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Post by Xellie on Jul 28, 2020 21:42:44 GMT
Okay so, I posted here a bit about my old boys (one is suffering from a heart condition - update on that, I stopped is meds as it doesn't improve anything for him and stresses him out.) and I've been preparing to possibly lose him. However he's till bouncing around and remarkably resilient. I thought about getting a pair of pups to introduce so that nobody ends up lonely. So i'd been thinking about that... however... For the last 2 years there have been a pair of boy goos in a pet store not far from me. I've always considered buying them, but I was unsure how my boys would take to that / had to consider housing issues. Now that I have space to house another pair of goos, I'm torn between getting some youngsters to introduce to my old boys (Although, will it work okay introducing a pair to a pair? It seems risky)or pretty much saving these 18month~2 year old goos from the petshop. The price is high and they just live in the top floor of an aventura explorer with no wheel and just a cardboard box and hammock. I really want to give them a better home. I had sworn off petshops and was hoping for a rescue or adoption but.... If I got these two boys, are they unlikely to get along with my older boys? If they share a communal playpen but not at the same time, will they fight because they can smell other goos? These uuh... petshop boys are friendly, but not handled. Which is basically the same way I got my first pair, they never have fully tamed. But I feel so awful seeing them there lonely every week when we buy food. Do you think its possible my boys could accept them? And Ethically, would you give money to a petshop that isn't really caring for them correctly? I dont think they will get more in since it's been 2 years but...
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Post by deguconvert on Jul 29, 2020 0:05:36 GMT
Well!! That is quite a thing to decide on!
I think that you can't guarantee, no matter what the ages are of all the degus involved, whether or not you will be able to introduce strange degus to each other and end up with a completely happy bunch. What you can know with degus that are about two years of age is . . . they should be past the adolescent stage! Which in my opinion is nice to know!
Will they clash, quite likely. Will they start to get along? Also likely, if given the time and patience that is needed to bring them together. Yes . . . introducing pairs can be difficult, and it can result in fighting between the pairs as well as among the four of them. Especially if they are not really bonded with their companion and like one of the others better. Which can, and does happen. Still . . . degus are colony animals, and they do prefer to be in groups greater than two, so in the end, I think they will figure things out and bond together. It's just that the process of figuring it out, and everyone agreeing to their position within that colony can be ... kind of nasty. Most definitely it is stressful, for them, and for us. It is well worth it to give it a serious try and to persevere, even though it can be a process of several months.
For the sake of those two boys that are in such a tiny space, removed from most everything, and who knows what else they are lacking, I would say yes!! Rescue them!! I would also say, arrange to meet with the manager and put the matter to them. They are not kept as they need to be. They are asking too much for them . . . or they would be gone to a home by now. What will they do to see that they are finally taken into a good home? Because either they are attached to them, but not too concerned about their care and therefore are keeping an unreasonable price to keep people away, or they want them located and need a firm nudge in the right direction.
If you do choose to get them, we are here to help you with the introductions at all stages, and will cheer you on. It is very helpful to have a place where you can ask questions, express your uncertainty, or your frustration (you are guaranteed to feel both a number of times), and to celebrate the little victories as they come. Yes . . . I said little . . . because they seem to seldom move forward quickly, or easily by human standards. Anyway, we are here for you!
Hopefully there will be others that put in their thoughts and suggestions as well.
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Post by winic1 on Jul 29, 2020 15:57:22 GMT
If you have the space to keep them as separate pairs, and are prepared to accept that they might not successfully introduce, then I say go for it. You can attempt introductions, and hopefully it would work, but if it's not working and you can leave them as two separate pairs, everybody still wins. But do go talk to the store manager about the price and the lack of proper housing and care they have been provided. Make a more reasonable offer, pointing out that that price is generally for very young degus who are easily tame-able, so you are still being generous. But also have decided, for yourself, whether you are willing to pay the full price, so you go in knowing and prepared. Good luck, and kudos for caring so much.
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Post by Xellie on Jul 30, 2020 5:05:33 GMT
I guess another thing to consider is that stubby is very unwell, he'd potentially be bullied by younger guys?
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Post by deguconvert on Jul 30, 2020 7:29:21 GMT
He could be. But you don't have to work on getting them together. You could just get to know them as a set of two. And . . . you wouldn't want to start intros right off the bat, either. You would need to give the new boys time to adjust to their new cage, new home, new people, smells, lighting, and the degu neighbors. That would be at the very least, two weeks. It could be even longer. You might even decide that you prefer keeping them as neighbors. Or across the room neighbors.
It is not our decision though. You need to do what you feel is the right thing to do. I think you have a compassion and heart for those two boys in the pet store. Do you have the space, finances, and energy to take them on?
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Post by Xellie on Aug 5, 2020 17:03:16 GMT
I saw them again yesterday and they were running up to the bars for attention, reaching through and squealing when they couldn't touch me
I can't leave them there, I will try to negotiate with the management. I will make the situation at home work for them.
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Post by moletteuk on Aug 5, 2020 18:21:44 GMT
good luck!
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 5, 2020 22:36:01 GMT
I pray it goes very much in your favor! Which we know will also be in the favor of the degus.
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Post by Xellie on Aug 28, 2020 14:23:25 GMT
Funny enough, as soon as I started asking they said they needed to speak to the manager and then they got sold a few days later!
I'm happy for them, they weren't in the best of places being stuck there.
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 28, 2020 19:25:52 GMT
Hmmph! Well . . . I'm glad that they have a new home because you spoke up. I AM sorry that it didn't work out to be in your home.
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