Bonding Expanded
VE's First Days to Bonding
Whenever a sugar glider comes home, whether it be a joey or an adult, it should be given some alone time in their new cage. As much as you want to begin bonding and discovering your new pet they are very scared and you do not want them to associate these negative feelings with you. Let them get use to all their new surroundings for about a 3-5 days. If possible during this time keep a pouch or blanket that was from their old home in their new cage so that they have something familiar in their new surroundings. Once they appear to have grown accustom to their new surroundings begin to introduce yourself by greeting them and handing out treats. Here are a few general guidelines when trying to bond with your new pet:
*If they desperately do not want to stay in their bonding pouch, do not force them. [Just as you want respect from your friends they want it too. This rule applies in more than just one way, if they do not want to go into the pouch they may not like it closed off spaces, if they want out really bad than likely the want to use the bathroom...let them out if they are in a glider proof area.]
A Bonded Glider
The first time you get groomed you will know that you have been accepted as one of their own kind. Grooming is typically hurtful and can be easily mistaken for determined biting. They will causally walk up to you, take an interest in a certain spot of hair or skin and proceed to scrape the surface of this 'dirty' area with their teeth. They mean well and it is easy to get it through their heads that you will clean it yourself later, just tell them, "pssst!" or "no" and gently brush them off if they still continue. NEVER hit, flick, poke, or physically discipline your glider they have VERY fragile bones in order to glide and they will NEVER forgive you IF they survive. They have the ability to keep long term memories as many abused gliders illustrate. If they are very persistent gently blow on their heads or use your hand to displace their footing.
Once your glider is bonded you will experience an exponential amount of touching moments with them which is the real reward of owning Sugar Gliders.
Find an activity you guys both enjoy like handing them nesting materials, setting up gliding courses where you are one of the moving pieces, using feather teasers, letting them catch insects in an enclosed area, just holding them while they rest, messaging their back, playing peek-a-boo, etc. Every glider has their own personality, while some will enjoy some of the above activities others will not and then there are some who come up with their own idea of fun. Don't expect your glider to be anything other than furry, adventurous, curious, and energetic because everything else is up in the air since they are all unique.
Tips
Whenever a sugar glider comes home, whether it be a joey or an adult, it should be given some alone time in their new cage. As much as you want to begin bonding and discovering your new pet they are very scared and you do not want them to associate these negative feelings with you. Let them get use to all their new surroundings for about a 3-5 days. If possible during this time keep a pouch or blanket that was from their old home in their new cage so that they have something familiar in their new surroundings. Once they appear to have grown accustom to their new surroundings begin to introduce yourself by greeting them and handing out treats. Here are a few general guidelines when trying to bond with your new pet:
- Speak softly. If you are loud most glider would not want to be near you.
- Move slowly. Remember you are a big alien predator that could eat them up at any second, sporadic movements will make them feel insecure with you. Prove to them you are not like all the other alien predators.
- Have patience, they will not take to you right away, even if they don't crab or fuss they may just be to afraid to speak up. [Remember that when you meet someone for the first time you usually don't say to yourself "I love them, They are my best friend now! I will spend the rest of my days hanging out with them!" because you haven't even built a friendship yet.]
- After they have grown use to their cage's surroundings sit their cage by you while you watch tv, read, play on the inter-web, etc. for the next few nights. Give away treats to those [assuming you got 2 right away] that come up to you.
- If the glider is particularly interested in you this may also be a good time to begin lying your hand in their cage. If they are nippy then make the noise "psssst" and slowly take your hand away and try another time.
- Finally you can begin your nightly play date. Bring them out in their pouch in a glider proofed area. Sit their pouch on your lap and let them come out on their own. They may stay in their pouch the whole play date staring up at you and being crabby but regardless it is progress since it is helping them get use to you. If they run out of the pouch right away make sure to give them a treat if they come back to investigate you.
- Some people like to wear a zippered pouch with ventilation called a bonding pouch* but if you take their sleeping pouch out of the cage and sit it in your lap each night this is just as good and easier. They need to grow accustom to your voice and be comfortable with being on you so don't skip this step.
- Spend as much time with your new pets as possible. Preferably you will spend 1-2 hours every night playing with them out of the cage and 1 hour with them sleeping on you for the first 2-3 months then you can adjust free range play to suit you. On average it is preferable to give them at least 14 hours of free range play per week such as 4 days for 4 hours or 7 days for 2 hours or 3 days for almost 5 hours, etc.
