Post by ashleyrussell13 on Sept 19, 2011 3:50:24 GMT
Hello All,
I am the proud new mommy of four degu girls. They are all sisters and I adopted them from a shelter. They are about 3 months old. I just had a few questions about them because so many different websites are contradicting.
First, a little backstory. The first night I had the girls, I had a great degu escape. Apparently the $250 cage (mansion I should say) that I got for them had bars that were 1" apart. (The box wasn't properly labeled, so I made a mistake) Therefore, before class the next day I found 3 of the four in random areas around my house. The only reason I found them is because the one in the cage called loudly and the others responded from their hiding places. After an hour of chasing them, I finally got them all back into the cage to find Mo (I named them Eenie, Meenie, Minnie and Mo because three of them stay together and Mo is always off doing her own thing) trying to sneak back out the backside. We rigged the cage, to no avail, and winded up chasing Mo three more times. Needless to say, I believe we started off on the wrong foot.
I have since ordered them a new cage with 1/2" openings to solve that problem. They are currently being held in a 10gallon aquarium, which was the only other thing I had.
Since this episode, I have made it a point to sit and talk to them throughout the day. Mo is excited to get out (because she tries to run and hide) but I have an exercise ball I put her in to get exercise.) I have been working to gain their trust back since that traumatic experience of having to chase them. But when I hold them, my girls tend to vibrate. It does not seem like a bad thing, but I couldn't find anything online to explain this. Is their vibration due to their love or their fear of me? I have only had them a short time, so I don't want to misread their actions.
I can stick my arm in the cage, and when they are in a playful mood, they will all try to run up it to get out of the cage. They have all gotten more comfortable with me, but I want to ensure that continues to grow.
Thanks in advance for any help. Lord knows I have no idea what I'm doing with these girls. (:
I am the proud new mommy of four degu girls. They are all sisters and I adopted them from a shelter. They are about 3 months old. I just had a few questions about them because so many different websites are contradicting.
First, a little backstory. The first night I had the girls, I had a great degu escape. Apparently the $250 cage (mansion I should say) that I got for them had bars that were 1" apart. (The box wasn't properly labeled, so I made a mistake) Therefore, before class the next day I found 3 of the four in random areas around my house. The only reason I found them is because the one in the cage called loudly and the others responded from their hiding places. After an hour of chasing them, I finally got them all back into the cage to find Mo (I named them Eenie, Meenie, Minnie and Mo because three of them stay together and Mo is always off doing her own thing) trying to sneak back out the backside. We rigged the cage, to no avail, and winded up chasing Mo three more times. Needless to say, I believe we started off on the wrong foot.
I have since ordered them a new cage with 1/2" openings to solve that problem. They are currently being held in a 10gallon aquarium, which was the only other thing I had.
Since this episode, I have made it a point to sit and talk to them throughout the day. Mo is excited to get out (because she tries to run and hide) but I have an exercise ball I put her in to get exercise.) I have been working to gain their trust back since that traumatic experience of having to chase them. But when I hold them, my girls tend to vibrate. It does not seem like a bad thing, but I couldn't find anything online to explain this. Is their vibration due to their love or their fear of me? I have only had them a short time, so I don't want to misread their actions.
I can stick my arm in the cage, and when they are in a playful mood, they will all try to run up it to get out of the cage. They have all gotten more comfortable with me, but I want to ensure that continues to grow.
Thanks in advance for any help. Lord knows I have no idea what I'm doing with these girls. (: