Fighting Degus

[dpassionflower]

Hi all.

Got my degus 2 and a half days ago (4 sisters). They have been getting along fine other than the odd feud about food etc. This evening though, i noticed one of the Degus biting the others tail and pulling it backwards. I know they need to establish hierarchy but is this type of behavior normal? and how long will it last. I don't like to see them fighting but don't want to have to separate them and then reintroduce for it to happen all over again.

they have taken to the cage really well and have become very tame, coming to greet me when i open the cage door. Often climbing onto me while i'm trying to get to their food bowl etc. They have all eaten from my hand today and 2 have even let me have a little pet.

[deguconvert]

LOL! I just have to laugh when I hear this description, as it is something we saw lots of too. It is actually really very common, and in the world of degus it is a much less offensive action than we would think. It's basically degu for, "Excuse me, but I believe this is my spot. Would you please move?" Now that is NOT the type of interaction that we interpret it to be, lol, but I've never seen it develop into anything violent or bad tempered. I kind of think that Momma degus must do it all the time to their pups to correct them or . . . lovingly place them somewhere else.

[natfigg]

Mine do it too. They just playing and as above moving them or of the way.

[fuzzymum1]

My mama degus have been dragging the babies around either by their back leg or their rump - a couple of the babies got sore spots from Billie and Nancy both trying to insist they should take the baby.