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Post by winic1 on Jun 19, 2020 19:14:03 GMT
No, you definitely need to wait. Before giving them face to face introductions, you want them to be, at the very least, ignoring each other when side by side through the bars. Better yet is if they are cuddling up to each other, trying to groom through the bars. You want to see that they very obviously want to be together.
Another option for safe through-the-bars meetings is to use a piece of screen or a spare cage piece of bars, and set them at least 1cm apart, so there's that 1cm space between sets of bars. That way they can see, smell, and hear each other, but not actually reach each other. Until they calm down and no one is trying to bite or scratch each other, you don't want them to be able to get to each other, degus lose toes and ear bits and tail ends that way.
You want them to be begging you to get together, in a "please let me see my new love" way. Not the "please let me kill that intruder" way. You've only had them a few days. They definitely need more time to get used to the idea that new degus have moved into the neighborhood. They also need more time for your older ones to get used to their new, smaller, living quarters.
As for your new ones, it is not uncommon for a degu to be shy about having been taken to a new home. To them, the change is as big as if you had been taken to a new planet with giant aliens taking care of you in your new house. Also, just like people, degus have their own personalities, and it sounds like you've probably gotten one extreme extrovert, and one shyer introvert.
Patience. It's hard, but you just gotta have patience.
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 19, 2020 20:10:19 GMT
I think you are some time yet from introducing them face to face. The pups are still new to your home, and will still be adjusting to their new surroundings. I think one of your indicators might be when you see Peanut beginning to be a little more forward about exploring her cage area with less fear. Her hiding in the hut and staying there so much of the time, could be because she is still afraid of her sudden change in environment from the breeder to your home. I think she needs more time for adjusting. I'd say, give them another week from today to become more relaxed and at ease with where they now are.
I totally understand the feeling of excitement and wanting to get them together as fast as possible. It IS an exciting time! The idea of four degus all cuddled up and in a pile, or being a happy little colony, is also exciting. BUT . . . it is most often better to take it slower when doing introductions. Degus that are getting to know each other (and are strangers to each other) seem to be easily offended, and that can get in the way. I like your idea to have brief meetings that will slowly increment to longer meetings.
As for who meets who when . . . I would certainly do one on one, but perhaps Cinnamon meets Honey, and then meets Peanut. Then Coco meets Honey, and then meet Peanut. I think if there is anyone that is going to be most difficult about the meetings, it is likely going to be Coco. However . . . Honey being as forward as she is, she could prove to be just as aggressive in response.
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mkish
Foraging Degu
Posts: 67
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Post by mkish on Jun 19, 2020 21:47:48 GMT
Yes I am so excited to see them all bundled up in the hammocks and them playing with each other!! If Peanut is still shy in one week could I start introducing Honey to the other two while Peanut gets comfortable and once she’s comfortable hopefully can start introducing her? Or should I keep Honey in the cage with her and just wait till she is ready too?
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 20, 2020 0:29:58 GMT
I would wait to see all four being very calm with their neighbors, before going to the next step. It's hard to wait, I know, but it will be worth it.
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mkish
Foraging Degu
Posts: 67
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Post by mkish on Jun 20, 2020 6:34:19 GMT
Okay, thank you. It is currently 2:30 am and I just woke up to loud squeaking. It was constant high pitch squeaks and it went on for a couple minutes. Cinnamon sometimes has the high pitch squeaks but it’s never gone on super long and when I open the cage she usually runs right to me for comfort. But, here she wouldn’t even come close to me, just kept squeaking. I was thinking maybe something happened with her little sickness? She’s had it for about 3 months and we took her to the vet multiple times but he said to just ignore it. We don’t know what it is but what’s noticeable is the snotty nose and a white, gunky, eye. Could it have to do with that or the new degus? Is there any way I can help her too?
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 20, 2020 8:32:37 GMT
Did your vet take a good look at her molars to be sure there is are not dental issues? Or perhaps take an X-Ray to be sure there isn't any trouble with elongated roots from any teeth? Do you see the eye gunk in one or both eyes? Does she sneeze?
It might be a good idea to have a good look through her fur to make sure she doesn't have any bite marks (push the fur forward, much easier to get a good view of her skin that way) if Coco has been a little more assertive for dominance because of her age or the presence of the pups.
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mkish
Foraging Degu
Posts: 67
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Post by mkish on Jun 20, 2020 13:15:19 GMT
Coco hasn’t been acting any different. In fact she’s been acting more nice than she usually does. Do degus ever have nightmares? Because it always happens at night and it’s right after she’ll wake up.
Our vet said as long as she’s been eating, playing, and running on her wheel than she’s okay. It’s only one eye, her right eye and it’s not always gunky it’s like some gunk every couple days or once a week. She used to sneeze a bit but hasn’t for a couple weeks.
Also Honey has been sitting at the divider, which is a piece of cardboard I just used to block the stairs. She just sits there for awhile doesn’t do anything just sits right under the divider. Is this a good sign?
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Post by savvy on Jun 20, 2020 13:26:03 GMT
Degus do dream so it naturally follows that they can have nightmares. Mine frequent squeak in their sleep, then shoot out of their bed looking really confused.
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 20, 2020 23:43:54 GMT
Yes . . . sitting by the divided does sound like a good indicator of interest and calm. It would be an even better tell if either Coco or Cinnamon were right there as well, and they were all in view of each other.
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Post by bouncy on Jun 22, 2020 1:50:16 GMT
I used to have a cage similar to yours. I took out the two shelves, replaced them with full levels, then had another tray made and changed the stand to a basement. I can't find a picture of the whole cage, but here's the basement.
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mkish
Foraging Degu
Posts: 67
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Post by mkish on Jun 23, 2020 0:26:47 GMT
i swear I said something than went to check and it never fully loaded well, Honey and Cinnamon have been talking and sniffing each other through the bars but not like before. Honey is at the highest point and stuck her head through the bars and Cinnamon got to the lowest point and put her head through the bars and they were talking and sniffing. They were on opposite floors and it only lasted about a minute.
Also Peanut has been coming out a lot!! When family or friend members come in my room she hides but if it’s just me, she’s out and about!!
I love the cage idea!! I will definitely look into it and see if I can do that soon!! Maybe not now because I don’t want to stress the little degus out with all that right below them but once they’re comfortable with everything.
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