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Let the Degu Taming Commence

My girls have been a part of the family for 5 days now. I left them alone for the first 2 days to let them get used to their new surroundings but now that's over I've started to tame my degu girls.

They are already quite a curious bunch of degus anyway and like to play the "sniff-and-run" game by cautiously approaching new things, sniffing it, then promptly running for cover. On Sunday I started placing my arm in the cage at random intervals throughout the day for about 20-30 minutes. I placed my hand palm down on the floor and just stood there, quietly talking to any degu which would come to investigate. I was quite surprised by how quickly they became trusting of my hand and by nightfall yesterday, they were all quite comfortably sitting on the back of my hand as they munched on their food.

I don't have names yet (my brother still wants a Big Bang Theory theme) but I have temporarily called them Nosy Rosie, Noisy Annie, and the other one, so that I know who's who and which ones are progressing with the taming.

Nosy Rosie the Degu eating grass

Nosy Rosie is the bravest of the degus and was the first to let me gently stroke her side as she ate, but only while keeping my palm face down and my hand flat on the floor. The other degus would run if I just twitched a finger. Today, however, she is taking food from my fingers. I think the fact that it is fresh grass helps as a bit of bribery. Tomorrow I'm going to get some dandelion and oat treats to try those as a bribe… I mean, taming aid.

Noisy Annie & Nosy Rosie the degus enjoying some grass

I've noticed that once one degu plucks up the courage to do something the others tend to follow soon after. After about 10 minutes I had both Nosy Rosie and Noisy Annie taking the grass from my hand. Unfortunately, the other one had decided she wasn't interested and sat in a huff down in the lower levels. If a degu doesn't want to do something don't force them is the motto. Hopefully she'll want to play tomorrow.

Nosy Rosie ran off with her grass!

Before I came to the computer I checked on them to see what they were up to and immediately, the 2 who were eating grass came to the front of the cage to see if I had any more. I heard they were fast learners but surely not this fast? I think they know they're on to a good thing!

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