Introduction Advice please!!

[Hanlou]

Ok, so I have a bad case of GMD (Get More Degus)...

Well, it wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't seen two girlies up for rehoming that only live in Nottingham!

I would really love to have these two girlies (though I need to get approval from mum and dad first). I just wondered if anyone had any experiences of introducing females? I currently have two females and a neutered boy. All the intro's I've read about so far are male - male. Are females easier to introduce?

Any experiences or advice gratefully received!! I will have a spare cage for intro's but I know that mum won't want an extra cage in the conservatory for too long. It all gets a bit complicated as I'm going on holiday in September as well, but I could always get someone else to look after the two newbies if mum will let me have them.

[ra]

Sorry I can't be of any help Hanlou. I have been eternally grateful I didn't have to do introductions. Mocha having babies solved my should I or shouldn't I get her a cage mate! Sometimes I wish I'd kept all of her baby girls since she only had 3 girls but I was so overwhelmed by the whole OH MY GOODNESS HE is a SHE and SHE just had PUPPIES thing I wasn't thinking. The two seem happy enough though. It is easy to handle two at any given time like during cage transfers for cleaning. Four might have been a little challenging!

[Sunshinemeg]

I have only introducded males, but understand that females are far less aggressive to new cage mates, and dont have such strong dominance issues, so I wouldnt have thought there would be a problem, just follow the same advice, seperate but touching cages or cage sections for a week with mutual ground to meet on in supervised visits, sand bath swapped reguarly and the same for bedding to ensure all degus smell the same.

good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Degumagic]

HI ya

About 2 weeeks ago i added a new end to my girls cage ( once i get pic's on pc i'll show ya) leaving the mesh dividing it and moved Mum (Comet) and daughter (willow) in.

They lived apart for about a week, just kept apart by the mesh, there was no fighting, just lots of talking, so i cut a hole and held my breath, god i was nervous and worried how i would stop them if they went mad but all was fine they all live together now and are really happy. All cram in a box together to sleep,

I think the close contact at first was really good for them, they could touch each other though the mesh but stay apart if they got worried.
Hope this helps
Good luck

[Hanlou]

Aw thanks degumagic. It does help, a lot!!! Hopefully will be able to use this information to convince mum and dad this is a good idea!! :-)