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Post by DegutasticJen on May 26, 2010 18:40:20 GMT
hmm is there any possibility that they are not brothers and this one is a bit younger? as the space does grow with age ive found, But yes keep a close eye. It is a tricky one
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Post by smux on May 26, 2010 18:45:01 GMT
TBH it's a possibility that they're actually Kangaroos...at this stage, I dunno how much to trust the breeder who didn't tell me about the congenital cataracts and who probably made they younger than they are because he knew I wanted young degus
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on May 26, 2010 18:46:18 GMT
Looks very much like a female to me.
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on May 26, 2010 18:51:08 GMT
As for the age of your degus...even if they are a little older than you were told, they are still young.
By the photos you posted in the Degu Pics section, their appearance seems to match that of 6-7 month old degus. (which is still very young). This would explain one of the degus pleasuring himself, but it would also explain the squabbles and fights your degus had. These things dont happen before adolescence (6-12 months)
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Post by smux on May 26, 2010 19:11:09 GMT
The plot thickens though. I've got a video of them (Thor and Gizmo) in my bedroom where they seem to be quieter than they were this morning... www.sendspace.com/file/p7ggad for the MOV or www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_rfrvzHgbU for youtube...notice the last few seconds where one's sniffing the other from behind...He also raises his back to give Gizmo access...and also, Gizmo was humping Thor as soon as I added him to the cage, although obviously that may be just dominance. Put it together, either I've got the beginnings of a show-tunes singing troupe or Thor's female :-)
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Post by DegutasticJen on May 26, 2010 20:07:43 GMT
In the video the spacing looks bigger but yes I am stumped now, but the pic of thor I think looks like a girl but the vid I think looks like a boy?? Think ill watch the vid again!!
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Post by smux on May 26, 2010 21:14:47 GMT
I had Gizmo and Thor together for a while and I'm pretty sure he wants to impregnate her and she wants it...The dominated doesn't sit in the "give it to me big boy!" stance waiting with him behind, at least not that I've heard :-)
He's now not in there, of course, but he had to be as Gizmo and Loki don't get on, Gizmo and Damien don't get on and Damien and Loki don't get on...I now have two in the main cage (two parts), her in my room and Damien in the carry box in the hallway (box is already damaged by the little sod, but if he escapes it he isn't getting far...If I'm getting these 3 girls too, it could be a very complicated affair :-)
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Post by NightwishRaven999 on May 26, 2010 21:37:51 GMT
It is normal for them not to get along. There is no doubt in my mind that Thor is a female. The other three dont get along because there is a female in their midst. Male degus that are housed near females degus will usually fight brutally, often resulting in bloodshed.
The males should be housed in one cage, while the females in a separate cage in a different area of the house. Once they no longer have any contact with the female, they should start getting along better.
If you will be getting another three females, Thor could be introduced to them and live with them. This way the males will be in one cage and the females in another. Remember that even the smell of a female degu can turn the males in aggressive little beasts. So its best for them not be able to smell or see each other.
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Post by smux on May 26, 2010 22:04:42 GMT
Yeah, I have thought about the whole scent thing...I will be cleaning out their cage tomorrow and that'll help remove any scent of her, and she's in my bedroom while they're in the front room with two doors between.
A question that I needed to ask anyway for when I get the girls...is it a good idea to wear a dressing gown or something over whatever I wear in my room so it hides the scent from the boys when I go in there, or won't they respond to that? And if they do, are there better ways to mask the scent or deal with it so they aren't worried?
Would it be a good idea to reintroduce all the boys together tomorrow morning or should they already be able to handle it? And BTW it just happened out of the blue today, without any warning or build-up or anything :-P
This has really made me think about my decision to take these d**n things on, and made me consider getting rid of two of them (keeping Loki and either Thor or Gizmo...Gizmo because he's normally the quietest and Thor because...well...she's a she...but if it's a companion for Loki I guess it'd be Gizmo as can't have a female companion) but I'm sure when things are all fine it'll be forgotten and we'll be friends again :-)
And I might not respond, dunno...she's lying down on one of the shelves of her cage and I think she's trying to tell me to turn my laptop off (or screen at least) and go to bed :-)
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Post by smux on Aug 20, 2010 10:10:50 GMT
Poor poor preggers Theresa! How right I was :-) Looking at the dates, she was already pregnant when I realised she was a female. If you will be getting another three females, Thor could be introduced to them and live with them. This way the males will be in one cage and the females in another. She wouldn't get on with the other girls, in hindsight...the girls are too quiet for her :-)
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