Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Our sugar gliders, Stitch and Cleo, had babies! We knew Cleo was carrying two in her pouch, but didn't get to see them until recently.

Sadly, the little girl passed away and the parents ate her! I guess that's a natural thing to happen. In the wild, they would have to eat their dead so that the predators don't smell the dead ones. It was so sad. We found nothing but bones in their sleeping pouch one morning. We still don't know what happened. She was a little smaller than her brother and she cried often. But other than that she looked ok. With this being our first experience with glider babies, we want to blame it on something we did. But I just don't know what we could've done.

Here is a photo of one of them crying...

And here is a photo of their little pink butts hanging out of mom's pouch...

Here's another photo of momma and the babies...

Also, I have a question for the more experienced glider owners. My male, Stitch, won't leave Cleo alone. She's busy taking care of the little baby and he's biting her (not hard enough to make her bleed) but she violently barks at him. He's always chasing her around. Is this just mating behavior or should I be worried?

Thanks,
Veronica

My goodness Veronica those little joeys are adorable!
Although I did read the female died, I'm so very sorry ! That must have been tough to deal with.

In an article about sugar gliders I was reading, it said, that sometimes, young glider parents, may be confused with what to do and the baby will die before or shortly after coming out of pouch.

That was the only reason given. Of course I do not have sugar gliders, just a squirrel. I read about them, because I find them to be so cute , LOL

I'm sure other glider owners may have some answers !

The males do tend to BITE the females neck to hold her down to mate, and since they can mate 3 times a year, maybe thats what hes attempting to do !

In any case just popped in to say the pics are incredibly cute, glad the little boy is doing well !

I wish you guys the best with your glider family

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Eve

I had the same thing happen to me. My glider breeder friend said that the female was a first time mother so that was probably the reason. I had two babies die on me so feel lucky that you only had the one die. I walked in and the baby had it's eyes eaten out. Just remember that your next litter will be better.