Sorry to say...I have been breeding gliders for three years now. Missimperfect is also misinformed :) If you plan on spending about 4-6 hours a day with your glider, either at home, or wherever it may be, one glider is perfectly fine to own.
And other pets are NOT a problem, just try to keep them away when you have your glider babies out playing, gliders are a hunted animal in the wild, so other pets will make them scared and nervous.
They don't necessarily self mutilate all the time under stress. They tend to self mutilate only because of depression and anxiety. Keeping a good diet (I prefer BML, along side of fresh fruits and veggies, and a steady supply of something dry in there for daytime snackings.)
The bonding pouches are something you purchase WITH the purchase of a glider. This is so the glider may sleep in there while smelling you. Gliders are very social animals, but it takes a lot of coaxing to get into their "circle of trust" but once in it's such a good feeling. i'll never forget the first time Tutu came to me, she was my first glider, and I felt so special that she would come to me.
Gliders have a very sensative lifestyle. Once they bond with you, it will not be easy to re-home them. Once they bond with other gliders, they can easily die of depression symptoms if seperated or the other dies. Which is why it's VITAL you make sure you are willing to try your hardest to keep them forever, and keep them together.
Should they need to be re-homed, a good idea is to send them with something that smells like home. So they can move slowly into their new home.
A good bonding process for the caged glider (some people chose to carry their gliders in a pouch with them all day, but others don't like to, I do so mine don't have cages except for travel and vets), a good idea for the bonding process with the cage glider is to wear a shirt for a couple days on a weekend (when you shower, don't use strong smelling soaps or perfumes gliders don't like them and they make them sneezy!), and then stick that shirt into their cage to allow them to smell you when you're not around. Carrying them in a bonding pouch is the best way to bond, because they get to hear you, and you can see them and interact with them.
Your glider will most likely have many noises. The crabbing is a warning noise, "leave me alone, go away, or I may bite" is usually what it means. A bark is usually a happy noise, and it sound similar to a muffled small breed dog bark. A "chirp" sounds like a high pitched "click" and is a greeting "hello friend!" Occasionally a bark can be a warning or a mating call...a way to call out to someone, or a "hey! pay attention to me!!"
Gliders are similar to dogs in their noise patterns, some are noisy little critters, others are not noisy at all. My glider male, Taz has never crabbed a day in his life, but his brother spaz crabs all day long! However, taz barks all night and spaz doesn't make a sound when he is awake!!!
Gliders are a great pet. They are loving, they are fun, and they will make you laugh and smile. However, they are not a pet for everyone.
I have 6 actively breeding couples. 2 of my females almost constantly have joeys in the pouch, the other one produces joeys once or twice a year. When gliders are tired, they stop breeding for a while, or even forever. They are very good at maintaining their levels of exaughstion (and the females WILL let the males know when no business is going down in THIS pouch!)
Gliders are fun, like having a child, almost. I spend 2 hours a night preparing food for my gliders. They prefer their meals be cut into dime sized pieces to allow them to perch and maybe even eat upside down. If you can't handle bugs, gliders aren't for you, because they LOVE their bugs!
I also provide my gliders with a pinkie once a week. Pinkies are frozen newborn mice. Yes, you might be thinking "gross" but the added protien is almost essential for the gliders. They NEED calcium and protein for their hind legs (jumping is done primarily through the hind legs)
Anyhow, if you have any additional questions, please feel free to email me at catcrazy07@comcast.net
and yes...I have cats and gliders :D
