New baby "Southern Flying Squirrel", New to all this and need help.

[Semerrell]

Hello my name is Eric and I work at Pet Supermarket. Today a couple brought in a baby Southern Flying Squirrel that they found. They didn't know how to care for it and said they couldn't care for it. They asked if any of us would gladly take it off their hands. I own many different animals so I figured I would be up to the task. So I gladly agreed to take it. I have never owned a squirrel before and I have been doing some research. I figure he is about 10 weeks old and drank some ebsilak goats milk at the store. However when I got him home he will not eat. I need to know at what age it is good to start weening him onto solid foods and what the best way to do this is. I have read that using avocado is a great way but would like some clarification before I do.

As far as housing goes. What would be a good self made enclosure and what exactly all I would need. Right now I have him in a shoe box with a towel and some fringe that I cut off of a rug that we got (b/c we are making a dog bed and already had it cut off). I have an 18x18x24 exoterra tank and also a super pet home. I was wondering if this would be ok for the time being until I can make something that would the proper setup. I know this isn't the best but I figured I would ask.

I know I sound like a noob (lol) but that's why I'm asking the right people on one of the best forums for squirrel. I appreciate any and all advice that I can get in order to give this little guy the best possible life he can have. I'm very excited to have this little apart of my family.

I will upload some pictures tomorrow.

[farrelli]

Welcome to TSB! Here is the forum where you'll get the most info about flyers. We have some really great experts here:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/f...rel-Discussion

Here is the diet for an adult:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...ying-Squirrels

We recommend that squirrels wean themselves and take formula for as long as they want it. They will transition themselves. The recommended formula is Fox Valley:

http://www.foxvalleynutrition.com/pr...day-one-32-40/

I think the kind of Esbilac you have is OK, but an expert should chime in relatively soon.

[sid'smommy]

No rug pieces or towels... they have "loops" that thier nails get caught in, and can be ripped out. They love fleece type material, but if you dont have that, a tshirt will work for now . Also, they are nocturnal, so right now is when he wants to be out playing. Need to get cage secured soon... he will probably be out of that shoebox by morning, and sleeping somewhere. That will make for a long day of searching tomorrow

[Unikorngrrl]

The formula to feed the flyers is:

Start formula day 1

1 TABLEspoon Esbilac
1 TEAspoon of heavy whipping cream
1/2 TEAsppon Full FAT vanilla yogurt
2 TABLEspoons of HOT Water

Day 2:

1 TABLEspoon Esbilac
2 TEAspoons of heavy whipping cream
1/2 TEAsppon Full FAT vanilla yogurt
2 TABLEspoons of HOT Water

Day 3 and final recipe forever...

1 TABLEspoon Esbilac
1 TABLEspoon of heavy whipping cream
1/2 TEAsppon Full FAT vanilla yogurt
2 TABLEspoons of HOT Water

You can double it later if you need to.

Heavy Cream only lasts 48 hours once opened. A tip that we use is to freeze tablespoon measured amounts in ice trays. Pull ice tray out when frozen, put in hot water (bottom only) for a couple of seconds, dig cubes out and put in a freezer bad. Then it keeps for a long while and isn't wasted. Not to mention it's already premeasured for you , all you have to do is drop a cube into the formula. Your formula is only good for 48 hours so that's why mix the very small amounts.

Keep baby in an enclosed plastic container with a heating pad that has no auto shut off under half of the container. Half only so they can move off if they get too hot. Keep plenty of fleece (sweatshirt material) or knit (t-shirt material) in the container for them to burrow into. They do NOT like to feel exposed. Avoid them catching a chill at all costs.

Hold and feed with a 1 cc syringe only and nipple like this (compliments of NiNY). DO NOT try to use eyedroppers or bottles, you have too little control over flow.



Feed VERY VERY slowly. They cannot breathe in the formula or aspiration pneumonia will likely kill them. Also, overfeeding will cause aspiration pneumonia. I need to know a weight on the baby so I can tell you how much to feed. Weight in grams. You'll need a scale to weigh daily to monitor weight. It tells you if things or going ok and/or when something is wrong. I'll also need a weight to tell you about how often to feed.

Weight * .05 = minimum amount to feed in ml or cc
Weight * .07 = maximum amount to feed in ml or cc

[sid'smommy]

There are alot of rehabbers/members in your area... it might be a good idea to take this baby to somebody to get checked out before you decide to keep it. Its a very big commitment to own a squirrel, and sometimes a challenge to keep them alive (if you havent already experienced, or studied in depth before hand). Not to mention the expense. Whew! These little boogers are worth thier weight in gold! Im just wondering how this couple came about getting this squirrel ?? did they just find it in the yard, or did they buy it and decide it wasnt for them ??

[sid'smommy]

If they just found it in the yard, it most likely has an illness or injury that you wouldnt know about. Squirrels wont show pain or weakness, as it makes them vunerable to predators. An unexperienced eye will only detect a problem when its too late, and the baby is dying. And just in case you didnt know, a squirrel caught by a cat or dog, even if no puncture wounds, will be dead in a matter of days without immediate treatment.

[Unikorngrrl]

Both of them!!

