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Post by chocolatecake on Dec 13, 2018 20:34:00 GMT
Hello all, One of my beloved degus, Monty, recently passed away, leaving me with a single degu (Jack). It's only been a couple of weeks, but he's obviously lonely, and I will need to look into finding him a buddy. However, I just wanted to double check his (her??) gender, as clearly this is fundamental for finding a companion. I tried to check the gender of my goos before, but all I could definitely conclude was that they both looked the same. Jack is nearly 3 years old. He was sold to me as a boy, but I don't 100% trust Pets at Home. This is the best picture I could manage, and was hoping someone could help me out:  And because that's no polite way to introduce a degu, here's a picture of Jack looking a little more 'presentable':  (The bow is just rested on his head, don't worry!!) |
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 13, 2018 20:41:54 GMT
I'm not usually stumped . . . and my first thought is, yes this is a male . . . BUT . . . there is not a great deal of space between the urethral cone and the anus, AND right at the base of the cone this is what looks like a vaginal opening. SO . . . I'm really not sure what to tell you!!
HEY GUYS!!! We need more thoughts on this!!
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Post by chocolatecake on Dec 13, 2018 21:04:47 GMT
Thanks for the reply - I have very limited experience, but have to say I was stumped as well! My boyfriend is convinced Jack is a Jackie, but I'm not so sure. I could try to take a couple more photos if that's any use.
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Post by moletteuk on Dec 13, 2018 21:06:29 GMT
I'm havering too! Could you get some more photos from slightly different angles.
OK brace yourself, I'm going to approach this from a different angle: Did you see much humping activity between them? Usually with males you would sometimes see them orally self pleasuring, did you see that, normally when your mother in law is visiting?
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 13, 2018 21:08:52 GMT
R O F L!!!! Degus have a true knack for knowing when Mother-in-laws are visiting and whipping things out!!!
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Post by ntg on Dec 13, 2018 21:08:56 GMT
My thought is also male but i know what you're saying DC, it's usually a lot more distinct than it looks in that photo. I'm wondering if his midriff is maybe slightly squished up/bent and that's what's throwing us off?
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Post by chocolatecake on Dec 13, 2018 21:55:05 GMT
OK, I have taken some more pictures... and I'm definitely thinking girl now...    The only time they ever mounted one another was when they were approximately 1 year old, and there was some serious fighting for dominance/humping behaviour during Springtime. I thought I might have to separate them the fighting was so bad, but they eventually settled and were fine after that. I've never seen anything that looks like self-pleasuring! Thanks for the input all... is this more definitively female looking? |
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Post by ntg on Dec 13, 2018 22:05:22 GMT
Yeah those other photos definitely make Jack look like a Jackie  you aren't guaranteed to notice boys sorting themselves out, but it's pretty likely if they're in a spot where you see them a lot.  |
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Post by chocolatecake on Dec 13, 2018 22:21:07 GMT
They live in the kitchen, so we interact fairly frequently but not all the time!
I guess the million dollar question is, can I now be confident enough to buy female degus as friends for Jack(ie)?
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Post by savvy on Dec 13, 2018 22:38:43 GMT
Gross. But there is one sure way to know if Jack is a Jack; have you ever seen him 'self cleaning'?
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Post by chocolatecake on Dec 13, 2018 22:57:19 GMT
Gross. But there is one sure way to know if Jack is a Jack; have you ever seen him 'self cleaning'? I can't say I ever have! |
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Post by misscatafer on Dec 13, 2018 22:58:20 GMT
I think you have a Jackie there!
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Post by ntg on Dec 13, 2018 23:01:10 GMT
Gross. But there is one sure way to know if Jack is a Jack; have you ever seen him 'self cleaning'? That may be because you have a ringside seat to Bumble and Dixie's cage throughout the day though I just recognise the noise of it from the other side of the room now  |
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Post by savvy on Dec 13, 2018 23:17:50 GMT
Gross. But there is one sure way to know if Jack is a Jack; have you ever seen him 'self cleaning'? That may be because you have a ringside seat to Bumble and Dixie's cage throughout the day though I just recognise the noise of it from the other side of the room now We'll they're not exactly shy about it, lol. |
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Post by goolover on Dec 14, 2018 1:42:19 GMT
How strange, the first picture looks confusing but yes you have a girl there. Pets@Home sold them as boys, ahhhh don't you just love them!
@ moletteuk 😂
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Post by winic1 on Dec 14, 2018 6:26:47 GMT
Ummm....I wouldn't say girl for sure. Remember when I asked about my Phil, and his spacing is a bit ambiguous, so that opinions kept switching between boy and girl, leaning towards girl? But then a trip to the vet proved conclusively that he was a boy (she 'made it show itself').
Hate to do it to you (and him/her) but maybe try taking a picture with something tipping his cone forward, away from his anus, so that the space in-between them is clearly shown. This will eliminate the possibility that he/it is just leaning back and covering up part of the space.
Or have an experienced vet check and tell you for sure.
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Post by bouncy on Dec 14, 2018 9:00:28 GMT
Looks like a Jack in the first photo, amazingly cute and patient (and hooman tolerant) in the second, but Jacqueline in the third. As Winic says, another picture may clinch it!
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 14, 2018 15:31:27 GMT
Just as a side question . . . it looks like maybe Jack(ie) has a fur ring around the cone? If you can gently remove that, I don't know if a cotton bud will do it, or if you will need tweezers, but that will help as well to give us a clearer view. Not to mention, it could be a big relief as well. From the second photo I feel more inclined to think female, but I thought that the first time. If the fur ring is gone, a third picture "should" help clinch things . . . or a visit with a vet that knows how to "force" the reveal if there is a penis to be discovered. |
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Post by goolover on Dec 14, 2018 17:18:52 GMT
Could his be the first sexting to have us stumped 😕
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Post by bouncy on Dec 14, 2018 17:58:34 GMT
Could his be the first sexting to have us stumped 😕 ..........or her............ |
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