Introduction Success?... Maybe?

[Mojo]

Hi, It's been a little while since I posted as I have been side tracked with introductions of my 2 adopted degus.

Last night was the night that I put them togther overnight and left them in together today. I am wondering if I have been successful or not. Let me describe the history of the introduction and what I am seeing now. It'd be appreciated if anyone that has been successful with introductions could guage how it's going.

So I got my 2 degu boys last summer so are about 1 year old (unneutered). Then about two months ago I adopted 2 more males about the same age (this time neutered).

I have a stacked cage and have had them in seperate sides. There's a vertical and horizontal split so their smells can mingle and they can interact through a mesh. I left them like this for a couple of weeks swapping them over every few days and giving them a communal sand bath (with Vanilla) to help their smells match. Interactions through the mesh were very noisy and lots of teeth grinding and tail wagging. Then about 2-3 weeks ago i started the intos. I did a few in a series then had a break then I did a few more. Throughout the time I would return them to opposite sides as per the Degutopia guide. During the time in the cage the interactions throught the mesh became more like a chriping and they seemed to calm down with each other. Even sitting beside each other through the mesh.

Then the last 4 days I did a series of introdutions. All went well. There was a little squeaking, boxing and humping but nothing serious. Last night I left them overnight. Initially there was some chasing and squeaking but that settled down. When I came through this morning they seemed to all be huddled together i the next box. I have been working at home today and keeping an eye on them and it seems that they'll settle down together and play for a bit then they'll have a bit of a squeak fest and chase tehn settle down. 10 mins ago they were sleeping in a pile in the next box now they are having a bit of a boxing match and squeak. Apart from that there's only been 1 or 2 little wrestling matches between a couple of them but literally only lasted less than a second. No blood or pulled fur on any of them.

So apologies for the long message but my question is am I being successful or should there be no fighting at this stage? Should I be seperating them again? I don't want to start again but I want to make sure these little fights aren't going to boil over into a full on death match......... any thoughts?

[kmmg72]

When I did my last intro between 1 male and 2 new males there was quite a bit of boxing, chasing, squeaking and then sleeping. Then the whole routine would start again.
I think it sounds pefectly normal. The amount of time to completely settle down probably varies with every introduction. Hopefully as your 2 new males are both neutered there shouldn't be as many dominance battles as there could have been.
I wouldn't seperate them unless the battles get really fierce. Mine pulled fur but didn't draw blood and they settled down after a few days. We had the odd tousle afterwards for a few weeks but never too serious.

[Mojo]

Thanks that's good to hear........ much appreciated

[ra]

Sounds pretty darned successful to me. You've done a very good job taking the time needed for them to adjust to one another - not introducing them in a hurry. I think you may well have then settled. I imagine fights will ensue once in awhile. Even with my mother - daughter pair of Degus once in awhile there was screeching and growling. Not often though.

[Mojo]

So this morning I decided to seperate them again. While there isn't any blood drawing or real rolling around fighting, I did notice one the my new degus seems to be labouring under a limp so I suspect they've been pushing each other of shelves in the night. Theres also quite a bit of squeaking and it's heart breaking to hear them like that.

So I think I'll go back a few stages and continue intros on a neutral ground as they seemed to get on fine there. I am also going to go and get my two boys neutered as it'll probably help a lot as they are the trouble makers lol. They are both at least 12 months old so they should be old enough now........

Am I being too nervous about it? I am in no rush at all so I'd prefer to take it slow........

[kmmg72]

I really wouldn't panic at all. One of my girls had a limp for a couple of days after a squabble over the food bowl - her sister grabbed her leg to pull her away!
Believe me it really isn't that serious and as mentioned before they will have squabbles from time to time. They can be like children, best of friends one minute and then arguing over who's toy it is the next.
Sometimes you just have to leave them to their own devices, they need to establish who's the boss and where they all fit in.
I know it feels awful when one looks like he's being bullied but when they do all settle down together it will be wonderful. The bigger the degu pile the more contented my lot look.

[Mojo]

Thanks for the advice.......

I am probably being a little nervous but the one with the limp (edmund) only has 3 legs. he was adopted and had fallen from his previous owners cage and had to get one of his front paws amputated. This means he's not great at climbing or scrambling around after a squbble. It also means that with a limp (on his back leg on the same side as the amputated leg) he's really struggling to get about. I'd hate for him to get any worse........

This afternoon he seems to be a bit better but still struggling so while he recovers i think i'll keep my original 2 on the other side of the cage divide..... i'll not give up. the glimpses of a 4 way cuddle pile that I saw mean I'll get there eventually

[Mojo]

So quick update. I have had my two boys neutered and gone for some more intors before putting them in the cage overnight last night. This morning they were all sleeping in the same box which is good. The weaker one is still getting bullied somewhat but it seems to be fairly tame. There's a little fur pulling but no blood draw and no serious fights (there have been a few squabbles and a bit of chasing).

I think I'll leave them to it and let them establish who's boss. It might be hard as when you here the squeaks and see them pushing each other around you want to seperate them but I guess you just start the dominance cycle all over again......... fingers crossed......

[kmmg72]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you but it sounds as if it's going well

[Mojo]

So another update. My Goos are settling and I think i may have finally cracked it. They now have the run of my entire cage. There's a clear dominance structure for the top two degus. They are the bigger of both pairs and seem to get on fine now (Loki & Bubbles). The smaller two of my pairs are still squbbling over who is bottom (Teabag & Edmund). They indidivually have no problems with Loki & Bubbles (and vice versa) but clearly havn't decided who is bottom. Still fighting is now only the occasional squabble, some minor minor fur pulling and chasing. Otherwise they are all sleeping together. fingers crossed it continues and I am really happy.

Thanks for the advice guys and shows patience and some tactical neutering can pay off.

In terms of timescales (for those that might ask) I adopted 2 degus for my originals at the end of March. So it's taken about 8-9 weeks to get to this point (they originally hated each other)......

[kmmg72]

I am so glad to hear the good news. It must be such a relief to see them settling down as a group.

[deguconvert]

CHEERS!!! Wonderful news!

[Mojo]

Check out the pic, all happy together!

[kmmg72]

they do look gorgeous! ;D

[deguconvert]

ROFL!! You wouldn't want to add another to that bunch though, there no more room in the nest box. LOL!! Makes me think of the game, "sardines." They are just so CUTE!

[phoenixm]

teehee......so cozy and comfy in their box ....good job!~

[Mojo]

Yup they are now totally integrated. There's little or no fighting or boxing at all and they all seem to get on fine. They snuggle up every night together and seem inseperable now........ Took a while but so worth the effort (especially considering how they used to react to each other)..........