Fighting or mating??

[beardedcham]

My pair of gliders have settled really well into thier new environment and I am really deilghted with thier progress but I have noticed over the last few nights that they are very, very verbal towards one another.

Every time the male approaches the female, she goes nuts and this results in a very loud domestic!

I am unsure whether this is a sign of the female maybe being in heat and the male showing unwanted interest in her or whether they are simply not getting along now they have lots of space??

They were housed in a very small finch/bird cage type thing when they arrived to me and have since been moved into a 6x3x3 aviary style cage,

I have 2 water bottles, several different food dishes and stuff in for them so I don't think it is a dominance issue with one wishing to hog the food or water.

Should I be overly concerned.  I have done a long visual inspection of both of them to try to make sure no cuts or anything have happened during the night in their rows but as neither are anywhere near tame, I can't physically check them.

The male is not neutered but is due to go to the vets for this procedure to be carried out - would it be worth splitting them up now nad waiting until he has recovered before reintroducing them??  The last thing I want is to leave them together for one to be injured in anyway.

[Marie]

Hmmmm, is it proper squabbling like crabbing, are they fighting like rolling around on the floor or anything like that?  What other sort of behaviour are they showing and is the female calling to the male with like a hissy crab type noise?

Suggie mating carries on alot of the night, the male will mount the female from behind for a minute or two and then they'll stop, then they'll start again a while later.  Most of my females are fine and aren't overly crabby, but I know some females can be unwilling.

[beardedcham]

Thanks for the reply Marie.

As far as I have seen, they aen't rolling ont he floor or anything but the male is showing a LOT of interest in the female especially sniffing her cloacal area which she has a MASSIVe problem with 

The noises are pretty much a mix of crabbing and hissing but I have also noticed the female is making a barking call type noise too after about an hour of them waking.  This isn't a "feed me" call as they already have thier food in for them when they wake up so I am unsure if she is maybe teaing the male if that is something they would even do!

The male is slightly larger than her and doesn't appear to be acting aggressively towards her but is just showing a larger amount of interest.

Is there anything I should be keeping a eye out for?  Obviously, I checkt hem daily just inc ase they have actually fought and someone is hurt but other than that, what can I do?

[Marie]

Sounds like she's 'in season', don't worry, there's not really much you can do other than split them, but that's not really ideal, otherwise if you're not wanting to breed them get him neutered asap.

Just keep an eye out for mating wounds, it probably won't happen I've only had one (not me personally lol!) happen.

[beardedcham]

Thanks Marie.

I do have the facilities and cage space should the female become pregnant BUT i will be booking both this and my other male in for neutering as soona s my female fromt eh trio has her kits and they become independant as I worry that with the male playing an important role raising them that he will be too unwell recovering to help.

How soon after the joeys emerge form pouch can I get the male out of the cage and how long would you estimate the recovery time to be?

[jungleflockmom]

Your male should recover very quickly from neutering. They are usually playing in their wheel the same night.

The pom is attached to the glider's body via a small stalk. The vet opens the pom, ligates the blood vessel then just clips the  stalk about 1/3 of the way down from the pom so the remainder of the stalk just folds down into the belly. There's no incision made in the belly that needs to heal so their recovery is very quick.

You can remove the male from the pouch while all are sleeping and put him back later in the day. There should be no worries getting him done whilst joeys are IP or just OOP.

[Marie]

If you're not interested in breeding (I know some people want to make sure the joeys are not going to be rejected or cannibalised first), then I'd get him done before they come OOP, the female will come into heat very soon after the joeys have come OOP and she could get caught again. 

[beardedcham]

Thanks for that

I shall ring the vet first thing and see how fast they can get him and my other male in for thier ops then

Fingers crossed it will be quickish