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Post by goolover on May 22, 2017 17:27:49 GMT
I wouldn't say its de-stressing to Boo as she would give signs of this. If shes just going about her daily eating and sleeping she sounds happy enough with their presence. They cant get to her but she will have the sound and sight stimulation that is good for her especially being alone. As long as your other girls aren't causing injury to each other then I doubt its harming them either. Its all stimulation for them. If they were to start aggressively fighting between each other than as Moletteuk says you would have to maybe move the cages further apart. It just a time game really. Its all about monitoring how your pair behave on a daily basis and watching for changes in their behavior towards her. In my experience Grunting normally means 'I will attack you' but in time this will hopefully stop. I've never done a introduction when 'grunts' are still happening, I wait for warbles, tweets!
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Post by misscatafer on May 22, 2017 21:25:15 GMT
Okay, from what I'm seeing it does seem to be hatred so far! But it is early days and interpreting the behaviour can be challenging.
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Post by goolover on May 22, 2017 21:46:46 GMT
It is challenging but you will come to recognise sounds and behavior as a second nature to you. I have found it so interesting just watching my lot in different situations and learning how they communicate. Think they must be one of the only rodents with so many vocalisations, its amazing really and can be fun finding out their noises, what they mean and their body language and what that means. Its frustrating too though lol. There is nothing more challenging than introductions. I feel for you!
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Post by misscatafer on May 24, 2017 13:25:29 GMT
Okay so two days later and the aggression and obsession has reduced, there is still teeth chattering towards Boo but they have mainly gone back to being aggressive towards each other when interacting with her. I even caught Hermione warbling back at her today! But when she saw me she threw a tantrum lol trying to act like she doesn't care, very stubborn degu! We have adopted the 'top goo' approach. Banging on the cage and shouting when they are aggressive, and giving treats when they behave appropriately... This seems to be really effective... Probably not good on their waistlines but hopefully it will be a short term measure for long term gains.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2017 14:39:49 GMT
Don't worry too much about their waste line as long as you're using healthy treats!
I really do feel that they act differently when we watch you know, like they're acting up for us intentionally, to show off or something.
I'm glad you're seeing some improvement, but don't worry too much ♥️ it sounds like you're doing a great job and interpreting it perfectly x
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Post by deguconvert on May 24, 2017 15:34:35 GMT
I agree, you are doing very well. Excellent "top gooing!"
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Post by misscatafer on May 24, 2017 16:46:39 GMT
Well today I used puffed buckwheat (not very healthy) tempted to use linseed but it's hard to get through the bars haha. Yes they definitely play up when we are around, I swear they sleep as soon as they hear that front door close! Thank you for the encouragement, I was feeling so disheartened and angry at myself a few days ago, but now there is hope again! The playpen is constantly up now too so whenever we have had enough of the squealing I can just scoop up the troublemakers into the container and dump them in the pen for some time out lol. Boo is becoming so much more confident in there with us too which is lovely it is clear she has never been properly handled, something we are working on gradually!
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2017 18:17:36 GMT
Yay that's great! I've found mine become more confident with degu company, Pumba and Kev were both VERY scared boys, now they have their girlfriends I can't control them lol!!! I put Pumba in with Pickle to live last night, after I set up their cage and he was SO scared before, as soon as he was in he was trying to climb all over me!!! So you'll probably see a huge difference xx don't be angry at yourself, it's hard Xx
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Post by misscatafer on May 24, 2017 19:48:17 GMT
Ooo so Boo came with straw for bedding and I have been putting handfuls of it all over the cage over the past week... Well now Bella is whizzing all over the cage gathering it all up and adding it to their nest... This hadn't happened before, Hopefully this is a good sign!
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Post by misscatafer on May 29, 2017 16:22:46 GMT
So I have been away for a few days but returned today. Bella is still grunting and biting at Boo, Hermione is still chasing her, squealing and being possessive over her from what I can see. I have cleaned Boo out so I don't know if that has upset them somewhat.
Interestingly though now Boo is coming out of her shell, she has started to squeal loudly at us both from the cage whilst sitting within reach of strokes. At first I thought this was out of fear or aggression, but she actually seems to be asking for attention and when you stop stroking her, she will warble or squeal loudly and actually presses her head into my finger.... It is the same squeals as Hermione is giving her... So maybe Hermione is being more excited than aggressive?
Is there anything I could be doing to help with the introduction process as I don't seem to be making any progress? We have still been swapping scents each day, they are sharing the playpen and the cages are still right up against each other.
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Post by deguconvert on May 29, 2017 17:10:24 GMT
Have you been doing face to face intros in the playpen then?
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Post by misscatafer on May 29, 2017 17:36:36 GMT
No, we haven't put them together again since the first time with all the weeing and boxing etc. They have just been sharing the same pen with all the same smells, girls go in first, then Boo, or vice versa. I'm considering trying a face to face with just Hermione to gauge what all the squealing is about... Or is that not a good idea?
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2017 19:24:14 GMT
Is Hermione the dominant goo?
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Post by deguconvert on May 29, 2017 20:10:08 GMT
Good question, Emily! If Hermione is the dominant goo, that will be OK. She is the one that determines how things go, so if she meets Boo there will not be jealousy the same as there would be if it were Bella meeting Boo.
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Post by misscatafer on May 29, 2017 20:28:09 GMT
No, Bella is dominant. Well we tried them in the hallway together (Boo and Hermione). Warbling together for about a minute, then Boo stood up on her hand legs and just looked at us all panicked, then FBOD started but I quickly intervened and scooped Boo up in the oven gloves. We let them both calm and tried once more, Harmonie just constantly chased her whilst teeth chattering. They clashed together twice more then Boo just hid behind us warbling loudly so we stopped it and put them both back. The second time I intervened Boo bit the oven glove thumb (luckily I have small hands). They both then sat together warbling, Bella came up and warbled at Boo. Now all three are warbling together..... Don't know how to interpret it?
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2017 20:33:52 GMT
You need to do introductions with the dominant goo really the dominant goo Bella will decide whether Boo will be accepted and whether the others will get on.
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Post by misscatafer on May 29, 2017 20:43:00 GMT
Okay, maybe tomorrow we will try with Bella only, don't want to put Boo through anymore stress tonight. Intros are so hard!
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2017 21:00:04 GMT
No of course. I'd leave it two days or so.
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Post by misscatafer on May 29, 2017 21:07:45 GMT
Maybe Boo is just so used to human contact she doesn't want other degus... Or she sees us as her degus so sees them as a threat??
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2017 12:59:58 GMT
Potentially... but most degus value other degus as company over humans. I thought the same with Pickle, but now she's finally accepted Pumba she doesn't want to know me!! but it shows how important degu company is to them. We are sort of an 'okay I guess..' temporary substitute lol.
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