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Post by shadykkay on Aug 14, 2010 12:12:21 GMT
can they have dried or live mealworws or not plz help
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Post by smux on Aug 14, 2010 12:45:30 GMT
Degus are herbivores, their diet consists of vegetables and they will probably not even be interested in eating a mealworm. I have no idea if their digestive system can handle meat, but I would also assume that in the wild they have been known to eat dead and live insects with the grasses and such that they eat so it probably won't do them any harm. You'll probably be better off waiting for an answer from someone who knows for sure though.
If they have already eaten some, I wouldn't worry too much...just monitor them for a bit and see how they go, and make sure they have lots of their normal food too so it passes through their system quicker.
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 14, 2010 22:59:52 GMT
This was discussed a couple of years back, and we never really came to a concensus. There just doesn't seem to be very much research or information that would support the idea that degus would be much interested in eating mealworms. I don't think they are in anyway omnivorous like a rat is. However . . . it your degus have already tried them and ate them . . . I don't really see the harm in occasionally allowing them to have more in small amounts. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy some for them, though.
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Post by ilikedegus on Aug 16, 2010 10:35:27 GMT
I've read SOMEWHERE that degus' diet MAY include 1-2% insects and other invertebrates in the wild.
I tried mine with some dried mealworms that I bought for the birds, but they ignored them.
But I'd say that no-one really knows still as they haven't been studied enough in the wild - or if they have the information is still in an academic paper and hasn't made it into the pet degu world.
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Post by harpic01 on Aug 17, 2010 18:46:03 GMT
Chilli found a dead wasp the other day and before i could get to him had it in his mouth - he sort of nibbled it then spat the wasp out with disgust so i think mine at least are confirmed veggies !
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Post by smux on Aug 17, 2010 21:36:21 GMT
Did he have a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp?
Did you go over and say "waspamatter with you?"
I think this had better bee the last joke I make :-)
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 18, 2010 2:45:52 GMT
Promise?? LOL!
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Post by harpic01 on Aug 18, 2010 14:25:00 GMT
SMUX how could you - ive just groaned out loud at work and everyone then wanted to know why.
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Post by harpic01 on Aug 18, 2010 14:26:26 GMT
I think you are Hiving a laugh !!!!! and had better BEEhave - see you got me at it now sad sad sad  |
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peggy
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 139
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Post by peggy on Aug 19, 2010 17:09:37 GMT
I once offered a live mealworm to each of my degus and they ate them with great apettite.  I wouldn't feed degus with them on regular basis, though. |
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Post by smux on Aug 19, 2010 17:43:25 GMT
I think you are Hiving a laugh !!!!! and had better BEEhave - see you got me at it now sad sad sad I sting we'd better not give up our day jobs, honey! I will beehive after this though, I promise...no matter how much people try to hornet out of me, I won't say another. |
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 19, 2010 17:54:27 GMT
ROTFL!
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