|
Post by moletteuk on Nov 2, 2016 19:04:48 GMT
It is possible to make a wooden or metal case for a snugglesafe that is chewproof. If you are happy with the heater that's fine
|
|
|
Post by dops on Nov 3, 2016 9:35:40 GMT
Ah gosh that is understandably worrying!! They are awful little chewers
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Nov 3, 2016 14:44:23 GMT
Try putting in a ceramic heater for reptiles. It gives heat and is cost effective. You can also get a complete ensemble with a reflective metal dome to direct the heat, and protective mesh.
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Nov 16, 2016 18:49:25 GMT
Chip is all the way down to 170 grams again Drum is 204 so it must be the heat even though it has been a steady 17-20 degrees during the day, oculd it be at night they are losing weight? They have unlimited food as well so it is not like food is an issue.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Nov 16, 2016 19:58:49 GMT
Are your scales definitely reliable and accurate, sitting flat and properly zero'd? 170g is worryingly low and is a lot to have lost, so I'm hoping there is a problem with your scales.
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Nov 16, 2016 21:10:55 GMT
Actully, that is a good point. We are looking into getting a heater that can sit in the cage, it will have a guard so they can't get to it.
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Nov 16, 2016 21:22:18 GMT
Ah yes because now Chip is 204 and even she can't eat that much in a couple of hours. I might take of the box i use to put them in and just give them some treat to keep them still.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Nov 17, 2016 10:42:55 GMT
Ummm, I'm struggling to understand you with the typos.
The best thing is to weigh them at the same time of day because what they just ate and drank can make a difference, a teapsoon of urine is going to weight 5g after all, but certainly you aren't going to get 30g of variation in a few hours.
The important thing is to get the scales zerod accurately and lying flat, maybe you could test the scales with something you know the weight of. It's fine to use a box or whatever to put the degu in as long as you subtract it accurately or zero the scales with the box on. Wait for the degu to stand still to get the weight.
|
|
|
Post by ntg on Nov 17, 2016 12:25:56 GMT
As an add on to Molette - if you are weighing them with the scales on carpet then that can mess the readings up too as newer carpet with a good pile will create an uneven surface when your degus inevitably move around on the scale.
|
|
|
Post by spottydegu on Nov 17, 2016 15:46:42 GMT
Sorry about the typos I was on my phone and I am not the best on there! I have fixed them The scales is on old carpet but I could move it into a different room and just weigh them? I try to weigh them in the evening, past 19:00 normally.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Nov 17, 2016 17:05:51 GMT
That's a good point about the carpet, I didn't think of that. Yes, either try them in another room if it safe to move them, or just put the scales on perhaps a double layer of cardboard, or plank of wood or metal tray, something solid between the scales and the carpet should work.
|
|
|
Post by winic1 on Nov 17, 2016 21:20:53 GMT
Yes, as the others said, the scale needs to be on a solid surface, and level. Do you have a piece of board you could put under it, a hard, sturdy tray (if it flexes at all, no good), or a large hardcover book, something like that, perhaps?
And use the same container to hold them as well, something that doesn't overhang the scale too much, so that their weight remains in the center of the scale. We lured ours into a very large plastic jar that pretzels had been in, then stood it up on the scale to weigh them. Weighed the jar to be able to subtract it out of their weight. Also hit the "zero" button on the scale to just see the degu weight, but it the little monsters didn't cooperate and get in the jar quickly enough, our scale would turn itself off so we'd lose the zeroing, so having the weight written down as well is helpful.
If you weigh the degu, then have to weigh the jar, leave any pee or poo that was left behind in the jar during reweighing. Because if sometimes the degu holds in the pee and poo, and sometimes it lets it out and you wipe it out before reweighing the jar, then you are altering the amount of "degu" you are weighing and recording. Our boys seemed to especially love soiling that jar as heartily as they could.
|
|
|
Post by ntg on Nov 17, 2016 22:06:47 GMT
I always just tempt them onto the scales with a sunflower seed and hold it just high enough that they go on their hind legs to get it. Doesn't quite work with Gandalf any more though as he feels he's too old to have to resort to standing on his hind legs like a circus performer
|
|
|
Post by bouncy on Nov 17, 2016 22:22:08 GMT
I always just tempt them onto the scales with a sunflower seed and hold it just high enough that they go on their hind legs to get it. Doesn't quite work with Gandalf any more though as he feels he's too old to have to resort to standing on his hind legs like a circus performer And make sure their tail is on too! Mine wander onto scales for weighing, and a tail can make a 20g difference!
|
|
|
Post by ntg on Nov 17, 2016 22:33:10 GMT
I always just tempt them onto the scales with a sunflower seed and hold it just high enough that they go on their hind legs to get it. Doesn't quite work with Gandalf any more though as he feels he's too old to have to resort to standing on his hind legs like a circus performer And make sure their tail is on too! Mine wander onto scales for weighing, and a tail can make a 20g difference! That's very true, they use their tail to support quite a bit of weight so it can change the weight quite dramatically.
|
|