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Post by lorrainekuk on Jun 13, 2011 11:35:54 GMT
Has anyone else had a similar experience ? Got back off our hols on Sunday and collected Goos from my parents - sounds like they have been behaving great ( the goos not my parents) got them home left them in their small cage while we popped shopping etc and when we got back within minutes they were fighting. Split them up and left them for a while and tried them together again but back to full on scrapping and bouncing off each other. Again left them for a good while and tried again and they were still at it. In the end looks like Torres has hurt his leg ( not his weak one thankgod ) so have put him in a small part of the cage to rest it for a few days. They can still talk to each other through the bars (naughty goo in Jail!) Find it really starnge - do you think it was the change of house/ environment? The cage we use to transport we have had them in loads of times etc - so can't see it's that. Very upsetting as we kept 'trying' them so they would get over the little fight and start the kisses as usually happens but neither was backing down this time and I really thought in the end there would be some serious damage ( which I am hoping with the limping goo there isn't ) Will probably leave Torres for a few days on his own so he can rest the leg - but worried for them going forward - any advice would be great - so upsetting to come home to :-(
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Post by lorrainekuk on Jun 13, 2011 11:54:11 GMT
Thats what I was hoping Snux but they were really fighting hard the swines! I hope they didn't behave like that while away from home my parents would have been freaked! May try letting Pip in for a visit with Torres tonight - he may be ready for a cuddle......
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Post by lorrainekuk on Jun 13, 2011 18:40:15 GMT
Well that didn't do well! they have spent the day digging to get to each other so we let them out tonight and after a few mins of back turning and mild boxing the fly kicks and flying fur started again :-( . In the cage they are meeting at the grill and not behaving the same as when they have access to each other.How often do we keep trying? I think I will leave them a few days - it's not nice.
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 14, 2011 4:24:42 GMT
Yup, exactly what I was thinking as well. I think you need to give them solitary time, where they will feel their separation like they would if their cage mate had died. They will be THRILLED to see each other after. You need to give them at least two days of this, and they need to be in separate rooms during this time. You'll be going hard core on them, but it won't harm them, and it will help them to forget their grudges and re-bond with each other.
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Post by lorrainekuk on Jun 14, 2011 18:14:50 GMT
Thanks guys - will try this I think - can't stand to see them so stressed with each other.
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Post by lorrainekuk on Jun 21, 2011 21:18:04 GMT
Well tried them apart for a couple of days and still not getting on, have them back in the same cage now and tried that for a couple of days and still no joy. A bit scared to let them fight it out yet as Torres still seems to be limping a bit on his leg - can anyone point me to some good threads/topics on what I can try next... :-(
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 22, 2011 4:09:15 GMT
When you say you tried them apart . . . do you mean separate cages, but in sight of each other, or dramatic solitary where there is no sight, smell, or hint of the other?
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Post by lorrainekuk on Jun 22, 2011 21:38:58 GMT
Seperate cages one behind the sofa! think I may have to clear a space at the bottom of the stairs and try one out the room - if you think they may still have heard/smelt each other? Neither wants to back down and tbh I don't know who was 'in charge' before this all started - I know pip was the quiet one when we 1st had them but he has changed a lot now. Have changed the cage again today to give Torres more space as his leg seems better. They did meet again today and start scrapping :-( How many days do you think I should try them fully apart? Do you honestly think they will forget this fued? I really hope so......
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Post by sophie9901 on Jun 22, 2011 21:58:37 GMT
Hey lorraine we had a similar problem today when we swapped the cages over and put our younger goo's into the bigger cage. When the older goo's we're put into the other cage they started fighting, teeth chattering and grunting at each other and silent fighting because of the sudden change in environment and the possible scent of the other goo's which they loathe! We use a willow stick to break them up and after about an hour and a half of perseverance they usually calm down. Another thing to do which is really good is to try and distract them with treats and stuff whilst keeping them in the same cage. Obviously if they're ripping fur out and stuff then separate them immediately we don't want any little loves getting injured! You can try putting them both in an exercise ball too but keep a very close eye on them in case they start fighting in there. Another random thing I find that helps is to play some of the positive associated verbal noises from degutopia through your laptop on full volume and let the fighting goo's hear the noises (or play some degu chirping noises from youtube). It has once before caused my goo's to start chirping at each other and distracts them from any negativity! I hope this helps you
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Post by lorrainekuk on Jul 16, 2011 22:47:27 GMT
Well just an update to say things are still naff! Hubby let them fight it out a couple of weeks ago and when i came back from work they were snuggled up together! BUT a few hours later full blown scrap started out the blue with a bloody end. They spent days in different rooms and then in the same room ( still in sep cages) and the last few days we have had them in the same cage but sectioned off. Keep switching them round too share scents etc. It really looks like they have no intenion of being freinds again and it's very upsetting for all of us here - I am starting to think that this can't go on for the sake of the children more so ( my daughter is so upset) Hubby is really losing patience too and thats causing arguments :-( . I will have to start scouring for info on reintroductions
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Post by deguconvert on Jul 17, 2011 2:12:43 GMT
Do you have any idea which of them may be the instigator of all this? Sometimes that is key to the issue, other times not so much. Are they about 9 months age by now? If so they are smack dab in the middle of maturing sexually and it is during the months when they are between 6-12 months (sometimes a month or two more but most end around the 12 month mark) of age that they are most combative and fierce with each other. Sometimes it takes even until they are 18 months of age, but usually they have calmed down massively by then. Sounds terrible, doesn't it, facing the potential of more months of fighting and staying apart. I completely understand, having endured it myself.
