|
|
Post by andrip on Jan 1, 2011 23:18:38 GMT
I have a couple of degus that I've had for about 6 months, I was told they were sisters when I got them. Lately they've been trying to hump each other a lot and i was wondering of one of them could be male. It doesn't really look like they know what they're doing but it definitely looks like they're trying to mate.  One of them is also considerably bigger than the other so I'm starting to think they're not sisters. Here are a couple of pictures, I hope that's enough: img39.imageshack.us/i/img4689hq.jpg/img132.imageshack.us/i/img4695gb.jpg/Thanks, some help would be really appreciated. |
|
|
|
Post by smux on Jan 1, 2011 23:38:58 GMT
They are both almost definitely female (I say almost because they can be deceptive...I have a male that was born almost 6 months ago who has been sexed as a female by almost everyone if not everyone here including me...it is possible for a male to look like a female underneath, and possibly the same for females looking like males) and the humping you are seeing is known as dominance although I would have thought you would have seen more of this before by now.
|
|
|
|
Post by emz on Jan 1, 2011 23:53:23 GMT
Both look like females.
|
|
|
|
Post by amie on Jan 2, 2011 8:08:27 GMT
They will always hump each other! lol. They looks like females to me too  |
|
|
|
Post by degus123 on Jan 2, 2011 12:51:41 GMT
Just to add my bit "to the pot" I think they are female as well.
And as already said the humping/mounting is a dominance thing they will always do it. My two brothers do, even daughters have a go mounting mums etc.
|
|
|
|
Post by smux on Jan 2, 2011 18:04:53 GMT
And as already said the humping/mounting is a dominance thing they will always do it. My two brothers do, even daughters have a go mounting mums etc. Just to confirm, he means his degus...he doesn't have two brothers who get it on nor other incestuous familial get-togethers :-P |
|
|
|
Post by degus123 on Jan 2, 2011 19:48:51 GMT
And as already said the humping/mounting is a dominance thing they will always do it. My two brothers do, even daughters have a go mounting mums etc. Just to confirm, he means his degus...he doesn't have two brothers who get it on nor other incestuous familial get-togethers :-P ;D |
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Jan 3, 2011 1:12:15 GMT
ROTFL!!! OY!! Now THAT . . . is just too funny a slip!!! LOL!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by andrip on Jan 3, 2011 1:46:28 GMT
lol Thanks for the input, guys. The bigger one has been the dominant one and usually sleeps on the other but I guess lately the little guy has been trying to take his spot or something. This has actually been going on for a while (maybe three weeks or so) but it started to worry me because lately it seems like shes been asking for it, lifting up her tail and "assuming the position". It's probably nothing to worry about, I guess. Another thing I was wondering about, is it normal for them to be jump and hide when I stand up or walk to their cage or pretty much anything happens that could startle them? They're generally really not scared of me and always come right back up and ask for a treat. |
|
|
|
Post by Jaiye on Jan 3, 2011 10:27:54 GMT
Not sure if that is normal or not, but mine do it as well; go run and hide when I move in the room and then come straight back out!
|
|
|
|
Post by nickymills30 on Jan 3, 2011 10:31:17 GMT
lifting of the rear end, is dominance, she is showing the other she wont bow down to her xx
|
|
|
|
Post by degus123 on Jan 3, 2011 11:44:55 GMT
Regarding the jumping and running to hide, they are easily scared by sudden movement and noises, so that may be why they do it. My degu brothers (notice I am not going for the same slip ) sometimes do it. Alot can scare a goo, as in moving your hand to them from above, noises, movements. Sounds like you could be scaring them (unintentally) but when they realise it's you they come back out. |
|
|
|
Post by Bexi87 on Jan 3, 2011 15:13:18 GMT
I found that my two original girls took a long time to settle down and not scatter when I walked into the room. Their cage is in my bedroom so the only person they see is me so they are not used to a lot of noise but they no longer scatter when I walk in, they shout at me!
I started just sitting by the cage with some oats and talking to them, encouraging them to come over. I also had music on (as background noise) and whenever I enter the room I say 'hello' to them before I open the door - sounds stupid but it works!
|
|
|
|
Post by andrip on Jan 4, 2011 16:53:26 GMT
Thanks again for the input. I have them in my bedroom as well so they seem to have gotten quite used to noise like the television, music and such. They're just always very alert. They seem to be the least alert when I'm alone in the room or just me and my girlfriend but whenever there's a crowd or when my dog comes in they get get shy and hide more.
Good to hear that the tail lifting is part of the dominance, to me it really looked like the both of them were trying to mate but didn't really know what they were doing.
|
|
|
|
Post by andrip on Jan 5, 2011 17:46:16 GMT
One more question: My degus seem to love to eat ash, for some strange reason. When ever I leave an ashtray or bong close to them they eat it as soon as they see it. I'm pretty sure ash shouldn't be bad for them, unless someone can tell me otherwise? It's not in significant ammounts, I take it away after they've had a little as it just feels wrong. lol
|
|
|
|
Post by smux on Jan 5, 2011 18:31:51 GMT
Ash is fine for them, it's not a normal part of their diet but you'll find it'll be in quite a lot of food they eat. Normally it is wood ash rather than tobacco ash, but ash is ash really...it's just carbon (although there is probably some remnants from what it used to be in there somewhere, leftover chemicals that weren't combusted because the temperature wasn't high enough). If they eat any of the other stuff in the ashtray it could be worse for them than the ash itself, but degus are smart and tend to steer clear of the stuff they shouldn't eat.
Degus actually LIKE ash for some reason, it must be something to do with their metabolism and digestion (charcoal is good for humans, ash is probably just a simpler form of that) but unless you're feeding them wood ash (and probably safe woods only :-)) as part of properly prepared food it is best to keep it to a minimum.
|
|
|
|
Post by degus123 on Jan 5, 2011 18:52:10 GMT
Plus in the wild they bath in volcanic ash.
|
|
|
|
Post by andrip on Jan 5, 2011 20:17:50 GMT
Ash is fine for them, it's not a normal part of their diet but you'll find it'll be in quite a lot of food they eat. Normally it is wood ash rather than tobacco ash, but ash is ash really...it's just carbon (although there is probably some remnants from what it used to be in there somewhere, leftover chemicals that weren't combusted because the temperature wasn't high enough). If they eat any of the other stuff in the ashtray it could be worse for them than the ash itself, but degus are smart and tend to steer clear of the stuff they shouldn't eat. Degus actually LIKE ash for some reason, it must be something to do with their metabolism and digestion (charcoal is good for humans, ash is probably just a simpler form of that) but unless you're feeding them wood ash (and probably safe woods only :-)) as part of properly prepared food it is best to keep it to a minimum. Yeah, that's what I thought. I think it's pretty odd that they like it this much. Thanks again.  |
|
One of them is also considerably bigger than the other so I'm starting to think they're not sisters.
