Living with Anteaters

Behind again but I wasn't taking many photos for awhile.

So the big news first: Cinco is now Ori Cinco. Ori is Akawaio(native Guyana language) for Woman. Yep Cinco had a sex change. She was really point and didn't look like a girl at all when young but is now rounded and after close inspection the mound opens up so 100% for sure girl. Ori is pronounced like Cory but without the C. So we are on the waiting list for a golden boy for all three to share. Will be one lucky boy.

Ori Cinco is 6.5 pounds at just over 4 months of age. Girls grow faster than boys. Stewie was just 7 pounds at 8 months. I switched Aurora back onto milk replacer in her food and some sharp cheddar cheese. She likes it better than blue cheese. Not only will this give Aurora more nutrition, she has now gotten thin while nursing a baby that's growing like godzilla, but Ori likes it better too with milk and cheese in it. Ori eating more food means less nursing so a little more energy left for Aurora.

Excepts from Pua's Diary

May 13th
Mom took Aurora on a short walk outside since she was walking around without baby.

May 19th
Aurora went down on the washer with Cinco but he got down on his own and ran to the playpen. Aurora came and got him once but then he did it again and climbed up on the cage. Later Aurora tried sleeping in the playpen but Cinco kept climbing up the cage. He eventually lead her back to the closet.

May 20th
I got to play with Cinco(kinda). Aurora was climbing up the shelves and Cinco tried to do it on his own but didn't make it. Mom scooped him up and I was standing since we had been playing. Mom let me sniff. I wanted to play so she taped his claw against mine. We did that a bit then I got excited and wanted to pounce him so mom gave him back to Aurora. Unfortunately I got so excited I tried to climb in the hammock with them later. Aurora smacked me silly and I fell back against the shelves. I'm okay though. Just a light scratch.

May 23rd
I got up at 8:30 chilled a bit, chatted with mom, played with her, had treats, then went to sniff the window. It's still cold out there, So I'm taking a nap.

All three together

Cinco checking out Aurora's soup.

All three eating together, kinda
Pua with a tomato, Cinco the beef diet and Aurora's soup.

Good morning, Please tell me it's not laundry day?
The red thing is a tomato skin and the other a bit of her food, messy beast.

Posing for a tasteful pinup
notice the strategically placed feet

Tamandua in Repose

May 26th
I got up and 7:45 Had my wake up ketchup, lots of play and cuddles, poked my nose out to listen in on the household goings on and I finally ventured out to sniff at the back window. Cold and I heard a dog barking in the distance so I hightailed it back to my room.

May 29th
Cinco sleeping in the hammock
Cinco slept alone in the hammock above the cage all night. She was so cute. Slept in the pocket with her head sticking out like a little person in bed. I got concerned they didn't know where each other was this morning though so put Aurora in the hammock with her. She still growls like the devil when I pick her up. Cinco heard that and growled back. They both calmed and are back together in the closet after a snack.~ Pua's mom

Pua looking regal

June 1st
I was bored so mom let me have another vinegar bath. That kept me busy for a half hour at least and I rubbed all over my new log. Worked up an appetite to ate. I had a back scratch on the pole too before turning in for a nap.

Pua tamandua vinegar bath

I was going to edit out the more boring bits but didn't get around to it. I put a bit of vinegar in the sink for her.

My best guess is the vinegar replaces the acid ants would be spitting on them if raiding nests. The boys we've had here have liked doing this too. Birds are known for anting, rubbing ants in their feathers or laying on an ant nest. No one knows for sure why but the best guesses are it helps prevent parasites or is good for the skin. Pua does leave behind a film and loose hairs when done

June 1st
Jake is spying on me again. Peeking out of the washer to see if I can spot him. I don't want him pouncing me.

June 2nd
Aurora took Ori Cinco on a tour of the house. She got a half ride. Held onto mom's rump with her back feet peddling along. Funny looking 6 legged tamandua.

Anteater Conga line

Little Ori Cinco still wants to ride on her mom's tail but is too big so holds on and waddles along with her back feet.

Tamandua Conga

Ori Cinco being used to riding momma aurora's butt holds on with her hands while waddling along behind her.

Aurora on guard
I made the mistake of laughing at her.

Are these stretch marks obvious?
Be honest. I don't want to be laughed at if I wear a bikini.

Ori's got a wicked cowlick on her butt

Hyzzie on the new bed pillow
It covers both dressers behind the bed.

