Originally Posted by smack

ah damn, i didn't think anyone else owned gliders, that is awesome. i have had my male glider for about two years now.

when i first got him, he was part of a breeding pair, so he had never been handled. he crabbed alot and bit at my fingers all the time. everytime he nipped at my fingers i would just blow on him gently and say "No". After about a two weeks of handling him every night, he started getting the picture. Now he is so used to me that when i let him out to play in my office, when i stand up to leave, he comes running and hops right up my to my shoulder.

As for the crabbing, it will just them some time to get used to you. One good thing you can do for bonding is getting a bonding pouch. it's just a fleece pouch that hangs on your neck. you can leave it in their cage, and when they fall asleep in it, just take it out and wear it around for a little while at home. That way they get used to your smell, and the sound of your voice.

Ultimately though it just takes some time for them to get used to you and their new surroundings.

As a side note, make sure you wash your hands before handling them. They are very smell oriented, and if they smell something they like on your hands, it may also cause them to nip at you. it's not as important once they get used to you, but at first it will help a bit.

Oh, and make sure you keep your toilet seats closed. I have known two other people who have owned gliders, and unfortunately both have drowned when they have escaped their cage and fell into the toilet.