A Long Road?

We are still working on getting the two pairs together.  After some consultation with another glider owner who has a lot of experience with intros, we tried some new tactics.  This first was to put them all in the same sleeping pouch during the day and let them work it out. M had made a large pouch for them, so when they were sleepy we put CB, Foehn, and Rossby in the pouch and then added Sprite. Yes, there was crabbing and fussing and jockeying for position, but for all of that they did settle down the rest of the day without incident. The pouch was zippered so they could not get out, and one of us had them at all times just in case. We were starting to get hopeful about the situation. They seemed to sleep OK, although most of the time CB was at one end of the pouch and Sprite at the other (yes, it was that big).

After a couple of days of this, we put them all into the large cage to see how they would get along.  CB was again the odd man out, and some of the chasing got rather loud at night. They were going full tilt and we were concerned one of them was going to get hurt flinging themselves across the cage. This couldn't continue so we removed Sprite and put her in a cage by herself.

CB keeping an eye out for Sprite from atop
the tree in the tent.

Our latest tactic was to go back to using a tent for play time for Sprite and CB. That has the advantages of a smaller space forcing them to be in proximity, and it allows me to easily intervene if something gets started. In the office they could be under the desk or bookcase and I would have a hard time getting to them without getting bit. The first two nights with Sprite and CB alone were as
expected. He tried to avoid her, and she would chase him if the opportunity was there. Most of the time it didn't end up as anything but crabbing. After two nights of this, we thought it might help if all four were in the tent. Sometimes Foehn goes after Sprite (but most of the time she does not), so we figured if Sprite was distracted watching for Foehn and enjoying time with Rossby things might settle down. They actually did for a couple of nights. In fact, on the second night of all four in the tent during mealworm handout, CB and Sprite actually sniffed each other (cautiously) without incident.  That didn't last, but each night seemed to be getting a little better. There is not quite as much chasing, and when they did it wasn't to the point they were balling up or anything.  The new complication is that now Rossby and Foehn are a "couple"! They end up crawling under a blanket or in one of the toys to sleep so they aren't the distraction we were hoping for.

We're going to keep up the tent sessions in the hope that consistency and continual "moderated" exposure to one another will help them settle down and get used to each other.

Odd Man Out

The second attempt at introduction on July 4 went a little better than earlier in the week. Sprite  finally overcame her apprehension with Foehn which was good to see. Unfortunately CB and Sprite were not getting along. They avoided each other while I had them in the in the bathroom and there was only one minor tussle. We decided to put them all in the large cage in hopes that this was a "pecking order" issue and that they would get worked it out. The first night was very active (we had a bavy monitor set up) and we could hear the chasing and crabbing. In the morning CB was sitting in a small toy at the bottom of the cage instead of a pouch. We are using a set of three open pouches in the cage instead of the typical pocket-type pouch. These allow the gliders to see their environment and keeps them from getting defensive about their sleeping area. However, apparently CB didn't feel secure in any of them. Foehn, Rossby, and Sprite were together in one of the pouches. CB looked pretty forlorn, and he certainly wasn't sleeping.  M decided that he needed some security and carried him around in a pouch all day so he could sleep without worrying.

The second night was a little better, but CB didn't settle down until after 8:00 a.m., again in a pouch by himself. As soon as he heard me come out into the room he was up and on the side of the cage. I took him out for a few minutes and then put him back in his pouch. Yesterday was cage cleaning day, and when the cage is cleaned we usually hang their pouch in the bathroom with the door closed. Yesterday we had CB join Foehn and Rossby in one pouch and kept Sprite in a separate one, so CB was able to relax and get some much needed sleep.

Last night were had them all in the office for play time, and CB made it a point to avoid Sprite. Unfortunately she was making it a point to look for him. There was chasing and some balling up, a lot of crabbing, but no damage. He spent a lot of time in M's shirt, one of his favorite napping spots. Once she went to bed, however, he was out in the room with the rest of them. He would climb to the top of the climbing tree to keep a lookout. If he saw her coming he would jump to my shoulder. Eventually they all settled down and I put them back in the cage. It was actually quiet as they all headed for their respective pouches, CB by himself again. That's where I found him this morning, sort of sleeping with one eye open. So, I took Foehn out of the pouch with Sprite and Rossby and placed her in the pouch with CB. He immediately jumped out. I picked him up and held him near Foehn, and as soon as he realized it was his sister they both snuggled down and slept soundly the rest of the day.

We are not quite use what to do at this point, and we are seeking some advice from more experienced glider owners we know.

If at First You Don't Succeed...

Overnight activity in the cages seemed to be going OK. The four of them were checking each other out, and there was some noise at times. So, we decided to try and introduce them yesterday. It was clear that it was Foehn and Sprite that had the "issues" - CB and Rossby seemed to be pretty matter-of-fact about it all. The strategy was to intro the two girls first, and then work in the boys.

CB and Foehn (left) and Rossby and Sprite (right)
checking each other out a few nights ago.

Off I went into the bathroom with Sprite in one pouch and Foehn in another. They eyed each other from opposite ends of the bathtub and cautiously approached. Within seconds they were balled up making a racket. I separated them and they seemed to be OK. After a period of time they would sniff each other, but at the slightest sound or movement Sprite would jump away. This lasted for about an hour, during which they generally avoided each other. The good news is that no one was going after the other.
Foehn was looking for a place to sleep, and Sprite was having a good time climbing and jumping.

After about 90 minutes of this I went out and talked to M and we decided to bring Rossby into the mix. Our feeling was that if Foehn and Rossby got along, Sprite would realize that and want to be with Rossby enough to get past her jitters with Foehn. We had some diazepam that we got to help Cirrus reduce her anxiety at one time, and gave a dose to Sprite in hopes it would calm her down. I brought Rossby into the bathroom and let him and the girls out in the bathtub. He paused for a second, and then walked right past Foehn into the pouch she was in. You could see the wheels turning in Sprite's head. She wanted to follow him in, and did make a couple of attempts before backing out.  It was probably another 30 minutes or so before the diazepam kicked in. You could tell she had mellowed out, and spent a lot of time just sitting and watching. I moved the pouch with Foehn and Rossby near her. She so wanted to join Rossby, and again made several attempts to go in but got spooked. After two and a half hours there was no more progress. Perhaps a change in tactic would help. CB has always been our laid back glider, and last time he and Sprite had no problems. I brought him in and let them see each other in the bathtub. Sprite immediately went after CB and there was much noise. I kept them separated, and at that point we thought it best to call it quits for the day.

Last night CB, Foehn, and Rossby spent the night in the big cage and Sprite was by herself in the other. They will have the same arrangement tonight. Right now Sprite is in the office with me for play time, and she has been very active as usual. I'm sure she has been looking for signs of Rossby, as he was her earlier. We are going to make another attempt  to get them all together on Thursday.