Bonding with older gliders

[bengarrett]

Hi, i am really desperate for some some bonding help with my gliders. Lola is 18 months and new to the home and freddy is my older male who is 3 years old. I really tried with freddy when i first got him but it just never seemed to get anywhere, thats why (and after advice) i decided to get lola for him for company, they seem to get on great but its still the same problem that they are not really interested in me ! they will both come to me to get treats and insects and are quite happy doing so but thats about as far as it goes. When i remove the sleeping tent in the daytime lola goes mental and along with crabbing tries to jump attack me, so im loath to keep trying that because it feels like im stressing her and freddy out when i try which i dont want to do. Any ideas or programs people have tried would really be appreciated but before replying please note that they are older gliders and not hand tame, they both lived in colonies with breeders before i had them, many thanks for any help, Ben Garrett.

[Mark]

Hi there ben. You say that you remove their sleeping pouch during the day? Is this when you get them out to try and bond with them?

[bengarrett]

Thanks for your reply, i usually try getting the sleep tent out at about 6 ish when im back from work but before they are awake, they dont usually put in an appearance till about 11.

[Marie]

Do you have a piece of material that smells of you in their sleeping tent?

How long have you had Freddy and Lola?  And what have you been doing to try and bond with them so far?

The crabbing is defensive, they think you're attacking their nest, some gliders don't bother, others do.  I have gliders that when they're in their nest they will crab from the second the cage door opens to the very second it's closed! 

As they are adults, you may have to accept the fact they are not going to be cuddly tame, it depends on how much the breeder interacted with them before you had them.

You definately did the right thing getting Freddy a friend, suggies should not be kept as singles bonded or not, they're social animals and need company.   

[bengarrett]

Freddy has been with me for 2 years and lola has only been around for 2 weeks, i havent tried much with lola yet as i wanted to give her the first week to get used to freddy and the new home, i understand they may never be cuddly i just want them to know and trust me and want to come out and play really as i think thats best for all of us. I've tried having freddy in the bonding pouch for months but as soon as he wakes up he gets out and just heads back to the cage, i cant get lola on me at all as i cant chase her and pick her up when awake and trying to move her in the day causes the problems mentioned before. I really just want them happy but it does bother me when i hear about other gliders excited to see their owners and come and play, it makes me feel as if im doing something wrong, do you know what i mean ?
( and thanks for your reply )

[Marie]

As you have had Freddy for two years you may have to be happy with what you get from him. 

You could try buying a small tent and use that for their playtime and to help your bonding.  Remove the cage pouch, take it in to the tent, zip it (the tent) up so they can't get out and sit in there with the gliders.  Take some toys in like cat tickle stick things with feathers (no catnip though) to encourage play and interaction and take plenty of treats.

[bengarrett]

Ok well ill definitely give the tent idea a try, im ok with freddy as he is ok climbing on me and quite good with coming out even if he does want to go back to his cage fairly quickly ! thanks for your time and reply. 

[Marie]

It's no problem .  The problem we have with suggies is that people see other's gliders that are silly tame, like my gorgeous Dinx, and they wonder why their's aren't the same.   Suggies are what they are, amazing, and individual.  No two gliders are the same, just like humans.

[Rhianna]

i totally agree with all thats been said. All gliders are different and some like human company more than others do.

I have one, Onion and a sadly departed Holly, who prefer human company to gliders, to the point where as soon as i entered the room they would be waiting at the door and jump straight on me.

Another one (Biscuit) is tame, but in his own way. He doesnt like affection and will only settle for a quick stroke on the head, but hates anything cuddly.

Another (Widget) is a bit tamer then Biscuit but still, it has to be on his terms, unless you get him when he is sleepy and then he will be lovely, but as soon as he is fully awake he will want to be with the others.

And Gizmo is very affectionate but more cos he is scared of everything outside the cage and feels more secure with me more then he really wants to be loving. That and he is an attention seeker, barking at about 4am to get a kiss on the head and thats his sorted! lol

So as you can see, each glider is totally different!

[Amalthea]

I have one rescue girlie here who still only VERY occassionally comes to me for treats, much less a tickle....  Even after several years.  It's just how she is. 

Although, last week, I was giving everybody some mealies and all four of them jumped on me!  I was so proud of my scaredy little girl!!!