🌀 Shifting Bonds & Fresh Beginnings: A Grove-Wide Rebalancing 🌀

As we near the one-year mark since the big neuter of all the pet boys, a milestone we always keep on our radar for pairing decisions, it felt like the perfect time to step back and re-evaluate some of our long-term housing arrangements here at Mountain Grove Gliders. With so many maturing gliders and ever-shifting personalities, it’s important to us that each resident’s living situation still suits their temperament, needs, and future.

🤝 Mini & Junior: A Sibling Reunion—Years in the Making

Mini and Junior were never intended to be part of a breeding program, and with Junior now neutered, the idea of them being adopted together resurfaced stronger than ever. Though they’re siblings by blood, their lives took very different paths from the start: Junior was raised solely by Mama, who had to be separated due to illness during her pregnancy, while Mini was raised in the Mallow household by Papa and Marsha.

They never shared a pouch. They never shared a wheel. But somehow, it’s like they always knew.

Being so close in age, and raised just one cage apart for much of their early life, we always hoped they’d end up together—and when we finally introduced them, they took to each other immediately. No hesitation. No drama. Just sweet, sleepy snuggles like they’d known all along they were meant to be together.

💞 Benji Finds His Place Among the Ladies

Benji has always been one of our pet-only gliders, a sweet boy who’s shown us time and again that he’s searching for deeper friendships. Since Mini was no longer his match, we knew we needed to give him a chance to bond in a way that suited his outgoing nature. We made a bold move and placed him with a group of young females—girls he could live with safely, without risk of reproduction, but with plenty of potential for genuine friendships.

There was a bit of running and chasing (as expected when new social hierarchies are forming), but nothing alarming. Soon enough, the pouch was shared, and we saw the beginnings of a very content new colony.

🦈 A New Future for Papa & Marsha

Junior’s move also meant we had a space open in the Sharq home—one of our more established colonies. With Louis showing signs of aging, we’ve been thinking ahead for his beloved Meg, making sure she’ll always have a safe and stable colony to fall back on. Into that opening moved Papa and Marsha of the Mallow family. They’re a slightly older couple, and their calm energy felt like a perfect match for the vibe of the Sharqs.

And just as we’d hoped—they all clicked. Within no time, the wheel was shared, the pouch was claimed by the entire group, and everything settled like puzzle pieces falling into place.

🧰 Contingency Plans & Future-Proofing

While we aren’t quite at the full-year mark post-neuter for everyone involved, we’ve already separated all potential future parents accordingly. Mini, for instance, might still have one last joey before her year is up—but she’ll have her brother Junior alongside her to help co-parent if that happens. Meanwhile, Meg and Marsha are both on the older side, and while we don’t expect them to have more babies, nature sometimes surprises us. So just in case, we’ve prepared alternate housing plans should any of the pairs decide to spring one last joey on us.

🌿 Trust, Time, and a Little Trial & Error

We don’t often do cage introductions inside established homes, but in this case, we knew our gliders well, trusted their temperaments, and watched like hawks. Back-up cages were ready just in case—and still are, because let’s be honest: with gliders, you just never know.

But so far? Everyone’s happy. The Grove is humming, the pouches are full of sleepy snuggles, and this season of transition has brought a fresh breath of peace.