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Post by hpdegus on Sept 22, 2018 1:35:52 GMT
Hmmm, that definitely makes sense. I sprinkle old substrate whenever I clean my other group's cage to prevent fighting.
The reason I was planning on a complete cleaning is because of how they interact in the bathtub and in the play area. They're excellent in the bathtub (almost completely neutral), while in the play area (also has scents of my other group though) they get upset at each other. Do you think that might just be due to the smells of goos that aren't part of the group?
If you don't recommend a complete clean, what would you suggest I do? I have shredded paper down on main levels, and the half levels are covered with fleece. I also have hammocks in both cage sets.
I know theres no "one size fits all" answer with goos, I just want to give them the best possible chance. I really do appreciate all the advice everyone has given me!
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 22, 2018 1:52:34 GMT
I think just do the clean and then the method I recommended. I can't think of anything else to suggest to be honest. The act of putting all into the one cage can be an anxious day or 7 no matter what, because they haven't ever shared one space amongst themselves for that extended time frame. BUT . . . if you have essentially washed the cage to be free of only Fred's scent and then "bathed" it in a combined "all of them at once" scent, my hope is that you are giving them a habitat that just smells like "home" to them. Hopefully that will be the case and thus will dramatically reduce or even eliminate the potential for confusion or fighting.
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 22, 2018 14:17:05 GMT
I think the important thing is that you have observed and understood the issue with scents and territory, so if you try one thing and it doesn't work, you know you have the option to try the opposite thing.
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 22, 2018 19:27:12 GMT
Thanks Deguconvert and Molette!
I did a brief cage clean instead of a full one. I mixed all of their bedding together, like you suggested, so hopefully that will help! I also rubbed fleece with pups/Fred's scent together to try to really combine smells.
They just got put together, so we'll see how it goes!
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 22, 2018 19:42:03 GMT
WOOHOO! OH yes! I hope the very best for you and them! Can't wait to hear!
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 22, 2018 19:49:12 GMT
Thanks! I'll keep you guys updated!
Seems to be going ok so far. Fred is mounting the pups a ton, which I think they're getting fed up with a bit. But theres been a lot of grooming and exploring. So we'll see! I'm keeping a close eye out for fighting or bad interactions.
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 22, 2018 22:04:12 GMT
Ok. A few small spats between Pickett and Fred. Fred goes to mount Pickett, Pickett moves away making unhappy noises. Is Fred persists, Pickett will sometimes try to pick a fight. Fred is usually making something along the lines of "I want to play, just play with me" noises throughout.
If this continues, should I separate them again for the night?
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Post by misscatafer on Sept 22, 2018 22:35:21 GMT
Noises and verbal arguments are OK, I'd only separate if it becomes physically violent. When they are arguing like this, you need to assert yourself as top goo so they know their behaviour is unacceptable. Bang on the cage and shout 'No!' when this happens. And keep a spray bottle by the cage and spray them with a light mist if things get physical. When my girls were going through the terrible teens I used a spray bottle to correct behaviour and it is a good deterrent. Nowadays they are lovely, but if they have an off day and things get heated, they only have to see the nozzle of the bottle to separate lol.
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 22, 2018 23:17:51 GMT
Haha, glad it works so well! So they started lunging at each other actually Pups are separate from Fred again. I guess I'll just keep trying them in the bathtub. They were together 6 hours today, which is something.
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 23, 2018 21:54:35 GMT
Back into the bathtub. Seems to be fine! I might not have mixed scents well enough, or they weren't ready to be together full time. Or maybe the sight of my other group threw them off. Who knows with goos?
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 24, 2018 1:38:08 GMT
What cage do you have Fred in? When you cleaned it, did you take it fully apart? What did you clean with? HEY . . . can the levels come out of the cages and be put into the bathtub with them so they can walk on and pee on them?
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 24, 2018 1:47:58 GMT
What cage do you have Fred in? When you cleaned it, did you take it fully apart? What did you clean with? HEY . . . can the levels come out of the cages and be put into the bathtub with them so they can walk on and pee on them? I have a double critter nation, with Fred in half, pups in the other half. I didn't take it fully apart, and I just cleaned by scrubbing with hot water. Ohhhh, I like that idea! I can definitely pull out the shelves and see how they do with that. I had Fred's snugglesafe in with them today, didn't seem to bother them a bit.
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 24, 2018 19:10:47 GMT
Lol gradually build the whole cage up around them in the bath!
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 24, 2018 19:33:35 GMT
Lol gradually build the whole cage up around them in the bath! Hahahaha, that's an amazing picture! I needed that laugh
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 24, 2018 21:50:13 GMT
Day one of bathtub cage assembly!
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 24, 2018 23:34:10 GMT
That completely set them off! Squealing and lunging within 20mins. I took it out and they started napping within 5min. Weirdos.
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 25, 2018 3:18:24 GMT
So that tells us there something about the shelving or the cover that is indicating that it isn't shared territory. Do you always keep it covered in fleece?
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 25, 2018 22:27:14 GMT
So that tells us there something about the shelving or the cover that is indicating that it isn't shared territory. Do you always keep it covered in fleece? I do keep it covered in fleece. Though the fleece is probably due a wash soon. And they like to pee on the corners not covered by fleece, so that could play a role. I'm honestly thinking of washing each piece and introducing it in the tub so they can scent it at the same time.
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 25, 2018 23:00:05 GMT
I think that is an excellent idea! Just to tell you though . . . when you do wash, let the article of cloth sit in the hot water for a half hour and then continue the washing cycle. That will help to really remove the scents that are causing the conflict. You might even try putting in the shelf, freshly washed but without the fleece and see what kind of reaction you get with that.
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Post by hpdegus on Sept 25, 2018 23:21:33 GMT
Oh, that's really good to know! I'll definitely add that in. I try to keep fleece separate for each cage, so I've never run into this issue before. One day these guys will hopefully be together I'm a little worried that there's going to be a set back soon though, since I have to take Fred to the vet Friday. I'm hoping it's not too bad, but maybe he'll be fine under sedation.
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