Glider Behavior

Question
Hi Laurie,
I am Betty.  I just found this website and signed up as an "expert."  I have bred gliders for about eight years now.  
I have a question for you.  I have a trio who used to get along fine.  Both females raised their joeys together, along with the papa.  A month or so ago, one of the females was viciously attacked by the other female.  She was injured in the eyes and between the shoulder blades.  I put her in isolation while her wounds healed.  I recently tried to put her back with the family, but the two females don't get along.  The injured one is the one who does the fussing and chasing.  She chooses to sleep alone, and avoids the other female.  The past few days have been quiet in the cage, but the injured female still prefers to be alone.  Have you ever experienced this?  Do you have any comments or suggestions? Do Sugar Gliders have the same social structure as Meercats?  Could this be an Alpha female dispute?  If so, what can I do?  Thanks!

Answer
Dear Betty:

Congratulations on becoming an expert.  I wish you luck.  

I don't know much about Meercats, so I can't answer your question regarding comparing their social structure.  

Trios are tricky.  In your case, the female has been severely injured and has not forgotten.  I would say that the one that did the damage is likely your alpha female.  Regardless, they do not get along and I would not even try to reintroduce this trio.  The female is probably sleeping alone and keeping to herself because she is stressed and does not feel comfortable with the other two.  She is likely fussing and chasing because she feels threatened.  If it happened once, it could happen again, so I would not chance it and I would keep them separated.  

I had to separate a trio that was comprised of a male and two sisters and all three were together since 8 weeks old.  Once the joeys came, the sisters saw each other as a threat and began to fight.  It's not a good situation and requires separation or neutering the male if you choose to keep them together.  Sometimes trios work out, but generally not.  I have had females injured by males even after they had been together without incident for years.  Sugar gliders can be difficult to predict.  If they fight and have injured each other, I would keep them separated.  It's just not worth the risk if it escalates.

Best of luck,

Laurie