evil looks!

[Sunshinemeg]

On sunday night I replaced the near empty food bowl in the degu cage, (which is a cat size bowl by the way, so holds lots of food) with a fresh supply, nice new stuff, all the boys favourites, heaped up in the bowl. Within an hour Dougal had dug it all out onto the floor of the cage as well as the floor of the room! I was not happy to say the least, so in an attempt to teach them not to do this, I took the bowl away.

Now this wasnt total cruelty, because I DID note that was plenty of the food scattered in the bottom of the cage! However, I only replaced the bowl today having kept an eye on food levels, and deciding they were running out. So the bowl went back in once again nice and full, and BOY did I get evil looks from Gromit! I guess he wasnt happy that he had had to go to the bottom of the cage to find the food! But the amusing thing is that he wouldnt let Dougal get in the bowl! Guess he IS intelligent, and figured if Dougal kicked it out again the bowl would disappear! So I guess it IS possible to train degus!

[ra]

Gromit probably told Dougal "You had a go at the first bowl - made a heck of a mess - look where that got us! Best stay away, 'til I've had my fill this time!"

As for the evil looks you got, yep he probably was very indignant about having to scavenge for food (eventhough they do in nature I'm sure he is quite certain his food should come in a bowl!)

[Sunshinemeg]

definately!! He was very unimpressed that he had to actually go downstairs in the cage and find the bit of food he wanted!!

when I went in to say goodnight to them just now, they normally all come over to say hello, sniff my hand etc, tonight Gromit refused! I guess I am well and truely in the dog house with him!

[deguqueen]

I have trouble with Princess and the food when I feed them.
She will always sprint over to the bowl and set up shop and eat like an Ethiopian at a buffet and if Ginger comes anywhere near her and the food or even just looks at her the wrong way she will squeal.
She even goes as far as sitting right in the bowl sometimes.
Its frustrating because Ginger only gets her sloppy seconds everytime. She always picks out the yummy stuff and Ginger is so hungry at that time that she settles for the *icky* pelletts.

[Aimeelou]

HEHEHE!

[diet otaku]

deguqueen said:

I have trouble with Princess and the food when I feed them.
She will always sprint over to the bowl and set up shop and eat like an Ethiopian at a buffet and if Ginger comes anywhere near her and the food or even just looks at her the wrong way she will squeal.
She even goes as far as sitting right in the bowl sometimes.
Its frustrating because Ginger only gets her sloppy seconds everytime. She always picks out the yummy stuff and Ginger is so hungry at that time that she settles for the *icky* pelletts.

mine used to do that, but i solved it by using 2 food bowls. i would put some in one bowl on the bottom level, and fill another bowl on the middle level. when one of them claimed dibs on the lower bowl, inevitably the other would find the bowl up top, and they could eat at the same time.

[Sunshinemeg]

I solved the same problem with getting a bigger bowl! Now they can sit in it and STILL others can get to the food they arent sat on!

[diet otaku]

there was actually enough room in my old food bowl for a whole degu and another's face, but the one who had claimed the bowl would actually push the other away! it was like *munch munch munch* "NOOOOOOO! MINE!!" *push* *shove* *munch munch munch*

[ra]

About the only time I see aggressive behavior between Mocha and Tanzania is feeding time. Mocha will run over her baby (who is nearly as big as her mom now) to get to a treat. Mocha has to get the first one but then Tanzy is smart, she'll sit on the platform and eat her treat and immediately get another while her mom's down in the cage burying her first treat. I have seen them push each other out of the hay dish. One of the funniest things I think I've seen yet was Mocha actually grabbing a hold of Tanzania's tail and giving it a yank to try to get her away from my hand holding treats! When Tanzania turned to look at her, Mocha jumped over her, shoving her aside to get to me!

[becca1256]

With me, I just give Dippy (oldest) the bowl and get another one for Spike (smallest). That always settles things. I give them monkey nuts as treats and what I hate is I'll give Dippy one then move to Spike who's dead timid. By the time I've given Spike his, Dippy runs over, having burried his nut and demands another. I think its part of his ingenious plan, problem is...He can never find the one he burried. ^^

[Sunshinemeg]

I came home yesterday to hear that my fiance andy had attempted to give the two baby degus in the seperate cage a treat. he had a medium size cardboard box, and as they didnt have one to sleep in (eaten!) he thought they would like it. He put it in closed thinking they would spend an hour or so chewing a hole in it. But Tatty the dominant one peed all over it, claiming it as his. He squealed loudly any time his brother came near. So Andy took it out, opened it up, wiped it clean and put it back in with a few treats inside. Again Tatty comes up to it, grabs a treat, but sits at the entrance to eat it, preventing his brother from getting any! How does his brother get round this? Jump on the box, push the lid shut! Tatty is now stuck inside, all hell breaks lose! To save the situation Andy took the box out quick, and shared the treats out!!

And who says Degus arent intelligent!!!

[diet otaku]

LOL!! i got some evil looks yesterday from the new guys. they seem to spend a lot of time in their fleece sack, but i wanted to make sure they got plenty of sunlight, so i reached in and poked them to get them to come out. they ran down to the bottom level and sat glaring at me.

[nettianddave]

for tips on degu training go to www.degutopia.co.uk
someone has far too much time