tzr
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 155
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Post by tzr on Dec 13, 2010 11:14:52 GMT
Hi, I adopted 3 baby males a couple of months ago .. and its all going really well ... except they seem to be turning more active at night now. I have medical problems and unable to work, so I chose Goos 'cos they were active during the day! I've heard that if you take the wheel out at night it will encourage them to be more active during the day - unfortunately thats not possible as I have to take the bottom of the cage off to get the wheel out (its a tall cage) - any suggestions? I do play with them during the day - they wake up and come out to play with me when I open the cage but I still here the wheel going all night!
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Post by nickymills30 on Dec 13, 2010 11:22:19 GMT
what type of wheel do you have? You can buy silent spinners, that are quite silent, but dont make too much noise x
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Post by Cherpi on Dec 13, 2010 16:50:19 GMT
Mine are quite active before and as I'm getting to sleep! Then they go to sleep until around 6-7am when they wake up.. they do sleep during the day but I'll be adding more fun things for them to keep them more occupied. Maybe you should add more fun things for them, but then take out at night?
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Post by moletteuk on Dec 13, 2010 19:42:56 GMT
I've been wondering a bit about this, because my little ones seem to stay up really late too. I can't take the wheel out either, I suppose another option might be to try to lock it still somehow, depends on the type of wheel I suppose. I also wondered if it's because it's colder at night they might be keeping active to keep warm? You could try a snuggle safe heatpad, that will definitely encourage them to to take a nap. They seem to be out of stock most places atm but you could try a well wrapped heated wheat bag to see how they respond.
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Post by Cherpi on Dec 13, 2010 20:03:18 GMT
They hate my wheel, it's quite stiff, and they're only around 7 week so it's not too good.
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Post by arumanii on Dec 13, 2010 21:30:49 GMT
If you're active during the day your goos should be too - it'll be far too exciting during the day to sleep through!
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tzr
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 155
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Post by tzr on Dec 13, 2010 21:35:36 GMT
Hi all, thanks for your replies. The wheel is a normal plastic one - I've got another coming - its a flying saucer type. Its not the noise that bothers me - i just wanted them more active as I'm in during the day. I have plenty of time to spend with them, which is why I chose Goos. Their cage is quite fun and I'm making more toys and new textures for the cage all the time. I'm in the process of setting up a digging pit too but that won't be for inside the cage. Any more suggestions would be more than welcome  ) |
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Post by smux on Dec 13, 2010 22:18:44 GMT
If you're in during the daytime, spend a day or so with the music up loud (loud enough to keep them up) and make sure you keep them awake. Also get the ambient temperature to a comfortable level for the degus, they tend to rest when it's too hot or cold and they come out at night when it is cooler as if they do their exercise when it's too hot they get too hot as well. Don't even let them nap, even though it is a natural thing for them to do every so often in the daytime. When it is starting to get late, about an hour or so before bedtime, you can go into bedtime mode and turn everything off so they can get some rest. Again make sure the temperature is right in the room, and make sure their nest/house is warm and comfy.
As for the wheel, if it DOES make noise that bothers you in future, try using a little bit of sunflower oil over any rubbing parts as it will increase friction and reduce the noise. The other option is to buy the wooden wheel I mentioned a while ago as it's silent :-)
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Post by Jaiye on Dec 14, 2010 18:51:31 GMT
I had the same issue at first with my two, but now i turn a lamp on next to the cage when I get up (sunrise! Though they are usually up and about at around 5 / 6am), give them their only food bowls of the day (which stay in all day and hay gets topped up when low), then leave the lamp on all day and about half hour before all the lights go out i turn it off to simulate the sun going down and to get them thinking about sleep. They do then become more active while I lie in bed and read, but only for an hour or so then silence =) Some nights now they are already in bed by the time I turn the lights out!
As for the wheel, no wheel is ultimately silent as you will always hear their feet pattering along and the odd goo flying across the cage when the other one jumps in and goes the other way (yes.... that still makes me giggle even when its dark XP) but I find that a comfort now I've got used to it! The pattering that is....
Good luck with the routine!
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Post by smux on Dec 14, 2010 18:57:22 GMT
I've mentioned something similar I do a while ago...my laptop is on in the morning and off in the evening and I'm right next to the cage of my original boys. An hour before I go to bed I turn the main light off but the laptop is still on giving them light and they know it's almost bedtime so they calm down...when the laptop goes off it's bedtime :-)
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