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Post by degucat on Sept 2, 2018 9:39:52 GMT
Ok great! 😀 And I think I’m going to see what the prices are (obviously I won’t pick the cheaper one if it’s unsuitable) At what stage do I need to separate them and should i get two separate ones or an X large with a divider? And I understand that I need to find a perfect vet however far away it is!
I go to a great vet for my cats but I asked about degus and he didn’t seem that enthusiastic, I think he could treat them though as he said he had seen degus before so I may give that one a try!
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Post by misscatafer on Sept 2, 2018 9:59:26 GMT
I think male degus are fertile from 6-7 weeks onwards so you need to look at separation from then - I could be wrong though. Have you determined what the sexes of your degus are now? If you have two females you are OK for a bit, if you have a male, you need to ask p@h to pay for him to be neutered to prevent future pregnancies - and you will need to separate him when she gives birth as he could impregnate her again straight away. Long term, you will need to think about realistically how many degus you can afford and have the space for, degu litters can be up to 10! I would say with your current cage... If you keep it as is it in the photo it is unsuitable for even 1 degu due to the lack of floor space. If you turn it on its side and add full length flooring then it will be a great space for 2/3. If you get a second cage and add it on top I'd say 4/5, maybe up to 6 dependent on how much floor space you can provide. - that's just my opinion though. I think on it's side it will be extremely difficult to clean out and work with due to the location of the doors, so that is something to bear in mind.
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 2, 2018 10:02:25 GMT
I think your priority needs to be figuring out for sure what gender Cha-Cha and Tookie are. Males have a longer gap between the cone and the opening than females. We can help you with this with some good, clear photos of their genitals, or the vet can do it - but get the vet to show you.
I don't think we can be certain that one of them is pregnant yet, it's difficult to tell until the last couple of weeks, we need better photos from above or the side in a standing pose. The first certain sign is usually that the nipples are visible, the vet can check this for you.
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Post by degucat on Sept 2, 2018 12:02:24 GMT
Hi, I am finding it really hard to determine their their sex as Cha- Cha is really nervy and Tookie has got very stroppy and is squeaking but occasionally gets back to her normal self and takes a piece of food off me. Here is a link to a photo of her from the side: drive.google.com/open?id=1xY2JEPqILac5HO_-r4SmLjOOeu15kwfOShe is staying there quite a lot and falls asleep, then moves for a bit then gets back to just sitting there. We have booked them in for a sooner appt as I am getting worried if it is not a pregnancy and she is ill? She is showing lots of signs of pregnancy though! We told p@h and they denied all knowledge of them doing anything wrong! Thanks for your help so far 😀
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Post by ntg on Sept 2, 2018 12:34:05 GMT
Have you tried putting them in a glass/clear plastic box or bowl to check their sexes? This can often be easier than picking them up if you can't manage with grabbing them and checking (plus handling probably won't be comfortable for her and possibly bad for the babies if she is pregnant).
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Post by degucat on Sept 2, 2018 13:53:31 GMT
Yes I’ve tried that but she never stays she just sniffs it then when I try to pick it up she runs away and squeaks! Today we took they to the vets which was a nightmare! Cha-Cha managed to jump out just before we shut the lid so it was a crazy chase to try and get them back in! You can imagine how fun that was! Then when we got to p@h they said they were afraid there had been a mix up so we had to come back tomorrow morn but I don’t know wether they (and I lol) can take the stress of taking them back again as they are not tame yet and have never been handled before me! They said that they highly doubt they are pregnant and that she is probably bloated, but what I’m wondering is, why has she built a nest and being so protective and sleeping the whole time and has lots of pregnancy symptoms?, The people at pets at home didn’t even look in the carrier case!
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Post by misscatafer on Sept 2, 2018 15:33:36 GMT
Sounds like quite a stressful experience. You can try holding a treat up to the bars to get them to stand up, then take a pic of the genitals for us so we can help sex them? This may give a better picture of the shape of Tookie too. If you want them to stay still in a clear tub, give them oats - they can't run away from them and have to stay still to eat so you have time to take a pic. Make sure you are moving slowly and calmly around them and when lifting the tub to reduce the risk of them jumping. I swear by oats when I put mine on the scales
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Post by degucat on Sept 2, 2018 15:48:59 GMT
Ok thanks I will do that 😊
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Post by degucat on Sept 2, 2018 16:07:29 GMT
I’ve been offering her (Tookie) food but she just doesn’t want it! She has been in this position for hours now and isn’t moving, it’s like shes gazing into space! Is that normal for a suspected pregnant degu? drive.google.com/open?id=1Ecjjre9rbtb-crxeyEW_u8H-52x1PGm_I’ve constantly been trying to hand feed Cha- Cha but she’s just too nervous, if I leave the food next to her she is starting to eat it which is a step moving forward but she still runs away whenever I go near, but when I’m not there (or peeping round the door frame 😁) she is much more active than Tookie and is constantly mooving! I will try with the oats and if not I will just try and get a photo when she is sitting down on a ledge!
