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Post by GoosofCamelot on Oct 22, 2013 20:48:55 GMT
Today all hell broke loose again. Arthur started on Lance and Cedric again, peace only lasted a few days. Arthur was attacking them in the cage and at playtime. Lance and Cedric kept jumping on my shoulder because they were so scared. Me and my mum had a talk and I said something has to be done, we can't let it go on. We rang pets@Home about re-homing. They said they can take Arthur in. I had to do it for the best. I feel awful and I probably sound like a bad owner. My mum and I were getting really upset, we really didn't want to re-home any of them. I think Arthur will be happier on his own or with another goo friend. He was grunting a chittering his teeth because he was unhappy with the others. He wouldn't even eat his oats this morning because all he wanted to do was chase and fight. Lance and Cedric are happy together and Merlin seems okay but he wants more space, I've just got to wait until the other cage is finished. I had to let Arthur go. Me and mum were really upset and I still am. I will miss him so much My dad took him to p@H and they are going to re-home him. They said that it's very unusual to fight like that, which is a load of rubbish. I can't live like that, not knowing if they'll end up killing each other. People say it passes but you can't be sure. They said they'll make sure he'll go to a home that has enough expierience in goos. I know I'll probably get judged for doing this, but I think it's for the best.
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Post by ilikedegus on Oct 22, 2013 22:08:41 GMT
Hey, sometimes it's HARD! It sounds like Arthur was a difficult case.
In case someone wants to give Arthur a home, which P@H is he at?
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A Sad Day
Oct 22, 2013 22:17:18 GMT
via mobile
Post by GoosofCamelot on Oct 22, 2013 22:17:18 GMT
Hey, sometimes it's HARD! It sounds like Arthur was a difficult case. In case someone wants to give Arthur a home, which P@H is he at? Thank you He's at the Pool store in Cornwall
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A Sad Day
Oct 22, 2013 23:40:51 GMT
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Post by ntg on Oct 22, 2013 23:40:51 GMT
Oh dear, I'm so sorry RTD. It can be hard dealing with one fight, never mind two separate rifts at once! I wish there was some way I could help with Arthur.
Try to keep your chin up, and focus on getting Merlin and co. back together now! Hopefully things will get better once they have a bigger space.
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sona
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 164
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Post by sona on Oct 23, 2013 8:18:35 GMT
{{{{Hugs}}}} It's never easy making descions like this.
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Post by saddlers on Oct 23, 2013 11:57:19 GMT
I can understand that trying to settle arguments between degus can be very stressful and time consuming, and given the circumstances you may have actually made a wise decision to try and better things for all of the degus involved and yourself. However it really is important that you understand how influential cage size can be on degus, it does lead to quite a few fights and inevitably more stress for both you and the degus.
How are things going with the new cage? I know we have previously advised cage sizes to you with ideally a minimum width of 1000mm, but your new cage was proposed at 800mm. I can appreciate that space is an issue as has also been previously discussed, but you would be amazed how much of a difference cage width/size can have on the way your degus will react with each other, and therefore try and maximise the space you can give them.
I can understand that your decision must have been a hard one to make, and was understandably upsetting, but it is important that you can now focus on trying to get the cage right for the other 3 to give you the best chance at a happy group.
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Post by GoosofCamelot on Oct 24, 2013 19:26:53 GMT
sona : Thank you Yeah, It was very stressful. Even when they had playtime and loads of room to get away from each other but they still fought. I have tried introducing Merlin to the other 2 again but it's not working. Merlin has the original cage with 3 storeys at the moment. I've just finished Lance and Cedrics cage today and it has 4 levels. I think I'll maybe just have to wait a few weeks to let hormones settle. What is so bad about keeping a goo on it's own?? If you give him enough attention and fuss wouldn't that be okay? If I had no other choice?
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A Sad Day
Oct 24, 2013 20:50:50 GMT
via mobile
Post by ntg on Oct 24, 2013 20:50:50 GMT
What is so bad about keeping a goo on it's own?? If you give him enough attention and fuss wouldn't that be okay? If I had no other choice? No matter how much attention you can give to a lone degu it can never fully make up for having another goos company. Think of all the things you can't do that are part of degu life: making a goo pile, mutual grooming, play fighting, vocalisations etc and you'll start to see why humans just aren't enough. I know it might seem hopeless at the moment, but degus are complex creatures. Sometimes they just need time to get over their little grudges. Have a look through some of the old fighting threads if you feel you need some hope, the most recent case I cam think of is dusty who had an argument between her girls months back, and has only just managed to reintroduce them to the point of sharing a cage together again.
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 25, 2013 9:45:36 GMT
Have you seen pics of lions and monkeys and so on kept in terrible zoos or labs on their own and they just pace about or sit rocking because they have gone insane with the isolation? This can happen to degus on their own.
You've got your degus' age in your favour and lots of time, and really lots of options. You may be able to reintroduce within a couple of weeks or it may take months and months. If you read through past threads, you will see that a reintroduction can work after many months, so there is no need to give up at all. Even if you came to the point in a years time where you couldn't get them back together, there are other options like neutering and getting a female companion.
