Post by sheepgirl19 on Jan 22, 2009 16:08:49 GMT
Ok this is going to get confusing. Part of me can't believe that I've been such an idiot. I spent most of my hours on my animal care course looking after 2 large single sex groups of degus a couple of years ago so thought when it came down to it i would be pretty experienced when it came to caring for my own.
Heres what has happened so far
- I had a lone Degu - Pete
- My cousin game me a young degu - Beans
- He sexed this as a male
- It became evident that Beans was actually female after mating had taken place
- Beans is Pregnant
- Pete died
- I got a new young degu - Toasty
- Toasty is 9 weeks old but very small as was rejected by mother and did not put on weight
- When I got toasty it seemed he was female but over the past 2 weeks the distance between sexual organs is more significant
-They are both housed together now as Beans is already pregnant from pete and so there is nothing to lose
- (I have found homes for the babies when they come)
- Toasty will be neutered when he is 6 months coinciding with the due date of the babies.
Now for the problem
In the animal behavioural studies I've done I've learnt about many rodents being Infancidal (the male will kill another males children so he can mate with the female and father her children). I can't find anything to say whether this happens with Degus or not.
How will Toasty react to another Males babies being born? Will the babies be in danger?
Spud
Heres what has happened so far
- I had a lone Degu - Pete
- My cousin game me a young degu - Beans
- He sexed this as a male
- It became evident that Beans was actually female after mating had taken place
- Beans is Pregnant
- Pete died
- I got a new young degu - Toasty
- Toasty is 9 weeks old but very small as was rejected by mother and did not put on weight
- When I got toasty it seemed he was female but over the past 2 weeks the distance between sexual organs is more significant
-They are both housed together now as Beans is already pregnant from pete and so there is nothing to lose
- (I have found homes for the babies when they come)
- Toasty will be neutered when he is 6 months coinciding with the due date of the babies.
Now for the problem
In the animal behavioural studies I've done I've learnt about many rodents being Infancidal (the male will kill another males children so he can mate with the female and father her children). I can't find anything to say whether this happens with Degus or not.
How will Toasty react to another Males babies being born? Will the babies be in danger?
Spud
