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Post by ruskadegu on Oct 27, 2017 14:06:10 GMT
Hello community!
My name's Dom and I recently took on x2 female Degu from some people that couldn't have them anymore.
I'd never heard of a 'Degu' before!
I've had them approx a month and have been working on taming them. Because I do shift work it's hard to get a rhythm, but I'm dedicated (and bloomin love the little things).
One is very dominant, the other shy, but they get on well together.
When I enter the room, the scarper and hide, but when I sit by the cage they soon come out, and will sit on my hand and eat (oats - all other food they take from my hand and leg-it!).
They LOVE dandelion roots.
Recently the shy one, amidst a feeding frenzy, made the usual happy chirping noises, but also did a teeth grind/chatter. I've read that they do this when scared or relaxed. I find it unusual that she would have been scared when treats were being offered, so do people think that this could have been excitement?
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Post by zenaida on Oct 27, 2017 14:19:22 GMT
Welcome!
Glad to hear that you are enjoying your time with your new friends.
About the noises while taking treats: it really can vary, mostly depending on personality. I have 6 girls and they all approach treat time differently. Along the lines of what you're asking, one of mine, Frida, is very cautious, hesitant, and jumpy overall. She's even like that at treat time. Her sisters will all be happily munching on treats, but she's usually the last one to come. When she comes, she growls and chirps at me the whole time (indicating displeasure). Finally she'll snatch the treat and run off to whatever she thinks is a safe distance. After eating it, the cycle repeats: hesitant approach, growls, snatch, and run off.
Since I have 5 others who don't do this it is easier for me to know that this is just "Frida being Frida" and her personality. At this point, her sisters mostly ignore her constant warnings of danger. But sometimes I've seen them even go to her and comfort her as if to say "it's ok, you don't need to be so freaked out, come out and join the fun".
So to answer your question, it really could be anything. I would just keep getting to know her and see how she is in a variety of situations. You'll learn what it means, but that's half the fun of degus, trying to figure out what is going on in those little heads!
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Post by savvy on Oct 27, 2017 14:27:13 GMT
Welcome to the forum. As you have discovered, degus have a way of capturing your heart very quickly.
My little nervous one, Bumblebee, teeth chatters when alone, when I'm there, after eating, when greeting his (hopefully) future cage mate. Anywhere! I'm in the process of introductions so they are currently separate but side by side.
A lot would depend on any other body language that accompanies the chattering. It could be excitement, but it could also be a warning to her cage mate that the treats are hers! It takes time to get to know your degus body language, but you appear to be doing really well with the hand taming.
Do you know how old they are? Do they have names?
Oh and I'll say this before anyone else gets in - pictures please!
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Post by deguconvert on Oct 28, 2017 19:09:52 GMT
Welcome to the forum, Ruskadegu! It is lovely to meet you!
Teeth chattering can accompany almost any activity, and like Savvy says, it is the other body language that helps to define what it means. Sort of like laughter in the human. Some laugh sarcastically, some laugh nervously, some laugh for joy, some laugh in irony and disappointment. Some, like me, will choose to laugh because sometimes it is easier than tears. Laughter is not always an indication of joy or happiness. Context helps with translation.
For this, I hear enthusiastic "yummy ing," and a little bit of "don't you steal my treat" to her companion.
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