Post by jo636 on Nov 3, 2008 7:47:05 GMT
Hi
I've just posted on the 'health issues' board but was suggested it'd be good to post on here too (so just goin to copy and paste)
Hi
My husband and I have 2 female degus - chitter and chatter which we've had for about a year now. They're such characters even though they are extremely destructive (on our 2nd cage!) and when we came across a pair of up for adoption in our local pets at home we decided we'd really like to have a go at rehoming them. We don't get them until Wednesday so busy preparing another home to set up alongside Chitter and Chatters to introduce them slowly. We're not sure on how old the pair we're to adopt are although the shop have been told they think they're around 12mths (which we're not too sure about as they're a lot smaller than ours) but one of them also has overgrown teeth which we've been told need to be clipped once a month! Was just wondering if anyone had come across this, whether it could be an allignment problem with the jaw? It is quite noticable that she has long teeth and has a 'dribble' patch under her chin. The shop have said they don't think they have been housed well and wondered if anyone could give any advice on whether they think just giving proper chew toys may ease the problem (altho I'm aware its probably hard to advise without really seeing her!)
Has anyone had any experience of introducing one pair to another? If so, is it best to leave them side by side in separate cages until it is obvious they've gotten used to each other or to try and introduce them after a matter of days?weeks?months?How long would you give them if they appear not to get along? Is it best to just then separate or persavere with the hope they'll begin to tolerate each other? Any advice would be greatly appreciated We want to make sure there is as little stress to all of them as possible and at the end of the day if it doesn't look like they're going to get along altogther we can always keep them as 2 pairs in separate cages.
Thanks
Jo
I've just posted on the 'health issues' board but was suggested it'd be good to post on here too (so just goin to copy and paste)
Hi
My husband and I have 2 female degus - chitter and chatter which we've had for about a year now. They're such characters even though they are extremely destructive (on our 2nd cage!) and when we came across a pair of up for adoption in our local pets at home we decided we'd really like to have a go at rehoming them. We don't get them until Wednesday so busy preparing another home to set up alongside Chitter and Chatters to introduce them slowly. We're not sure on how old the pair we're to adopt are although the shop have been told they think they're around 12mths (which we're not too sure about as they're a lot smaller than ours) but one of them also has overgrown teeth which we've been told need to be clipped once a month! Was just wondering if anyone had come across this, whether it could be an allignment problem with the jaw? It is quite noticable that she has long teeth and has a 'dribble' patch under her chin. The shop have said they don't think they have been housed well and wondered if anyone could give any advice on whether they think just giving proper chew toys may ease the problem (altho I'm aware its probably hard to advise without really seeing her!)
Has anyone had any experience of introducing one pair to another? If so, is it best to leave them side by side in separate cages until it is obvious they've gotten used to each other or to try and introduce them after a matter of days?weeks?months?How long would you give them if they appear not to get along? Is it best to just then separate or persavere with the hope they'll begin to tolerate each other? Any advice would be greatly appreciated We want to make sure there is as little stress to all of them as possible and at the end of the day if it doesn't look like they're going to get along altogther we can always keep them as 2 pairs in separate cages.
Thanks
Jo
