biting degu

[aqh88]

One of our new degus has taken to biting rather hard. They are fairly young, were not handled before, and we've only had them a week. At first I thought it was just a little experimenting on how human hands taste and they'd stop but the more dominant one drew blood today. He's getting very pushy and agressive towards us. Is there anything we can do to make him understand that's not appropriate or is this just a teenage degu phase and we should leave him alone to get over it? The other one licks and mouths my hand but is very careful with his teeth and will nicely take treats from us instead of like the dominant one that charges in and gets our fingers in the process.

[Hanlou]

Hi. You could try squeaking at him loudly, even pushing him gently away, as they do to each other to 'boss' each other about. Don't give him treats through the bars, and don't 'reward' bad behaviour with treats. If he's being pushy, he doesn't get a treat.

One trick I have learned when mine misbehave (like trying to eat the brand new double glazing!!) is to 'blow' in their faces. They really don't like it but it doesn't hurt them at all.

[derri]

Just a thought, but are you sure of the sex? My female became all teeth when she was pregnant!!

[Sunshinemeg]

I have mentioned it before, but when training Charlie, I used a water squirter on bad behaviour. very quickly he learnt, and you only had to show him the squirter, and not actually do anything. I also never did it unless there was sand available and it was never in a cold room. It was a training method that was very effective and minimised aggressive tendencies quickly.

[Aimeelou]

I no its not the most apropraite way to stop them biting, but i found shouting a swear word out when they did it did the trick as well! lol They didnt do it again!

P.S This is not a garranteed method and i am not condoning swearing at degus

[aqh88]

We have been telling him no fairly loudly and then bumping his shoulder but he just comes back to do it again. Today I held out a pellet for them and when he came running up shoving and nipping my hand I told him no, tapped his shoulder, and took the food away. I've never seen anything that small throw that big of a temper tantrum. He set off screeching out his complaints and kept it up until I started to walk away from the cage. When he was quiet I put a handful in his pellet dish and let him eat it out of there.

[ra]

aqh88 your response to your alpha male was perfect!! Keep it up. As I said they like company and are smart. He will learn.