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Question
I'm getting a new sugar glider and it's full grown.I'm afraid it will not bond with me.What can i do for it to bond with me?

Answer
Hello Jenna,

Congratulations!  In order to answer your question properly, I need to know a few things:  Is you glider hand-tame, or is it currently unsocialized?  Is your new glider a male or female?  Has it lived alone, or was it part of a colony?  Will it live alone, or will it have a new companion?

If the glider is currently socialized, it should bond quickly, whether it is male or female.  If it is male, however, it will be almost impossible for him to bond with another male. Let me know if you need advice on how to bond him or her with another glider.

If it is not socialized, plan to spend quite some time getting him to bond with you.  There are plenty of websites that can give you advice on bonding.  Do not chase him when he is in the cage.  When you are ready to begin bonding, wait until he is sleeping in his pouch.  Take the whole pouch out of the cage.  My suggestion is to keep him with you all the time during the day when he is sleeping. He can stay in a pocket, pouch, or somewhere near to your scent.  Do not try to hold him yet.  Gradually get him used to your smell and touch by holding him from the outside of the pouch.  When he seems comfortable with your touch outside the pouch, try putting your hand inside the pouch to hold him.  Do not take him out of the pouch yet.  Hold him within the pouch until he is comfortable with that.  Get some "licky treats," like honey, baby food, yogurt, applesauce, etc.  Put some on your finger and see if he wants to lick it from your finger, while still in the pouch.  After a while, hold him within the pouch and coax him out  with the food.  The thing to remember is that he is afraid, not angry.  It is not that he doesn't like you, he is just terrified and is crabbing and fussing as a defense mechanism.  Do not react to any crabbing or biting.  You want him to realize that he cannot scare you with such behavior.  Your job is to convince him that you will not harm him, but will reward his trust with treats, warmth, and pleasure.  

Be patient.  Each glider is different.  The bonding process can take a few minutes or a few months.  My first glider, an unsocialized male joey, took four months to tame.  All my others bonded almost instantly.

Thank you for the question.  Please let me know the specifics of your particular situation, so I can give you more specific advice.

Good luck; keep in touch.

Betty