Lone Mama...

[Amalthea]

I have just found my Papa Glider, Rocky, permanently asleep in his pouch...  As heart breaking as that is, I've got another worry now, too.  Mama Glider has a joey in the pouch.  I have never had a lone mother before and was wondering if she'll be ok on her own raising the joey.  If it's female, she will be keeping her as a mate, but that's besides the point.  I'm sure it isn't particularly safe to introduce another glider to her now (the joey is quite big... won't be in pouch much longer).  Any advice??  Thank you...

 

[jungleflockmom]

You're instincts about not intro'ing another glider at this point are very good. She won't be the first mother to raise her joey alone. You can give her breaks and babysit for her. Marie may have had specific experience w/this and she'll be here soon. So sorry you lost your male.

[Amalthea]

Thank you so much for your kind words... Finding Rocky really hit me hard, as there was no signs that he was ill...  Just went in to feed them last night and give them their nightly game of "kill the feather" and he wasn't out...  Looked in the pouch and he was all curled up like he was asleep... 

[Marie]

Oh no    I'm so sorry for you! 

Mum's are good at adapting, yes dad's do alot of the work but I've had lone mothers before that have reared big healthy joey's so it's not impossible!  Definately don't introduce another glider in, they're not exactly sympathetic towards someone else's joey!

All you can do is keep a close eye on her and her baby, feed her up a bit to give her more strength and to make sure the milk supply is adequate (as you would for any breeding female), look out for signs that mum isn't coping like bite marks on baby, finding baby on the floor of the cage, baby crying for more than half an hour without mum paying any attention etc.  If you have scales small enough keep your eye on the joey's weight, I'd weigh him every other day, just to check he's gaining, it's a good way of checking that mum is producing enough milk, if she's not the joey will start to lose weight.

Be ready, get some milk replacer and syringe's or an eye dropper in, just in case you need to give her a helping hand and supplement feed, and read the handrearing thread, everything you'll need to successfully hand rear a joey (IF she does reject him) is in there.  Even if the joey is male you can get him neutered and still keep him as a mate.

Big hugs to you and your furry mama to be.

[Amalthea]

Thank you so much, Marie!  I am quite worried for her...  She seemed to not understand why we were taking Rocky away.  Showed him to her and it seemed to help.

I've got all the stuff in for handrearing (just in case) and I'm diabetic, so have a ready supply of never ending needs (they are easy enough to de-sharp them).

Will look into getting the baby neutered if he's a boy, as I don't want Mama to be alone... *sigh* My old vet used to do it, but he's moved surgeries, so I'll have to do some enquiries...

May invest in some scales, as well.  I do have some kitchen scales that I use for the animals, but I don't think they are sensitive enough to watch a joey's weight with.

Thank you so much for your input, Marie...  This really has hit me hard. *sigh*

[sugarchin]

I'm so sorry for the loss of Rocky...how sad
At least he will live on in the little joey, and I hope it's mum will be able to cope with your help
I do hope all goes well for you and mum, and look forward to hearing how the wee one is....would be nice if it were a wee girl, so you wouldnt have to consider neuturing a male, but so long as it thrives, that is the main thing
Please keep us posted as to its progress and good luck

[Marie]

My vet will do suggie neutering if you get stuck.  It's such a quick op, you could drop him in to the surgery and he'll be ready to go in less than an hour. 

I got some really good scales off ebay, they came from America but were very inexpensive and they're ideal for weighing such little animals.  I'll see if I can find some more on ebay and post the link.

I'm sure your girl will be fine, you're there to help her and if you get stuck or run into trouble we're here to help you 

[Amalthea]

Thank you so much everybody!!!  I still get all teary eyed when I go in to see Mama...  It's strange only having to make one bowlful of glider dinner, as well. *sigh* Poor Rocky Boy...

How much does you vet charge for neutering, Marie?

[Marie]

It's about £45. I can't remember how much exactly.

This is the kind of scale I have - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LT-100-Digital-Jewellery-Scales-100g-0-01g-Scale-Black_W0QQitemZ180105456702QQcategoryZ137840QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem I can't find any cheaper ones, when I bought mine they were from the US (but on ebay.co.uk) and it was under £10 for them and postage!

[Amalthea]

Great! Thanx for that, Marie!! You are a lifesaver!!

[Amalthea]

Mama Glider's joey is a little boy.  Came oop yesterday.  He's quite a big little guy, so looks like he's doing well.  Am looking into getting him neutered.  The vet we normally take our animals too is actually Australian, so maybe he'll know what he's on about (he's great with everything else).  Am just waiting for a call from him to see if he's got any experience with gliders.

[loulou]

Congratulations on the little boy?

Hows mum doing with him is all well so far?

[Amalthea]

So far everything is going ok!  I'm really impressed with Mama... She seems very relaxed and not too bothered about always being the one to carry him about (Rocky used to help) until she sees him as being big enough to wait in the nest. 

[sugarchin]

I'm pleased to hear that mum is doing a good job and that the wee joey is doing well
Must be lovely seeing her carry him around on her back

[Amalthea]

She's started leaving him in the nest while going out to eat... Think he's a bit cumbersome.  But she seems quite aggitated when away from him, even if it's only to go get some food...