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Post by banjokazooie on Feb 19, 2015 19:12:50 GMT
Hi all, Its been a while since I've been on the forum but currently facing a bit of confusion regarding my supposed 3 boys. I've had Banjo and Kazooie since August 2013, but recently introduced a new boy in August 2014. They got along fine from the start, but recently Banjo has been putting on quite a bit of weight. This leads me to believe that my original 2 were both girls (hence no babies so far!) and the new one is the only boy. I have been trying to double check sexes, particularly Banjo, but he(she?) seems a bit grumpier than usual so I cant get a proper look. I've included some pictures to see if anyone can confirm or deny potential pregnancy - though I suppose if he isnt pregnant then something else is probably wrong Here is a comparison for size with my other two (Banjo on bottom left) I tried to get a standing up shot too. (sorry about the blur) Eek! I'm not ready to be a grandmother
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Post by Karma on Feb 19, 2015 19:58:16 GMT
I would say pregnant ..... That is quite pear shaped! Sorry, but think of the cuteness you get to have You can put the degu into a glass jar and look underneath - might help you sex them. You are looking for the distance of the gap between the two errrr openings I wouldn't handle banjo much for a month or so until you known for sure .... Can cause issues if she is indeed pregnant. I would handle the othe two and compare what they look like - if the distance is different in those two I would plan for two pregnant girls and remove the boy now to ensure she doesn't get re-pregnant in the 24 hours after the birth (when they are the most fertile).
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 19, 2015 20:05:38 GMT
He/She does look pretty big! She looks bigger than my big girl, and pretty pear shaped. Unfortunately they don't show swollen nipples or anything, but being grumpy could be a sign. And it rings alarm bells for a male to male introduction to instantly go well. You need to check the sexes ASAP. You can use a glass jar or piece of glass (like a kitchen cupboard shelf), or a piece of mesh, to get a better look. A second person and a camera can help. Sexing guide deguworld.proboards.com/thread/13070/degusIt's really important that you separate the boys from her before she gives birth because she will be fertile right after giving birth and you don't want another pregnancy. Obviously, you also need to avoid the other girl getting pregnant (if you do have mixed boy and girls). (cross post with Karma)
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Post by banjokazooie on Feb 19, 2015 20:33:42 GMT
not a very good pic but its the best I could do (whilst distracting with oats!) - tried with a glass bowl but they kept hopping out. I'll try to take a better one tomorrow in natural lighting, as i dont think the flash helped. This one is of Banjo, I'll try to get pictures of the other two tomorrow, as they were having none of it, oats or not
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Post by Maravilla on Feb 20, 2015 9:53:41 GMT
I would also say pregnant, only few days before delivery. Your degu definitely is not "just a bit tubby". I have never seen such a picture. If something else would be wrong, first idea would be a huge tumour, but it is too symmetric. I wonder how many babies she will have.
As Molette already said: take the boys out of the cage and make it baby proof.
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Post by saddlers on Feb 20, 2015 16:49:43 GMT
It is quite unusual that the boys have been okay with each other if there is just a single female in there, or have we misread and you think the new male has been added into two girls. If that is the case you will probably have two pregnant degus
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Post by Karma on Feb 20, 2015 18:26:57 GMT
From that very blurry picture I would say girl - males have a gap of about a finger width between their penis and anus ...... Girls have no gap but do have a vaginal cone that can look like a penis to those that are not familiar with the animals.
I have a feeling you were sold two "boys" because they misstook the vaginal cone as a penis and then buying a new "boy" from someone who actually knew degus and had them sexed properly.
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 21, 2015 18:41:28 GMT
Definitely female, and definitely pregnant, and due for delivery very soon. Definitely check your other two for correct gender, and take the boys away from the pregnant one. She can conceive immediately upon delivering the litter, and you don't want a second litter on the way. Hard on her, and hard on you.
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Post by banjokazooie on Feb 25, 2015 0:06:02 GMT
Confirmed the sexes - definitely got two girls and one boy - so Kazooie is likely to be pregnant too. For now I have put Tommy (the male) in my pets at home cage. Banjo has been lying in the nest box all evening but getting up for the occasional waddle - so we'll see about babies in the morning
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Post by degumotherandamateur on Feb 25, 2015 17:14:05 GMT
How exciting! Any thoughts as to what you will do when babies arrive?
