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Post by Xellie on Dec 24, 2020 13:01:04 GMT
Wow I'm gonna sound so strange asking this considering these are my 5+6th degus. Up until now I've only had rescues who are of unknown age / 6months old.
WELL. Now I have this tiny pair of females (and I mean tiny, they gerbil sized) supposedly they are 8-9 weeks old.
And the behaviour is so different to what I'm used to. So I need some advice.
They chatter a LOT. Is this normal for babies to chatter more?
They also seem to sleep more. I guess they're growing up. They're very docile when handled and just tend to go floppy rather than trying to run. Is this also normal?
They're girls. Will they be okay situated next to my boys? (they're 9 months old and a little testy, but nothing serious)
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Post by savvy on Dec 24, 2020 13:33:35 GMT
As someone who got Reggie when she was about 7 months old, I may be able to answer some of your questions.
Reggie was a lot more confident than any of the rescues who came to live here, so she was more vocal and took to Dixie right away (I didn't know then that she was a girl.) I suppose a lot depends on their background as to just how they behave in a new environment/home.
I was genuinely surprised at how much food such a small degu could put away! I knew they ate more, but she was going through more than her body weight a day! And yes, she slept a fair deal too, just like most babies.
The biggest thing I found was that when Reggie is on heat, Dixie gets no peace. She literally follows him, squeaking, trying to get into his cage, everything a wanton little strumpet can do to get her man, she will try. All the while Dixie just ignores most of it. In degus, it's the girls who make the advances!
Also, she will stand still by the bars, or reach for my finger for a cuddle. Never has a degu do that before.
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Post by bouncy on Dec 24, 2020 15:35:28 GMT
Ummmm. When Snoozy and Sneaky were gerbil sized, they were five weeks old. But yes, they are cheery, talkative, and very inquisitive. Prepare for the unexpected!
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Post by Xellie on Dec 24, 2020 16:24:03 GMT
My gerbils are actually bigger, I have such doubts over these little ladies being 9 weeks. They're adorable tho!
They're eating and drinking so if they are a bit younger than they should be I hope they'll be fine.
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 24, 2020 18:53:06 GMT
How did you come to get them, Xellie? Are they from a breeder?
They do sound quite young . . . younger than 9 weeks. At 9 weeks they are usually very forward, so if they want something they just demand it, sometimes nicely and sometimes with a nip. If they are introverted, they are adept at running away and avoiding hands, and will put up an energetic amount of resistance if they feel threatened. Going limp is a fear paralysis reaction of sorts. I hope they are more than 4 weeks of age . . . six weeks is kind of the earliest I personally like to see pups sent out.
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Post by Xellie on Dec 24, 2020 19:04:58 GMT
Quite by chance, they were in the same pet store that had the other 2 boys for 2 years. They say they only take them at 8 week minimum but that they seemed smaller than any they had before. I may have jumped at taking them home in a moment of madness (now having a spare cage and all the goodies) and their faces are adorable. I couldn't help myself. Yeah, I shouldn't enable that shop but if I didn't bring them home someone else would have. They weren't there last week! That shop takes in animals from local breeders (or in the case of gerbils, local accidental breedings!) and only rarely get degus, I doubt they took underage pups on purpose. They aren't afraid at the moment it seems, just a little shy - I'm being very quiet and gentle with them. They're coming and taking food from my hands and I've been clambered all over. I imagine the poor little mites were terrified since they can't have been away from mommy for very long at all. I grabbed a photo with a normal Hamster food bowl for scale photos.app.goo.gl/dawa1ndGHiCBm4p96
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Post by savvy on Dec 24, 2020 19:26:10 GMT
I can see why you fell for them, they are adorable!
The Gods have a way of letting you know what you need and they aren't always subtle about it. They were meant to be yours.
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Post by Xellie on Dec 24, 2020 19:28:51 GMT
I just hope I can do right by them. I genuinely thought they were gerbils at first glance and wondered why they were in a big cage LOL
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Post by savvy on Dec 24, 2020 19:30:47 GMT
They'll be fine.
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Post by bouncy on Dec 24, 2020 21:15:32 GMT
Just a warning - those little monsters (and yes, we want photos!) will eat you out of house and home! I found they ate double!
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Post by winic1 on Dec 24, 2020 22:19:32 GMT
Wondering--more experienced people speak up please--if they are as young as they look, and probably barely weaned, would it be a good idea to give them a little supplementation with critical care to make sure they are getting enough nutrition while they adjust? Or just extra seeds and nuts to for the same reason? or a little of whatever you would feed baby degus if mom wasn't there and you had to take over feeding them (thinking stuff like kitten-milk or whatever is used for baby rodents?)
Certainly, in any case, for such youngsters healthy seeds and nuts are a good supplement for them, considering the rate at which they need to grow?
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Post by savvy on Dec 25, 2020 3:32:05 GMT
I'd just make sure there was a never ending supply of good quality nutrition available to them. That way you can ensure they are eating their fill.
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Post by deguconvert on Dec 25, 2020 7:19:57 GMT
They have likely been weaned . . . but the biggest concern with pups removed early from mum is the training of degu culture and behaviors that is important for their future in the colony . . . which is now your home. If they don't learn proper manners, behaviors, and culture from their parent (s), they can be a big danger to themselves and to each other in the wild, and in domesticated situations, they can be difficult to get along with for other degus. Having each other stands in their favour . . . but you may need to be a part of their training. No, you can't really model good behavior for them ( HA HA) but you can try to tell them what not to do by letting them know you don't like it. If you see them behaving in a manner that dangerous or doesn't seem typical degu, obviously you can ask here if you have questions or are not sure, but if you don't like it, give a sharp loud whistle, or a loud CHI CHI CHI CHI CHI kind of cry (through your teeth like a loud whisper, if that makes sense) and let them know through those sounds to stop what they are doing. They certainly are BEAUTIFUL!! They look like the champagne colouring. Have you thought of names for them yet?
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Post by bouncy on Dec 25, 2020 9:22:51 GMT
Trust me to miss the photo link! They are adorable!
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Post by Xellie on Dec 25, 2020 11:54:15 GMT
Haha no names yet, it took me 3 months to think of names for the rescue boys next to them and years for my older two. We have a good selection of food here, they have the science select nuggets (they seem to have taken a shine to those), plenty of hay, a little bit of forage mix and some of the ratrations degu seed mix (which they also like). The tiniest pinch of oats to encourage them on to my hand, they must be so excited to see so many new things! I also think they are chattering to my boys. They cannot SEE the boys, but I caught both pairs on the shelves next to the other cage warbling and chittering away. If the boys behave well (as in don't fight because there's ladies in the house) I might take the poo guards on the side of the cage down so they can talk better. And since you asked, I introduced them to their new best friend last night
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Post by savvy on Dec 25, 2020 12:04:28 GMT
I can see that a bond between them and their new best friend has already formed. Safe to say that you ain't getting that back until it's gone cold, lol.
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Post by bouncy on Dec 25, 2020 15:19:20 GMT
Love them!
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Post by Xellie on Dec 25, 2020 16:12:51 GMT
I think we're becoming friends!
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Post by bouncy on Dec 25, 2020 17:10:39 GMT
Adorable! Unless you have very big hands, they look to be no more than six weeks to me
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Post by Xellie on Dec 25, 2020 17:18:38 GMT
I have small hands. Now that they've gotten to explore their new home (which is enormous for them) they're quite fearless and a little possessive over my hand.
They've made caves out of the hemp matting, but also seem fairly happy to sleep in the open(ish), despite having caves and houses and boxes and tunnels to hide in.
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