Very naughty degu - need advice!

[JewelsX]

Hello. At around this time last month (more or less) I adopted three degu brothers (definitely boys), they have settled in nicely and they are very tame already! (They are rescues, the family loved them but had to move).

However one of the brothers is getting very, very naughty. Whenever I open the cage, he always comes to the doorway and looks what is going on - at first this was cute because he just stood there and tried to give me kisses. But he has started to get more.. aggressive. He use to try to climb out of the cage, so I began using my arm as a sort of bar to stop him.

Now, if I use my arm he tries to scratch it or pull the material (ie a jumper) out of the way so he can jump out. He does this every time (usually when he wants something ) and he has scratched me quite deep a few time. He will also gently nibble my hands (not hard at all) to try and get them out of the way. He shoves my arm out of the way aswell.
I can now no longer to much in the cage because I have to close the door constantly as he is always standing there attempting to escape. Most of the time I blow in my degus direction to punish them and tell the firmly "no" but he ignores the no's and the blows no longer have any effect on him. I started using a soft paint brush and it worked for a bit just to push him away but now he begins to sort of attack it. Its becoming very hard to open the cage at all. But weirdly he only does this to me, when my partner opens up the cage he doesn't do it, he just comes up to the front like he used to with me.

I want some advice and help on how to go about disciplining him and maybe to understand why he is doing it. Thank you.

PS-
Sorry if this does not make much sense. I am German and English is not my first language.

[philbailey1806]

Hello Jewels!

I'm afraid to say that it's just in a degus nature to be adventurous and a bit naughty, some are a little bit braver than others though, and I have 4 out of my six that will immediately climb the door as soon as it is open, with them being braver though, these are usually the ones that will let you scoop them up and pop them back without too much fuss. I'm sorry to say though that it isn't something that can be trained out of a degu in my experience.

[amie]

Hey

Does he get any time out of the cage? Like free roaming play time every day? Also, what size cage are the three boys in? I just ask these questions to get an idea as to why he's doing it

One of my boys is very much like him. If he wants to come out for play time, he'll do anything to move my hand out of the way! lol.

[Kins]

Sorry I had to have a little chuckle, these gooeys can be such terrors! Hope the scratches aren't too painful though, ouch!

I have a cheeky goo too. I sit on the arm of the sofa and let him and his brother come out on my lap, Stan is allowed on the sofa but I know that if Nige goes on the sofa he will just end up on the floor as he has figured out it's not that high off the ground and he can jump down safely. He scratches at my arm and tries to push it out of the way when I block him, he's a monkey!

I think you just need to be persistent. Tap him, very gently, on the nose, say 'no' firmly and blow at him everytime he does something naughty. Also try rewarding good behaviour i.e. if he doesn't try and escape.

[JewelsX]

They get plenty of time out of the game, usually 1.5 hours on weekdays and 2 hours (or 2.5 depends) at weekends.

Their cage is 120cm (leng) x 60cm (wide) x 100cm (height). My partner made it and it has long and wide levels so they can run, but lots of levels so they can climb aswell. They have two wheels and lots of toys like branches and platforms aswell as wacky small animals toys.

He is a real sweety but i can't do much in the cage which I like to do as I put in little activities everyday to get them motivated.
The scratches don't hurt too much but they did when they first happened. But they are healing up now.

I have other naughty degus (I now own 9 lol) but he is more aggressive then the others, it isn't really playful - its like he really wants me out of the way! lol

I was wondering since he doesnt do it to my partner that he might think he dominate over me?

[JewelsX]

Ohh forgot to say, I will give it a try Kins. he usually just steps back whenever I do something then rubs his nose and continues lol. But I haven't tried gently tapping him so I will give it a go and reward when he doesn't do it. Thanks for the help.