|
| This
is Sydney being born |
|
| She
is the pink jelly bean |
| Happy
OOP day Sydney |
|
| Sha
has grown so much |
Sugar Glider Joeys are born
as tiny as a cooked grain of rice. They are pink, hairless and sticky
with small arm buds and dark circles where their eyes will be. They
crawl up a slippery path to the pouch that Mama has licked for
them. If they leave this path, they can get stuck in Mama's fur and
will likely die. This process takes only minutes. Once
in pouch, they latch on to one of four nipples and
their jaw will close around it. The nipple swells
and the joey will not be able to latch back on if it
lets go of the nipple. It takes about 80 days from birth
to coming out of pouch.
| Joeys
rely on Moms milk for many weeks |
|
| Eyes
will open between 3 and 10 days OOP |
| Joey
twins 3 days OOP |
|
| Eyes
beginning to open |
The joeys we have been blessed to have
weigh about 16 grams on their first day out of pouch.
| Joeys
12 days OOP |
|
|
 |
| This
Joey is still not fully OOP (out of pouch) |
|
| it
was 3 more days before she was OOP |
If you have a joey in pouch
you can start to see joey parts poking out of the pouch a
couple weeks to days before the joeys will
make their full appearance. Usually a tiny tail will
peek out, and then a hand or foot. We love to play with their tiny
little toes even before the joey is born. No matter how curious you
are, NEVER LOOK INTO OR REACH INTO A GLIDERS POUCH! YOU COULD
CAUSE SERIOUS INFECTION OR DEATH!
The Glider Mama will give
us the next clue that she is ready to show
us their new joeys when they sing. We use the term
OOP or "out of pouch" to let people know we are referring to
the date the joey was actually out of the pouch. A joey needs to be
with its parents for several weeks before weaning, but we handle our
joeys even before they are out of pouch. This is because of the
trust and the bond I have with Mama Glider. She will
often let me babysit her joeys while she plays and eats.
| Jack
with eyes still closed 2 days OOP |
|
| He
is crying for his Mama |
| 6
days out of pouch |
|
Here at 6 days OOP these joeys weigh 20
grams and 22 grams.These joeys eyes are open, but they are comefortable
enough with us to relax and sleep. AT this age they arent away from Mom
and Dad too long, and I usually hold Mom and Joeys together. Daddy is
very watchful over them and will snuggle and cuddle with them.
| 17
days OOP |
|
|
|
|
|
FATHERLY LOVE
Sugar Glider Dads can
join the list of the best animal Dads right along with the Penguin and
the Sea Horse. Glider Daddys are involved often from the first moment,
and have been known to help lick the path and get the joey to the pouch
safely. Cinnabon brings Savannah food while she has joeys in
pouch and when she is nursing. He will then carefully snuggle with the
joeys when they are oborn, and I have seen him use his hands so
carefully when he handles his joeys that he wont close his hands so his
nails dont contact his joey. He will babysit while his partner goes out
for food and playtime. The bond between families is amazing to see, and
when the joey calls out, I notice Daddy answers back first every time.
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|
|
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| ASH
watching over his joeys |
|
| Jack
and Sally |
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