where has the lump gone?

[debandpat]

  my female started mating on feb first with my male and on the 17th was cleaning her tummy a lot, about two weeks ago i noticed a lump and it was getting bigger until it reached the size of a large peanut last week, but for the last two days i cant see the lump, its definatly gone but there is no baby anywere. tonight she has spent the last hour cleaning her pouch which has a small pink lump sticking out, she is opening her pouch wide open and licking all around it, she hasnt been acting weird or been off her food or anything like that. could she have lost the baby and eaten it? ive searched everywere and there is no sign. im really confused.

[Amalthea]

It's very possible she culled the baby, or it died naturally and she ate it.  They won't leave it, if it dies, as it's needed nutrition and is better they had it themselves than some other animal scavange it.

[foufou]

ok and now that's happened what can she do to stop it happening again?

[jungleflockmom]

We don't know why gliders cannibalize their young. We can speculate about reasons but making sure their cage is roomy enough, they get a good balanced diet w/plenty of protein, and don't have any big changes in their environment. . . . there isn't much more we can do.

[Amalthea]

I have heard of some suggies who never become mothers because they cull off each baby...  Sometimes it's just the way they are (and shouldn't be bred from) and sometimes they know something about that baby that we don't and later on become wonderful mothers.

[debandpat]

ok, thanks, it was her first pregnancy as she had only been with another female until i got her, i might let them try again then and if it happens again i will get my boy neutered. thanks for the good advice as always.