Bonding Tips?

[andreaS15]

Hi Everyone,

My recent 3 foster degus have been adopted, and so I have my 55G tank available, it can be converted into a split tank and I am wanting to do some degu introductions in it, as SARSBC has an overwhelming number of rescued degus, many of them singles.
My thought is to pair up as many same sex singles into pairs for adoption, that way the foster homes who have them have only one cage instead of two, and well the degus will have a buddy.

I've done gerbil split cage introductions many, many times and a rabbit intro, so I'm not totally new to this concept. I'm thinking i will start with Female Goo's as I hear they are easier to bond.

So I'm looking for tips from experienced people who have done Degu bonding.

Thanks!

[mulder]

neutral ground, dust baths, maybe a little vanilla or some scent if they're stubborn. i've been told it takes time, but some goos just go "yay a friend!" lol so......best wishes

[girlrazor]

Split cages work, if you go on to my information thread, I posted some links there, DEGU guide is a good page to get information on intros from...

Here:

Quote: If you have one degu and intend to buy another, you should keep them separate in the beginning as they have to get used to each other. The best way in which to do this is to divide the cage into two parts and let them live separately for some time. After this, try putting them together and see how it goes. Sometimes they will fight. Don't panic, as they are just deciding who will become boss. If they are fighting constantly, however, separate them again. Clean their cages and all accessories properly and introduce the degus to a new cage which neither of them considers his own home or territory. Then add a little vanilla essence (or something else which is very aromatic) to their sandbath and let both the degus roll in it. When you allow them back together again, they should not be as aggressive, since they will no longer see each other as enemies (due to having the same smell). Now they may get used to each other slowly. If this doesn't help, either, they simply don't like each other very much and can't live together. But this does not happen very often.

[andreaS15]

I have used Vanilla during a gerbil intro once, and everything went fine. But I have heard where after the smell wears off the gerbils attack one another. So I'm leaning towards not masking their scents. With gerbils I will sometimes rub one of the gerbils bellies (scent gland) and rub the other gerbil, it's a more natural way to add the scent to each gerbil.

[Amethystbelle]

I have a guide that i have used time and time again on my site that works well. It depends what sex you are introducing too as well as to how hard or how easy it will be, males are trickier then females.

Vanilla sand works really well with degus, but its something i usually use if they don't get along the first time they meet as i prefer to let them scent up so they smell simular as its more natural. Handling them with gloves on, letting them use the same sand, swapping the cages over etc... all help