How long does it take sugar gliders to become nice?

Question

I just purchased a sugar glider about 3 months ago, and still to this day she will not behave like everyone says sugar gliders should. All she will do is crab when her pouch she sleeps in is touched and bite my hands when i try to pet her. Also I cannot touch her when she is running around in the cage. I have had times where i held her for serveral hours and have been very patient in getting her to bond with me but nothing seems to work. She even seems to be getting meaner. ANY suggestions. Did i just get a very mean one?

Answer 1

Try and get a hand towel, keep it with you for 24 hours then during the day when its sleeping put it in the towel then put on a shirt with pockets and put it in your pocket. let it get your sent and hear your voice. if it doesn't get use to you soon it will die or self mutilate. i have had two, the first one i got i had for a year and she was real sweet she fell and broke her tail and died, the second one i had no matter how har i tried i could not tame him and he died, i held him in my hand till his last breath. you must try your hardest and soon. if it doesn't work get it a mate and train their offspring. babies are easier to train. good luck.

Answer 2

I have 5 sugar gliders and every single one is different with the pace at which they bond. I bought a female from a very good breeder back in august - this girl was very sweet the first 8 weeks she was at the breeders, but as soon as she came home with me she was terrified of everything and crabbed constantly and always tried to escape when I had her in a bonding pouch. She wasn't accepted into my trio of gliders, so she was solo for a few months. I tried some very tried and true bonding methods with her and made very little progress.

About 2 1/2 weeks ago I picked up another joey - he is as sweet as can be and bonded to me almost instantly. I slowly introduced the two of them and they got along well - now that they are housed together, the little girl is a different glider. She has a companion now and will let me pet her and take her in a bonding pouch and will take treats from my hand. I still have a LONG ways to go, but having a companion made all the difference.

I'd like to add also please don't use a sock or a towel for anything glider related, these materials have threads that easily snag gliders nails (and the scent that gets on a sock isn't the familiar scent gliders come to know, it's foot sweat) - people have had thier gliders toes ripped off by this kind of material. The best way is to use fleece you've kept on you (like in a bra), or like others mentioned, a t-shirt.

This link will be VERY helpful - it has worked many times, just keep in mind you have to work at HER pace or you will be doing more harm than good to your relationship.

http://www.angelfire.com/nb/sugarglider/bonding.html

Also, there is a forum at http://www.sugarglider.net - it is a very helpful community, so if you have more questions I would highly recommend going there. They have saved my butt many times!

Answer 3

Yeah they're nice. They aren't, however, the best pet for every household. Gliders, like all exotic pets, have particular needs specific to their species. They also live 12-14 years in captivity. The decision to add a glider to your household is one that we hope you consider carefully. Our glider friends are not difficult animals to keep. The cage should be big enough for the guy to have ample room to jump and glide. I suggest a minimum size of 30 x18 x 36,and make sure the cage is made of wire. ^_^ Feed your glider a portion of fresh fruits or vegetables,try giving them a single one each day and varying it. Feed your glider an almost equal portion of protein. They should get ATLEAST least 50% protein in their diets,you can try chicken or turkey baby food, mealworms, crickets, boiled eggs and yogurt to help them get this protein.Feed your glider some source of dry food that will be left in the cage for twenty four hours.You might also want to supplement your gliders' vitamin and mineral intake.Try Vionate and Rep-Cal daily and sprinkle it on the serving of fruit or veggies.

Answer 4

I have gliders myself, a three legged male and a female. my male tamed quickly done mostly from giving him an old t-shirt that I wore for a day and didn't wash *it's easier than the hand-towel thing* that I put in his cage as well as large chunks of apple I'd only give him if he sat in my hand to eat it.
As for the female, she's not mean, but no matter what I've done I can't "tame" her. Some gliders just don't like people.
But I guess the way to anythings heart is through it's stomach... also i've been told that a dirty sock *ew* works well with the getting them used to your scent...

Answer 5

I used to own a sugar glider and the first day I bought it she got loose in my car and was in there for 3 days before I could get her out!! Since that she was never nice never wanted to be touched or anything!! I think alot has to do with your sugar glider before you purchased it. Was it held? Were its parents tame, to the point that the owners could get the babies out and spend time with them? Sugar Gliders can be tamed but in my opinion if they are not started out at a very young age they will never be the cuddly little thing that you want. Honestly I would keep your Glider but also purchase another one that has been handraised, or even bottle fed because they are going to have a much stronger bond with humans. Good Luck!!

Answer 6

it will never just turn nice you have to tame it. try hand frrding it its favorate food so it learns that the hand is a good thing. wen she is resting or hiding leave her alown as handling her then would stres it out.
good luck