Have 2 Joeys Male and Female

Question
QUESTION: I have 2 joey's, male and female, and the female is doing great.  She lets us play with her, feed her, pet her as we feed her, and she doesn't bark or get scared at all.  It's another story with the male.  He always seems so scared.  Constantly barking when we go in the cage, even when we go in the cage to play with the girl.  He won't let us touch him, or anything.  I've seen him eat, and everything, and I'm sure he's healthy. I was just wondering if there is anything more I can do for the male to make him not so scared and to trust us.  And tonight he was in the box, and the girl was trying to go in the box, and the male kept barking, and looked like he even maybe bit the girl.  I just hope they still get along, I guess we'll see if they play around with each other tonight.  The male is about 2 months, and the female is a bout a month and a week older.  We got them from a hand-tamed breeder.

ANSWER: It sounds like your male has not been properly socialized.  He does not trust you yet.  Is his vocalization more like crabbing?  Generally that is not the right situation for them to bark.  Barking usually indicates he's feeling lonely, or wants to get someone's attention.  I would start fresh with the bonding process.  Follow these suggestions with both gliders in the same pouch.  It will also help the two to bond with one another.  Good luck, keep me in formed.

Betty


Taming 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 nourishment.  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.  



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

QUESTION: Thanks for the quick reply.  I had the male in the bonding pouch for a little today, but he kept fussing and crabbing.  He settled down for a little bit, but once i moved, he got all scared and started crabbing until i calmed him down a little.  Yes the barking is more like crabbing.  The girl keeps getting scared when she hears the male crab.  Should i be worried about putting them both in the bonding pouch?  Tomorrow, during the day, I will put them both in the pouch and hope for the best.  I will keep doing this until the male becomes better and feels safer (I hope)  It seems like an impossible thing when you compare how well the female is doing.  I will keep doing this and just hope he gets used to us.

ANSWER: It seems that your male is terrified.  Keep it up, be patient.  Imagine yourself being captured by a huge, scary giant.  What would make you comfortable?  

Do the male and female sleep together?  If not, you'll have to start over with introductions.  Let me know if that is the case, and I'll tell you how to do it.

Betty

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

QUESTION: The male and female did sleep together when we first got them.  Then we saw that they weren't sleeping together one day.  The male was in the nesting box, and the female was trying to go in, and the male kept crabbing, so she decided to go sleep in this hanging tent we have for them in the cage.  But then the next day, they were both in the nesting box.  The breeder said she introduced them for us, but maybe another introduction wouldn't hurt?  I'll do a little more bonding with the pouch today with both of them in it, it is also hard tryin to get them, esp the male, into the pouch.  Thanks for your quick replies, and will let you know how it goes. Thanks

Answer
Sounds like the breeder did only a quick introduction.  How do they react to each other when they are awake at night?  If they hiss, crab, and chase and/or bite each other, separate them.  Every day switch pouches so that they get used to each other's scent.  Keep the cages right next to each other, or if there is one small and one large cage, you could even put the smaller cage inside the big one.  After you've switched pouches for a while, switch cages.  Put the one who was in the small cage into the large one, and vice versa.  

While bonding with you, put them in separate bags, but put both bags in one pouch. That way they can get used to each other's scent and movements without being able to make actual contact. Keep them with you during the day and do the bonding like I recommended.  When you feel they are ready, take both bags into the bathroom(make sure it is glider-safe first). Put the pouches in the bathtub so that the openings face each other and are about a foot apart.  Watch what happens.  Be patient, don't rush the introduction.  Hopefully they will love each other and snuggle together in one of the pouches.  If not, repeat the entire process until they do.  Be patient.  It WILL work!

Please keep in touch.

Betty