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Post by alicelouise on Aug 25, 2015 21:40:16 GMT
Hi! So today I became a first time degu mummy! My boys are called bubble and squeak and I'm just looking for general advice on how long it takes for them to settle in to new places (they're 8 months old, I bought them from Pets at home) and if there is anything I need to do to help them settle  im leaving windows open to keep the room cool also! Any help/advice for a new mum would be great  Thank you in advance ! Xx |
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Post by Bexi87 on Aug 25, 2015 21:51:45 GMT
Welcome to the forum Firstly I'd say read as much information as possible on here, degus are fantastic animals but take a bit of getting used to. They aren't the most straightforward pet out there! I'd suggest sexing them youself as soon as you can, PaH do mis-sex their degus so it's best to double check. If you aren't sure try and get a picture and upload onto the forum. I think there are a couple of recent threads about sexing. I'd also suggest reading up on cages. Did you get the cage PaH sell? If so I'm afraid it is too small for a pair of degus, limited space can cause stress and fighting - there are loads of threads about cage extensions/DIY cages. Just be careful - I ended up with major cage envy when I first looked  |
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Post by alicelouise on Aug 25, 2015 21:56:12 GMT
Welcome to the forum Firstly I'd say read as much information as possible on here, degus are fantastic animals but take a bit of getting used to. They aren't the most straightforward pet out there! I'd suggest sexing them youself as soon as you can, PaH do mis-sex their degus so it's best to double check. If you aren't sure try and get a picture and upload onto the forum. I think there are a couple of recent threads about sexing. I'd also suggest reading up on cages. Did you get the cage PaH sell? If so I'm afraid it is too small for a pair of degus, limited space can cause stress and fighting - there are loads of threads about cage extensions/DIY cages. Just be careful - I ended up with major cage envy when I first looked Hi! Thanks for the help I bought a two tier cage off Amazon because id read reviews that the PaH one was way too small! They seem to enjoy it! I've created lots of hiding and climbing spaces for them with treats hidden in new places to encourage them to explore they seem a little nervous at the moment, how long does it normally take for them to settle in? |
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Post by yasmin on Aug 26, 2015 1:17:33 GMT
Welcome to the forum alicelouise. Degus are very intelligent so it shouldn't take too long for them to settle in. How are they behaving now? Let them get used to you and your scent before trying to handle them. Try offering a treat or two (individual bits of puffed rice, a sunflower seed or two, etc.) – that way they will immediately associate you with good things. As you have probably noticed, there is a wealth of information on this forum divided into handy sections like "The Beginner's" section (might want to start with that), Diet & Nutrition, Housing, and General Degu Behaviour. And feel free to post any questions you may have – we are here to help. |
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 26, 2015 2:38:29 GMT
Hello, and welcome to the forum, Alicelouise. How long it takes degus to adjust depends on the individual degu. Some are happy and adjusted within hours of arrival, while others seem to need several days.
In general, degus prefer a lot of solid surface space as opposed to lots of small ledges. Although they are great at jumping, actually lets say they jump a lot but only with moderate grace, they like to travel about more than jump or climb.
Because our area of Canada has cooled down so much this past month that we have already had some frost and some snow mixed with the rain, I am going to ask . . . are you leaving the windows open to cool the rooms because of hot weather? That is OK so long as the degus are not exposed to a chilly draught.
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Post by alicelouise on Aug 26, 2015 6:18:36 GMT
Hello, and welcome to the forum, Alicelouise. How long it takes degus to adjust depends on the individual degu. Some are happy and adjusted within hours of arrival, while others seem to need several days. In general, degus prefer a lot of solid surface space as opposed to lots of small ledges. Although they are great at jumping, actually lets say they jump a lot but only with moderate grace, they like to travel about more than jump or climb. Because our area of Canada has cooled down so much this past month that we have already had some frost and some snow mixed with the rain, I am going to ask . . . are you leaving the windows open to cool the rooms because of hot weather? That is OK so long as the degus are not exposed to a chilly draught. Thanks so much for your help everyone my area of the uk at the moment is very humid and we've had a few warm days, although my room gets no direct sunlight it can get warm, the cage isn't in direct line of the window so they aren't feeling a chilly draught but are feeling the benefits of a cool room |
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Post by moletteuk on Aug 26, 2015 9:51:27 GMT
Make sure there are plenty of hiding places around the cage, you can throw in cardboard boxes, logs, plant pots, just regular things that they can hide in or behind, it will encourage them to explore and relax if there is always a safe place only a few steps away.
Tips in a few words: let them come to you for taming, experiment with different treats and you will soon win them over. Diet should include lots of forage, meadow plants, flowers, tree leaves, twigs, grasses, safe garden plants and weeds etc. Two degus should have 1.2 square metres of running space.
Have fun getting to know them.
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Post by alicelouise on Aug 26, 2015 11:26:28 GMT
Morning everyone! Goo's first morning in the house and they were up most of last night squeaking so mummy and daddy got very little sleep haha. Squeak is the more confident one of the two, he took a monkey nut off me through the bars this morning, bubble is still a bit nervy but other than that they're all good |
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 26, 2015 17:14:31 GMT
They should learn your habits and begin to mimic them to a degree as they get to know you. Going to sleep when you do, rising when you rise. Are you keeping the cage in your bedroom? If so, you could be in for a string of "less than usual sleep" nights. Is your room your only option for them?
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Post by alicelouise on Aug 27, 2015 10:12:17 GMT
They should learn your habits and begin to mimic them to a degree as they get to know you. Going to sleep when you do, rising when you rise. Are you keeping the cage in your bedroom? If so, you could be in for a string of "less than usual sleep" nights. Is your room your only option for them? My room is the coolest room in the house, because the other rooms that we could have possibly put them in all get direct sunlight it gets very warm in there even with windows open so my room was the best idea they were quiet last night, just woke us up this morning chewing on their tubes! Haha |
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Post by alicelouise on Aug 31, 2015 16:58:51 GMT
So! The goo's have settled in and I finally was able to sex them both myself...they're both girls! ️Hahaha poor little ones have been getting called 'mummy's little boys' for the past week! Ahh p@h :')
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Post by yasmin on Aug 31, 2015 21:08:48 GMT
Fortunately, they're both the same. Glad to hear they've settled it. |
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 1, 2015 13:40:01 GMT
At least you won't feel like you need to change their names. Those work well for either gender.
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im leaving windows open to keep the room cool also! 
