Anatomy

Five fingers on each front foot, used as a hand like a primate. One gripping "thumb" known as the phallus on each rear foot, with two normal toes and two conjoined, miniature toes used only for grooming. All fingers/toes are incredibly strong in grip strength, and you may find an unhappy glider may grip onto human skin painfully, or hesitate to open hands for nail trims.

 Dissuade mad gripping with a calm, comfortable, familiar environment, many tasty treats, and gentle exposure to the nail-trimming process. With the proper husbandry, any glider can handle nail trims contentedly.

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Each toe, except the phallus, has a sharp nail, and each nail has a blood supply known as the quick inside. Each nail except the four used for grooming (two small nails on each rear foot) must be trimmed no farther than where the quick begins or gliders will become entangled in fabric pouches, toys etc., damaging hands and feet, limbs or shoulder/hip joints. 

Some gliders may grow nails faster than others, as a general rule trim nails every 14 days, when nails leave marks or scratches on skin, or when nails appear to get caught in fleece– whichever happens first. 

Cutting the quick causes a pain response and bleeding, which will clot eventually. Products such as Quik-Stop contain a coagulant and a numbing agent, both stopping pain and bleeding nearly immediately (not safe for use in other injuries.) A nail torn off will grow back unless the nail bed is severely damaged, in either case seek veterinary attention and guidance for treatment to prevent infection.

Nail-trimming videos can be found on YouTube -- Raptor running wheels can be fitted with nail-trimming sandpaper -- one method is to start by giving your glider treats in a fleece pouch, hold the pouch around the glider gently but firmly, and begin taking out one foot at a time to trim the nails. Daytime works best because they are sleepy. Keep track of their head and only do one foot if you must -- the glider should not get stressed or be kept struggling for more than 2 minutes as a general rule. With practice, they will be cozy and enjoying treats while receiving their pedicure. 

Keep them comfortably wrapped up in their fleece, calmed and still. Start at the back, generally animals are more permitting to this and can get used to the trimming while you work your way to the front. Through exposure and coaching, treats and gentle handling, the gliders will become calmer during trims. 

Touching, gently massaging, and holding the glider's feet on a regular basis will help desensitize them to having their feet held and manipulated.

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Untrimmed nails are needle-like and cling like Velcro to most textured surfaces, in any direction from vertical to up-side-down. Puncture from nails introduces bacteria into the skin, and in addition to leaving marks and/or scratches, can become painful if not washed gently with mild antibacterial soap and cool water. Do not apply skin care products until scratches begin to heal, and hydro-cortisone cream is a useful, non-irritating topical application to reduce inflammation.