June 2nd
I tried to play with Aurora. I figure she can't be all bad since she has such a cute kid. So Aurora came up from behind the washer and was sniffing my log. I came over and sniffed and then sniffed the log with her. Nobody growled so I moved around to the far side of the log and clawed and sniffed at it but I kept an eye on Aurora. All was peaceful so I pounced on her. Aurora shot up into defensive posture and I got a "pooooo.." from mom. Wasn't anyone paying attention? I moved super slow and barely touched her. I was just trying to play.

So left her to the log and mom came over and played with me. After a sufficient break I went back to claw the log then tried mom's advice to take it slow. I raised one claw in super slow motion to show I just was just playin' but Aurora stood and growled anyway. So I went back to play with mom. Then I went to the log again and then tried raising my claw slow again. Same result. Okay. I then tried gently poking her tail in play. She didn't do anything about that. Great. So I tried raising my claw again but she growled.

I went to play with mom again then decided to try my way again since mom's wasn't working. After some log clawing I pounced Aurora again. She growled and smacked me silly. I staggered away and went to have a drink. Aurora decided to leave after Ori Cinco came up to join her. Guess she's not ready for play yet.

June 3rd
I tried to play with Aurora and Cinco in the hammock but She was a bit grumbly about the idea. She fell from the shelf a moment ago so I'm letting her check out my new log while I chill in the sink.

Window sniffing with Pua

Play time

Make your move
Pua is way too fast. Only good shot I got of play.

Suspend log time
She peeled this side away from the other side and core.

Pua Tamandua and her log's shell

She peeled this section away from the core and the other side.

June 4th
Aurora moved to the hammock over the cage. Something about my being a pest. Besides trying to play I needed a back scratch. To do this I hold onto the princess hammock and rub my back against the post. I'm not sure what she was complaining about. Aren't you supposed to rock the baby's crib?

Ori Cinco like avocado

Ori Cinco finds an orange

Ori Cinco licks an orange

Aurora napping on Pua's log

June 5th
Aurora was really nice and brought me cheese. I noticed her around my log and mom gave me some cheese so I'd not bug her while she stepped away. Then I saw Aurora brought me a cup of cheese too. She had trouble carrying it I guess since she was busy cleaning cheese of her claws so I cleaned out the cup she brought me.

Pua grooming Aurora's rump
First Pua tried licking Aurora's face since there was cheese on it but after a moment Aurora realized Pua was in her face and stood and hiss but was more confused than anything. Then when she turned her back Pua started grooming her rear.

Pua checking out Aurora's business

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April 29th
"I got to spend some time laying on the closet wall before Aurora woke up and chased me off. Played with mom on the cage some but kept looking over my shoulder as Aurora had moved to the hammock. They both came to the basket but I was protecting my left over ants and wouldn't let them on the platform. Mom offered Cinco some ants anyway and he ate some but aurora just clawed at them. I let them have the princess hammock for a bit but came back after they left and had some of the soup. then even later Aurora was clawing at my log. I kept trying to share with her and claw the other end but she'd hiss at me so I'd go on the drier and tell mom she had to either make her share or give me a treat but she didn't so I'd try again. She should share with me. Oh I spent some time on the hanging clothes in the closet too since I smelled Cinco plays there and that made him a bit nervous smelling me when we went to play there later but I was just exploring." ~Pua

While Pua was off playing with me Aurora circled the room and stopped at the washer. She managed to open the lid with her standing on it and then would try to climb in and it would close on her. Like she was on it and tried climbing over the top and under but the center of gravity would change and it would slam on her. She tried a few times then gave up.

Cinco on the hanging clothes

All three together
Pua is giving us the eye. She demands treats or she will smack somebody.

Hold still Cinco
Aurora was trying to hold him still and groom him

Aurora Grooming Cinco

Mom and baby Tamandua sharing a meal

Hey, this is my soup
Aurora really does not like sharing her food not even with her son. I think she needs some counseling about this. She's always shoving him away and when that doesn't work she gives up eating. Bowls side by side didn't work she still put her hand on his shoulder and shoved him to the side. Bowls far apart doesn't work too well, he will follow her & share her bowl. He's got it right, learn to eat what mom eats but mom doesn't want to share or maybe she wants to keep him dependent on her nipples.

