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biting
Oct 24, 2011 5:50:19 GMT
Post by jbaggs92 on Oct 24, 2011 5:50:19 GMT
Hey guys, I'm pretty much brand new to the whole degu world. I just bought three males today. While in the pet store, I held two of them perfectly fine, but when I brought them home and tried to clean their cage I was bit three times, once pretty bad. I did some research and found that you shouldn't keep only males together, unless they were born and raised together, but due to my lack if knowledge of where these guys came from, I don't know. The pet store told me the previous owners returned them because they were allergic to them. I got a great deal: three degus, a three-tiered cage, food bowl, water dish, and a dust bath for 25 bucks. It was amazing. But enough about that. What I'm wondering is, will these guys ever stop biting me? I want to hold and play with them, but they won't let me touch them. I put a shirt I wore in the tank with them to try to get them used to my scent, but they don't seem to really dig it as a place to hide. Any hints, you more degu-wise individuals? Thank you so much!
- James
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biting
Oct 24, 2011 6:22:28 GMT
Post by fuzzymum1 on Oct 24, 2011 6:22:28 GMT
Give them time. They need to settle in and learn to trust you. What worked with my lot was sitting by the cage with my hand in the cage with some oats in. Sit really still, don't try to touch them but let them approach you - it may take a few days but gradually the lure of the oats should get them to approach you. Eventually they will be comfortable sitting on your hand and then you can move your hand very slowly up a little and down again - don't try to rush them. Once they are comfortable with you moving your hand you may be able to take them out of the cage like that. One of the worst things you can do is to grab them from above as they are prey animals and that makes them see you as a threat. Once they trust you, try to scoop them up with a hand each side of them a bit like when you cup your hands to take a drink of water from a bowl if that makes sense? Another thing I have done with mine is to stand by the open cage with my folded arms in the doorway and my body blocking the opening - curiosity eventually gets the better of them and they start investigating. Also every evening I take a few oats and open the cage door - they near enough fall out of the cage trying to get to me so they can have their nightly treat
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biting
Oct 24, 2011 13:51:01 GMT
Post by jbaggs92 on Oct 24, 2011 13:51:01 GMT
I will definitely try that. Maybe ill be able to finally name them after seeing their personalities. Thanks so much, and ill definitely let you know how all that works out.
Oh, and are most of y'all from England? I'm from Louisiana and from the posts I've read, they remind me if the way people talked when I went to England.
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biting
Oct 24, 2011 13:55:06 GMT
Post by Kins on Oct 24, 2011 13:55:06 GMT
Most of the members on here are from England, yup! There are a few from Canada and USA and a few from other European countries, but the majority are definitely UK based.
The advice you've been given is pretty much spot on, I'm sure they will soon get used to you and turn in to the cheeky little goos we know and love. Mine will now tell the vacum cleaner off if it get's too close and the dogs when they walk past the cage! They are such little characters!
Oh and we need pictures too please?!
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Oct 24, 2011 14:16:22 GMT
Post by degualot on Oct 24, 2011 14:16:22 GMT
jbaggs92, don't worry about the biting, at this stage they just don't know you. It takes time to bond with them as well, the more you invest, the more they will get to know you, and warm up to you. When I first got bobby and taco they use to nip me, sometimes they still do, when you say bite, do you mean a proper bite, like broken skin and blood. Degus when frustrated or nervous sometimes can Nip quite hard which gives off a sharp pain, which feels like a bite but it's not really. If you handle degus a lot you get use to them doing this from time to time, now and then Taco wants off my hand onto the floor so he'll nip me to let me know he doesn't want to go back to his cage, although he doesn't do it often, it's something Degus do.. But if what your saying is, your getting propper attacked, like blood and broken skin then just give it time, fuzzymum1's advice is the way to go.. remember can take time for them to warm up to you, sometimes months, sometimes only weeks or days, depends on the Degu. one of my Degu's called Victor, who never bites, never squeaks, never talks, he's like a mute, he doesn't even talk to other Degus, when they argue with him, he just stays silent, even when they box, sorry, anyway, we have bonded together but he will never like being picked up, he's frightened by heights and what he thinks is unstable surfaces like my hand, so if I pick him up, he get's scared and runs from my hand and then comes right back to say hello for a treat. I guess what i'm trying to say is, it can get quite complex, you'll experience different bonds with all your Degus, but they are the best Pet's i've ever had and are very attached now. Keep coming online and find out more.
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Oct 24, 2011 14:53:11 GMT
Post by deguconvert on Oct 24, 2011 14:53:11 GMT
Welcome to the forum, Jbaggs92!! You've got great advise here, and following it should begin the formation of a bond between you and your new boys. Male degus do not require female degus to be a happy group. You won't often see a large group of happy bonded males . . . and I'm not sure if this is because males just will not tolerate a lot of other males around, or because we humans assume it just will not work . . . but three males can be very contented together.
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biting
Oct 24, 2011 15:23:47 GMT
Post by jbaggs92 on Oct 24, 2011 15:23:47 GMT
Ok, so how do I put pictures up? I see where it says 'insert image,' but I don't understand what to do from there. It just puts up this thing: [/img]. Where do I go from here?
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biting
Oct 24, 2011 21:16:24 GMT
Post by deguconvert on Oct 24, 2011 21:16:24 GMT
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biting
Oct 24, 2011 23:38:39 GMT
Post by jbaggs92 on Oct 24, 2011 23:38:39 GMT
That couldn't have been eny more exactly what I needed. That was the perfect help. I'm going to do that, then post some pictures of my degus!
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biting
Oct 24, 2011 23:50:49 GMT
Post by jbaggs92 on Oct 24, 2011 23:50:49 GMT
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biting
Oct 24, 2011 23:54:27 GMT
Post by jbaggs92 on Oct 24, 2011 23:54:27 GMT
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biting
Oct 25, 2011 5:50:57 GMT
Post by NightwishRaven999 on Oct 25, 2011 5:50:57 GMT
Hello James ! Welcome to the forum. Feel free to browse around the forum and make yourself at home.
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biting
Oct 25, 2011 8:32:37 GMT
Post by Kins on Oct 25, 2011 8:32:37 GMT
Aww, lovely goos, they look very fluffy particularly in the second picture!
We love pictures!! Good work.
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biting
Oct 25, 2011 15:07:06 GMT
Post by deguconvert on Oct 25, 2011 15:07:06 GMT
LOL! Yeah, lots of "bromance" in the degu world!!! Beautiful degus!!
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