New squirrel introduction to older...

[encantadora]

I found out my nieghbor had a four month old flyer she needed to give up. I brought my year old (almost 2) over to her house to see what they would think of each other. The baby is still timid and didn't move... my (southern) flying squirrel just sniffed him and ran away. I brought them both home and watched them in the cage together. They were scared of each other. My squirrel came directly from a breeder and hadn't seen another in a LONG time. They each hid in their nests. I worked in the room with them all day on the computer and nothing... this morning I was concerned the baby was too traumatized to eat or drink... but found him sitting in the food dish. Later on, Spencer was bugging the baby, trying to mount him, but not being agressive or mean. Now they're back to pretty much sleeping in separate areas. Are they going to be friends? Just tolerate each other? I thought they would be more interested in each other and play or something... now I'm not sure. Should I look at re-homing the baby?? I don't want him to be scared. Advice from anyone who introduced babies? I heard you shouldn't get a second until the first is bonded to you... well mine definately is! He still prefers me to the 'thing' I put in with him.

[Cindy G]

I was always told to put the new ones in a cage next to the ones you have. Play with the new one so it could get use to you and be able to smell your flyer. Over time a month or so they should be able to live in the same cage. Let them run around together while they are out of the cage.

[The Cheat & The Cash]

When I go my second flyer (Cash-Southern male 4 months) he was immediatly interested in My first (The Cheat-Northern Female 7 months). Cheat was found in the wild around three days after birth and I hand fed her, so she became bonded with me quickly.
So I put them in the same cage but The Cheat got territorial and wouldn't let cash ner her. Then I decided the secondcage thing. I put them right next to eachother and in about a week, of those arrangements they got used to eachother.
I now have two nesting boxes and they both sleep in the same one. There now inseperable.
However, cash still hasn't bonded to me quite as well as I would like. He lets me pet him but dosn't come when I call like The Cheat does.
So give that a try.....
..... I'm actually about to intoduce a third within a month or so. Well, good luck...

[encantadora]

Thanks for the tips you guys!

[encantadora]

Update!
The baby is now named Simon (You know, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore?) Ha ha.

The boys are getting along well and sleep together every night. They aren't BEST friends, but do seem to prefer 'together' rather than 'apart.' Simon is still more timid, but is easier to handle and startles less easily. He used to have a heart attack at the slightest sound or movement. I can carry him around and he nestles into my hands and shirt.

[Squerly]

That's GREAT... But I'm not suprised that they are getting along. Generally speaking, flyers are social animals and like (almost need) the company of others.

[Momma Squirrel]

Thanks for the update, glad to hear things are working out more or less. We need pictures of these sweethearts.