Boxing?

[puppy00]

Ok, so my degu-sitter phones me, and tells me how my degus are doing, all that, gave me an update on Remple, then she mentions 2 of my degus (She thinks Taco and Smudge) are boxing. Boxing? What? Then, she said one was mirroring the other. I knew what she meant after she said that. They were standing on their hind legs, keeping balance with each other's hands, and were whapping each other. Is this normal?

[malteser60]

Yup, perfectly normal. It's their playfighting. Normally the boxing is accompanied by the cut chittery sound they make to let the other know that they're being friendly, instead of proper fighting. It can be really funny to watch. I've seen one of my degus pin the other to the wall in the end, and a very astonished look on her face, as if to say how could she win! Then they will give each other a groom and a cuddle.

[emz]

Boxing is for fun but can be for dominance depending on the force they are using against each other. Almost all the time though it is just degus play fighting with each other like malteaser said it is usually accompanied with lots of happy chirping when it is for fun.

[puppy00]

Thanks