Introducing... my sugar gliders!

[Jessika]

I've had my girl (top) for a few weeks now and recently picked up a companion for her and didn't want to make an announcement until they were all settled in, but... I would like you all to meet my two newest additions!

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/528161_10151515898044048_1195910207_n.jpg

As soon as I complete the finishing touches on their mansion of a cage we built for them last weekend (seriously, they have a ton of toys, but it is so much bigger than their previous cage that it looks barren!) I'll have to show you pics of that as well.

I am just smitten by these two. Sweetest things EVER. And no, we haven't decided on names yet!

(this pic was taken at the breeder's house and we were in her bathroom)

[Karen]

Awww, welcome to Pet Talk, sugies!

[Jessika]

They are a LOT more work than you're led to believe. We have spent a FORTUNE on them since bringing the girl home (a number I'm actually embarrassed to admit). We brought my girl to the breeder's house to pick out a friend... she has expensive tastes (a ringtail mosaic)... but it was worth it to get a suggie that we knew she would get along with.

To anyone ever even remotely considering getting a Sugar Glider as a pet... some words of advice. FIRST AND FOREMOST, check out http://glidercentral.net. You will find a plethora of good information there. Secondly, DO NOT purchase one on impulse and DO NOT EVER purchase one from anyone other than a breeder. There are many mill breeders you will find at mall kiosks, etc, a popular one is Perfect Pocket Pets (they call them "Sugar Bears" to confuse new owners). PLEASE take my advice.

We really really REALLY lucked out with our girl, but I will admit she was an impulse buy and if I knew then what I know now, I'm not sure we ever would have brought one home. But we did, and we are doing everything within our power (and budget) to make sure we are providing for them the best we can, and she really is a joy to have. She is bonded to us already!!! From what I can tell... they have it PRETTY good...

[Karen]

I always, always recommend people do their research first, especially with "exotic" pets! Glad you are doing more research now, to make sure these gals have a good, happy life! Those big dark eyes are natural heart-melters, aren't they?

[Jessika]

I always, always recommend people do their research first, especially with "exotic" pets! Glad you are doing more research now, to make sure these gals have a good, happy life! Those big dark eyes are natural heart-melters, aren't they?
Well the thing is, my boyfriend had some some research on them years ago, so he had a basic knowledge about it. Then the salesmen at PPP reeled us in with a "that information is outdated and here is why" speech and I am NOT one to normally fall into the sales pitch trap, but embarrassingly, we both totally did. That girl is dang lucky she ended up with us and not someone who would have listened to them blindly... We brought her to the vet days after bringing her home, and she is in perfect health (the vets at my clinic don't see exotics).

[chocolatepuppy]

Oh how cool, what cuties! :cool: Have you named them yet?

[Jessika]

Oh how cool, what cuties! :cool: Have you named them yet?

Yes, actually, we decided on Banjo (male) and Kazooie (girl). 10 points to anyone who can guess the reference... ;)

[Casper]

They are ADORABLE! :D Congratulations on the new additions!
I adore sugar gliders, but I agree with you, they are a ton of work. They are a dream pet of mine, I just don't have the time (nor money) for them at the moment. Glad to hear yours are getting spoiled. I can't wait to see their mansion!

BTW, I love the names. I remember that was one of my favorite games for Nintendo 64. :) I still have it, too!

[Jessika]

Thank you!!

I recently found our N64 at my parents' and, in the bag of games, Banjo-Kazooie!!! Mario Kart 64 is still my favorite but Banjo-Kazooie was one of my faaaavorites.

[chocolatepuppy]

Yes, actually, we decided on Banjo (male) and Kazooie (girl). 10 points to anyone who can guess the reference... ;)

Cool names. :cool: We do expect more pics to come.....;)

[Jessika]

Kazooie exploring a new cage item that came in this weekend. CUTEST. THING. EVER. If anyone has rats, hedgehogs, etc, I can send you the link to buy one of your own!

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/522743_10151529580479048_1197459922_n.jpg

And a pic of their cage last week (before I added a bunch of stuff)

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/64141_10151526062834048_597093661_n.jpg

[chocolatepuppy]

Looks like a great cage.;)

[Bonny]

Are they ever cute. Congratulations :)

[Jessika]

Thank you!! :D

Banjo was neutered Tuesday and bounced right back. No joeys for us!

