!st Glider joey...info and help needed please

[yoda]

Hi All.
Ive opened a new thread as the other went to pot a bit lol! Ive just managed to get my first proper look at our single Joey. I noticed the night before last that Zelda did not have the joey in her pouch. I felt sorry for my girl as i said the other day she was trying to keep the joey IN the pouch whilst running around the cage. There was still no sign of the joey yesterday.

Tonight we sneakily opened the nest side door expecting to see the worst but was pleasantly surprised to see a fully furred little baby...god that was a sight! Very excited but apprehensive to knowing how exotics can behave with their young. the joey was wrapped in t shirt material but felt a bit cold...though Mum had been out a while. We also noticed its eyes are not open??? Is this normal? I dont know...havent a clue about any of this and need to learn fast! I personally think the joey is a bit on the thin side,can just and just see his ribs... but on saying that its fur is still very close to its skin,like velvet...so....

I dont know at this point whether i should be worrying or not? Should his/her eyes be open? Need thoughts on this one guys please. Ive bred rats for years although i keep gliders as pets...this is our first experience with a joey so dont know what im looking for. With rats i look for a fat and well rounded belly...if i dont see that i worry!

I would love to hear from anyone with advice but will try and contact my gliders breeder later today.

Thanks in advance

Karen x

[Amalthea]

Not sure about the size (a pic might help), but yes, a newly OOP joey's eyes are closed and its fur lays against the skin.  They start to fluff up soon enough, though

[tillie]

Any newly oop joeys I have are around 9 grams so very tiny, the eyes should open around day 10.  Have you got any fleece pieces you can pop in with the joey for warmth, the trouble with t-shirt material is that the gliders can get their nails caught easily in it.  I always stick with fleece.  Is the mum a 1st time mum?

[yoda]

Hi...Yes...Ive put a large piece of soft fleece in with them today. So glad someone said the eyes should be shut! Been worrying myself silly over this little Dood! This baby seems quite large to me but may be as its a single i guess. I really would like to clean their cage and nest as its getting slightly whiffy. Can i do this with out Mum rejecting? Yes it is Zelda's first baby. The other question i have is this...if its a male can i keep it with its parents or will its dad Yoda attack it when it reaches maturity? If its a girl i will source another and home them as a pair...cant send out a lone baby ;o(

karen x

[Marie]

Personally I would leave the cleaning until the joey is a little older, as it's her first you don't want to even risk stressing her out.

If it's a male they can stay with the parents for a while, father shouldn't attack the son.

[yoda]

Cheers for that Marie...i will leave them,just have to cope with the whiff lol! Ive been speaking to Keith about different caging. The baby was out last night even though its eyes are shut,came out on Dad and was doing its best to get through the cage squares...it can get through! Im hoping this is a one off!

I have decided againgst a Viv as my gliders love climbing so what cage can you recommend?  I would assume they are very happy little doods to breed and will continue to do so but i cant risk a baby getting out as it wont get back.

My partner picked the little one up the other night to check it,at what age would you recommend daily handling..now or later? Sorry for all the questions

Karen x

[Rhianna]

you can get this stuff for the back and sides of vivs to help aid climbing, (Tillie do you not have it in yours?). Its like a diamond shape mesh thing! lol

The Happy House is recommended by lots on here, as is the starter cages that Marie used to have.

Personally if it was me, i wouldnt handle until eyes are open, but then again, im not a breeder, so you would be better off listening to Jen, LouLou or Marie for that.

[Rakuen]

you can get this stuff for the back and sides of vivs to help aid climbing, (Tillie do you not have it in yours?). Its like a diamond shape mesh thing! lol

I think it's like a willow trellis, you can get them from homebase and places like that

Here's a pic of Tillies Viv set up...

[Rhianna]

yeah that was it. thanks cheza.

[Amalthea]

Since it is your first joeys and you are still learning how to recognise your adults' reactions, I wouldn't handle til their eyes open.

[yoda]

My fears for the little one were confirmed today....found him dead at the bottom of the cage. Mum and dad hadnt harmed him so im not sure whats gone on here and never will now i guess. Im gutted but i know that some babies or adults just dont survive...see it in rats. Ive just had a rat doe have a dfficult birth which resulted in a C-section and spay with only 2 out of 12 surviving...that was hard.

If Zelda loses another baby next year i shall have Yoda castrated. I hate the thought of anything being abandoned or starving...ive had to hand rear countless rat kits so you save,some you lose...hard all the same. On the glider im sorry i never got the chance to see the little guy grow up,that would have been a real achievement...poor little boy.

I know the viv stuff you mean..its ace. I will definately get that next time round unless ive changed the cage.

Thanks for all your help guys,just sorry the outcome wasnt more possitive.

Karenx 

[RonReeve]

im very sad for u karn, its such a hurtfull feeling. i dont think ill ever be ready to breed as i couldnt put up with the heartache if something did happen to the joey/s.
hope the parents are fine

[Rakuen]

Sorry to hear that Karen, it's never easy no matter how little time you know them for, you still love them none the less

[bubbles]

sorry for your loss.  hope ure suggies and rattie are ok

[loulou]

sorry to hear that Karen, all part of breeding but sucks all the same, I almost gave up when I had that the last time it broke my heart.

If it happens again I do agree and think neutering would be a good option, it save the upset for you and the stress for mum/dad