Im Not Edible!

[kyle87]

Hi

I have had my Degu's around 3 weeks now, I posted up a while ago about gaining trust with my Degu's and have finally got this sorted however when ever I offer my hand for them to climb on or stroke they always seem to try and nibble me as If i am food.

I know they are not trying to bite me as it is not done in a malicious way, I originally though they where grooming my hands but the bite does hurt quite a bit and enough to leave marks.

Im not to sure how to go about getting them to stop seeing my fingers or hands or clothes as food

Any ideas anyone?

[phoenixm]

u can squeak in pain....like they do to eachother ...or blow on them....or lightly spray them with a water bottle or gun......i usually just warn them by saying " ack!"...loudly....it startles them enough that i get that "shocked google stare" back.....lol as if they are saying ...."what?...did you think i was going to do something to you?...geez!"

[kyle87]

I will give the sqeeking a go hahaha, the blowing technique also seems useful as i do this when they decided to dine on the cage door.

Im not sure with the water as the other day I had a glass of water out and one after the other they all tried to get in the glass and this was met by a loud sneezing effect and since they they havn't tried it again lol

cheers for the advice

[jusjus]

Haha introducing a water bowl when we first got ours was amusing as they always had a bottle before. We got the "sneezing effect" for a few days too before they learnt how to drink from it =]