Saving The Joeys .. [2]

[sandragonfly]

well, good news - last night went pretty okay. the little girl did not come out of her little blanket in the hospitank (I'll have to take a picture of it later for you) so I picked her up gently and opened it up...her CUTE little big eyes and big ears looking up at me! I broke the dried canned marmoset food in a piece for her, she grabbed it out of my hand! it was frigging cute. but chewed like her mouth is in pain...munched way slow. so I took a look in her mouth, nothing looked so wrong. no reddish surface or anything. I was more concerned about her temperature and colorings; paleness. when I took her out, her furs were sooo warm but her body is a bit cold...doesn't feel right. anyway, I excitingly then gave her an piece of juicy apple (for some reason she didn't want some mango or papaya), she grabbed it too. had a very few bites of them then some of diet bits again and that was it. while that, I was watching the male pigging himself out in his own bowl - she DID NOT eat enough!! breaks my heart.. I so so wish I knew or would she tell me what's wrong. at least she ate she hadn't for two nights and I thought that was a sign of well, at least an improvement.. and the book said to not handle her too much, to let her rest. I put her in her new pouch-bag and back into the aquarium tank.

well, bad news - when I woke up and I checked on this little girl first thing, she was out of her pouch - in daylight? not good! she was sitting up curling up in a ball, ears shaking flat. I did not like that a bit I woke my friend up to take us to the vet office I googled up yesterday, tossed her back into her pouch bag and went. by the time we arrived, she seemed okay, sniffled outside of her bag. but we had her checked in anyway. the vet said she looks fine...crawled up from the vet's hand to his shoulder and GRIPS well. with many questions he asked, he thinks the problem is.....a male aggression. she was in the cage with only one pouch bag at entire time with the male until the night she refused to eat. my friend has been watching them sleeping together during the daylights and never heard any bickering or quarrels. so vet suggested me to not worry about her warmth, put the second pouch in the same cage and leave her for the day but to keep the room temperature above 80 degree; less stress for her. he did not think we should check her any further and let her de-stress and heal her 'weak developed' leg on her own. (it's not broken!)

but me, I still don't think that is the problem...it's just my instinct honestly. I swear she feels a bit cold than she should be and ...sigh. help? I am doing everything I can. I called the place that has a federal license on selling/rescuing sugar gliders the wildlife center recommended us and we will meet tonight in about an hour. I hope they can help us! second opinion is always good, things to think about.

jen, I don't think they are the siblings. the male seems to be a bit bigger, older and is way wilder than my little girl. the vet estimated ophelia's (I've named the little girl ophelia!) age to be about seven weeks old and said she was just weaned (at five-six weeks). here's a picture from last night of ophelia and of I'll-have-to-think-of-a-name-for-the-male!

my little sweet ophelia


and him. he's wilder than the tame girl, is still afraid of our hands.

wow! this is so long. sorry. do please keep this little girl in your thoughts while we are out again soon, I am already so attached to her!

[sandragonfly]

ok, we're back and I'm at end of wits. we went to the place, and found out it's mainly a reptile store. they do have sugar gliders raising in capivity there too. interesting place though.

two guys, one identified himself as a registered exotic vet took a look at my suggy ophelia and said mostly the same thing.

leg may have not just developed properly, "too young to tell." may be because of the male aggression because I fed her right diet, and kept her warm as much as I could. and just to keep the temperature right. they agreed that she should be left alone in the cage until so - "as all sugar gliders should be sold in a pair", needs a company to be with. or it will stress him/her to death. now this is probably is why I found those two suggies altogether. even at a different age.

so I guess, just leave her alone for now? this still doesn't look right to me for some reason. with symptoms she has, 'internal parasites' wouldn't leave my mind. she doesn't feel like eating however looks overall okay. well, all I know parasites do eat a creature up slowly and that's what I guess. no one should be cold. they said they didn't feel her too cold...well, I've held her all way there under my sweartshirt. since not a lot of people have responded to this, I just thought of a sugar glider forum, maybe I can find one. I don't think I can register until tomorrow on a computer.

she's (and thatcher - the male's) asleeping right now in their own pouch bag until their meal time soon. I sure hope they're right and that she's okay.

I'm gonna read the links again, maybe there's something else I find and thanks everyone for the responses.

[Karen]

At least they checked her over, and nothing obvious is wrong. Good for you for looking out for both wee little ones! Poor things, whoever abandoned them should be shut in a freezer overnight in their skivvies, and see how they like it.

[Scooter's Mom]

I agree with Karen.

They are very cute Gina. I love the name Ophelia for the little girl.

I don't know much about sugar gliders, but hope you can help these two little ones out.

Hugs,
Crystal

[Catty1]

Gina...maybe if Ophelia hasn't eaten for a while, her tummy has shrunk a bit and she gets full really easily. Maybe try feedings more often, but a bit less.

HUGS! I hope Ophelia comes around.