Introductions - one at a time?

[emma]

Hi all,

So we've had Jokey for a while now and after the all too early death of his brother we decided to get him a couple of new friends, Cosmo and Dibs. Cosmo and Dibs have been sharing a cage right next to Jokey's for a while so that they can all see and smell each other with a view to getting them together soon.

However Cosmo and Dibs have always squabbled more than my other degus and last week whilst we were cleaning out their cage they got into some proper, blood-spilling fights. This seemed to have been caused by them actually having the opportunity to climb on Jokeys cage and therefore closer proximity than usual, although I suspect it has something to do with their age as well - now becoming sexually mature.

After a lot of injuries (mainly to me from breaking up their fights)Dibs and Cosmo are back together and (fingers crossed) getting along better than ever. I now want to start introducing Jokey because I know he is beginning to get really lonely, however I am really concerned that this will cause more fighting between Cosmo and Dibs.

Should I leave it for a while until Cosmo and Dibs have properly sorted out their own heirarchy (Dibs seems to be winning on this front)? Also do you think it would be better to introduce only one of them to Jokey at a time and get them properly integrated before I add in a third one (if so should I go for the more dominant of the pair)?

Please help - although I love seeing Cosmo and Dibs back together I am really concerned that Jokey is beginning to get very lonely without any friends ?

Thanks to everyone in advance!!

[deguconvert]

I have a question. Are you certain that Jokey is male? I am wondering if the fighting could be related to fighting over a female. Their coming into sexual maturity definitely increases the fighting, and they will be trying to establish dominance. BUT . . . you mention that the fighting increased an got worse when they were climbing on Jokey's cage, which is what makes me wonder if He is actually a She?

[emma]

Hey,
I'm 99% sure hes male, I've checked him myself , was also originally told he was male by the pet shop (which I know doesnt mean an awful lot!) and the vet has seen him and thought he was a boy - she said shes experienced with degus, but I can get him checked again.

Also wonder if he wasnt male whether we would have had babies when he was with stumpy, although its definately something I'll get checked out again.

Thanks

[emma]

Checked all three, defintely all boys! Did try Jokey and Cosmo together for a bit, the first meeting went relatively well with Cosmo spending most of his time trying to jump out the bath and run away from Jokey, but no major fights. Second time...well we went straight to fighting!

[deguconvert]

Did you have a spray water bottle on hand, towel, and a loud squeak of your own to enforce to them that fighting is NOT approved by you?