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Post by savvy on May 21, 2021 11:56:54 GMT
There's been a couple of scuffles between Ruby and Amber over Reggie this morning. Reggie was saying hello to Ruby and Amber got a bit jealous and tried to push her out of the way, Reggie just walked off and left them to it.
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Post by deguconvert on May 21, 2021 17:13:05 GMT
Sounds like my house when I was growing up!! LOL!
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Post by savvy on May 22, 2021 17:14:26 GMT
Today I've had to pull their cages a bit further apart. Sphene, who is showing every indication of being on heat, was launching herself at the bars to get to Reggie and Reggie in turn was getting a bit annoyed with her. Its a lot calmer now.
Small steps, I'll move the cages back again on Monday.
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Post by bouncy on May 22, 2021 20:04:42 GMT
Mass degu PMT! Panic!
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Post by savvy on May 29, 2021 9:18:10 GMT
So now they have all finished the hormone frenzy of the last few days, things have settled again.
They are still very skittish, but this morning we have made a couple of breakthroughs! Ruby has taken a treat from my hand through the bars, its the first time she's stayed close enough to even see it clearly, and Amber sat in front of her usual breakfast spot while I put my hand in the cage and tipped a cup full of forage out about an inch from her nose. Sphene just ran off as normal, lol.
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Post by moletteuk on May 29, 2021 10:56:37 GMT
Lovely! So encouraging to get a little progress in the trust department
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Post by bouncy on May 29, 2021 11:27:07 GMT
The ladies now queue to go to bed!
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Post by deguconvert on May 29, 2021 17:24:52 GMT
ROFL!! I love it!!
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Post by savvy on Jun 15, 2021 22:23:33 GMT
I haven't updated for a while so I thought I should let you know how they are all getting on.
Reggie is still pretty jealous of the new arrivals, especially this week as both Reggie and Sphene are on heat - what joy!
They have now taken to sleeping on the pile of hay at the top of the cage unless its a cold night in which case they snuggle in their hut on the bottom level which is stuffed with bedding. Little Amber has now learned the joy of chewing wood but is still a little cautious - I'm not sure if wooden toys have been available to them before as they certainly don't seem interested in chewing much. Toilet paper seems to confuse them too.
But meal and snack time has them all eagerly waiting and I've been severely reprimanded by Sphene for daring to put my hand in the cage when she's eating! Despite the fact that I was bringing more food, lol.
Sphene has been a lot more relaxed around me since she watched me intently when I was giving Reggie a whole hand cuddle, and I think she may have realised by Reggie's reaction (she was practically upside down) that I'm not that dangerous, lol.
Amber is definitely the last one in the pecking order, but also the bravest when it comes to dealing with me, Sphene is the top degu of the group, but the first to run and hide, Ruby just does what she wants, but gets annoyed when Sphene runs right over her.
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Post by teemu on Jun 16, 2021 12:30:22 GMT
Amber is definitely the last one in the pecking order, but also the bravest when it comes to dealing with me, Sphene is the top degu of the group, but the first to run and hide, Ruby just does what she wants, but gets annoyed when Sphene runs right over her.
It's funny how that seems to work out, often. My girls are pretty similar. I think it's the fact that the top degu is often the one that's most nervous and alert about the social situation and puts a lot of energy into being the dominant one, while the bottom degu might not be so much scared and meek as they're simply not intrested in dominance and are willing to concede because it's not worth the hassle. Some bottom degus are likely also very meek, but it might just as well be that they're simply pretty chill about the whole thing. So they'll have energy left over for other things, like being curious about the human.
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Post by savvy on Jun 16, 2021 13:03:36 GMT
It could also be that the bottom degu is constantly seeking approval, so will naturally want to please the human who provides the food and shelter.
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 16, 2021 17:37:04 GMT
With my boys, the most calm and welcoming degu was also our dominant boy, and the one that was the most timid and reactive was the bottom of the group. I undertook to grow a bond of trust with the most timid one, and it was not an easy or pain free process. I did win him over, and I felt it was worth it.
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Post by bouncy on Jun 16, 2021 18:59:25 GMT
Ditto! Sausage is definitely the boss of his group, but he's easily the most cuddly, fluffy, and tactile
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Post by savvy on Jun 16, 2021 19:38:47 GMT
Maybe its a female thing.
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 16, 2021 23:23:30 GMT
ROFL! Could be, Savvy!
When I think of our females . . . I can't say who was dominant! They were all quite even in the way they interacted with each other. I watched them, tried to figure it out, but they didn't give me any clues. LOL!
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Post by savvy on Jun 17, 2021 9:55:25 GMT
My biggest clue was the water bottle (they have two) but if Amber is drinking and Sphene wants to drink as well, then Amber has to step aside and wait for Sphene to finish.
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 17, 2021 17:56:07 GMT
I had three bottles in our cage, and they were all well apart from each other. I don't recall noticing if one would step aside for another to drink though. That is a REALLY good clue, Savvy! Excellent observation and deduction! I wouldn't have thought of it.
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Post by bouncy on Jun 17, 2021 18:16:29 GMT
Lmao how polite! I've seen Spidey tap Scaredy on the back to step aside before. When it comes to the water bottle, the delinquents barge. If one gets there first, they multi-task by drinking and fending off the other three. When they're finished, the next goo only has to fight off two at the same time, and so on!
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Post by savvy on Jun 17, 2021 18:41:05 GMT
I don't think she's given many options, lol. The bottles are on different levels, but they prefer the same one.
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Post by savvy on Jun 18, 2021 19:54:18 GMT
The new tictac wheel arrived today. I went for a 16in one and they look so small sitting on it.
It holds two at a time so its reducing squabbles. Now if only they could run in the same direction.....lol.
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