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Post by Whizz on Sept 30, 2011 14:52:38 GMT
Well, my boys are now 1 year old and have passed the troubled staged of puberty. But they are still fighting and arguing. I don't know why.. they have plenty of room (in the middle of creating another whole shelf for them, so will have lots more running room but they have plenty of room to hide away from each other) and when they are cleaned out they get some of their old bedding sprinkled on top aswell as daily sandbaths (kept in a terracotta pot in their cage) so they smell the same. Yet they continue to argue and fight. They will moan at each other, chase one another and get into some pretty nasty boxing matches aswell. I know this is fairly normal, but they charge at each other around the cage and moan at each other so loudly. There is always a LOT of teeth chattering, almost constant. Chewy sometimes seeks Gus out to go over to him and try and bite his bum then run away screaming as if to say "I wasn't me, it was him!!". Luigi is often in a bad mood and really takes it out on Gus aswell. Yet other times, they get on perfectly well. Is it usual for the next few months AFTER puberty to be .. rather rocky? I'm just so worried.. I feel like a failure of a Degu owner..
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 30, 2011 15:18:28 GMT
I have noticed that several German members here refer to the puberty stage as lasting up to 18 months of age, and there certainly are members who have seen their degus continue this troubled path until about that age. I think some get out of it sooner, while others experience it longer, so you could have a few more months yet. This has nothing to do with the care you give them or your skills, but rather with their genetic makeup. Are they all brothers? If they are, I suspect if we were able to look into their history, from one generation to the next, we would likely see . . . hmmm . . . I want to say delayed bloomers, but that doesn't quite convey what I mean. LOL! Anyhow, a predisposition toward long lasting adolescent issues within the family genes. Certainly the boys you have are "Hard Timers" with "Long Term" sentences . . . in the way of delinquents and vandals that are "serving time." Maybe you need to get some tiny white and black striped uniforms with teeny weeny shackles for their feet?
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Post by Whizz on Sept 30, 2011 15:30:34 GMT
That is quite a relief to hear DC! I was so under the spell that I was doing something wrong when.. I really think they haven't finished yet! It's the same fighting that began when they were around 6months (start of puberty, I presume) so they're still at it obviously! They are brothers.. so it seems they're all late bloomers. Haha, they would look rather cute in those outfits! But the shackles might be needed! Just checked on them now: all huddled up and half asleep sunbathing. What a bunch!
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Post by Kins on Sept 30, 2011 15:30:45 GMT
Maybe you need to get some tiny white and black striped uniforms with teeny weeny shackles for their feet? I think I'd like some of those too. My Stan and Nige are always bickering about something or other and they are now 20 months old ish. You very often hear crashing about in their cage and 'annoyance' noises, and I now HAVE to make sure I keep a little of their old substrate to sprinkle over the fresh otherwise they just argue for the rest of the day So you are not alone...
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Post by malteser60 on Sept 30, 2011 15:48:56 GMT
I have girls and the older girls are exactly the same! They argue about everything - you're too close to me whilst i'm eating... go away and leave me play on my chain toy... no you cannot play on the chain toy with me... stop the wheel i want to run too... no, i want to run in THIS direction on the wheel... your treat looks bigger than mine, i want it!... ok, now you are just too close to me, period! And on and on and on! And at the end of the day its '<yawn> i'm really tired now, snuggle time, i love you sister'! I've given up on them, lol!
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