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Post by sonataarctica89 on Jul 10, 2017 5:17:40 GMT
OK so my partner and me brought 2 degus, named stripe and gizmo just over a week ago, to start with they were fine curious, active etc.. and got on fine grooming, playing, sleeping together. Then we decided well came into some money to get them a bigger cage stands about 4ft high multiple tiers. But as soon as they went in the fighting started to the point stripe had to be taken to the vets all be it at midnight with multiple injuries including one on his paw which he is limping from. This was 3 days ago. We separated them for obvious reason but now all they do when we put there cages together is become hostile towards each other because neither will back down, the pet store said we ended up with the 2 dominant ones (yay -_-) they even try and fight each other when put near and neither will seem to back down even from having both of us play with them to try distract them. Also on that note they have had there fighting in the past only minor ones over a sandbath which we then left it in and they were find, usually the hostility lasts an hour but this is a few days now. Anyone have any ideas please
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Post by randomname on Jul 10, 2017 7:56:49 GMT
Hi welcome to the forum. Really sorry to hear about Stripe & Gizmo's fighting. It sounds like they have been through a lot in the past week. Changing home, changing cage & getting used to you can all really unsettle a degu. In any one of these scenarios they could fight but they've been through it all at once. Are these your first degus? They can take a bit of getting used to. They seem to bicker & fight much more than other critters. They have really complex relationships & personalities. Also, they are just plain weird at times. Have you read the forum area about fighting? deguworld.proboards.com/board/28/fighting-issues-introductions there is a ton of helpful information there. It's a very very common problem so don't worry. Injuries are also pretty common sadly. Our advice is usually to try & let them work it out. We'd only recommend a short separation if they go into a furry ball of death (i.e when they roll round locked together trying to kill each other) Although personality does play a huge part in things, the whole social hierarchy is designed so that degu colonies can be safe & thrive. They instinctively know that one has to give in & although it may take time, usually one will. Pet shops are usually the worst place for getting information, so I'd take what they said with a huge pinch of salt. Also have you read our cage size recommendations? deguworld.proboards.com/thread/9396/forums-cage-size-recommendations does your cage fit these guidelines? Cage size can make or break dominance issues. We find the more space, the less fighting. They need to be able to get away from each other. We can totally help with this, so don't panic. We have all had fighting degus, & we see this problem every single day. I'm sure people will be up & around & commenting soon - you'll get some great advice & help. We can figure it out together. You're definitely in the right place.
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Post by bouncy on Jul 10, 2017 8:48:32 GMT
Welcome, and I agree with everything randomname has said. If you got your cage from the pet shop, and it's called a Thickets, this is unfortunately too small for even one, let alone the four they recommend. They are free roaming creatures in the wild, often having a territory covering a couple of square km. A small cage is like us being locked in a small room with our brother or handcuffed to us 24/7. If this is the cage you have, and you went to a certain UK pet shop with a green logo, I can help you get your money back to put towards a decent-sized cage. It's worked for a couple of members already. Once things settle down and you get less nervy about the fighting, you'll notice that goos have such amazing kickboxing skills that would have Bruce Lee in awe!
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Post by sonataarctica89 on Jul 10, 2017 9:39:26 GMT
They have been in the ball 3 times first 2 they pretty much stopped on command it was the 3rd time the injuries happened and they were separated.
And yes they are our first degus. Though I have been used to small animals from a young age mainly birds but have had gerbils as well.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 9:46:38 GMT
They have been in the ball 3 times first 2 they pretty much stopped on command it was the 3rd time the injuries happened and they were separated. And yes they are our first degus. Though I have been used to small animals from a young age mainly birds but have had gerbils as well. Degus are a whole extra playing field entirely. What size cage do you have for them? Could you find a link to it for us? Degus need lots of room! Not ledges, full levels. We can help you find or build a great home for them. How old are they?
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Post by bouncy on Jul 10, 2017 9:48:44 GMT
Having kept various creatures over the years, including gerbils, I can tell you that goos are unique. All the previous rules go out of the window, I'm afraid, but a little patience and learning will lead to such an amazing experience!