[Casper]

OMG, that banana hammock is adorable. I so so so wish my rattie boys weren't so messy, it would be a shame to put something that cute in their little home just to see them destroy it. Oh, and the cage looks great! A mansion, indeed. :)

Glad to hear Banjo's neuter went well. I can't wait to see more of them!

[Jessika]

Banjo is being such a jerk. We can't handle him at all. We were able to bond with Kazooie quickly (ironically, she's the "mill breeder" suggie and he came from a breeder), but we are going above and beyond any methods we used with Kazooie and they just are not working with Banjo. In fact, he seems WORSE now than when we brought him home. He will dart out of his bonding pouch or cage with no warning and then we're chasing him around the room trying to catch him... he bit my boyfriend so hard yesterday he wouldn't let go of his finger until I pulled him off of him. Of course he bled pretty good.

He lunges at us, crabs at us, tries to bite us....... I don't want to give up on him but we are obviously not doing something right. We are following all of the methods being suggested to us ("tried and true" methods) and he just seems to be giving us the middle paw... at a loss. It's stressing my boyfriend and I out so much now that we're starting to get into arguments with each other over it... ugh.

I know bonding can take months, but surely you should start to see baby step improvements, not huge jumps backwards?????

Gonna try to call the breeder tonight to see if she has any suggestions...

I'm only putting this information here not only for advice but for potential sugar glider owners so they know that this is NOT always a cakewalk with these guys and they do require a LOT of work and commitment...

[Freedom]

Oh they ARE cute! In that first photo, can you please identify which is which?

And that cage - PVC a DIY project? Super cool!

Do speak with the breeder; and maybe a specific online forum for them will offer ideas as well.

Here in RI, you must obtain a permit before you can own them. Sure, folks don't know and do get them, but then later on they often find themselves in trouble.

[Jessika]

No permit needed in Missouri... which is how mill breeders are allowed to trick people into buying them.

Banjo is the mosaic on bottom, and Kazooie is the standard grey girl on top :)

We're attempting tent time again tonight... any other time we've tried it with him he will NOT come out of the bonding pouch... We both signed up at http://glidercentral.net and that has pretty much been our main source of information and advice throughout all of this.

[Jessika]

Small baby steps of progress with Banjo... for awhile I thought he may be pouch aggressive, but he lets me stick my hand into the pouch with him even while crabbing/lunging and does not bite me... and he settles down pretty quickly when I do so. Considered switching to an open-environment type cage set but if we're seeing improvement doing what we're doing, I'd hate to think I "wasted" a lot of money on cage items that I can no longer use... (cage sets aren't cheap...).

Kazooie, of course, is sweeter than ever. I walked into the room ~10pm last night (typically before they wake up) to grab their diner to clean it and get their food ready and her little head was sticking out of the cage pouch. As soon as I opened the door she JUMPS from the cage pouch onto my shoulder. Hung out on me the whole time while making their food, too, and tried running off with a few bits of strawberry...

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/75076_10151571204604048_1311102758_n.jpg

http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/b510/rvtjess/banjo_zps9bcacb1d.jpg

This was one of the first good looks he allowed us to get of him since bringing him home. I noticed it looks like he has food all over his face or hasn't been grooming well! It's been about a week since taking that pic, and he seems to have cleaned up, but it made me worried thinking he was too stressed to groom himself properly.

[chocolatepuppy]

Aww, cuties!:love: I hope things continue to go well!:)

[Karen]

Glad things are going better with Banjo and still so well with Kazooie! Such cuties!

[luckies4me]

If you need help please refer to my previous threads. You can search under my name for posts pertaining to suggies. I run a rescue and occasionally breed and can offer you assistance if you need it. If you private message me I can provide you my email address. They are both adorable. It can sometimes take months for a bond to develope between an owner and their suggie. Please do not give up. It will be soooo worth it! Has his attitude changed since he's been neutered? How old is he? What is his lineage? Any lines from P.P.?

