Post by rreynolds0501 on May 28, 2015 4:29:54 GMT
I guess I can begin with giving a background on my animals before diving into the problem because I'm honestly not sure where to begin nor who to ask for advice so I'm hoping someone out there can help!
I have one male chinchilla (who will be 3 in Oct) & 3 female degus (2 of them are 3yrs old & the other is less than a year old I imagine). I've never had these types of animals before so I'm still a little new to everything! I adopted my chinchilla last Aug from a friend who couldn't care for him anymore. At the time I had one female rat who passed away last February. Fred, my chinchilla, had no problem sharing attention or anything really with my rat. He just seemed very happy to have a new family who spoiled him with attention & toys
Later in February I adopted 2 female degus, Sky & Lucky, from a woman who is battling cancer & needed to find them a good home. Lucky turned 3 in March & Sky will be 3 next month. Fred didn't seem to mind them joining the family at the time. In fact I have a couple of videos of him & the girls running around exploring the hallway together. The only time the girls (sky in particular. Lucky never cared lol) seemed annoyed by Fred's presence was when they were in their cage which I assumed was just a territorial thing. After awhile we had to stop letting Fred "mingle" with the girls during "free run" because he started to try & "get" lucky. Meaning it looked like he was trying to bite her tail while she ran away squealing (no worries, being the protector that she is Sky would run up & bop him in the nose lol). He'd go pester them when they're in the cage but that's pretty much all he does now.
A couple of weeks ago we brought home a new degu. This one, Koa, is just a baby. I didn't ask but I'm assuming she's less than a year old. Fred was curious about her & just pestered her like the other 2. Lately, however, he's been getting what seems to be aggressive towards Koa. Two nights ago it's almost like he had it with her, that maybe he was jealous she was getting all the attention (even tho I give him the most) & began trying to bite her through her cage. He was so upset that when I tried to gently persuade him away from her cage he made those angry grunting noises & tried to nip me which is something he'd never done to me before (aside from when I'm holding him & he wants me to put him down). Eventually he calmed down & came to me for attention. I was able to put him back in his cage without any struggle or anything but it broke my heart that he got THAT upset.
Tonight it got worse. He was out for his free run & after awhile he went straight to Koa's cage. He sat on top of it where Koa was sitting on a branch just below him. As she was leaning over to jump down her tail stuck up out of the cage which Fred got a hold of. He was yanking on it as if he was trying to pull her through the cage bars. Of course she was yelping. I didn't see it happen but my boyfriend did & chased fred off then came to get me to inspect Koa's tail. She seemed fine, a little startled but no blood, scratches or a missing tail (which made me wonder if Fred just had a hold of her but not biting down because don't degus slip their tails?)
Thankfully everyone is okay but I'd like to know what's going on with Fred? His actions towards Koa just seem to be getting more aggressive. I don't plan on them ever meeting face to face & I'm going to put her cage out of reach when he's out running. Is it bad that I'm more worried about Fred? He's my baby! so I'm wondering if it's jealousy? I've been having to spend a little more time with Koa because she's a baby & I'm working on handling & such (not to mention I've got introduction with her & the other 2!) But I've been making it a point to spend time with Fred like we always did. If it is jealousy what do you suggest I do to not make Fred feel that way?
Anyways I'm really sorry this is so incredibly long but it's a difficult situation to explain! I really appreciate any help I can get! This is a whole new world for me! Lol
I have one male chinchilla (who will be 3 in Oct) & 3 female degus (2 of them are 3yrs old & the other is less than a year old I imagine). I've never had these types of animals before so I'm still a little new to everything! I adopted my chinchilla last Aug from a friend who couldn't care for him anymore. At the time I had one female rat who passed away last February. Fred, my chinchilla, had no problem sharing attention or anything really with my rat. He just seemed very happy to have a new family who spoiled him with attention & toys
Later in February I adopted 2 female degus, Sky & Lucky, from a woman who is battling cancer & needed to find them a good home. Lucky turned 3 in March & Sky will be 3 next month. Fred didn't seem to mind them joining the family at the time. In fact I have a couple of videos of him & the girls running around exploring the hallway together. The only time the girls (sky in particular. Lucky never cared lol) seemed annoyed by Fred's presence was when they were in their cage which I assumed was just a territorial thing. After awhile we had to stop letting Fred "mingle" with the girls during "free run" because he started to try & "get" lucky. Meaning it looked like he was trying to bite her tail while she ran away squealing (no worries, being the protector that she is Sky would run up & bop him in the nose lol). He'd go pester them when they're in the cage but that's pretty much all he does now.
A couple of weeks ago we brought home a new degu. This one, Koa, is just a baby. I didn't ask but I'm assuming she's less than a year old. Fred was curious about her & just pestered her like the other 2. Lately, however, he's been getting what seems to be aggressive towards Koa. Two nights ago it's almost like he had it with her, that maybe he was jealous she was getting all the attention (even tho I give him the most) & began trying to bite her through her cage. He was so upset that when I tried to gently persuade him away from her cage he made those angry grunting noises & tried to nip me which is something he'd never done to me before (aside from when I'm holding him & he wants me to put him down). Eventually he calmed down & came to me for attention. I was able to put him back in his cage without any struggle or anything but it broke my heart that he got THAT upset.
Tonight it got worse. He was out for his free run & after awhile he went straight to Koa's cage. He sat on top of it where Koa was sitting on a branch just below him. As she was leaning over to jump down her tail stuck up out of the cage which Fred got a hold of. He was yanking on it as if he was trying to pull her through the cage bars. Of course she was yelping. I didn't see it happen but my boyfriend did & chased fred off then came to get me to inspect Koa's tail. She seemed fine, a little startled but no blood, scratches or a missing tail (which made me wonder if Fred just had a hold of her but not biting down because don't degus slip their tails?)
Thankfully everyone is okay but I'd like to know what's going on with Fred? His actions towards Koa just seem to be getting more aggressive. I don't plan on them ever meeting face to face & I'm going to put her cage out of reach when he's out running. Is it bad that I'm more worried about Fred? He's my baby!
so I'm wondering if it's jealousy? I've been having to spend a little more time with Koa because she's a baby & I'm working on handling & such (not to mention I've got introduction with her & the other 2!) But I've been making it a point to spend time with Fred like we always did. If it is jealousy what do you suggest I do to not make Fred feel that way?Anyways I'm really sorry this is so incredibly long but it's a difficult situation to explain! I really appreciate any help I can get! This is a whole new world for me! Lol
