Wrong sex or hormones???

[saggy]

Hi again everybody

My degus have been getting on really well and seem really happy but I've noticed a few things in the last couple of days which has made me start to worry. A couple of days ago, they started sniffing each others bottoms which they haven't been doing in this way before. I then noticed that at least one of them keeps putting her face down in that area and touching it in a way that seems like it might be irritating her. I noticed this morning that two of them suddenly seem a little wet down their and then to my horror, this afternoon, one of them seemed to be actually humping one of the others. I know they do the getting on each others back thing and almost pretend hump thing and this is normal but this seemed markedly different to this and more actual than pretend - eeekkk. They all seem a little more restless than usual and the wheel is going non stop in comparison to normal. and one them peed on my hand today which they don't normally. Are these just hormonal issues and maybe due to their first breeding time or something or their cycle or should I really worry about what sex they are. I can't get them to stay still long enough but they all do seem like girls at a very quick odd second chance of seeing them. I just don't know how to pick them up and turn them over for a proper proper long view. They are really tame - for example, they all love to sleep on my hands and try to do so at every chance, I actually had all three stacked on top of each other today on top of my hands - I mean this is really sweet but then I am stuck and can't move cos they all look so d**n cute - but I only meant to quickly change their food and need to go - I'm sure they pretend to be asleep within seconds of going on my hand so that I can't move on purpose lol. However, they will under no circustances let me pick them up and hold them - how can I get them to do this I already tried again today unsuccessfully and one of them's already in a sulk with me after this tut! I have tried taking pics so I can get your opinion but just not possible on my own with one hand on the camera and the other trying to do whatever it is to get them in that position and never come out in focus!

I will be devastated if one of them turned out to be a male as they get on so well and never argue or anything and seem so happy and I like them all too much but this is really worrying me.

ps, I will put photos of the plant mixes I got from hansemans real soon just been so manically busy with new job and child etc - sorry

[moletteuk]

My 3 female adults have finally stopped coming into heat for this season, so it shouldn't be that. Your girls are just growing up, so it could easily be them coming into sexual maturity and having hormones going a bit mad.

I think the only way to really know and put your mind at rest is to get a good look. I would persevere with a sheet of glass or mesh or pyrex dish, or big glass coffee jar. Or you can make them lean forward and down from a perch for a treat and then look from behind, this is the best way to get a good angle, rather than getting them to stand up. Experiment with your camera the best way to get a close up in focus before you involve the goos, does it have macro? With my camera I zoom in just a little and then you need to hold the camera far enough away that it can focus. The more you zoom, the further away the camera needs to be.

Lovely to hear you are all bonding and they enjoy spending time with you. BTW they learn your schedule and deliberately do cute things when you have to go out

[uglibug]

The glass jar is an excellent idea, but if all else fails, try and watch them have a good grooming session. Our boys regularly get their actual penises out to clean them and even "enjoy" themselves from time to time. :$