The Suggie Whisperer...

[Nell]

This is currently what I'm hoping to turn into xD

I have recently taken on a pair of suggies from a couple in Sheffield, who didn't want them anymore due to them being "look at only pets". The poor little guys are complete scaredy cats as they've had a pretty traumatic life. The couple bought them from a pet shop (bad start) who had about 15 gliders in together (getting worse) mixed sex and all intact (AARGH) they then arbitrarily grabbed two of the gliders out of the cage without checking saying they were "probably female" and sold them to the couple....(bangs head against brick wall)

Of course they weren't, the couple however did check and promptly had the male castrated. They seem very well meaning, having all the nutrient powders and supplements you could ask for, however they were too scared of their gliders to handle them, and the poor things didn't have so much as a pouch in their cage (they had bought a pouch, however they "couldn't get them in it" I think they meant forcibly...) but instead had the bottom half of a plastic guinea pig hut with some sawdust in it and a bit of a t-shirt, right at the bottom of the cage.

Understandably Sid and Nancy (as in Vicious..) are terrified of humans, and strike if you startle them. I left them to settle a bit, however I put a pouch in attached to the top of their viv as soon as I got them, which they seem to absolutely love!

First time I got Sid out in pouch (he is slightly less scared than Nancy) he ran the moment I opened it, and I spent half an hour trying to find him and get him back into the cage...bad start. Since then I have been trying to buy his love with a few bits of papaya and some pine nuts, and he has taken from my hand and even held on to me. Tonight however has been a bit of a breakthrough, as they are both in pouch, and allowing me to put my hand in there, even stroke them!!!

Am feeling good about this, though I know it's going to be a long road, and I've already had a few pretty nasty bites  I am hoping to long-term foster them, as although I've only taken them on on a trial basis (as I'm unsure whether we can deal with having 11 suggies 0_o) I don't really want to return them to their old home as they clearly haven't done much research, and are too scared to even let the gliders out!

Any tips on bonding with suggies who have had very little human interaction would be gratefully received!!!

[helen88uk]

not a clue about the bonding but I think this has to be said ... You are AMAZING! Good for you for even trying to take this challenge on ... really hope everything goes well x

[Marie]

Wow!  The poor little suggies!  I have found that the less you approach 'wild' suggies the better, let them come to you.  Just go about your business, talk to them, offer them treats etc.  To be honest, I wouldn't even try and take the pouch out of the cage with them in it yet, the pouch and cage are their safe places and if they don't trust humans anyway then invasion of their safe place will only worsen that.  They will have no where to go when they feel threatened.   

[Emma9383]

Bless them. You're such a good egg hun!
It's good that they are eating out your hand. When they're ready, I found the whole tent thing really good. I kept their nes box in the first couople of weeks so if they fel scared hey could go hide in there. They started coming round, (with the help of treats and were then bouncing off my head. Obviously it'll take longer with these two, but when the timing's righ, I would recommend a pop up tent 

[Amalthea]

Yup... Everything has to be slow.  Just let them do their thing and see you interacting with the others and give them treats if they'll come to you for them.  

[Nell]

Thanks for the advice guys  They are very cute, if nervous little things! Here is Sid burrowing in sawdust -I've never seen any gliders doing this before (mainly because I don't give my gliders sawdust 0_o I've kept it with these guys, as it's the only thing which smells familiar) so here's some pics and a video of him burrowing!







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwd5ftL1NM

[Amalthea]

Looks like he's enjoying himself, bless him!  I give mine cross shredded and shredded paper to play with and build nests with... Maybe Sid would enjoy that?

[Usha77]

Awwww!  Good luck!

[Emma9383]

Hee hee! Mine do that if I try to wake them up to early, they go as far down in the nest boxas possible, rolling over eachother fighting to get under each other and the bedding goes EVERYWHERE. messy little urchins!

[Rhianna]

awwww those pictures are to cute for words! he looks quiet young from the pictures. Any idea how old they are? If their still quiet young, they may calm down quicker then they would if adults....

[Ikky87]

the little tents I keep hearing you guys refer to where can you get them from and how much do they cost?
I been trying play time in the shower cubicle and its proper uncomfortable plus ronnie just climbs up the shower hose and tries to jump over the door lol.

[Emma9383]

I got mine from Asda for about £15, it's a 2 man tent so it took up all my bedroom but it was well worth it! try e-bay 

[Ikky87]

Sweet so any cheap tent will do then, I shall have a butchers. Fank ooh.

[Emma9383]

Make sure it's zip closing and I made sure there was a mesh screen to watch tv through, also more mesh = more surface to climb on!

[Ikky87]

gd thinking mesh to watch telly lol.
I did have them out in the bathroom last nite Ronnie wasn't too fussed about coming out but when I turned the bathroom light out and turned on the red light on my headtorch she was more than happy to bomb around, still abit nervous round me tho she has taken a cat biccy from my hand after crabbing like hell so i think im making some progress with her.