Degus acting strange

[katta94]

I never seen such behavour before..and i have had them over 4 months now.. ( they're 9 months old )
I will do my best to try to explain it..

When it started:

It started when Taico was running in his experience wheel, and Trico was standing on the side, watching..
It seemed he wanted to groom Taico.
Once Taico stopped running, Trico would be quick to start to groom ( touch) his fur on his back..
Taico then reacted by pushing away Trico..( running away, always faced his back on him)

During and before that time they made a lot of noice;  they sound like birds (chirping sounds) like they talked to each other..(both made this sound)


After that:

He moved away from Trico:
Trico followed and made bubble noices, while Taico had more displeased sound + his ears was lying back.. 

He reject and ignored Trico, while Trico  constanty wanted Taico's attetion ..
During all this they made a lot of noices..
Taico would be loud and show/raise his back at Trico - not wanting to face Trico..
To me it  kinda looked like Trico wanted to comfort Taico, while Taico wanted him away..

Note; The ununsual part is the vocals that Taico used.. It was diffrent from what they normaly make when..they want the other degu away..

instead of the hissing sound ..it was more high pitch squeaking..
It sounded like the one they make when they're afraid..
but had different vocal..



I tried to distract them with food and playtime outside..they was both quiet and acted normal duing that :
It helped but it would start after some time again..( when they got back into the cage)
and Trico also at some point made the same noices..so it effected him too...

I asked my boyfriend ..he said it could be the weather, since the air is heavy  and it could come thunder..
So maybe they react to that?..i haven't heard any thunder but..the air is perfect for it..


NOW:
Been an hour now..  they're both curled up to each other.. seems like they're calm for now.

I filmed it all.. on YT: youtu.be/Ajt4A2oliYU

[deguconvert]

Watched your video, and there are two things that come to mind. One is quick and fairly easy, which is at nine months of age, they are well in to the adolescent stage where dominance issues and fighting over who is dominant become very prominent. Siblings, male or female, all will challenge each other in this manner because degus colonies are built on a hierarchical relationship. Someone will always be top, and the rest will cascade down to the lowest standing. These standings can be somewhat fluid in a large group, but with just two, you will often see very clear indications as to who is dominant and who is not.

However . . . something else that stands out to me, having watched the video, I see interactions that I associate with a male and a female pair, not a male and male pair, or a female and female pair. So I went back to look at any photos that you have posted that feature them, and in your very first post of pictures, you have two that show each one laying on it's back, sound asleep. One of those is very clearly male . . . but the other looks quite possibly female. I do not recall if this has been linked for you previously, but just in case, here is a thread link that illustrates how to identify a male and a female degu. deguworld.proboards.com/thread/13070/degus It is my thought that you may have a male that wishes to mate, and she is not interested at the moment.

[katta94]

They're both male - 100% xD

[deguconvert]

Not to cause disagreement, but to make sure we are seeing the same thing . . . have you seen these two indulge in the deep cleaning of their penis? That is a sure fire confirmation of male anatomy. I ask . . . because in the photo, Taico looks female to me. Her cone and anus are closer to each other than are Trico's cone and anus. If both degus have extended their penis and cleaned it, there can be no doubt they are male.

[savvy]

I've got to agree, Taico looks like a girl to me.

[katta94]

A better look,Taico is male for sure, i seen them fellate themself xD

[moletteuk]

I think it's the angle in the first, I think both male, and it's good that you've seen the other visual confirmation. In which case the behaviour will be hormones and dominance, although it does look kind of 'coy' rather than aggressive!

[deguconvert]

Yes . . . definitely looking male there . . . and the act they perform on themselves, LOL, that cannot be disputed!! ALL questions erased!!

Which means that leaves only adolescence and contending for dominance as the reason for the new behaviors and noises. If you were to guess, would you say that Taico has been the dominant of the two? I'm wondering if Trico is looking to challenge. Which doesn't really matter a whole lot, actually. No matter who is dominant now, the other will contest the position, and there will be an unsettled and even aggressive mood between them until it is settled. Have a read of this deguworld.proboards.com/thread/17619/deguconverts-detailed-introductions-fighting-guide . . . and then ask any and all questions that arise, not just from what you read, but from what you see with your two males, because they will begin to chase, to yell, to kick and wrestle, and you may see the "FBOD" or furball of death as we call it. (Which is mentioned in the link) There is another link of similar information . . . deguworld.proboards.com/thread/17618/introductions-fighting-quick-guide .

I thought we had a sticky for adolescent descriptions, but can't find it at the moment.

[katta94]

Taico was leder first, then Trico took over..and now i don't really know..since both seems equal..
They do argue and fight a bit..(daily)...but it's over quick and it's never been serious...since it often stops long before that happens..