My new sugar glider bites HARD

Question
Hi, so i bought my first sugar glider yesterday and at first she would lick my finger when i tried to pet her. Then when i tried picking her up she bit my finger and drew blood, how can i stop her from biting me so hard. Her previous owner told me i had to give her a lot of attention because she also got bit to where the sugar glider drew blood. She is also 6 months old.

Answer
Hi Monica:

I hope you don't mind my cutting and pasting this information from previous answers.  You can disregard anything that does not apply to your situation, but this is the best way to bond with your baby.  Some sugar gliders will always be a bit nippy, but you have a 3-6 month road before you will notice a complete bond and that is providing 2-4 hours a day of attention.  

1.  Sleep in an old T-shirt for a couple of days and put that inside his cage (you can put his pouch right inside of the shirt).  Sugar gliders bond by scent, so as much of your scent as he can get the better.

2.  Use a zipper or drawstring bonding pouch (during the day only) as much as possible.  Eventually he will begin to fall asleep in the pouch.  3 to 4 hours a day would be optimum.  An easy way to get the glider into the pouch with a minimal chance of getting bit is to open the bonding pouch, take his sleeping pouch (with the glider in it) and put the open end of his sleeping pouch into the bonding pouch as if you were pouring him in.  He will likely stay in the sleeping pouch until you sort of squeeze the from the bottom down (like a tube of toothpaste), the glider should then move down into the bonding pouch.  When he has, pull out the sleeping pouch and zip him up in the bonding pouch.  When you are done, you can just put the bonding pouch back in his cage and open it, he will come out and go back into his cage/sleeping pouch when he is ready.  

3.  Play time.  Your glider should have a couple of hours of play time each night.  For a biting, unfriendly glider, I would suggest a "bonding tent."  This is just a two person tent like the one you can find at Walmart for about $25.  Don't use an old camping tent.  Bring the glider (in his pouch) into the tent with you along with a toy and a treat.  You can unzip the windows so family members can watch and you can hear and see what's going on in the room around you.  The whole point of this is to let the glider come to you in his own time without you trying to "hold" him.  Right now he is frightened of your hands, but they are curious animals, so don't be surprised if after a few times, he runs and jumps on you.  The tent helps keep him contained while removing the distractions he would find otherwise in a room.

4.  Treats.  Whenever you approach this glider for any reason at all, come bearing gifts.  You want him to learn that only good things come from your hands and fingers.  So  offer him mealworms (usually their favorite) always by hand.  You can also give him dried papaya or mango and Yogurt drops.  Once you determine his favorite food, you can give that to him by hand as well.  He may be hesitant at first, but don't give up.  

5.  Licky treats.  After he is comfortable taking treats from your fingers, try coating your fingers with blueberry  yogurt or applesauce and let him lick it off your fingers.    Licky treats are a great way to begin to insert your hand into his pouch.  Don't try this for a few weeks, but once he seems to respond and trust you a little more, use licky treats to get close and then slowly slide your hand into his pouch.  Eventually, you should aim for sliding your hand in  during mid day while he is sleeping and groggy and see if you can't get your hand underneath him.  Then just leave it there so he can get used to your hand being there.  

This is a lot of work.  We aren't talking a few weeks.  We are talking months.  Don't measure your progress continually.  Just love him and work with him.  Eventually, you will look back and see how far he's come.  But if you are committed, eventually you will see progress.  Don't get discouraged.  He needs you.  Someone else might not take the time to even try to work with him.  So be happy with whatever he is willing to give and don't be surprised if you look back in 6 months or so and see a big difference.

Here is a link to check out and research:

http://www.glidercentral.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/postlist/Board/98

Best of luck to you and your new glider.