dreamcatcher
Burrowing Degu
Not my pups, but aren't they cute!!
Posts: 134
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Post by dreamcatcher on Nov 16, 2006 1:02:43 GMT
As most of you know, I just got two boy degus given to me that share a cage with a partition cause they are fighting. Things have gotten alot worse!! The partition is metal squares about an inch big and the keep sticking their noses through and biting each other on the nose!! I am really lost at what to do now other than put a plexiglass partition or remove one from the cage Both of their snouts are swollen from all the bites!! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP?!!!!
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Erica
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 159
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Post by Erica on Nov 16, 2006 4:12:27 GMT
Sometimes it's hard to read their little degu minds... what are they thinking? First, keep them safe from each other. You might want to add another partition with smaller (1 centimeter) squares or put them in two seperate cages so that they can't bite each other. If you use a second cage temporarily they can be beside each other. Keep the boys in a different room than your girls... female degu pheromones don't bring out the best in male degus. Make sure that the boys smell the same by swapping or mixing their bedding daily. Put some from one half (or cage) in the other and vice versa. Also, put a sand bath on side/cage #1 for a minute or two then in side/cage #2, back in #1 and #2 ... back and forth so that they both smell the same. I suggest that you mix their bedding and swap sand baths every day until they're sleeping beside each other in their respective "cages". Once they've settled down you can try to put them together on neutral territory (e.g. aquarium) for short supervised visits (i.e. only a few minutes). Keep the "neutral zone" free of anything that they can fight over... no food dises, toys, nest boxes... just bedding. It may take a few days, weeks or possibly months to get them to settle down. Hang in there Jenna. Keep them safe and be patient. Are you able to separate them for now?
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dreamcatcher
Burrowing Degu
Not my pups, but aren't they cute!!
Posts: 134
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Post by dreamcatcher on Nov 16, 2006 13:01:36 GMT
I am able to separate them for now. It will be cramped but I don't want them hurting each other either. I will move their cage as far from the girls as possible but still keeping them in the loop of the house hold noise.( I don't want them to get skittish from too much quiet.)
I might have to take one out of the cage and put him in a different cage as I don't think I have any material with smaller holes than what I've got other than plexiglass. Thanks Ricky, for the advice. I will try this for as long as it takes.
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