Is this normal Degu bahavior?

purplegerbil96 · #1 08-07-2008, 01:06 PM

Hello! Well, I just got two Degus yesterday, and they seem to be quite afraid of me. Sometimes when I do something that frightens them, they freeze like a statue, right in place. They stay in position for up to an hour! I'm worried because I've never heard of Degus doing this. Please tell me if it's normal.

ifiwasahamster · #2 08-07-2008, 03:16 PM

i guess its because they are so new to you and their new home in the wild they are prey so their response is fear im guessing that a lot of bonding is needed it may take some time to earn their trust but once you do it is fantastic all degus are different i have 4 and it took different timescales to win each one around but the old proverb 'softly softly catch the monkey' is to be remembered with degus dont grab them i find scooping from underneath works better but the best approach is let them come to you and they will with time i found the best thing to do was secure the hallway i would bring their cage in the hall and open the door and i would just sit on the floor curiosity got the best of them and the bonding began
good luck and keep us informed hope i was of some help

purplegerbil96 · #3 08-07-2008, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifiwasahamster


	i guess its because they are so new to you and their new home in the wild they are prey so their response is fear im guessing that a lot of bonding is needed it may take some time to earn their trust but once you do it is fantastic all degus are different i have 4 and it took different timescales to win each one around but the old proverb 'softly softly catch the monkey' is to be remembered with degus dont grab them i find scooping from underneath works better but the best approach is let them come to you and they will with time i found the best thing to do was secure the hallway i would bring their cage in the hall and open the door and i would just sit on the floor curiosity got the best of them and the bonding began good luck and keep us informed hope i was of some help

Thanks, I'll keep trying.

kokuhaku14 · #4 08-08-2008, 02:16 AM

My degus were the same way. Now I can reach in and somewhat quickly one of them will jump onto my hand. That one even will fall asleep cuddled next to my hand. The other one is still somewhat afraid of me. He is fine with me getting close but wont jump onto my hand as quickly as the other will. Like everyone else will say, it takes time, but it is very much worth the effort. Just try opening the cage door and leaving your hand inside for awhile and they will come up and eventually get used to it. Holding them and letting them run around your arms is great too.

mulder · #5 08-08-2008, 06:16 AM

yeah that's normal goo behaviour. my girls would freeze in place too sometimes. just don't worry about reaching in and grabbing them. they're too smart, they just think "HEY! who are you??" and they're suuuuper curious. so if you sit beside their cage door (with it open) and talk to them, they'll eventually come up to smell you and check you out. I've had conversations with my goos, just whistling and chatting for a while lol. if they rub their teeth on you, not biting, trust me there's a difference lol, it means they are showing affection. the teeth rubbing on you, likely your hand, is their way of grooming you. it's the same way they groom each other. i find it kind of tickles hehe!

purplegerbil96 · #6 08-08-2008, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mulder


	yeah that's normal goo behaviour. my girls would freeze in place too sometimes. just don't worry about reaching in and grabbing them. they're too smart, they just think "HEY! who are you??" and they're suuuuper curious. so if you sit beside their cage door (with it open) and talk to them, they'll eventually come up to smell you and check you out. I've had conversations with my goos, just whistling and chatting for a while lol. if they rub their teeth on you, not biting, trust me there's a difference lol, it means they are showing affection. the teeth rubbing on you, likely your hand, is their way of grooming you. it's the same way they groom each other. i find it kind of tickles hehe!

That's what I've been trying recently but their cage doesn't have a door, it opens from the top, and it's really difficult reaching my hand at the bottom when they're down there. But I'll find a way.

mulder · #7 08-08-2008, 09:43 PM

then try just standing there with the top open. they'll climb up the cage walls and sniff you. have your forearm resting against your tummy and on top of the cage rim. just coo to them, talk soothingly, watch tv too if you'd like

have a treat or two to give, should they come near. If they don't even come up to the roof/door (HA!), then give them a treat through the bars. It's going to take time. Any more q's, just shout.

kokuhaku14 · #8 08-10-2008, 12:42 PM

You might want to consider getting a bigger cage, because from what it sounds like yours is a bit small. Ive read in polaces saying it should be at least 36 in., or, at least 50 in., etc, and if you can reach the bottom from the top it probably isnt big enough. Just to give you an idea, my cage for two degus is 22Deep X 34L X 48H. I know its huge for them but, ive never heard of an animal complaining their cage was too big.

purplegerbil96 · #9 08-13-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokuhaku14


	You might want to consider getting a bigger cage, because from what it sounds like yours is a bit small. Ive read in polaces saying it should be at least 36 in., or, at least 50 in., etc, and if you can reach the bottom from the top it probably isnt big enough. Just to give you an idea, my cage for two degus is 22Deep X 34L X 48H. I know its huge for them but, ive never heard of an animal complaining their cage was too big.

No, I can't reach the bottom from the top. It's a ten gallon tank with a three level wire cage attatched to it. We have a much larger wire cage in storage for when they get bigger. But right now they're only babies, so we figured they don't need one as big right now.

kokuhaku14 · #10 08-14-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplegerbil96


	No, I can't reach the bottom from the top. It's a ten gallon tank with a three level wire cage attatched to it. We have a much larger wire cage in storage for when they get bigger. But right now they're only babies, so we figured they don't need one as big right now.

Good for you! do you know how old they are? I'm just curious. Make sure to post pictures in this thread.

purplegerbil96 · #11 08-16-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokuhaku14


	Good for you! do you know how old they are? I'm just curious. Make sure to post pictures in this thread.

The pet store said they were about four months old.
By the way, here's a picture of their cage:

vetster · #12 08-16-2008, 04:12 PM

With the cage topper above the aquarium, do you have a problem with your degus urinating down the sides of the aquarium? I did before I put some wooden flooring in their cage topper haha

purplegerbil96 · #13 08-18-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vetster


	With the cage topper above the aquarium, do you have a problem with your degus urinating down the sides of the aquarium? I did before I put some wooden flooring in their cage topper haha

Well they seem to be using the bedding as a litter box. Or sometimes their houses. But only on solid surfaces, not the wire.

DeguOwner · #14 08-20-2008, 10:52 AM

We just purchased a pair of baby degu's in midjuly from a friend of mine when they were 3 weeks old. He worked with them handling them and he spends alot of time with the parents also. So when we went to look at them they were also a little skittish but after we got them home we would tak ethem out of the cage to hold and pet them and talk to them and give them excersize. Did not take them long to warm up to us. They love riding on our shoulder also. So I would just keep working with them and talking to them.

degu handling