🌟 Mini & Junior | The First Joeys Grow Up

After the joy and heartbreak of their birth, the Grove's first joeys began to show their true colors. And right away, it was clear: Mini and Junior were very different gliders.

🔍 Two Joeys, Two Personalities

From their earliest days, Junior was the louder of the two. Vocal, opinionated, and occasionally a little crabby, he made his presence known whenever he wasn’t pleased—especially during pouch checks or nail trims. He had a lot to say, and he made sure we heard every word.

Mini, by contrast, was cool as a cucumber. She was content to snuggle, observe, and adapt to changes with a quiet confidence. Her mellow nature quickly made her a favorite during social visits. Where Junior fussed, Mini simply blinked up at us with calm curiosity.

They were a study in contrasts—but both were perfect in their own way.

🤸‍♀️ Joey Development 101

Sugar glider joeys go through several stages of development before they become the energetic climbers we know and love:

1. In Pouch: Joeys begin life as tiny, pink, and underdeveloped babies who crawl into the mother’s pouch after birth. They stay there for around 70 days, continuing to develop in safety.

2. Out of Pouch (OOP): Once they emerge, they are officially considered "out of pouch," but they aren’t independent just yet. Joeys may still remain nipple-attached for several days, often sleeping while latched and staying close to their mother for warmth and protection. Their eyes may still be closed, and their fur just starting to grow.

3. Weaning: Around 8-10 weeks after coming OOP, joeys begin to explore solid food and slowly wean from their mother's milk. This is also the time when gliders start bonding more with humans.

Mini and Junior hit all these milestones like clockwork, though of course, Junior had opinions about every step along the way.

🌿 Family Life in the Grove

Thanks to their unique situation, Mini and Junior were raised in slightly different ways.

Junior, raised by Mama alone, received round-the-clock love and attention from her until the very end. We believe the weight of single-handed parenting immediately after her recovery from surgery and illness contributed to Mama’s declining health. Raising the baby alone might have been manageable under normal circumstances, but doing so while still healing is likely what ultimately caused her death. Junior grew up strong, social, and curious—a living tribute to her sacrifice.

Mini was raised in a more traditional trio family setting, with both Papa and Marsha present. Papa took on his paternal duties with care, helping to keep Mini safe and warm while Marsha foraged and recovered. Mini’s calm demeanor might well have come from that peaceful, balanced upbringing.

Watching these two grow side by side gave us priceless insight into sugar glider behavior, development, and dynamics. It also deepened our love for these fascinating little creatures.

Mini and Junior would go on to play important roles in the Grove’s future—but their joey days were something special. From Junior's daily fussing to Mini's quiet grace, they were the perfect first joeys to help us learn what it really means to raise gliders with care.

Coming soon: New joeys, new families, and new lessons in the Grove.
🌿 The Grove Keepers