the pouch sleeping, the girl is the sweetest thing in the world.  I don't want the girl to be lonely and depressed because the boy is scared.

Answer
That's great!!!  Circling indicates stress, so maybe now that she is closer to her buddy, she isn't so stressed.  Congratulations!  Please let me know how it is going.

Betty







Yes, he is too young for dominance issues.  Is the female much bigger than him?  

Be patient.  My first glider took four months to tame.  I thought he hated me.  You are much farther ahead than I was at that time.  It takes time.

Actually, circling the cage is not good.  A smaller cage would make that worse. It is like humans pacing in a small space.  

Sooo, I would still do the bonding with both of them together and be patient.

Keep in touch,

Betty