Intro Problems

[Coco]

Carrying on from my fighting female degu's!

Casey was spayed about two weeks ago now and has recovered very well thanks to a good local vet.

Dylan my new male, 5 months old has been next to her in another cage for 3 weeks.

I started their introduction by swapping them into each others cages for about 3-4 days. Their first introduction was in the hallway, with just a exercise wheel. I have been putting them together twice a day. Its been about 4 days since the first introduction. They have groomed each other a bit but Casey is chasing him off all the time by lunging at him and grunting. (Dylan is naturally following her around a lot)

Yesterday when I was getting them both out of their cages, Casey came out first and she was on my shoulder when I was trying to get Dylan out. Casey ran down my arm and went straight into Dylan's cage. They both stated to groom each other for some time.

Casey was doing some tail rumping and Dylan tried to mount her, I think he bit her on her back which sent her a little crazy. She was then showing signs of aggression towards him and kept lunging at him. Unfortunately she managed to bite his face quite badly so I split them up. I tried putting her back in today but they just fought and she was grunting and showing teeth at him all the time so I took her back out before Dylan got hurt again.

I'm not sure what else I can do with Casey to get her to accept Dylan. She just turns aggressive so quickly I'm wondering if it is just not going to happen. Dylan is so friendly and lovable. He lets you stroke him under the chin and on his belly all the time. I would welcome any advice / suggestions please.

[smux]

I am assuming you are not including the spaying in your "what else" of things you have tried, considering that (I believe) neutering only really works on males as a behaviour modifier (as it reduces their testosterone levels). After so much time away from the others, she may need a short period of time for readjustment, so don't read too much into what happens for the first week or so of trying unless it goes well straight away. I'd also take it slow with them, although things should be going okay with Dylan as she's been introduced to him as per introductions...it may be that she just doesn't like him.

[deguconvert]

Yeah, you've covered the bases pretty good. I really think that the best thing is some time . . . as Smux said. Let her be alone for the next week and then I think start over again from the beginning. I'm hopeful that the second set of introductions with Dylan will go better.

[Coco]

thanks again for your advice's. I have kept them side by side but will keep play times etc separate for the next few days and start the process again (ie cage swapping etc). Would it be confusing for Casey if she had play times in the same room near to the cage that holds her original pack ?( she was kicked out of the group ) I'm wondering if this is not helping her to settle with another goo.

[deguconvert]

Well, if your purpose is to have her bond with Dylan, then letting her play near her former cage mates will definitely cause her confusion. Especially if she remembers them and longs to return to them. So, I would keep her away from their cage, at least until you have her well bonded with Dylan.

You may notice an improvement in her general behavior once she is a month past her surgery. For some degus that have hormonal problems, it can take a month to burn off all of the residual hormone, which will continue to provoke emotional outbursts until it is all gone from their bodies.

[Coco]

Thank you, that makes a lot of sense. I will keep the play area's totally separate, Casey's and Dylon's will be upstairs now so she has complete separation from her old group. It has only been a couple of weeks sincer her op so I will give her more time to adust from that as well. Thanks again.