New goo's

[babygoo]

Hi

i recently bought some new degu's and although they are my first I have looked after some others previously whilst studying animal care at college.

When i went to the pet shop to buy them i was ery unimpressed i have to say, they obviously assumed i knew nothing and the first thing they told me was to pick them ip by their tails! I was under the impression that you were never to do this, along with this four of them were in the smallest tank you have ever seen.

Anyway when i asked they also had not sexed them :L

I am having some difficulty in sexing them as i have found they are ery difficult to sex especially being so sxared, presumably following only being handled by somebody grabbing their tails!.

But there are some behavioural difference i have noticed.

One of them is much quiter and more laid back than the other, although it does seem to make a sound which i can only desccribe as what sounds like grinding of the teeth this one also seems to be the one which eats the most (although this could be due to the other eating when im not around!)

The other is very scatty and squaks even if i jus move in the last few days they have been here it has got slightly better but still when i move towards the cage and god forbid i put my hand in it squaks and runs like a mad thing. This one also seems to spend a lot more time on the 'floor' of the cage.

I wonder if anyone more experianced than myself could enlighten me at all?

thank you
x

[nickymills30]

which pet shop did you buy them from? Picking goos up by their tails is a def big no no, as they can become de-gloved (the outter layer of fur comes off)

Degutopia has a really good section on sexing goo;s, the best way i found to sex mine, was to put them on a flat surface and lift their bottoms up, which gave me a better view of the 'bits' lol

As for their behaviour, if they haven't had much human contact, then they will be scared. When you approach the cage or enter the room, talk to them. Doesn't really matter what you say, its the way you say it that counts. I;d also not be trying to pick them up yet. Try giving them a treat, porridge oats works well, put a small amount in the palm of your hand and see if they will come and eat some, if they won't come near you, just put some, a small amount, in their cage, where you can see if they have eaten any, do this for a few days, then try and put the oats, just in front of them, do this for a few more days, then try and put some in the palm of your hand. I did this, with a single goo i had, who wouldn't come out of his house, if i was in the room, but he will know allow you to pick him up!

Good luck and don't give in, and someone else will be along soon to offer their own advice too xx

[smux]

I've not much advice to give considering Nicky said exactly what I normally say :-P

Once you've got them a bit more friendly and comfortable with you, get them out of the cage and find a room you can safely let them out to play in. If you lie down on the ground, they will come over and investigate you (eventually) and climb all over you...it's a great way to bond with them further and it'll make them more comfortable with climbing up your arm and onto your shoulders in future as it's territory they already know.

[babygoo]

thank you for your replies and thank you nickymills30 for clearing up the 'picking up by the tails' query, i was sure that was right but when they said it i thought maybe i had just made it up and gone mad!! lol I will have a look at degutopia and carry on taking things slowly with my goos

you have been very helpful
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