[sid'smommy]

Im not trying to be mean, but before we go teaching feeding techniques, building cages, worrying about fabric for bedding, etc... we really should know WHY and HOW he came to be in the hands of this couple. Otherwise, he may not live long enough to worry about all that stuff.

[Semerrell]

Thank you guys for the info. As far as I know they said that if fell out of the nest in their backyard and when they seen it they walked up to and it came to them. They didn't know what to do and they brought it to the pet store where I work. We fed it there at the store and it drank a lot of milk to where his little tummy was full b/c you could feel it. That's what was told to us, however if what they say is true or not is a different story. That's all I know. We do have a few people that raise squirrels and sugar gliders and got some pointers from them. He has been drinking milk today and seems to be doing well. Hes cuddling up and sleeping in his bed and also in my pocket. I do have experience with taking care of many types of animals although I know a squirrel is completely different.

[farrelli]

What kind of "milk"? Cow milk is dangerous. If he was fed cow milk, he should be given plenty of fluids to try to get rid of it.

You should feed 5-7% of body weight and the frequency depends on age. If you have a scale, weight him, and if he's, for example, 100g, you should feed 5-7 CCs.

[Semerrell]

Its Ebsilac Goats Milk. I have to go get a scale to weight him.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Sumerrell
to TSB

You'll love this little baby. Flying squirrels are fabulous. I have two myself and I am glad to help you in any way that I can.

Edit: Oh never mind (silly me) the pic was posted by Uni. Could you post a pic when you get a chance. We love pics.

[ALittleNutty]

It looks like a flyer to me especially the markings down the edges of his body. Welcome to the wonderful world of flyers!!! They are amazing!

[Semerrell]

Yes I'm pretty sure it is a Southern Flying Squirrel but I will gladly take an other picture. Give me a minute and I will upload one.

[Semerrell]

Here are some pics that I just took.

[Semerrell]

Sorry for such giant pics :/

[HRT4SQRLS]

Oh don't mind me Semerrell. I thought you had posted the pic of YOUR baby and it was in the post by Uni.

Here is a great formula for SFS. They take it as a baby and continue to take it as adults also. Many adult flyers love their FoxValley. The diet of SFS is very complex in captivity. They need a diet rich in calcium to prevent Metabolic Bone Disease and also protein.
http://www.henryspets.com/fox-valley...formula-32-40/
They use the 32/40 because it has a higher protein content that the other FV for squirrels. SFS need more protein than other squirrels. They are omnivores ... they eat plant material and bugs and worms.

I think the reptile habitat will be OK temporarily but the shoe box will definitely NOT be good. If it is a tiny baby a plastic Sterilite container with fleece and of course holes cut into it will be OK. If it is a little older it will chew through a shoe box before you can say, "Where did it go?"
You really need something secure until you are bonded. If the baby gets loose in your house now there is a good chance that you will never find him. It would be like finding a mouse in your house. I'm sure PetSuperMarket has some bird cages that will be good starter cages. The most important thing is bar spacing. They should not be larger than 1/2 inch.

[Semerrell]

Oh don't mind me Semerrell. I thought you had posted the pic of YOUR baby and it was in the post by Uni.

Here is a great formula for SFS. They take it as a baby and continue to take it as adults also. Many adult flyers love their FoxValley. The diet of SFS is very complex in captivity. They need a diet rich in calcium to prevent Metabolic Bone Disease and also protein.
http://www.henryspets.com/fox-valley...formula-32-40/
They use the 32/40 because it has a higher protein content that the other FV for squirrels. SFS need more protein than other squirrels. They are omnivores ... they eat plant material and bugs and worms.

I think the reptile habitat will be OK temporarily but the shoe box will definitely NOT be good. If it is a tiny baby a plastic Sterilite container with fleece and of course holes cut into it will be OK. If it is a little older it will chew through a shoe box before you can say, "Where did it go?"
You really need something secure until you are bonded. If the baby gets loose in your house now there is a good chance that you will never find him. It would be like finding a mouse in your house. I'm sure PetSuperMarket has some bird cages that will be good starter cages. The most important thing is bar spacing. They should not be larger than 1/2 inch.

Lol yea I seen your edit on your post but I dont mind posting pictures. I will try to get the reptile enclosure set up today or so. I was told by one of our regulars at the store (she raises squirrels and sugar gliders) that there is some pretty good building material that has perfect spacing to build a cage at Ace Hardware. So I was gonna do some shopping along with a little bit of research to build one.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Oh my, such a beautiful little flying squirrel. Adorable!!!

I would replace the towel with an old T shirt or some fleece. There actually have been cases of squirrels strangled by a thread from a towel due to the loops getting snagged by nails.
If you can get a weight we can get a better idea of the age.

[Semerrell]

Oh my, such a beautiful little flying squirrel. Adorable!!!

I would replace the towel with an old T shirt or some fleece. There actually have been cases of squirrels strangled by a thread from a towel due to the loops getting snagged by nails.
If you can get a weight we can get a better idea of the age.

Yea I wanted to go Walmart tonight to get some fleece to make a bonding pouch so ill grab some extra to replace the towel. But I will replace it with a shirt now