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Post by yasmin on Feb 25, 2015 20:51:20 GMT
Good that you separated Tommy from the others. Can relate to what you are going through. (Three years ago, I adopted what were supposed to have been 4 girls – ended up being 3 girls and 1 boy. Now I have 15 degus. Sean – aka Sienna – did not enjoy being separated from the girls – even escaped his smaller enclosure twice. I purchased a bigger cage for Sean and, when each lot of babies turned 6-8 weeks old, I took them to a vet to be sexed and then introduced father to his sons – never seen a goo so happy to have company at last! Daughters went into separate cages with their moms.) Please keep us posted.
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Post by banjokazooie on Feb 26, 2015 20:08:27 GMT
Still no babies! Banjo has barely left the nest box in two days (though she is drinking through a syringe) so we took her to the vets just to make sure she was okay. Vet confirmed that there are indeed lots and lots of moving babies inside (!) and gave her an injection that should hopefully help her perk up with eating/drinking. If she doesn't - can I feed her critical care? I still have a bag of it from my guinea pigs, but wasnt sure if it was degu safe or even the right thing to do. Vet said babies should be here within a few days though
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Post by yasmin on Feb 27, 2015 16:24:19 GMT
Have you tried offering her rolled oats? All my goos love rolled oats as a treat. As well, Rolled oats are good for a mom who will soon need to be providing milk for all her babies.
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Post by moletteuk on Feb 28, 2015 11:57:55 GMT
Yes, she can have Critical Care.
Do ring and speak to the vet if there is no change by Monday.
Good luck!
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Post by deguconvert on Feb 28, 2015 21:21:10 GMT
Might want to ring your vet before then, even. She is so big, and still young, that I am wondering if she is having difficult and may not be able to deliver on her own. If you see any sign of straining, or is she is making unusual sounds of pain or distress, without any pups showing up, she needs to see your vet pronto.
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Post by banjokazooie on Mar 1, 2015 16:09:33 GMT
No worries, babies arrived last night! Unfortunately one stillborn (though i cant see any reason as to why?) but I can see at least 6 lil squeakers Momma seems to have perked up a bit and has been enjoying some oats and a dustbath in between checking on them, but Kazooie (the other female) tried taking one out of the nest box earlier
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Post by Kins on Mar 1, 2015 16:16:29 GMT
Naww, little doogs. Sweet.
Sorry to hear about one being still born, it's not all that uncommon I don't think. Sounds likes she's still got quite a large litter!
Think you've got your hands full that's for sure. They grow and develop relatively quickly so keep an eye on them! They can be trouble makers :-)
Enjoy the little doogs.
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 1, 2015 18:41:09 GMT
YAY!! So glad that she has delivered and done so safely. She must feel a LOT more comfortable, little momma. I, too, am sorry one was stillborn. It isn't too surprising that Kazooie tried to run off with one. I have seen that as well. Banjo may or may not respond with frustration to that. You need to try and make sure that any pup Kazooie takes is returned to where the other pups are and that they are all warm. Kazooie should eventually get the idea that they stay there and will hang around there instead of trying to make her own nest with the pups. Banjo may move them herself, which is OK unless she takes them up to a level that has an edge the pups can walk or fall off of. Then you need to put them somewhere more secure and safe. (Show Banjo where they are, of course.)
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Post by banjokazooie on Mar 2, 2015 19:09:49 GMT
Sad news Woke up this morning to 4 healthy babies, another dead, and one feeling fairly cold and still - looking like it was struggling to breathe. After removing the dead one, I also uncovered another two that i assume were stillborn at the back - they were covered in blood covered tissue - not sure if a lot of blood is normal? Have moved the babies to a cleaner nest box. So all in all she had 9! The struggling one has since improved and is feeding/fitting in well so fingers crossed these 5 are okay. Thank you all for your advice and suggestions by the way, much appreciated
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Post by Maravilla on Mar 3, 2015 8:02:33 GMT
Sorry to hear of your losses. How are the little ones going on today? And what about mommy? Giving birth to 9 babies means a huge effort and she surely deserves and appreciates all the help (in terms of food etc.) she can get.
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