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Post by atramentous on Jan 6, 2015 21:54:04 GMT
The block of flats I live in has a bit of a mouse problem and we have from time to time seen mice scurrying across our living room. Should this be something I need to be worried about when letting the goos out to play, I don't know if they might be able to pick up diseases/infections the mice might carry?
Thanks!
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Post by moletteuk on Jan 7, 2015 11:50:17 GMT
I don't know. I'm inclined to say the odd mouse shouldn't be a problem, but an infestation wouldn't be good, but then you wouldn't want an infestation of mice in your flat anyway. The issue is how you can keep on top of trapping the mice without risk to the degus. We used one of those humane traps in a shed once, but after a while the mice learned how to escape from them. We keep sticks and wood and aubiose in our shed, which has mice, and I dry out leaves in there sometimes and I've never been overly concerned about mouse contamination. After all there are loads of mice and critters in contact with the wood and plants I pick for the goos without washing them.
I guess transfer of mites or similar on a carpet would be possible and maybe transfer of infection from poo could be possible.
You are likely to end up with tons of food of various types for the degus and this may attract more mice, so you might want to figure out a mouse proof system of storage.
It may be worth considering keeping the goos separate from the rest of the flat by making a playpen with a washable/ wipeable floor.
Sorry that was just a stream of thoughts really, maybe somebody else will have more ideas for you.
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Post by atramentous on Jan 8, 2015 0:06:17 GMT
Thanks Molette, those were more or less the same thoughts and concerns I had. I think I'll try a playpen with a floor at first, but ideally I'd like to give them the run of the room eventually. I think perhaps I shouldn't be too overcautious and I should cross any mite etc problems if they do arise, rather than not give them the run of the place out of what may be unnecessary worries. It isn't like the mice are a huge problem, we go for long periods thinking they're gone but then inevitably hear one in the walls or see one dart across the floor.
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