Lone Mama...

[Amalthea]

I guess I spoke too soon... *sigh* Mama has killed and eaten the baby.  Must have done it during the day, as he was alive and well last night.  Went in to feed her and check on the baby and all that was left was a partial skeleton in the nest...  So, I am not on the look out for a new friend for Mama... *sigh*

[Marie]

Oh no, I'm so sorry  .  It's so hard to tell if there's a problem when they don't do any of the rejection behaviours the books and websites say they will!

I have some adult males still available if you still want to breed her.

[Amalthea]

I'm not sure what I want, actually... Gary (the OH) is in the middle of searching for a better job, so until that happens, we are pretty poor...  So I spoke to him last night to get his views, cuz I know we can't afford to run out and get her a friend right now, but he's expecting to have this new job relatively soon.  I asked if he thought I should rehome her, but he doesn't think so.  So, I guess I'll just be waiting to see how long it takes and spending some extra time with her for the time being.  Is that selfish? 

She is usually such a good Mama, but I guess things were just too much for her... 

[Marie]

No, I don't think it's selfish, you have to do what is right for both you and your glider, you have plans to get her a friend but financially can't do it at the minute, it happens, we can only do our best for our animals, and I know that you think the world of her so ...   Just look out for the signs of stress or depression, and if they start to appear I'm sure we can come to some arrangement. 

And to be honest and I'm sure people will scream at me for this, a little solitary time I find helps them to be more accepting of a new friend.

[Amalthea]

Thank you for that, Marie!  I kinda needed to hear that...  Was worried I was being a selfish Glider Mommy.  But we will get her a friend for her as soon as we can.  Although, she's never been a cuddly girl, she does come up to me to have a nosey and see if I've got anything tasty.  So it might actually be a good bonding experience for the two of us.  We'll see. 

And I've not introed any gliders in a long time!!  Any tips would be very much appreciated!

Might get her a whole new cage set ready for her new friend when I've got a bit of spare cash...  I think it's a bout time for a redo of the set up, anyways...

[Marie]

If you decide on a new cage etc, let me know, you're not too far away from me and I'm going to start selling cages so I'll do you a good price (especially if you have a suggie too ;p)

It will be a good bonding experience, I'm not totally opposed to single gliders for a short amount of time.  As I said before I think it helps a little with intro's and it also does help human/suggie bonding. 

[Amalthea]

Thanx, Marie! You are a life saver!! {{hugs}}

[sugarchin]

I am so very sorry for the loss of your wee joey
I hope in time, you find another wee friend for the mummy

[Amalthea]

Thanx I will find Mama a new friend.  I've not decided if I'd like to get her a girl friend or a new hubby yet, though...  Still contemplating.

[jungleflockmom]

A little time alone does help sometimes. Sorry you lost the joey. It's wonderful that you aren't rehoming her because she just did what came naturally to her.

[Amalthea]

I wouldn't "get rid of her" just because she did what she did.  Part of being an animal...  I couldn't just rehome her for that.  I love her and know she was under a lot of stress...  It would be hard for any mom (although, I don't think a human mom would eat her baby)... 

[Marie]

'It's one of those things' unfortunately!  I read on another forum a post from a guy relatively new to suggies and his joey's had both been killed and partially eaten and he was getting a real slamming from a so called experienced person, at the end of the day it doesn't matter how much experience you have, if a glider can't cope for whatever reason they will 'sort it out' their own way.  It's par for the course when breeding suggies, sometimes it just doesn't work out