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Post by titchycatnipsandwich on Jul 8, 2017 19:05:02 GMT
In the lounge, so the same physical location, except yesterday they were in a little cardboard box and today they were in a larger playpen - although not its full size, just big enough for me to sit and have them running in front of me (toes covered up, the sides of me blocked with towels to prevent FBOD'ing behind me). Maybe it was just the new space, it just seemed really odd to have escalated immediately. I'm wondering whether someone insulted someone else's heritage just before I got home from work, and they decided to settle it
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 9, 2017 11:03:26 GMT
Dunno Maybe you could try letting them try the new space indiviually a couple of times so they know where they are?
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Post by titchycatnipsandwich on Jul 18, 2017 20:15:22 GMT
This week, the pair of them are sleeping next to each other near the dividers and slowly trying to destroy the divider... Might try another intro later in the week when my friend is here to help separate
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Post by misscatafer on Jul 18, 2017 20:33:28 GMT
Fingers crossed!
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 20, 2017 10:02:54 GMT
Sounds good
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Post by titchycatnipsandwich on Jul 25, 2017 10:19:48 GMT
Third intro attempted I think we managed about 5 minutes this time? 2 minutes or so scuttling about avoiding each other and investigating the playpen again, then about the same of intermittent boxing/witch-slapping each other with 5 second pauses to reassess their "opponent", followed by one longer witch-slapping bout and then leaping into each other. At which point the towel and the sieve came down, Nyota was caught and Best escaped the pen... brat Everyone is safely back in cages, no one was bitten, scratched or harmed. Huzzah. And they look adorably stupid when they are puffing their butts up, all "no touchy my butt!" and then trying to walk at the same time. It is very very nerve-wracking watching them slap each other about, isn't it? Waiting for them to start something. (Also... has anyone seen any videos showing the difference between kickboxing and FBOD? I'm stopping them early to be on the safe side, but... if they need to kickbox it out, I think I need to know the difference between the two)
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Post by bouncy on Jul 25, 2017 10:33:32 GMT
Well done!
Yes, it is nerve-wracking watching them, and knowing when to intervene.
I haven't got any videos of my original intros between Squidgy and the older group, but there is definitely a noticeable difference. With the kickboxing, they girly fight, jump apart with a flying kick, and repeat. With a FBOD, the description really does say it all. The fighting isn't on their hind legs, there isn't the distance between them of the girly slaps, they literally throw themselves at each other, roll and tussle across the floor on their sides, heads, backs, etc.
The only exception to this that I saw was when I sprayed them. They separated, and Spidey took the hint. He then just watched on looking confused at Squidgy still rolling on the floor, eyes closed, just happy slapping the air.
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Post by misscatafer on Jul 25, 2017 21:18:02 GMT
Glad your introductions are more positive! After Boo got injured I am really really put off by introductions... She had a bite on her back, a split lip and a miniscule tear to her ear. Haven't attempted another for almost 8 weeks I think now... I was hoping august would look promising to try again, but there is is still aggression, teeth chattering and grunting.... So complicated! Really looking forward to hearing you make more progress though, it gives me hope
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Post by bouncy on Jul 26, 2017 8:38:50 GMT
I'm afraid I had to abandon my introduction as Spidey has such a strong character, and I ended up getting two friends for Squidgy. The minute I walked into the kitchen with him Spidey caught the scent, ran over, climbed up me, and attacked. He's retained that hatred.
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Post by titchycatnipsandwich on Aug 20, 2017 11:05:36 GMT
Well, intros update!
We've worked up to 15 minutes! 5 were spent trying to escape the pen, 2 of sniffing each other's pee puddles, 3 of Nyota puffing up butt while Best tries to mount, 5 of both Nyota and Best puffy-butting... We could possibly have gone on longer but I upset them both by accidentally spraying them when they weren't doing anything, and then they both blamed each other for the spraying :/ oops!
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Post by Emziedee on Aug 20, 2017 11:30:27 GMT
Loved the break down lol, that's exactly what happens with G&T 😂 I too got a little trigger happy with the water spray once and they blamed each other!! I've never thought of it that way before, that when I push them away from each other or intervene somehow, they do seem to blame each other !
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Post by Emziedee on Aug 20, 2017 11:42:20 GMT
It's amazing how they behave like they have just met this enemy intruder when they're put into a new area of the room of pen etc. I'm like man you've been living side by side for months and you warble and talk happily but the moment I try a new thing it's like it's all reset again
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Post by bouncy on Aug 20, 2017 13:29:57 GMT
G&T that's why I suggested keeping back. You'll leap across quickly enough if there is a FBOD. I know we all want our babies to come to no harm, but it's a balance, because we sometimes intervene too soon, before they can get their dominance bust ups out of the way.
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Post by Emziedee on Aug 20, 2017 23:18:29 GMT
Yep totally right. I just worry about Tibb's ickle fingers
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Post by titchycatnipsandwich on Aug 29, 2017 13:55:01 GMT
Intro... 5? (I am taking this fairly slowly, not sure if there's actually any benefit to daily meet-ups?) It escalated quite quickly from escape attempts to puffy butt-ing to boxing - I called it to a halt after 5 minutes when someone had a chunk of fur pulled out. It looks like just a clump of loose fur, there's not skin attached to any of it, but I stopped it there for today. One of these days, one of you guys is going to be up here near Liverpool and I'm going to rope you in to coming and helping with the guys I mean, I fully get the "you need to let them box it out" and all, but I feel I need a third hand - so I have one for the spray, one for the towel and one for the sieve Edit: I have been swapping the sandbath on an alternate-day basis, the cage set up is a bit awkward for poop swapping tbh. There's no agressive behaviour at the cage divider, they just chirrup. It's literally the part where they meet in the box and decide "hey, let's take chunks out of each other!"
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 29, 2017 16:25:37 GMT
Hmmm! What is the box like that you are using for their intros?
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Post by bouncy on Aug 29, 2017 18:56:13 GMT
Current plan is September
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Post by titchycatnipsandwich on Aug 29, 2017 19:22:50 GMT
The box is... 35cm wide x48cm long x22cm tall - fairly small and shallow, tbh. I seem to spend a lot of time trying to stop them escaping... The argos pen plan failed, Señor DeguWrangler is coming to help me fix the big pen at some point. I considered the bath, but it's getting them both upstairs (Best does not like being boxed). My next plan is to acquire a bigger cardboard box for them, I should have one upstairs... Bouncy, if you're genuinely up this way I'd love to a) meet you and b) have a hand with the boys!
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Post by bouncy on Aug 29, 2017 20:56:30 GMT
There's a competition at the Echo arena in September. I won't know if I'm judging, though, until the panels are announced. I'll keep you posted!
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Post by moletteuk on Aug 30, 2017 10:33:36 GMT
I do sometimes wonder at the neutral area thing. In my experience degus are always on edge in a new space, so I think a lot of times with introductions the neutral area might really be causing a problem. That's not to say that claimed territory doesn't also cause a problem. Maybe try a larger space that they are both familiar with. Also, if the meets are getting worse then stop and try something different.
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