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Post by Xellie on Jul 23, 2021 13:01:02 GMT
So I put something together in my head, this started happening after a cage clean.... could that have upset Bryn?
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Post by teemu on Jul 23, 2021 14:16:16 GMT
It might be! Power grooming in rodents is often a way to assert dominance (essentially rough them up a bit and make sure they're not putting up any fight when you do so), and degus are very smell-oriented animals. So if Bryn thinks she's the big boss over there, then if the smells vanish, she obviously has to make sure no one is trying to usurp her.
I used to see a lot of rough power grooming when I still kept rats. It would make sense that degus have similar behaviors when it comes to grooming and dominance.
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 23, 2021 15:51:16 GMT
Full cage cleans can certainly upset and confuse some degus.
I would try a partial clean next time, half shelves or alternate shelves.
And you could see if you can longer between cleans by spot cleaning.
It'll be interesting to see if she calms down as the scents build up again.
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Post by Xellie on Jul 23, 2021 16:34:01 GMT
it had been some months since a full clean, but I also threw out a blankie that was beyond redemption. It had to be done, they looked a bit itchy compared to normal.
I only did a substrate change and a quick water/vinegar scrub on the pee stains, and brushed the poo and hay from between the poo guards - I did one full shelf each week (3 shelves). I didn't clean any toys or hammocks, so it should be pretty smelly still.
I hope she does calm down as it builds up some more. She's seemed well enough in herself, I can't see any obvious health issues in any of them. It'll be interesting to see if that was the case.
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Post by moletteuk on Jul 23, 2021 17:41:58 GMT
I think one shelf a week sounds pretty reasonable...maybe she really loved the blankie lol!
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Post by Xellie on Jul 23, 2021 17:46:27 GMT
Well it was vetbed, so it must have really soaked up the smells - I just hope she calms down soon. She's doing it to herself too on the front paws, so maybe she is stressed.
If she keeps it up a week or so I'll take her and Freya to the vet so the vet can look both over, see if there's a reason she might do it to freya, or a reason she might be stressed.
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Post by teemu on Jul 24, 2021 21:27:01 GMT
Ah, if she's pulling her own fur as well, then that certainly means there's some cause for stress. Some degus seem to get really genuinely upset and stressed about hierarchy issues though, so it might well be that it's still all coming down to her being paranoid about remaining dominant. If she keeps doing it, though, it can't hurt to have a vet check her over.
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Post by Xellie on Jul 29, 2021 13:29:40 GMT
She's been fighting with Choca again today, rather aggressively. I have her sitting on my shoulder/head right now, she's pretty subdued and upset.Her weight seems a little under so I guess she needs to see a vet.
And while I'm typing this, mist and Mocha are also having a scrap.
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Post by deguconvert on Jul 29, 2021 20:36:29 GMT
How many months old are they? Sounds like adolescence beginning.
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Post by Xellie on Jul 29, 2021 21:26:18 GMT
9 (Freya/Bryn) and 8 months (the other 4)
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Post by deguconvert on Jul 30, 2021 6:46:24 GMT
YUP! Good old adolescence!! FUN TIMES!! Are you ready for it? I never was. Not with degus, and not with kids!
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Post by Xellie on Jul 30, 2021 12:30:09 GMT
It wasn't too bad with buddy and banshee, so we'll see!
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