SO . . . let me ask . . . what is YOUR reaction like when they are fighting or beginning to get all geared up for a fight? Do you panic? Do you immediately part them? Do you shout no? When I had been a full four months, introducing and introducing, bleeding, grinding my teeth, investing in all first aide products, and beginning to wonder if I might be in need of a tranfusion, I got truly fed up. So I would stand at the cages, watching them interact between the bars, and I would should no, and slam the wall every time they started to curse at each other. If they wagged a tail . . . I did it again. If they ignored me and started getting more heated, I sprayed them through the bars. Usually by this time they didn't want to deal with me anymore so stopped fighting. I would leave the room, but always with an ear perked to pick up any blue degu cussin. Soon as I heard it starting again, I was right back there, ready to yell, slam the wall, and spray! In a few days time they began to back off more and more, and then it was getting almost nice! About a month later . . . I accidentally put the two fighters together and the "never fought a degu goo" all by himself in the other cage . . . over night. The next morning they were all cuddled up, and they've been friends ever since. The first few days of new found bliss, Peek (the instigator) would literally throw himself on his back in front of Reep (king of the heap) and BEG for grooming. If Reep tried to walk away, Peek would push himself along with his hind legs, chirping like mad and keeping his belly up. It was the funniest sight! I guess he was eating crow!
Anyhow, I took the upper hand and wouldn't let them even start fighting . . . like a mother making her kids hug instead of clawing each others eyes out . . . sort of. LOL! I did have to be right on top of them, but I was so sick of them bleeding and so on. It worked really well for me . . . hopefully it would for you as well.
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Post by lorrainekuk on Jul 17, 2011 16:24:11 GMT
Thanks DC - obviously perseverance is the answer. Must admit I do tell them NO! Shout at them when they are kicking off and generally we have parted them at the 1st sign of the fighting starting. We think Torres has always been top Goo and it is him doing the chasing and annoying it seems Pip isn't prepared to roll over and take it anymore and thats the prob. Once upon a time I think he would have been put in his place and got on with it. I think they were around 12 weeks when we had them in October so guessing they are coming up for 12months old in the next month or so. The other thing is Torres has started growling at hubby ( as he is more likely to get angrier with them and push them a bit more) I tend to be the talker and cuddle giver ! I find this quite amusing tbh I suppose we are good cop bad cop! Whereas hubby will let them fight for longer I step in and split but then he did manage to let them fight it out 3 weeks ago and had them back in together ( even if it was only shortlived!) so whats the right answer.... Anyway appreciate your feedback - think we just need to keep trying!
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Post by deguconvert on Jul 17, 2011 20:32:10 GMT
Something I didn't really say is that I wouldn't let them be together outside of their respective cages. I kept the cages right next to each other, touching, and I controlled their fights through this. They DID try hard to fight through the bars, and there were bleeding feet on a few occasions, and this is where I dug in and refused to let it go anywhere. If I were you, I wouldn't let them out for face to face until you see them backing down inside the cages. Hmmm . . . do they try to fight between the bars?
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Post by lorrainekuk on Jul 23, 2011 21:34:00 GMT
They have been able to see and meet between the bars all week now, nothing aggressive going on - infact looked at times like they are trying to kiss. Have been swapping them over too so they are in each others sections. Anyway let them in together tonight and for a good 10 mins they were following, fluffing up etc BUT then it evetually turned nasty AGAIN. Hubby managed to split them ( god thats not easy when they are in full fight) Once again Torres has come off worst with a bloody face. They are back split again but able to still contact each other. They do seem to not be too bothered when split - not really getting aggrevated too much but as soon as they are together it ends in tears. Do you think they will ever be freinds again?
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Post by deguconvert on Jul 23, 2011 22:23:03 GMT
I spent a full five months with mine, repeatedly working with them to get them together. I probably had at least one intro/face to face time a week, but on average it would have been more like three a week. I dug deep into my stubborn streak for this, vowing that they would NOT win out on me. Although, I confess to being more stubborn when it came to not giving in to my little biter. He didn't win either! LOL! I think it can be done . . . but there are times when you have simply had enough, too.
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