Hello From Nintendo Girls

[banditcuster]

Hello,

A friend of mine had to recently rehome her degus, because she couldn't keep them at her home. After a month or so I caved and accepted to adopt them.

I am the new mom of Nintendo sisters: Samus, Zelda, and Princess Peach

They are 2 years and some months (so i think they are going closer to three)

1 year of their life was spent in a tank, and now they live in a petco rat manor. They were/have been fed a mostly a rabbit pellet, for i don't know how long. I'm transitioning them to SunSeed Vita g. pig food, and my local feed store is trying to find a degu mix for me.

They have never been fed veggies until i started to offer them some and they turn their noses up at them. Any suggestions on getting them to like eat their veggies?

Also they are still really afraid of me, and don't even want to come out of their cage into a play area I have set up with them.

any help would be great.

[ntg]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

You've done well so far for changing them off the rabbit food! You will want to supplement the feed with dried herb and flower mixes to give them some variety as well as the different nutrients they need.

I'm not familiar with the cage you are on about and can't look it up at the moment but it's got to be better than a tank. For 2-3 goos you are looking at a few full levels of a cage that is 100x50cm (39x19").

Okay so I just looked up the cage, have you got the mesh covered to prevent the girls from getting sore feet and developing bumblefoot? It is a small cage for them as well. A good alternative would be the critter nation (I'm guessing you're from the US?) or making your own.

Finally the taming side. The key to this is time and patience. Try putting your hand in the cage with some food on so when they feel brave enough, they'll come too you. If you keep doing this every day they'll realise quite quickly that you don't mean any harm. For now though, try using a box or tube with a few treats in to entice them in and use that to transport them to and from the playpen.

[ntg]

Also whereabouts are you from as that can help us give you more info on where to get things from.

[Lrak]

Hey, welcome to the forum sounds like you are doing well.

[jenowuk]

Hi, welcome to the forum, and congrats on becoming a new goo owner - you won't regret it

It will take them a little time to get used to their new circumstances, so don't be disheartened if they take a little while to get used to you. Talk to them, so they get used to your voice. Put your hands up to the bars, and allow them to come over and smell them. When they do, give them a treat to encourage them to do it again.

Goos prefer dried food, so if you want to give them veggies, dry drying them first. Dried carrot, beetroot or dandelion leaves should go down well.

Good luck

[moletteuk]

Hello and welcome Well done for taking them and trying improve things for them.

The main thing to watch out for with american foods, is that a lot of them have molasses added which is unsuitable for degus. Have a look at this thread for some america specific food discussion deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=food&action=display&thread=15490

I can only say to keep trying with the veg and preferably some leaves, herbs etc too, as Jenowuk says, they often prefer things dried out, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, parsnip, salad leaves and so. There is lots of info on a variety of safe things for them to eat in the diet section sticky threads. Are they eating hay?

They will really appreciate hiding places like wooden houses, cardboard boxes and cardboard tubes while they are still settling in. They are often wary about new places, so if you can set up the play area with a route back into their cage and again lots of hiding places, they will grow in confidence more quickly and feel safer to explore.

[gavman]

I will attest to the dandelion leaves - Bill loves them (although I know each degu likes to be difficult and they tend to have their own favourites )

Also Hi and welcome to the forums

[deguconvert]

Hello Nintendo Girls! Welcome to the forum!!

[banditcuster]

On my phone, so sorry in advance for spelling and possibly forgetting something.

Yes, they get fresh hay (every other day)
Yes, i know to watch out for molasses in food...think it was a reason for the rabbit food. The g. pig food i brought doesn't have any.
Glad to know a CN is a good choice, was going to ask about it as i want to get a double unit.
I have card board and fabric (ol owner's cut up clothes lol) on the big mesh level but they keep moving them.

As for where i live: Houghton, Michigan it is a very small town in the UP, 4-5hours north of green bay. I do my animal shopping at the local feed store (have a cat on grain free food, and 4 gerbils on the same brand that i got for the girls.)

[banditcuster]

Oh, play pen is currently set up where i open the bottom door of the cage and they can come out. I can get pictures after work.

[dusty]

Hi and welcome bandit & nintendo girls.
Definately try the dried veg and herbs, mine love dandelions and stinging nettles you just have to be careful how you pick them and make sure they dry out thoroughly before you put your hands in ;D
I gather the base of the cage has the old owners clothing? It may help them get used to you if you put in something of your own - old t-shirt. The scent of something old and familiar might be confusing them in a new environment. You may find you can get a piece of wood to fit the mesh level, it would need to be a goo safe wood, most people use kiln dried pine which you should be able to get cut to size from most builders merchants etc.
Just keep offering them treats, sunflower seeds are a major hit as is porridge oats that you can place on the palm of your hand and just wait for them to come and investigate (they will, they can't resist porridge). Good luck with them, keep us upadated
Dusty