[Jessika]

If you need help please refer to my previous threads. You can search under my name for posts pertaining to suggies. I run a rescue and occasionally breed and can offer you assistance if you need it. If you private message me I can provide you my email address. They are both adorable. It can sometimes take months for a bond to develope between an owner and their suggie. Please do not give up. It will be soooo worth it! Has his attitude changed since he's been neutered? How old is he? What is his lineage? Any lines from P.P.?
Hello :) Thank you for the offer. We are seeing small improvements with him, especially with tent time, but we still cannot handle him and he still crabs at us when we pick up the cage pouch to transfer him to the bonding pouch, etc. His attitude has not changed since neutering (he was neutered nearly a month ago if not longer). His OOP date is Nov 3 so he just turned 5 months old (wow!). I do have lineage on him; he came from one of the original suggie breeders (Judie Hausmann), so I highly doubt there is any chance of having mill breeder blood in his lines. Our girl DID come from PPP, as previously mentioned, but she is sweet as can be!!!!!!

[kaycountrygal]

May 26 2013.
I just found this thread that started Feb 2013. The babies are absolutely adorable. (no, I will not be getting any) I'm wondering... how's it going with them now? Is Banjo more friendly now? Did you keep him?

[Kelly02]

They are so Cute!!

[Jessika]

May 26 2013.
I just found this thread that started Feb 2013. The babies are absolutely adorable. (no, I will not be getting any) I'm wondering... how's it going with them now? Is Banjo more friendly now? Did you keep him?

Sorry to miss this! We switched to an OE (open environment) cage set for them and I have noticed huge improvements. We still cannot handle him, but there is significantly less crabbing from him when we handle the cage pouch, transfer him to the bonding pouch, etc. I can rest my hand in the pouch with him with no crabbing, he takes licky treats and regular treats from us (sooo sooo gently, too! It is so sweet) without hesitation anymore, and when I'm just hanging out with them on my days off during the day I keep their bonding pouch on my lap unzipped, and he is getting brave and will venture out just a tad (but ducks back in if I look at him or move my hand to pet him, etc).

Just bought a new beautiful cage set for them (I am beyond excited for it, it's St. Louis Cardinals themed!!!) that I was getting ready to switch out today!

[Karen]

Sorry to miss this! We switched to an OE (open environment) cage set for them and I have noticed huge improvements. We still cannot handle him, but there is significantly less crabbing from him when we handle the cage pouch, transfer him to the bonding pouch, etc. I can rest my hand in the pouch with him with no crabbing, he takes licky treats and regular treats from us (sooo sooo gently, too! It is so sweet) without hesitation anymore, and when I'm just hanging out with them on my days off during the day I keep their bonding pouch on my lap unzipped, and he is getting brave and will venture out just a tad (but ducks back in if I look at him or move my hand to pet him, etc).

Just bought a new beautiful cage set for them (I am beyond excited for it, it's St. Louis Cardinals themed!!!) that I was getting ready to switch out today!

Oh, how fun! But expect much complaining! ;)

[snakemama]

Hee hee, so cute!! I love them!

I remember when a woman I used to work with rescued a suggie from a man who had been keeping him in a ten gallon tank (!!!). Since they are illegal here she had to learn a TON in a VERY short time, and when she described all the work she put into her suggie's habitat and diet it left me in awe of people who keep these little guys. Not for the faint of heart but SO worth it!

Her son named her little rescued fellow "The Guy in the Box" because it took him forEVER to feel comfortable around them, and he hid in his little box for a LONG time.

I also remember how nervous she was when she took a weekend road trip to smuggle a friend for him into the state. Luckily, it was worth it as his new friend was VERY social with both Guy and her, and it helped poor Guy come out of his shell.

Anywho, I've rambled enough, your suggies are adorable!!

[Jessika]

Awwwww, how nice of your friend!

This is a major breakthrough for us with Banjo; he let me trim his nails Friday!! Crabbed the whole time, but I was easily forgiven with a cranberry after we were done. And no biting!

https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q71/s720x720/1233355_10151936604624048_513925449_n.jpg

[Karen]

Awww, yay! One of these days you should nominate him for Pet of the Day! ;)

[chocolatepuppy]

That's great! What a cutie! Just look at that face!:cool:

[snakemama]

The EYES, they melt me!!! :love:

[Jessika]

Is that a hint, Karen? ;)

Thank you guys!!! It's a long process but he is absolutely coming along :)

[Alysser]

I literally just 'AWWWW'ed', Banjo is so precious!! :D