Sugar Glider Bonding

So you decided to get a Sugar Glider and have just brought them home, now what? Where do you begin? Everything is going to be strange and new to your Sugar Glider. He has just been whisked away from everything he knew and thrust into a brand new home with new sights, sounds, and scents. Keeping this in mind, we suggest you place an unwashed piece of shirt with your scent in the sleeping pouch and leave them alone for the night. No traffic, no oohs and aahs, no loud noises. Just let them be for the night. Do not try to force the issue.

The next day, during the day, remove the pouch from the cage and carry it with you. Gently rub the outside of the pouch where the glider is sleeping. Talk to him in a soft voice so he becomes accustomed to your voice as well as scent. After a half hour you can slowly reach into the pouch and gently scratch your glider on the back of the head between the ears. Keep talking softly. Don’t be surprised if you hear a crab. Don’t be scared. Don’t show fear and pull your hand away, even if you get nipped. It does not hurt. Stick to it. DO NOT GIVE UP. The more time you spend with your gliders from day 1, the quicker and smoother the bonding process will be. Your glider will quickly gain trust in you and be comfortable with your presence. If you show fear, get scared, or become apprehensive, your glider will sense it and the bonding time will be greatly extended.

When the gliders come out of the pouch at night hand feed your pet some treats he may enjoy (ie. sliced grapes, yogurt drops, or a mealworm). When your glider is eating a treat, talk to your glider, scratch the back of his neck behind the ears, let him get acquainted with you and trust you. Once your glider has gained your trust you can slowly introduce more and more people, using the same approach.

We realize it is not always practical because we have had people drive 8 hours for their granitestateglider, but we always recommend our customers come visit their new joeys at least a time or two before weaning. By the time they are fully weaned the bonding process has already long begun with their new owners and it makes the transition to their new homes easier because the gliders already have recognizable scents and sounds.

Bonding is a process that can be different for every animal. You may hear many stories of one glider bonding within a few days and another that took several months. Generally, hand-raised babies will bond much quicker with their new owners than joeys that are not handled daily. Shipped joeys generally take much longer to bond with, usually lasting months instead of days. The bonding process does require time but it is a small investment in return for years of companionship and love!

TIPS

• Always clean hands with plain water or unscented soap before handling gliders
• Speak in a soft tone. A loud voice will frighten your joey
• Do not overwhelm your glider with lots of people all at once

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