Newt & Pickett Fighting

[hpdegus]

Well. I leave in 5 hours. Pickett and Newt started picking at each other around 9/10 last night. I came out this morning (~7/8 hours later) and they were still going at it.

They had two brief FBODs.... no blood, no wounds, no fur pulled. I've separated their cage into two levels, but I don't know if I should leave them like that, since they'll have to be separated for 2 weeks.

My mom said she can try to see how they do while I'm gone, so maybe just stick with leaving them separated? I can see what they're like after a few hours of separation.

Why did this have to happen now? I don't know what exactly set them off. It could be the change in routine, me being stressed, the eye drops? They were fine until last night when I had them in the play area. The Marauders had been out first, so they did get a bit pushy when they smelled them in the play area. But they're always after the Marauders, so I'd assume that was just a trigger?

[hpdegus]

I'm going to leave them separated while I'm away. My mom is going to switch them between cage levels, as well as see how they do with short meetings in a caged in play area. I don't think they'd hurt each other, but I don't want my mom to have to deal with more injuries than she has to.

I'm hoping I won't have to do a prolonged intro when I get back, but I think its better than risking their health while I'm away.

[moletteuk]

Oh man, this is bad luck on top of everything else! I don't really have any advice, I don't think there is a right or wrong choice, I agree it's a good idea to do whatever is manageable for your mom.

[hpdegus]

Hah, it sure is! I told my other sitter about this and all she said--it's like the universe is conspiring against you going on vacation!

Yeah, I just think it's safer for everyone to stay separate at the moment. My mom did say that she's happy to let them run around together in the evenings while she watches TV. She knows what to look for, fighting-wise. I don't want her to get bitten though! Fingers crossed, they just get over this quickly.

I just wish I knew what set them off. I'm kinda worried it means Pickett isn't doing well, or Newts eye isn't healing.

But on a potential good note, my vacation is in Germany, so maybe I can get some good degu forage material! It's so hard to find in the states.

[moletteuk]

Have a great time!

[hpdegus]

I had decided to leave the pups separated while I was gone, especially since I didn't want my mom or other sitter to have to deal with injuries (clearly that didn't work out in Q's case...).

My mom woke up Tuesday morning and Pickett (top level) and somehow squeezed himself through the tiny gap to be with Newt (bottom level)! She found them cuddled together and napping So that was one problem solved early on! I guess spending two nights apart made them realize that the fighting wasn't worth it!

[bouncy]

Two lessons learnt about degus:

1) degus always do the unexpected

2) you can't keep degus anywhere they don't want to be

It's all part of the PWD skills acquisition training!

[hpdegus]

Hah! I think they've graduated to the next level of PWD training!

But yeah, 'unexpected choices' should be somewhere in the species name 🤣

[moletteuk]

Apr 14, 2024 10:23:36 GMT hpdegus said:

But yeah, 'unexpected choices' should be somewhere in the species name 🤣

I love this! Does anyone know the latin for that?

[hpdegus]

Google translate is giving me 'inopinatum electiones' but I don't know how accurate that is!

[savvy]

How about calling them Vagus Omnino Octodon Degus or roughly translated entirely unpredictable degus!

[hpdegus]

Ohhhhh, I like it! Such flair!