Joey growth up to 9 weeks IP
The joey will be ready to leave the pouch sometime between eight to nine weeks in pouch. There are two methods to determining the offical out of pouch date:
Observation method: Breeder determines the joey to be out of pouch (OOP) when it is detached from the mother’s teat
and
no longer fits inside mom’s pouch.
Eye-opening method: Breeder counts back 10 days from when the joey opens its eyes. Many breeders consider this the most reliable method.
Since it is possible for a mother to have joeys at different stages of development, twin joeys may not be OOP on the same day. You may hear the mother start to sing to her joey around this time. The singing encourages the joey to detach from the nipple. Once fully out of pouch, the new joey will nurse by sticking its head into the mother’s pouch.
The mother may leave the joey alone in the nest with the father to keep it warm or allow it to hang under her abdomen as she moves around the cage. Some parents will leave the joey alone in the nest while both parents are eating or playing. This is normal and the parents should return when the joey cries for them. Most sugar gliders are great parents, but watch for signs of joey rejection.
It is possible to start handling the joey for about two to five minutes at a time. If possible, hold the joey where the mother glider can watch you to prevent stress. Weigh the joey with a gram specific scale as soon as possible. By monitoring the joey's weight, you will be able to identify potential problems faster.
