|
|
Post by catie1108 on Jul 15, 2017 16:46:05 GMT
We got our degus 3 years ago as babies - 2 boys named Sprocket and Gizmo. We have a cage that is roughly 1.5m x 1m x 0.5m with them only having half each unfortunately. When we bought them they were the best of friends - always cuddling, sleeping on one another and eating from the same bowl. One morning we woke up and saw a pool of blood in the bottom of their wheel and blood all over gizmo. Sprockets tail was almost completely bitten off and gizmo was bleeding badly from his hind quarters. This was roughly a year ago. Since then we have had to separate them giving them their own space. We have tried reintroduction on common ground, but as soon as we do, they attack each other and form a ball, making it really hard to separate them. (My partner was bitten on the knuckle trying to separate them and needed a jab as he could no longer move his finger). We are both really aware that they need company to be happy, but don't know what to do. As a result, gizmo is always biting his bars and Sprocket constantly running which gets quite irritating as you can imagine!!! If anyone knows how to help us get them back together please let me know!!! (N.b. Gizmo doesn't have a wheel as we have tried both plastic and wooden ones and he eats them until they are no longer useable, and the metal ones are way too loud!  he does have a ladder, house, things to chew on such as rope and wood, tubes and a bath, as they both do) |
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Jul 15, 2017 17:16:31 GMT
Hi Catie, welcome  How is the cage and the space in the cage aranged? Could you show us a photo? (you will need to use a photo host site like Flickr or postimage.org (photobucket have just packed in)) You can make a wheel from a cake tin with an industrial bearing that will be virtually silent, the photos in this thread need repairing so you will need to check back in a few days when I have it sorted deguworld.proboards.com/thread/18484/molettes-35cm-home-metal-wheel Or you can make one with a skateboard wheel bearing or buy one like that here deguworld.proboards.com/thread/19676/tictac-wheelsI think in a case like this I would recommend getting the housing right so nobody is feeling overly stressed and territorial, and then setting them up a meeting place within the cage where they can meet on the same level with a double layer of mesh for safety and just leave them like that for a while and see what happens. This will allow them to meet at the same level so nobody has a psychological advantage and it allows you to gauge how they feel about each other without the stress of actual meetings. |
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Jul 15, 2017 18:24:21 GMT
I was likewise thinking! Welcome to the forum, Catie!!
|
|
|
|
Post by sonataarctica89 on Jul 16, 2017 19:02:28 GMT
As for the furball separating with ones hand isn't very smart, I know I done it and still a week later it hurts XD try a spray bottle or my favorite blow them on the head, then throw towels over them. Works like a charm and you don't get bitten.
As for stopping them well I'm having the same trouble with my 2. Though I can say they are both now becoming submissive to me (with the occasional rebellion) by simply not giving them treats or stuff say like a new stick or oats until I have had them given to me and done what they do like biting a stick (tastes horrible) or eating an oat or 2 or hell usually a lot, then giving it to them.
If you google "how to become a dominate degu" there is a PDF which gives a brief reason why and how to.
|
|
he does have a ladder, house, things to chew on such as rope and wood, tubes and a bath, as they both do) 