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Post by sonataarctica89 on Jul 10, 2017 9:50:24 GMT
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Post by bouncy on Jul 10, 2017 9:55:13 GMT
Ideally, we would have suggested this from this shop. www.jollyes.co.uk/liberta-explorer-large-double-rodent-cage.htmlI know it's double the price, but it will offer more appropriate space. With the extra 20cm length, they will be able to get up to maximum speed, too. Another thing to bear in mind is that goos are very sensitive to their surroundings. Changes, unfamiliar smells, strange noises - they will also take their toll until they become familiar over time. Right now, tho, they're probably blaming each other for their current circumstances.
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Post by sonataarctica89 on Jul 10, 2017 9:58:33 GMT
Yep we were looking to get that one but didn't have the funds straight away unfortunately but are saving up to get it. I'm also inclined to think now I remembered is they were in a group of 4 at the pet store 2 dominate and 2 not could that also be part of the cause?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 9:58:56 GMT
Are you able to return the cage you bought? If you haven't had it 30 days you should be able to return it and say you bought the wrong one. Email whoever you bought it from. The link bouncy sent you is a cage that meets the minimum requirements. They're good cages! Degus are expensive. I think that's one thing I wish people knew before getting some. Once you buy an appropriate setup, toys, an appropriate 12 inch + sized wheel, bedding, it's not too bad. Then it's just vet care if ever necessary, monthly food and bedding costs. Depending on their ages you need to factor in they may be fighting for dominance, which is being doubly strained due to being in a space nearly half the size they should be.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 10:01:19 GMT
sonataarctica89 it's usually a hierarchy, so one goo is on top, the rest fall in line below. Being taken away from the others, new home, new cage, new smells etc all their sense of place in a hierarchy has been wiped. Some reestablish it very quick, litter mates tend to, others take a while. Having the right space for them, so theyre able to get away from each other and have a break and their own space helps greatly. Mine were trying to kill each other from being in a cage too small - when they got their new cage which was the right size they stopped fighting virtually immediately.
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Post by bouncy on Jul 10, 2017 10:05:31 GMT
Mine were trying to kill each other from being in a cage too small - when they got their new cage which was the right size they stopped fighting virtually immediately. I remember that! Were you the first person I sent the information to for getting your money back on a thickets? Or second? I've lost track!
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Post by sonataarctica89 on Jul 10, 2017 10:05:58 GMT
Shall look into getting the funds asap then though we were told by the vet to keep them separated at least until stripe can bare weight on his foot (bare in mind also injured he went back to fight) purely so it doesn't get infected or attacked again. Also away from cage size, they don't seem to want to stop hostility towards each other even being separated, if they are more then a foot away they are fine anything closer and they get all aggressive, tail wagging, teeth chattered, all fluffed up and try attack each other through the cages
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 10:08:48 GMT
bouncy the second I think! sonataarctica89 yeah wait until it scabs over and he's using it. They are probably angry at each other as they don't have a hierarchy and are two goos challenging each other over one space.
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Post by sonataarctica89 on Jul 10, 2017 10:10:48 GMT
He is using it to clean himself and eat etc but still reluctant to walk on it
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 10:16:37 GMT
Probably still a little sore and achy. If he's not using it sort of by the end of the next week or two, I might revisit the vets.
Did they examine it to see if it was just cut, rather than sprained or fractured?
How long ago did he injure it?
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Post by sonataarctica89 on Jul 10, 2017 10:19:14 GMT
The vet examined pretty much all of him and checked to see if it was fractured and this happened on Saturday night about 8pm. I can imagine it's still sore as gizmo bit my finger as I separated them and that still hurts like hell
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2017 10:23:21 GMT
Yeah. That's fine if the vet examined him.
Yep! I've been bitten in the past and it's not good lol!
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Post by sonataarctica89 on Jul 10, 2017 10:26:44 GMT
Also seeing they are around a rat size give or take we were thinking about getting them an adjustable harness each so if they keep being aggressive we can take them out in them and hold them far enough so they can groom each other but far enough so if they start to fight they won't be able to reach so they can get used to just being around each other again
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Post by sonataarctica89 on Jul 10, 2017 10:42:39 GMT
Is it also worth allowing them to get there teeth chattering over with or keep them far enough so they stop
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