pictures...
Aya
Milo
more pics to come... |
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A little history... I began working for a popular, privately owned petstore about 3 years ago, where I first came in contact with gliders. I knew almost nothing about them at the time, though by the time I finally left the job, I had become their "glider person", in charge of all things regarding our selling of the little creatures. I cared for the babies so much that I sometimes flat refused to sell one to anyone I didn't feel could handle and take care of such a high-maintanance pet. February.2000, we had one little weaned baby left. Both his siblings had been sold that day, and when I went to check on him I found him curled up alone and shivering. Fearing he would get sick from the chill, I tucked him in my shirt and carried him with me the rest of the day. Despite the fact that he was an ungodly skinny, noisy brat, my fate was sealed. I took him home that night. My coworkers later told me that they didn't think he would survive. Aya is now a little over 3 years old, and a big healthy boy (nearly a quarter pounder from the skinny wraith he was!) I believe his size and health stems from a varied diet-- Contrary to what some glider people will say, I usually shared a bit of my lunch with him everyday, regardless of what it was. The only thing that really counts in my belief is moderation. At home he would get his usual balanced glider diet. Working in the pet store I was able to carry him with me all day, thus he is very well-socialized and can easily handle with meeting strangers. His personality of strong and inquisitive; nothing scares him anymore. He doesn't bite, has a sense of humor, and can hear the sound of food being opened from a mile away. The breeder neutered him for me when he was a little over a year old, so his bald spot has disappeared. However, he still retains his territorial behavior over both Milo and I. The plot thickens... About a year later, I decided that it would be better for Aya to have a playmate when he wasn't with me. I consulted our breeder, and she agreed to give me a baby girl who was just out of the pouch. On her regular delivery of three or four 4-month olds to the store, with a smile she reached into her shirt and pulled out the one she had chosen for me. Milo never fussed. She was still so young that her tail was still thin and peach-fuzzed (as opposed to being somewhat fluffy in older babies). She slept during the whole transfer, and spent the rest of the day without a peep (flashback to Aya who crabbed and fussed and nibbled the whole day O_o...) There was no trouble getting Milo to eat solid foods and she was a perfect baby. I kept her and Aya in separate cages until she was about eight months old. I carried them separately as well, making sure that she would be bonded to me first before going to live with Aya. My friends can't tell the difference between them, but to me it's obvious. Milo is much smaller and dainty, with more of a pointed nose than her mate. Aya's the one with the big handsome head. They have little hissing spats every now and then (mostly because Aya's an insensitive jerk sometimes and takes her food) but otherwise they get along perfectly. |