Sunshine and Cheechoo are fighting :S

[wolvi2889]

I have had Sunshine and Cheechoo for about a month and a half now, they are both female, and have always since the day i got them gotten along. In fact, they are sisters. Today I gave them both a toilet paper roll, they took it, and all seemed well when Sunshine stole Cheechoo's roll. A few minutes later when Cheechoo went to get her toilet paper roll back, Sunshine attacked her and they began to fight. They have been very hostile towards eachother for the whole day now! What could be the cause of their sudden hostility towards eachother?? I am very confused!

Also, Sunshine seems like she is a BIG bully, and always steals Cheechoo's things. Why is this?

On another note, throughout it all, at the end of the day they cuddle when they sleep.

Thanks for all your help!
-Ryan

[Amethystbelle]

It sounds like Sunshine is the boss, in a group or degus there always has to be one who is in charge and dominant and it sounds like Sunshine is asserting her position over Cheechoo. The toilet tubes were most probably the cause of all the friction today, degus can be funny about things and Sunshine obviously didn't want Cheechoo having a toilet tube and she put her in her place as if to say i'm the boss. My group of four boys often do this if i give them a box, one of them (the leader) will claim the box and the others have to wait till they are done with it and then they can have whats left which normally isn't a great deal

I wouldn't worry too much and would just keep an eye on them. Normally once they have decided who is boss things will calm down again and they will reach a happy medium. Little things can help such as if they squabble over the food bowl, water bottle or wheel add another to alleviate some of the friction etc...

[laurieb]

Ryan,

When we got our 3 degus, the kids wanted to name one of my little girls "Meany" . I wouldn't let them do that, but many times I was tempted! She had to have her own bowl, and the other 2 would share one, without a problem. It all worked out after a while. They became very close and were just fine.

The rest of our story is quite confusing, so I'll leave it at that. Just give it time, but if it gets so bad that you see blood (which would be very rare), then take action. They will settle it themselves, I'm sure.

2 of everything may be good for a while!

Keep us posted,
Laurie

[mebri123]

they don't like to share
next time no toilet paper rolls for them lol
I usually give them like 3 rolls at a time but they have never fought over them