Lone degu

[alikat]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum but in desperate need of some help.

Yesterday one of my degus had to be put down which has left me with just one male degu. They were rehomed from Pets at Home who told me they were around 4 years old.


Would he be ok on his own if I fill his cage with things to do and make sure he gets lots of attention or would it be better to look for a new home for him?

I really don't have the time, knowledge or space to introduce a new degu to him.

Any advise would be great, I don't want him ending up depressed or ill from being alone which I've read about on other sites, but there is at of difference on opinions about single degus.

I would hate to have to give him up, but I want to be fair to him and if he is better off in a group then I will obviously do what's best for him.

[moletteuk]

Hi Alikat, I'm very sorry for your loss.

He will need a new friend, he could have several years yet and they really don't do well alone, they can become withdrawn and depressed and get overly clingy with their human who just can't provide what they need, I'm sure from having the pair you have seen how important their social interactions are.

Are you sure you don't feel able to tackle an introduction? If not, then rehoming might be best but it might be difficult to find him another home as a single male. It's tricky

[alikat]

I work a lot during the day, but I am willing to give it try. I will have a look at information about how to introduce a new degu. Would it be better to get another one or make the group larger, also new males or some females? I have a large cage for them.

Thanks for the reply, I was beginning to feel so lost. Are there general rules about introducing new degus to an excising one, will he see the cage he is in as his territory?

Sorry for all the questions, just really want what's best for him.

[jamiee]

Getting him neutered and introducing him to a female or two could keep him very happy. Of course, there are however, risks and costs associated with neutering a degu.

[moletteuk]

I think you might find it helpful to read the intro guides stickied at the top of the Intros board, and also have a browse through some of the intro threads, it will give you a better idea what you are getting into, do bear in mind that by the nature of a forum, there are lots of difficult cases that end up here.

You are right, cage size and territory are important to degus and even more important when you are doing introductions, so do check again that your cage is adquately sized deguworld.proboards.com/thread/9396/forums-cage-size-recommendations We recommend 1.5 square metres of running area for 3 degus. The intro process always starts off with allowing all degus to live increasingly close to each other until there is just the cage bars between them, and eventually with time and mixing of smells and meetings you persuade them they are one group and the territory becomes shared. In between, it is usual to do first meets in a neutral space that nobody considers their own territory, but sometimes you have to be flexible about this.

You also have options about who you might introduce him to. Traditionally the choice would be two baby boys, as his fathering instinct should allow a fairly swift intro, but these intros can develop issues as the younsters grow up and go through puberty, it can take 18 months for hormones to settle. Another option would be another lone male, the theory here is that two lonely boys may be more inclined to set aside any differences to get some company. The other choice is to get him (what's his name?) neutered and then get one or two girls. This is the most natural grouping with a good chance of working out but involves a serious operation for the castration, you need a decent vet.

Lots for you to think about. Don't let me talk you into anything!

[Maravilla]

Mar 16, 2015 17:40:08 GMT jamiee said:

Getting him neutered and introducing him to a female or two could keep him very happy. Of course, there are however, risks and costs associated with neutering a degu.

Neutering a degu just because introducing him to females MIGHT be easier, should not be the first option but the last one.
I think we should stop telling people this as the first and easiest solution as it is not the case. We should not think in what we consider the best way (best, because it seems the easiest (fastest) one to us) but the best for the degu. And having him neutered with all the pain, risks, problems surely is not what the degu would chose as first option.

[alikat]

Thanks for all the responses.

I think I would prefer to go down the route of introducing males to the group instead of getting him neutered. I wanted to get another 2 as I don't want to always be in the same situation of having to try introducing a new male when my current degu passes away too. (his name is Jekyll by the way )

I am just looking into buying a new cage which I can move close to him every couple of days or so before I even attempt the first intro - have read the threads about doing this in neutral grounds etc. If I was to get 2 new ones would I let them all meet at the same time or just do one and then the other a few days later? 

Also if the meeting don't go great and it seems like he just won't accept new degu friends, would he be ok on his own - I would of course keep the new guys but just in a separate cage but in the same room.

[saddlers]

Mar 17, 2015 11:12:32 GMT Maravilla said:

Mar 16, 2015 17:40:08 GMT jamiee said:

Getting him neutered and introducing him to a female or two could keep him very happy. Of course, there are however, risks and costs associated with neutering a degu.

Neutering a degu just because introducing him to females MIGHT be easier, should not be the first option but the last one.
I think we should stop telling people this as the first and easiest solution as it is not the case. We should not think in what we consider the best way (best, because it seems the easiest (fastest) one to us) but the best for the degu. And having him neutered with all the pain, risks, problems surely is not what the degu would chose as first option.

I do understand that neutering should not be the first option to consider, and should just not be thrown forward as a solution to a lone male degu to avoid possible intro difficulties...however your comment about "having him neutered with all the pain, risks, problems surely is not what the degu would chose as first option" must surely be balanced against whether any male degu would also "choose" a life without the opportunity of a mate of the opposite sex.

[moletteuk]

Alikat, I think you need to hope for the best with the intro and cross any bridge of it not working as it comes. This might be a bit optimistic, but it's definitely worth checking out rescue places in your area, you may strike lucky and find somewhere with a choice of degus and you may be able to let Jekyll meet some through bars or swap degus if it dosn't work out, it can help to have some support and options locally.

For the intro, yes, you gradually move the cages closer and normally the first meet is all together, best to do lots of reading on this so you feel prepared and can get your head around what to expect.