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Post by winic1 on Sept 2, 2018 16:12:28 GMT
We lured ours into a large clear plastic jar, by putting their favorite treats inside, then just waiting. Just be careful of tails when quickly putting the lid in place to keep them inside. A few minutes in a closed jar won't suffocate them, plenty of air for just a very quick time to get some pictures and a good look, then let them right back out.
Would help us to evaluate Tookie's belly if you could get a picture from the side or top when she isn't huddled up, when she's more stretched out, to see if she's still chubby looking when walking, and not just when hunched up eating.
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Post by winic1 on Sept 2, 2018 16:14:06 GMT
Gee, the posture she's in, in your latest picture, looks a lot like how sarahc's degu liked to sit when she was nearly ready to give birth.
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 2, 2018 17:17:58 GMT
If you are going to the vet tomorrow and you are finding it difficult to get pictures, just leave them be. Ideally since you haven't had them long you would be just gradually getting them used to you. Carry on if you think you can get a look or picture of Cha-Cha because she is the one that might be a boy, but I don't think it's worth hassling Tookie. She looks large and fed up in the picture.
Since the PAH vet have already messed you about, go there tomorrow with suspicion in your mind - get them to show you the genitals, if they handle the degus roughly or inexpertly just leave. If they have sold you a pregnant female, you can go to a vet of your choice and they have to pay for it.
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Post by degucat on Sept 2, 2018 17:33:58 GMT
Thanks everyone for all your advice so far, I think I’m going to leave Tookie be tonight as she isn’t looking the best, I tried to lure them on to the scales to see whether she was over 250g as apparently that is an indication that she is most likely pregnant and not just bloated but it wasn’t happening. I think I’ve put enough random objects into their cage today! (Carrier cage, glass bowl and scales lol) If she starts to get more active I will try again but she is still sitting tight. Poor thing! I will update you soon. Please can someone tell me more symptoms of pregnancy as I can’t find many online!
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Post by savvy on Sept 2, 2018 17:42:45 GMT
There's not much more to tell you about pregnancy. Tookie has all the symptoms we know about, the only thing not showing are her nipples which will become apparent nearer the end of her pregnancy. The only other thing is if you can see her stomach moving with the riggling of the pups inside. Please check out Sarahc's thread as she has just had two deliver and has some very good pics of a pregnant degu. deguworld.proboards.com/thread/22178/brain-girls-ella-sweeps
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Post by misscatafer on Sept 2, 2018 17:43:38 GMT
Weight will be an indicator but only if you know what her usual was. If there is a big difference between her and her cage mate that would suggest pregnancy but again you need to know their history to know how they are related. All of my degus are over 250g so that is not a definite indicator unfortunately! We have degus on here who are over 300g
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Post by savvy on Sept 2, 2018 17:52:40 GMT
Both of mine are well over 250g, Bumblebee tops the scale around 280g and Dixie is around 310g. You'd have to monitor over several months to see how her weight fluctuates normally.
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Post by degucat on Sept 2, 2018 18:15:43 GMT
Yeah maybe weights not the best idea then as I’m not sure what she was before 😂 But the pet shop said that they looked almost identical so I might try and weigh Cha- Cha and then go off that! I will try and take some photos of above and the side but she is still sat still. I will keep checking for pregnancy signs then update you soon with the photos etc .....
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 2, 2018 21:16:16 GMT
I can tell you are feeling really worried. Just want to send you a hug and some peace. We're here with you.
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Post by degucat on Sept 3, 2018 6:52:14 GMT
Thanks so much everyone for your help and support so far.
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Post by degucat on Sept 3, 2018 7:46:42 GMT
I just checked on Tookie and she really isn’t looking good, she is sat still and doesn’t move when we go into the room, she just s still fat so I don’t think it is bloating, Please can someone give me any tips? Is this normal for a pregnant degu or do I need to take action?
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