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Post by tarutara on Sept 25, 2007 11:42:46 GMT
I had 2 degus origonallly and i just recently bought another 3 and I'm wondering the best way to go about putting them all together?
any advice?
I have them in seperate cages just now, i had the cages next to each other, but i think they were getting to excited because they were chewing at the bars trying to reach each other, good or bad?
The original 2 are roughly 14 weeks and the new arrivals are about 12 or 10
any advice would be much appreciated!
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Post by Sunshinemeg on Sept 30, 2007 19:14:35 GMT
Given the age of the degus you should not have much trouble introducing them, but you will want to follow the steps below.
1. move the cages right next to each other as soon as you can, but ensure that they cannot actually touch each other. 2. Every day swap the occupants of each cage, so the 2 new ones into the cage of the older ones, and the older ones into the cage of the newer ones. Do this for at least a week, this way they will pick up on the smells and become familiar to each other. 3. After a week, if there is no sign of aggression, try a meeting somewhere neutral. (bath tub is good place). have a sand bath available and a tea towel. Let them meet, they may attempt to mount each other (this is just dominance) you have the tea towel there in case there is a fight,simply throw it over them to seperate them. 4. If the meeting goes well repeat daily for at least 4 meetings. If not, return to the start and work through the stages again. 5. If all meetings go without a problem put them all into a cleaned out cage. (must be cleaned out so that one degu does not feel its "their" cage). 6. Monitor for a couple of hours in the new cage together, if all ok you have done it!
Be prepared for occasional fighting when introducing, they need to establish dominance. Be prepared for them to wee on each other, this is just scent marking.
Good luck!
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Post by tarutara on Oct 1, 2007 12:28:22 GMT
Thanks That helps alot, i'll follow those steps then! cheers!!!
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