The babies had their first visitor yesterday and they were brilliant!
I was worried that Tera would hide behind the couch and Plo would run up the curatins and refuse to come down, but they were great.
Plo was showing off his gliding technique and Tera was running all over him, face hugging and trying to run up his trouser legs. LOL.
They're likely to get a lot more visitors over the festive season now.
Tera has started properly gliding. Her prevoius glides were only about 1-1.5m, but now she'll happily glide from the curtain rail.
Tera in action:
http://youtu.be/wk3T79FmL3o
I'm so proud!
She's also been easier to get back into the cage since she started gliding. Before she'd know we wanted her back in and she'd run all over any part of my body not near the door. LOL. Now she runs right n when I gesture towards it. Maybe she's worn out from all the gliding. LOL.
Saturday, 24 November 2012
Clicker training.
I have started to try to clicker train Tera (as she is more responsive to treats etc), if it works I'll try with Plo.
Clicker training is positive reinforcement using a click sound to alert the animal when they have done something which deserves a reward. The click sound pinpoints the exact time that you were happy with their actions, as opposed to treating them directly (by the time you get to them with the treat they could be doing something else and you're rewarding entirely different behavior). It is solely positive reinforcement with no negative reinforcement (or punishment) involved, so it should be ideal for gliders. It's been used successfully with dogs and lots of other animals, so fingers crossed.
It's going to be a really slow process. Small animals should only be trained for 3-5 mins a day, so it'll be a while before I have any results.
I have started Tera associating the sound with a treat. I 'click' the clicker then immediately offer her a very tiny piece of cheese. I have done this for 2 nights now (4 mins each). Once she hears the click and comes looking for her treat I can start to use it to show her that I am happy with her behavior.
Here goes...
Clicker training is positive reinforcement using a click sound to alert the animal when they have done something which deserves a reward. The click sound pinpoints the exact time that you were happy with their actions, as opposed to treating them directly (by the time you get to them with the treat they could be doing something else and you're rewarding entirely different behavior). It is solely positive reinforcement with no negative reinforcement (or punishment) involved, so it should be ideal for gliders. It's been used successfully with dogs and lots of other animals, so fingers crossed.
It's going to be a really slow process. Small animals should only be trained for 3-5 mins a day, so it'll be a while before I have any results.
I have started Tera associating the sound with a treat. I 'click' the clicker then immediately offer her a very tiny piece of cheese. I have done this for 2 nights now (4 mins each). Once she hears the click and comes looking for her treat I can start to use it to show her that I am happy with her behavior.
Here goes...
Friday, 16 November 2012
Pros and Cons of gliders
Sugar gliders can make amazing pets but like any animal they're not for everyone!
I don't want to put anyone off getting gliders, but would like to give my opinions of the good and bad points.
More information on all these issues can be found on either sugar glider forum
Sugar-glider.co.uk a well established forum with many owners and breeders
or Sugar glider forum a new forum which is building momentum, very open to sharing of new ideas.
I would suggest joining both, you don't have to actively use them both if you don't have time etc but then you could choose which suits you better.
Cons:
Time constraints: I spend at least an hour with my gliders every night, I try to aim for 2. I'm really lucky that my gliders were hand tame (to the breeder, we still had to win their trust) and well socialised when we brought them home. We've never had any problems getting them back into their cage when playtime's over, but some people spend hours trying to entice gliders home at night (until they're bonded). You have to allow for this eventuality.
I also spend about 15 mins a day cleaning the cage and organising their dinner, and an hour once a week making up their dinners to freeze.
Longevity: I would cal this a pro, but you have to remember that gliders can live 12-14 years, they're a big commitment!
Nocturnal: This might be a pro, depending on your bodyclock! LOL. Some people's gliders get up at 6or 7pm, ours don't wake naturally until about 10.30. This can be changed, you can wake them 30 mins earlier each week, but this is not a fast process and they will still prefer to be awake late at night. They should never be awake all day, their eyes aren't built for daylight. If you aren't a night owl maybe gliders aren't the best pet for you.
Cost: A pair of gliders (and you have to have at LEAST 2, we have 2 now, but will probably get another 2 next year when we're a bit more experienced) is likely to cost around £280 depending where you get them. I would always suggest a reputable breeder. Gliders are available to re-home, but if you're not experienced with them already and you get a pair with health or behavior issues you could have a long and potentially expensive road ahead. I think it's great that people re-home pets, but I prefer to leave this to experienced keepers.
Cages are available (on E-bay etc) from about £40. It needs to meet certain minimum size requirements (but bigger, especially taller, is always better).
We also spent £45 on a 'stealth wheel'. There are cheaper wheels available, but you have to be careful that they are suitable.
I also spent about £50 on cage toys, water bottles etc. Some of this is essential (2 water bottles and at least 2 food bowls), but gliders are happy to play with apple branches etc, which you may be able to get for free. Just make sure they're properly cleaned, and a safe type of wood first.
Gliders also need a few nest boxes or fleece pouches to sleep in, which you can buy or make yourself.
We also got a snugglesafe heat pad. The gliders love it and it keeps them warm and reduces the risk of torpor.
I spend about £10 on fresh fruit and veg each week for both gliders (but I don't really shop around, and I use quite expensive, exotic fruits. I could feed them more cheaply, probably for £5 if I tried)
We have pet insurance at £20 pcm. Many people don't bother, but if you don't have this it's a really good idea to have money aside (several hundreds) in case of emergency vet care.
