Year old male. Introducing a younger male?

[jim]

Hum, it's becoming more and more apparent that Chili still misses Pepper even though I handle and play with him for a couple of hours each day. I guess he misses the extra play-mate and companion.

So after reading the FAQ on the website, would it be feasible for a younger male to be introduced with a [dominant, Chili always was] male?

Update: As I was in my local Pets@Home today stocking up for Chili, this guy walks in with a taped up box and handed it to the clerk. I heard the words "Degu" spoken and so enquired once the guy who dropped them off had left.

A pair of young males, around 6-7 months old. Apparently they had been too skittish for the guy and his family and were unable to tame them. Bizaare since the clerk was handling one of the degus as he spoke to me. Both seem very hand-tame. Now i've seen them and know their past [two previous owners, unwanted]...I feel I should take them.

Even if they don't gel with Chili, I'll give them a good home here. Should I, shouldn't I?

[jolie]

Another degu guardian angel... If you do decide to take them, be sure to take your time in introducing them to Chili. It's better to go too slow than to rush things. Good luck! Let us know what you decide.

[jim]

Alright!

So I waitied for the arrival of my new John Hopewell cage. (So impressed!)

Then on Friday evening I went down to Pets@Home and picked up both of them. Again, I got the story about them being aggressive. Brought them home and they settled in so well. Really, we've all handled them - they're always itching to get out of their cage! Now Chili is on the other side of the room, he's picked up on their presence. This morning, I got them both out for a play and held them nearer to Chili's tank. No sign of aggression so far.

In a week or so, I'll try them out with the homes next to each other and then afterwards perhaps let them meet on neutral territory [bath-tub anyone?]

But really, they're adorable - I'll get pictures soon. And Chili has actually let me picked him up - which is completely new after just over one year of knowing him.

[Sunshinemeg]

Ok, I have done introductions many times now, and have a good method I follow.
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 one, and the older one 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!

[jim]

Hah, funny you just said this - I read one of your older posts on the topic.

Many thanks.

[Sunshinemeg]

I have been away from the forum for a while, being a good forum creator and coming back to give my two pence worth in a few threads, and Im quite good at introducing so it was an easy post to get me back in the swing of things! haha

[jim]

Hey Meg.

Regarding Step2, is it ok if I just keep them cage by cage for a week and then clean them both out and begin the process of swapping them over each day?

I'd like to keep the process slow and as [pain-free] as possible!

[jolie]

Meg, could you add this list as a sticky-topic?(or whatever they're called here at proboards...) This is great advice, and I will be trying it with my newly-neutered goos in a few weeks. thanks!

[ronnierowley]

I have a 1 year old male, who has just lost his brother. I obviously want to get him a new companion as soon as possible, as he seems lonely now.

Reading the advice here, it seems to be quite easy to introduce a new degu - my worry is that introducing two male degus would not work. As he is my first degu though, I really don't know about what to expect here. Would it be ok to get two young males, as I cannot find any single degus? Ronnie is very shy, and he was the submissive one, although he did challenge his brother. I'm hoping here that it will be a case of the more, the merrier!

Thanks for any advice in advance!

[jim]

Hello there ronnie. I was in the same boat as you ... then I 'rescued' two male degus from pets@home with the hope that they'll stick well with Chili.

The only problem you might have with males is that they'll scrap alot initially. I'm yet to try them for a second time, the first meeting didn't go too well. However at the time I had no sand at hand for them to roll in just before. Going for my second attempt this week. Just remember to take it slow and don't rush things. If you put them together and they scrap, don't panic. Just split them up and give them a week or so to settle down. Then start it all over again!

[ronnierowley]

Thanks for your advice, I think I'll give it a try with two males. My poor little degu is getting a bit lonely now, so even if he has someone to talk to through the bars, it's better than nothing!

I'd be interested to know how your next introduction goes, if you wouldn't mind posting it. Any and all tips from members would be greatly appreciated!

[jim]

Yeah sure, no worries! I'll make a mental note to post some pictures of my 'goos tonight too after work.

[jason]

We are going through our first introduction process as we got two new Degus Saturday. Straight away we put them in their cage next to our existing cage, Within minutes one of the new Goos (we think the dominant one as the other seems to let him do what he wants) and our existing one where happily chatting away like long lost relatives. We found this hilarious. Tonight we are going to swop cages for the first time, roughly how long should we have them in each others cages. Any recommendations anyone, i was going to let them have half an hour or should it be longer

[jim]

Well, I've been advised to leave them for a day and then swap them back over. Tonight I'm starting over my second attempt.

[ronnierowley]

Jason, please do keep us posted on how it goes with your introduction, I'm desperate for tips for introducing my boy to two new ones. I'm trying to collect as many success stories as possible before I attempt it! Are yours male or female, cos I know that makes a lot of difference? Thanks!

[jason]

We swopped them over last night for the first time, our two new degus seemed to love their new surroundings, They started biting at the nest house in our big cage virtually straight away (something our two previous Degus never did/do) then they decided to add their scent to it. The funiest thing of all was watching them try to climb onto the outside of the wheels which they were'nt expecting to move. After a while they thought to climb the cage and get on the top of the wheel that way. this was even funnier as they went flying of it and continued repeating this process for a good few minutes until they realised that a wheel is not for sitting on the top off. Not once did they try to use the wheel correctly. They didnt have access to any wheels where we got them from so it was all new to them. Overall they seem to be enjoying their time in their new to be big house. Speedy soon went into their cage to do what Degus do best (being inquisitive) after his usual play in the conservatory. So overall so far so good we'll swop them over again tonight.

[jim]

An update from me too.

Tonight, I swap them 'goos back over into their original cages after spending the past 24 hours in each other's cages. Taylor&Hawkins scream bloody murder, they hate it in Chili's cage since it's nowhere near as large as their own cage!

[jason]

Well weve been swopping cages over for 3 days now and Speedy has decided he no longer likes the other cage as it to is also smaller. But apart from that everything seems to be going fine. Only one of our new Degus has ventured (to my knowledge) in to the nest house in their new cage so far which to be fair is empty as speedy never uses it anyway he prefers to sleep on one of the shelves. What will be interesting when they all become one is whether the new ones will use their existing nest/house or the current bigger one in the main cage. Time will tell

[jim]

Ahehe. I've been swapping them over for three days now too. Taylor & Hawkins cry so heavily, they hate Chili's cage. Whilst Chili just loves their cage, perhaps good tidings.

[jason]

After a week in seperate cages, we have let all 3 degus out together in the conservatory. Our existing degus and the new (dominant) degus have duly begun fighting and teeth chatering all under our watchfull eye. the other new degus and speedy (existing one) are both fine with one another.

Socks has bitten speedys tail and drawn blood so they are back in their cages now to calm down.

A couple of questions how long do they usually fight for is it a couple of days, a week etc. Are we ok to introduce them a couple of times a day (i.e afternoon and evening) or should we leave it to a daily basis.