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Post by degowner on Dec 22, 2020 23:10:34 GMT
Hey!
I'm having the same problem.
I'm Anna and I have 2 female degus. One of them is younger than the other one. I bought two siblings at first, but one of them got sick and unfortunately died.. Degus can't be alone so we were constantly checking our nearest pet store for some new female degus. This year's spring we bought a new degu. We introduced them slowly as recommended and they got along. But this november they started fighting. I know that it's they're breeding hormones and they do fight, but they are fighting all the time. And everytime the little one gets injured! The big degu doesn't have any scars or injuries from the little degu, but the little one is almost covered in scars! Which is kind of weird cause the little degu does bite us, bit the big one doesn't. One time we had to go to the vet because the big degu bit the little degus tail really hard. They have been separated a long time now. And everytime we try to put them closer the little one gets injured. I'm seriously worried that they won't get along and I will have to give one of them away. I really don't want to do that. Our cage can't be the problem. It's really big. It's one meter long, 60cm wide. We have considered making it a biiit smaller because it's taking up really much space. If you're wondering they older degu is is about 2 years old and the younger one is a few months old.
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Post by bouncy on Dec 22, 2020 23:55:08 GMT
Hi Anna,
The other thing you have to take into consideration is their age. Just like human teenagers, they have a hormonal surge associated with growth, so you may have to wait until little one is a bit older. It doesn't surprise me about the biting. Your elder girl is used to you, and hasn't got anything against you, whereas her hormonal invader has to be defended against.
A word of warning - you're possibly getting to the grudge stage. Degus can hold a grudge for an eternity, so it may be worth holding back until they're a bit more settled before reintroducing them again. And please resist the urge to reduce the cage size - because they're so territorial, a reduction in space could cause even more aggro!
Your cage has a good footprint! Just for information, how many full levels does your cage have?
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 23, 2020 0:48:47 GMT
Hello, Deguowner, and welcome to the forum! DITTO what Bouncy said. Do you have the young one in her own cage? How near are their cages? Even having them near, with 6 inches space between cages is near enough to be companionable but distant enough to protect bodies, tails, and feet. If you are seeing aggression between them at the bars, you can always place a carboard barrier between so that they can't see, but can still hear and smell each other. Have you read our fighting and introductions guide? deguworld.proboards.com/thread/17619/deguconverts-detailed-introductions-fighting-guide This will give you a few ideas as to what is going on with them. The young one will be entering in to her adolescent stage, and that is a difficult stage. Not impossible, and definitely worth hanging on to get through, but it isn't smooth. We are here to help, to encourage, to offer ideas or insight from our own experiences, and to help you and your degus get through to the other side. You've come to a good place! |
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Post by degowner on Aug 18, 2022 21:00:41 GMT
Hey!
Thankyou for the advice! You have really helped and yall are really smart. I definitely will be making some changes according to your advice
I don't feel very mighty about bringing up a problem after problem, but another thing that really worries me has happened
Last night I let my two degus run around the room because it's what I usually do so they don't get too bored in their cage. There's never been a problem with windows but this time it seems like it is one. I keep one window open because of how hot it is outside and really need fresh air. Well that day I let my two degus out one didn't turn up. Which is strange. She's the bravest one and would never stay quiet even if there were people in the room. Either way I have listened very carefully but no sign of her. I am very worried that she jumped out the window. It would be unlikely because she even hesitates while jumping up and down on the tree branches in their cage so it would be extreme if she jumped out of a second story window..but right now it seems that it's the only option. If that's the case she's probably dead and our neighbors dog took her. It's really sad but if any of you think otherwise please let me know. She's been gone for about a day now. Yesterday august 17 2022 I still saw her and my mom remembers giving her a piece of tomato. Then they escaped and I haven't seen her since. Today is august 18 2022
If you have any tips please let me know! But I'm sorry to say that I can't spend much money on trap cages since they'd still come a week later and there would be no use of it anymore. If there are any other things I should be looking out for let me know!
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 19, 2022 1:28:24 GMT
Anna, welcome back. I am very sorry to hear of the missing degu!! Have you fully explored your room, looked for tiny hiding places she might have squeezed into, holes in furniture or walls? I had degus that were masters at escaping from my degus cage for a while, and they were fully capable of getting into drawers, closets, desks, cupboards, all kinds of things. What occupies the space where you were letting them run? Have you looked outside for any signs of her?
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Post by degowner on Aug 19, 2022 10:05:08 GMT
I think I might have switched in between accounts but it's the same Anna writing back.
I have checked everywhere. To be honest we do have quite a lot of hiding spaces in the room they were running around in but she wouldn't really hide away like that. She loves company and runs around the room all the time. But I have checked everywhere possible. Behind this little couch. Behind the bookshelf in boxes shoes drawers etc. But no sign of her. I've heard that some people's rodents get into walls but I have no idea how she would do that and Im pretty sure she would be letting out some kind of sounds. Would it be possible that she jumped out the window?
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 19, 2022 19:54:54 GMT
If she was able to access the window sill, there is definitely a possibility that she may have fallen from there. I doubt she would have jumped, but her curiosity might have lead her to put herself in a precarious position from which she could not retreat, and she may well have fallen.
There have been multiple times over the years that I have been part of this forum where someone has reported a missing degu. Degus have disappeared into the floor boards, walls, or just about anywhere. They are very capable of hearing our approach and changing their location while we go looking, and quite adeptly avoiding detection. Some were a good couple of weeks before finally being recaptured. Unless they are chewing on furniture or walls or other things, they don't necessarily make noise we can pick up on.
I would recommend that you leave some of her favorite treats, and a shallow dish of water, out in a protected area, where she might feel safe to eat them. If she is in the house, this will give her something to eat and drink, AND it will let you know that she is there. If you are able to know exactly how much you have put there, you'll know if it is disappearing. If it is disappearing it will either be her or mice. Make sure that your other degu does not eat them when she is allowed out so that you don't get misleading information.
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