It's okay though he gets plenty of soup and doesn't need it to be icy cold like his mom does. He also enjoys eating the normal beef food.

On Cinco De Mayo Aurora took her boy into the house for adventure but she sniffed a dog laying at the door then a cat under the table so she took Cinco back to the safety of my room.

Shhh the baby's sleeping

Trying to sleep on the shelf
I left this on the camera so long I forget why, then again I doubt she really knew why either.

Cinco grooms mom upside down

sharing a meal
Cinco is under her

Cinco eating real food


two tails
Baby tamandua tail holding mom's

Mom and baby eating
Cinco eating the soaked beef food and mom having her soup.

I smell trouble
She hadn't been out in awhile so was nervous. Kat was sleeping in a dog bed out of site. Having smelled her Aurora turned back to my room.

This is not safe Cinco
Aurora thought it was too scary out but Cinco was having fun.

OH a jungle gym

Sleeping Cinco
It kind of makes him look thin but he's a plump 5 pounds. 112 days old at the posting of this blog(3.75 month roughly).

Aurora's mother's day gift was Cinco getting his nails filed. His claws have a tendency to go where they shouldn't when riding her and he kept cutting her genital area. He was not happy about the ordeal but I'll bribe him with treats later. No blood spilled so his quicks weren't as close to the tips as I feared. He stayed glues to her for several days after though he was okay with me when I would visit in the closet with him. He got over it though and started exploring again.

Box licking
I gave Cinco a box to play with. Stewie used to like clawing boxes up but Cinco just licks it so far.

U-turn

Pua, Aurora, and Cinco Tamanduas

As Aurora leaves the tower with Cinco

Recently I was playing with Cinco in the closet then came to play with Pua. She sniffed me all over, including some scratch and sniff then played then some more sniffing repeat for awhile.

Later Aurora was down with Cinco but he kept getting off her and running around so I would pick him up and show him to Pua. She got so excited and wanted to play with him but he was scared of her and I played with her instead. We did this a few times. She was excited.

Then when Aurora started up the pole it looked like she made a grab to take him. Her claw got Aurora's arm instead and pulled it loose from the climb pole. She kept going and Pua tried to smack Aurora's butt but Cinco was there. Then she made a last grab at the tail which was Aurora's but she couldn't pull them back down. After that all was normal.

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Pua and Aurora did really well Saturday night. She left Cinco and came down to see Pua. They were getting along but both were watching me, Pua begging so I offered Ketchup. Pua wound up defending her treat but then they were okay after.

Pua and Aurora

That's my ketchup, back off
I thought they might want treats but Aurora said no the ketchup so wanted to sniff Pua and Pua thought she was after her treat.

Pua and Aurora getting to know each other

They were both looking at me so I offered treats but I should have gone with Blue cheese maybe because Aurora didn't want ketchup. Pua loves it though so smacked Aurora off camera when she came close while she was having hers. Later Aurora went down behind the washer and tried coming up behind the sink while Pua was drinking so she got defensive again so I took Pua to play for awhile so Aurora could get out. Sunday morning Aurora was on the shelf with Cinco and fell, but Cinco stayed on the shelf playing. She was a little rattled so this time she got defensive when Pua tried to pass her to get a drink. Pua decided to just turn in instead and went in the washer. Aurora looked confused by that but then returned to baby.

Aurora went behind the washer and startled Pua when she was drinking by trying to come up behind the sink. I took Pua to play then so she could get out. This morning Aurora was on the shelf with baby and fell but Cinco stayed on the shelf. She was rattled so hit Pua when she tried walking y for a drink, so Pua just went into the washer instead. That left Aurora confused so she returned to Cinco on the shelf. She curled up with him there but eventually went back to her hammock.

Aurora tried to go see Pua Sundat night but turned the faucet on by mistake and scared herself, in her panic turned it on full blast which scared her more. I got the water turned off and she fled up onto the shelves. She likes wedging herself and baby into the little corner of the book shelf. She moved back there Monday morning when waffle making noises scarred her.

Sit still and take your nap!

You can't hold me

He kinda went in then came back out and is in mid u-turn.

Nursing

Aurora trying to hold baby Cinco tamandua still

She wanted to nap and he didn't.

Baby tamandua ball
Cinco looking for trouble

Baby tamandua nursing

He had already drained the one nipple so quickly moved on the the one farther away from view.

Pua tamandua cheese addict

Pua making a fridge raid.

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