- Make sure and follow a routine with them; feeding, playtime, bonding, when you hand treats out, vocalizations [like their name, or "psst" when they hurt you, or letting them know that playtime is over].
*If they desperately do not want to stay in their bonding pouch, do not force them. [Just as you want respect from your friends they want it too. This rule applies in more than just one way, if they do not want to go into the pouch they may not like it closed off spaces, if they want out really bad than likely the want to use the bathroom...let them out if they are in a glider proof area.]
A Bonded Glider
The first time you get groomed you will know that you have been accepted as one of their own kind. Grooming is typically hurtful and can be easily mistaken for determined biting. They will causally walk up to you, take an interest in a certain spot of hair or skin and proceed to scrape the surface of this 'dirty' area with their teeth. They mean well and it is easy to get it through their heads that you will clean it yourself later, just tell them, "pssst!" or "no" and gently brush them off if they still continue. NEVER hit, flick, poke, or physically discipline your glider they have VERY fragile bones in order to glide and they will NEVER forgive you IF they survive. They have the ability to keep long term memories as many abused gliders illustrate. If they are very persistent gently blow on their heads or use your hand to displace their footing.
Once your glider is bonded you will experience an exponential amount of touching moments with them which is the real reward of owning Sugar Gliders.
Find an activity you guys both enjoy like handing them nesting materials, setting up gliding courses where you are one of the moving pieces, using feather teasers, letting them catch insects in an enclosed area, just holding them while they rest, messaging their back, playing peek-a-boo, etc. Every glider has their own personality, while some will enjoy some of the above activities others will not and then there are some who come up with their own idea of fun. Don't expect your glider to be anything other than furry, adventurous, curious, and energetic because everything else is up in the air since they are all unique.
Tips
- Don't try to pick up or hold your glider. This will set the bonding process back.
- Keep your glider on a diet comprised of a balanced nectar replacement protein mix served alongside a variety of fruits and vegetables. This will keep them active, healthy, and lengthen their potential life span.
- House them properly. Meaning a large cage with appropriate things such as toys, glider specific wheels, pouches, nest boxes, water bottles, landing/lounging areas, and food.
- Have an exotics vet that sees sugar gliders. Be prepared for moments! That means get the introductory exam over with before an emergency happens.
- Keep gliders away from other pets at all times. Gliders will eat anything smaller than them from mice to birds. Any animals considered predators should be keep away from them, they are fragile. Rodents and gliders can spread diseases to one another as well.
- Again never chase, discipline, or hit your glider. They do not understand this nature and will never create a bond with you if they are frightened in such a manor.
- Keep light levels low when you are with your sugar gliders especially during the first few months of bonding. Their eyes are perfect for low levels of light so keep that in mind.
- Allow your pet to have time out of the cage regularly.
- Clean the cage and the items within it every week or every other week at the least. Do not use fragrances on their items because they will furiously mark over that scent and do not over clean for the same reason. The best strategy for cleaning their things is to clean one thing at a time such as the cage one day, the inside accessories another, and the drop pan and wheels the next.
- Sugar Gliders have a potential life span of 12-15 years in captivity but often die within 3 years due to poor husbandry and diets. Keep your glider well fed and pay attention to weight changes, missing hair, or odd behavior.
- Sugar Gliders are messy with their food. They are also scent driven and will "mark" or urinate on things that are theirs [you], places they have been, and places other gliders have been. Wear old clothing when you hangout with them and only let them free range play where it is okay for them to mark.
- Sugar gliders are self-cleaning and should not be bathed. Gliders body temperatures can easily be lowered too much causing them to go into torpor [a hibernation like state that they can have trouble coming out of]. Water can also cause respiratory issues. Soaps, detergents, dust bathes, or water-less products cause an array of issues including: allergic reactions, respiratory illness, and over-grooming. Let your gliders clean themselves. If they smell take them to the vet, they themselves should not smell. Gliders do not usually smell bad unless they have an infection of any type or fed an improper diet. If something gets caught in their fur use a warm damp washcloth to remove it then keep them on you or in a warm area until they dry.
- They will sleep all day and most of the evening because they are nocturnal. The majority of the time you can spend with them while they are awake is typically between 8pm-8am, during this time they will take frequent naps.
- The best thing you can do for your glider is making sure it has a cage-mate. They need a friend that is their size and can groom the back of their neck. They are designed for friends and do develop very real depression akin to human depression when kept alone. It is so easy to make gliders depressed that they are used as animal test subjects in anti-depressant drug trials. All the labs have to do is house them alone.