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Post by GoosofCamelot on Oct 25, 2013 17:30:43 GMT
That's what I worry about :/ I really don't like to see him on his own, it's just the fighting that scares me because I don't know what damage they'll do. I wish they could just get on like other peoples degus! Lol I really hope they can be friends again, if not i was actually thinking about getting a spayed female or nuetering Merlin when he's older. Thank you for the advice
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Post by dusty on Oct 25, 2013 17:43:03 GMT
This thread is heart breaking I hope Arthur finds a good home. If you have had that much trouble it may have been for the best. Please don't give up getting the others back together. My 3 girls have been separated since January and have now been back together for 3 days. It was a horrible experience, we decided Chunky Monkey should be the lone degu as she was more confident with people so we could interact with her more. Very soon she showed behavioural differences. Bar chewing constantly, attention seeking. She became extremely vocal and would whine continually as if shouting at us for help. It was seriously distressing that no matter what I did for her and how much time I spent she was still obviously troubled. She stopped running in the wheel and spent most of the time just sitting in the corner (unless I went to play with her). She lived like that for nearly 10months and god did I feel bad but everytime they got together there was fighting. She maintained her relationship with the under goo (trouble) so I did let them have access to eachother 2-3 times a week, but with Boo all hell kept breaking loose. Space may be an issue, recently I have had to rearrange my entire home for building works etc,,, the goos had to move. The main bedroom 15ft long had been all re-decorated with a new floor as well but as yet no carpet. In went the two cages side by side. It was ideal for a free running area, plenty of space for them to escape eachother. I let Chunks out for a quick run and she immediately went to the other cage where the 3 girls seemed interested. There was warbling between the bars for the first time in months so I took the plunge and opened the door. There was some squabbling, boxing, peeing on eachother, loud squeeking----- I only let it carry on for a couple of minutes, not sure who was more scared them or me.I did the same thing at the same time every day for about 10 days, leaving both cages open they gradually explored eachothers space. With the help of Trouble the undergoo and peace maker (when they squabble she dashes in and distracts them) the annoyance became indifference. The other night they all accidentally ended up in the one bigger cage together and I was so tired I couldn't go through the separation thing again. I left all the doors open so they could escape each other if needed and in the morning they were all still sitting there. They have been happy to snuggle together since. Oh wow, seeing them for the first time in ages all together sleeping, I don't think chunks has slept properly all year from being on her own without a lookout. I'm still checking on them every half hour. It's like when we first had them to see them all in that pile happy and grooming it kinda makes me cry, all those months Chunks was alone. It takes time, it takes patients and it's really hard to watch, please keep trying with your lot, it will be worth it in the end. Pic will follow of the happy 3 some
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Post by dusty on Oct 25, 2013 17:57:42 GMT
Click it - here are my girls, sooooooooooooooo happy to see them together after such a long time
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Post by GoosofCamelot on Oct 25, 2013 18:49:56 GMT
Aww that's such a good thing that they're all back together now. I feel as if it's impossible that mine will ever get on again. I put Merlin up to the bars of lance and cedrics cage, and Merlin shakes his tail and grinds his teeth, and the others will sniff and then sometimes try and attack so I quickly take Merlin away. They were fine last week when Arthur was the one causing the trouble, and it changed instantly like that. How old were your girls when they had the fall out? My boys are only around 5 months old and with it being autumn I think they're going through the breeding season. Are they fully grown now? Do you think their hormones settled after they were fully grown? Did Chunky lose weight or not eat? :/ I've even tried introducing them together in the bathroom at playtime but they'll just attack each other. How long do you think I should leave Merlin until I think about re-introducing them? I am worried Merlin will end up like Chunky did but he seems happy at the moment eating playing etc. Was it instantly chunky stopped using her wheel and stuff or was it after a few weeks/months?
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Post by moletteuk on Oct 25, 2013 19:17:56 GMT
So great to see a pic of your three reunited, Dusty If you are getting instant aggression, then it might be best to leave Merlin away from the others for a couple or few days. You need to try to setup a calm and relaxed meet through the mesh - suddenly having Merlin appear is a bit like him jumping from the back of the sofa and shouting boo! So gradually moving the two cages nearer and maybe blanking off some of the front so they only meet on one level is a more relaxed way and allows them to walk away. Hope that makes sense.
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Post by dusty on Oct 25, 2013 22:12:45 GMT
Thanks moletteuk - the relief is amazing The 3 girls were in a thickets cage as suggested by P@H, they got to about 9 months and then suddenly went nuts. I assume it was a puberty thing and fighting for dominance. I don't know much about boys but it maybe a puberty thing. As they grow they obviously need more space. They like alone time. Chunky was ok for about a month before I realised she was starting to shout at me etc.. the others were in the room so sometimes I think she may have been calling for them. After the month was when she really started to show signs of loneliness, she couldn't be bothered to run etc. Not sure about the food really, she ate a lot less but as she was less active, did not loose any weight. She had been really lethargic and moody. I think the main thing is before introducing in the real world to allow them to see and hear/speak to eachother through bars etc. Where is there normal living area? Can they see and hear each .other? Getting them together in the bathroom is a good idea, although I tried it and as they were not acquainted it just made them really mad and fighting some more for the dominance of the room. I really feel for you - please don't give up, the joy of seeing them all together is well worth it. If I think of anything usefull I will let you know, please feel free to message or chat about it, I now know how hard it can be
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Post by klbishop on Oct 27, 2013 10:26:26 GMT
The picture was great. I hope arthur finds what he needs and it looks like it just wasnt working out how things were. Goos are challenging guys at time eh? I hope you are ok xx
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Post by GoosofCamelot on Oct 28, 2013 22:55:43 GMT
dusty Mine started attacking at 5 months! The cages are in my room, lance and cedrics are across from Merlins, so he can hear them. Yeah I've also tried introducing in the bathroom as they like to run around in there. But they went Nuts and started attacking each other, so I quickly stopped it. Thank you, I apprieciate it klbishop: I hope so too. Unfortunately not, I just wish that they all got on! Thankyou x
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Post by klbishop on Nov 3, 2013 22:03:00 GMT
no probs - my guys drive me nuts. just dont want to get on and there never seems to be a reason. immensely frustrating xxx
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