|
Post by spottydegu on Oct 13, 2016 18:27:07 GMT
In the last week or so Drum has gone from 220g to 190g! She is about 7 months now but it has been a little cold in the room they're in.
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Oct 13, 2016 18:37:27 GMT
Checked Chip and she has gone down to 182 even though she is usually the fattest!
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Oct 13, 2016 19:26:31 GMT
Have you noticed anything else? Has their appetite changed? Perhaps hungry for different foods than usual? Less active?
Do you limit the food?
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Oct 13, 2016 19:40:23 GMT
I do limit their food but make it so they often finish their food at the end of the day like 7-8pm. Nothing in the diet has changed that I can think of. They chewed a little bit of the wall last night (Little monkeys!) but nothing serious.
Their diet is P@H nuggets P@H HAY Woodlands chinchilla forage pinch of oats and rosewood degu treat
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Oct 13, 2016 19:58:52 GMT
I know that there are many different methods of feeding, most of which are fine. For our degus, I never limited their regular foods and forage. I did a small amount with their seeds, and more so with treats and things that can contribute to health issues, like cereal grains. Perhaps you need to be giving them a little more food, as I'm sure they must burn through their calories faster in the winter as they have work harder to keep their bodies warm.
|
|
|
Post by yasmin on Oct 14, 2016 0:06:56 GMT
I agree – they are still young and growing so perhaps don't limit their food and see if they regain the weight.
|
|
|
Post by winic1 on Oct 14, 2016 4:02:37 GMT
I agree with them also--unlimited hay. increase/unlimited pellets, and increase the rest so that they don't quite finish it, or just finish it by the next morning when you give them the next load of food. In order to grow, they need an excess of calories. Don't worry about them getting too fat yet, wait until they are at least a year old, then, if it seems they are just getting fat instead of still settling into adult size and weight, you can trim back the extras to get them where they should be. Right now they just need to finish growing up and maturing.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Oct 14, 2016 16:51:47 GMT
They would benefit from adding an oil seed mix like the Ratrations degu mixes, these are calorific so good for growing degus. Are you aware that young degus need more food than adults, so do make sure they have plenty? And make sure they have plenty of forage. If they aren't too keen on their nuggets, you could always try some different ones, it's good to mix two or even three types.
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Oct 14, 2016 17:32:08 GMT
They would benefit from adding an oil seed mix like the Ratrations degu mixes, these are calorific so good for growing degus. Are you aware that young degus need more food than adults, so do make sure they have plenty? And make sure they have plenty of forage. If they aren't too keen on their nuggets, you could always try some different ones, it's good to mix two or even three types. They like there nuggets and forage. I wasn't aware that young degus need more food but I have upped their food now. I will keep an eye on their weight.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Oct 14, 2016 19:38:16 GMT
Let us know how they are doing in a few days, hopefully it's just a blip maybe connected with the cooler temps. It helps if you can weigh them at approx the same time of day.
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Oct 15, 2016 15:42:43 GMT
Good news! Chip is back at 210 and Drum at 208! I will keep them on unlimited food while they are growing. I will also still keep an eye on their weight incase this happens again!
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Oct 15, 2016 19:02:47 GMT
Degus seem pretty good at self regulating, so I don't think strict control over food amounts are needed with them. Not like with some other animals, like my dogs, LOL! None of our degus over the years ever got fat . . . save for those that surprised us with a pregnancy . . . and I always kept dishes of food for them , refilling only when empty. Degus can get upwards of 300 grams as a full adult and still be quite svelte. I have known of one that was extra large and was over 300 grams, but he was really big structurally, not fat, for a degu.
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Oct 28, 2016 21:08:57 GMT
Weight had been fine and I weighed them today and Drum came in at a good 234 but Chip is 204. It is cold in ther room and we are going to put a heater in for 10 mins but any advice?
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Oct 28, 2016 22:43:49 GMT
Do you know what the temperature in their room is?
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Oct 29, 2016 7:58:44 GMT
It is very low about 14 degrees celcius.
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Oct 29, 2016 10:07:32 GMT
Put in a gental heater facing their cage. It is keeping the room at 18°c.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Oct 29, 2016 12:23:25 GMT
They do tend to feel the cold below 17C or so. You probably need to think about a long term solution that is cost effective because it's probably going to get colder. The cheapest options are localised heat from a heatpad (microwave or electric) or something like a tube heater inside the cage, microwave pads take effort to top up and wired electric heaters need to be well proteced or sited to be safe. I have a little electric tube heater in our cage, but our cage is wooden so it's easier to protect. Heaters and pads in the cage do encourage them to be less active as they just hang out in the warm spot, so room heating is better but obviously more expensive. Another option would be to move them to a warmer area of the house.
If you are happy with the heater you are trying now, then 18C should be OK.
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Nov 1, 2016 15:35:01 GMT
Chips weight is up at 223g but the thing is finding a long term solition would work but we are in an old house right now but are moving to a much warmer new build.
|
|
|
Post by dops on Nov 1, 2016 22:17:57 GMT
i have a snuggle safe, which is like a solid microwaveable hot water bottle which stays warm for about 4/5 hours! It says up to 9 hours but realistically it wont be warm that long. As its solid there is no chance of them chewing through it and it has a soft cover so they seem to enjoy being on it, i got it from Zooplus
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Nov 2, 2016 7:23:56 GMT
I have a snugglesafe but they chewed through the case and started chewing it so im a bit scared to give it to them now! The heater is working well for a temporary solution.
|
|