change of heart: nice to cranky degu - Paw Talk

Acorn · #1 05-12-2009, 04:39 AM

hi guys
i got a baby degu last week to keep my 8 month old male company. now he was reaaally happy, tame and friendly towards me before we got the baby but since we introduced them together (they are now best of friends,. were straight away infact after their gradual introduction) the older one will shirek at me if i go near the cage and runs away to his bed hiding after a minute. sometimes he is fine and lets me scratch and tickle him like he used to but it is very upsetting when he goes the other way.
like this morning i got up and went over to their (MASSIVE) new cage that i got with the baby and squeaker (the 8 month old) started roaring when i went near him, and let out a string of sporadic shrieks for about 2 minutes.

what can i do? is he jealous? protecting the baby degu?

Amethystbelle · #2 05-12-2009, 08:19 AM

Sounds like he could be protecting the youngster and if he is in a new cage then its a strange environment for him too, just give them a chance to settle down and talk to him gently and give him lots of treats and he should come round

Acorn · #3 05-13-2009, 03:41 AM

ya i thought he might be. i took the baby away for an hour to give squeaker a 'time out' and he went back to normal

today then he attacked me(literally went for me and bit me) when i put my hand in the cage to give him his morning scratch. im at my wits end now, im half thinking of giving away the baby as its caused so many riffs between me and my beloved pet.

Kendalle · #4 05-13-2009, 04:38 AM

give it more time.

Amethystbelle · #5 05-13-2009, 09:35 AM

You need to give him chance to settle down, just leave them in peace for a few days and let them settle down and stage some kind of order and work with them, trust me it will get better

emmzie87 · #6 05-13-2009, 02:26 PM

i feel sorry for the 3 of u's....but do give it more time.

Acorn · #7 05-14-2009, 05:34 AM

i hope so,.. but if anything its getting worse. squeaker bit me so badly today that i was bleeding for an hour. i love him so much but i am afraid i am going to end up disliking him

i dont want to end up being afraid of my pet

Kendalle · #8 05-14-2009, 05:52 AM

hmm is he giving you signs that he is upset before he bites?

Amethystbelle · #9 05-14-2009, 12:08 PM

You really need to give it time, I have been bitten many a times over the years and once its healed you soon forget about the pain, trust me

Maybe cease trying to handle them till he has settled down and then work with them, take it a day at a time. Why don't you start off just sitting and talking to them throught the cage bars really gently and then after 10 minutes of so give them a treat and leave then. Once he feels more comfy in your company start trying to stroke him and again treating him at end of it, he will soon come round

Acorn · #10 05-15-2009, 05:23 AM

ya your right guys,. ive a feeling my impatience to get him back to being his old friendly self is making him worse. today i just fed him bits of treat and stroked him for second then left him,. hes sooo attached to his new friend he actually gave him some treat, hes so cute! il keep ye updated hopefully othe old squeaker will be back in no time.

in other news,.. anyone want to suggest a name for the new guy? i want something that goes with squeaker, was thinking nibbler or chewy or something?