We spent around £25 on treats and suppliements which will last about 6 months.
Noise: I think this depends on the personalities of your gliders. Ours have only kept us up 6 nights with barking, and these were early on, but some will bark at the moon etc. They can also be quite noisy on their wheel (even a stealth wheel) and jumping around the cage. I wouldn't suggest having them in your bedroom unless you're a really heavy sleeper!
Ours also crab at each other a lot when they're getting into their pouch together. They used to squabble a lot generally, but they seem to be growing out of that a bit now.
Mess: The poo (it's only small, but gets in all kinds of places) and pee over you, your clothes and soft furnishings and often throw unwanted food- not for the houseproud.
Pros are pretty obvious:
They're nocturnal, so they don't need attention during the day when 9-5ers are working.
They are intelligent and enjoy the presence of people (once bonded- Tera rarely leaves me when she's out of the cage).
They can sleep in a bonding pouch around your neck, which is just adorable (listening to their happy popping while I stroke them melts my heart!). Some people go about all their daily tasks with them there, even out of the house. I don't. I don't take them into the kitchen or bathroom, even secured in the pouch (I'm paranoid).
They live a lot longer than other small animals (often 12 years in captivity, only 6 in the wild).
They are absolutely adorable!!!
I'm sure I'll add to both these lists as time goes on.
I don't want to put anyone off getting gliders, but would like to give my opinions of the good and bad points.
More information on all these issues can be found on either sugar glider forum
Sugar-glider.co.uk a well established forum with many owners and breeders
or Sugar glider forum a new forum which is building momentum, very open to sharing of new ideas.
I would suggest joining both, you don't have to actively use them both if you don't have time etc but then you could choose which suits you better.
Cons:
Time constraints: I spend at least an hour with my gliders every night, I try to aim for 2. I'm really lucky that my gliders were hand tame (to the breeder, we still had to win their trust) and well socialised when we brought them home. We've never had any problems getting them back into their cage when playtime's over, but some people spend hours trying to entice gliders home at night (until they're bonded). You have to allow for this eventuality.
I also spend about 15 mins a day cleaning the cage and organising their dinner, and an hour once a week making up their dinners to freeze.
Longevity: I would cal this a pro, but you have to remember that gliders can live 12-14 years, they're a big commitment!
Nocturnal: This might be a pro, depending on your bodyclock! LOL. Some people's gliders get up at 6or 7pm, ours don't wake naturally until about 10.30. This can be changed, you can wake them 30 mins earlier each week, but this is not a fast process and they will still prefer to be awake late at night. They should never be awake all day, their eyes aren't built for daylight. If you aren't a night owl maybe gliders aren't the best pet for you.
Cost: A pair of gliders (and you have to have at LEAST 2, we have 2 now, but will probably get another 2 next year when we're a bit more experienced) is likely to cost around £280 depending where you get them. I would always suggest a reputable breeder. Gliders are available to re-home, but if you're not experienced with them already and you get a pair with health or behavior issues you could have a long and potentially expensive road ahead. I think it's great that people re-home pets, but I prefer to leave this to experienced keepers.
Cages are available (on E-bay etc) from about £40. It needs to meet certain minimum size requirements (but bigger, especially taller, is always better).
We also spent £45 on a 'stealth wheel'. There are cheaper wheels available, but you have to be careful that they are suitable.
I also spent about £50 on cage toys, water bottles etc. Some of this is essential (2 water bottles and at least 2 food bowls), but gliders are happy to play with apple branches etc, which you may be able to get for free. Just make sure they're properly cleaned, and a safe type of wood first.
Gliders also need a few nest boxes or fleece pouches to sleep in, which you can buy or make yourself.
We also got a snugglesafe heat pad. The gliders love it and it keeps them warm and reduces the risk of torpor.
I spend about £10 on fresh fruit and veg each week for both gliders (but I don't really shop around, and I use quite expensive, exotic fruits. I could feed them more cheaply, probably for £5 if I tried)
We have pet insurance at £20 pcm. Many people don't bother, but if you don't have this it's a really good idea to have money aside (several hundreds) in case of emergency vet care.
We spent around £25 on treats and suppliements which will last about 6 months.
Noise: I think this depends on the personalities of your gliders. Ours have only kept us up 6 nights with barking, and these were early on, but some will bark at the moon etc. They can also be quite noisy on their wheel (even a stealth wheel) and jumping around the cage. I wouldn't suggest having them in your bedroom unless you're a really heavy sleeper!
Ours also crab at each other a lot when they're getting into their pouch together. They used to squabble a lot generally, but they seem to be growing out of that a bit now.
Mess: The poo (it's only small, but gets in all kinds of places) and pee over you, your clothes and soft furnishings and often throw unwanted food- not for the houseproud.
Pros are pretty obvious:
They're nocturnal, so they don't need attention during the day when 9-5ers are working.
They are intelligent and enjoy the presence of people (once bonded- Tera rarely leaves me when she's out of the cage).
They can sleep in a bonding pouch around your neck, which is just adorable (listening to their happy popping while I stroke them melts my heart!). Some people go about all their daily tasks with them there, even out of the house. I don't. I don't take them into the kitchen or bathroom, even secured in the pouch (I'm paranoid).
They live a lot longer than other small animals (often 12 years in captivity, only 6 in the wild).
I'm sure I'll add to both these lists as time goes on.
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