Hi newbie degu owner to be..

[violetfae]

So Hi

I arrive here after a little post on freecycle asking for a rat cage and somehow I'm gonna be the proud owner of a degu on thursday afternoon.

Does anyone have any advice on looking after a pre loved degu? about 1 year old) it was part of a pair but sadly no more, vet advised not to introduce another and pets at home basically said buy two and a cage and put them next to each other blah sales blah (I don't have another petstore in town alas)

any pointers gladly taken

Cheers Vx

[violetfae]

I find out the basics sex - size of cage etc when I pick it up,

I don't drive unfortuneatley (spelt to wrong lol) so aquiring another thats not p@h would be a bit problematic, current owner has no time or space spare for the lil thing,
I'm in cheshire, i could short term take two cages whilst introductions went on but it couldnt be a permanent arrangement,
I've got my local vet lined up for a health check to make sure teeth are in good nick and hopefully sex it, again they were short on local support info, google led me here

[violetfae]

I've just found out the cage is 2.5 ft wide and 2.5ft tall not exactly the biggest cage in the world :s

[violetfae]

thanks for the advice i shall be lurking around the other threads researching etc and hopefully have some pics on thursday night

[Cherpi]

He isn't drinking water because you're giving him milk?

[violetfae]

errrrrr ^_^

[deguconvert]

Apr 20, 2011 17:30:55 GMT Cherpi said:

He isn't drinking water because you're giving him milk?

Cherpi? LOL! Did you reply to a different thread, perchance?

[violetfae]

after slogging cross to the guys house in the heat yesterday he wasnt in :s but Dieago (will prolly be renamed) has finally arrived in a cage that hadnt even been cleaned out - he's been fed guinea pig museli and there was no sign of a wet patch from any spilt water and his bath was a buried victoria sandwich tin an hour later and he was in clean sawdust and bedding with some hay stuffed into a wooden holey hamster play tunnel i put some dust into a small deep cake (storage) tin he very much enjoyed some fresh water and looks a little perkier he's running around his cage quite happily and climbing and chirruping at us intermittently, got him booked into the vets for a general health check next weeks at vets for pets, bit concerned he may have cataracts

but he's happily been nibbling my finger may try and get him out later

[deguconvert]

Sounds like his conditions were deplorable! I'm so glad he is now in a clean cage, has access to water, and a fresh bit of bathing sand. He must feel so much happier! I hope he will come to for a little visit, out of the cage. Congratulations on getting him home!

[violetfae]

he came out tonight i let him eat some oats out of my hand earlier today but every time i tried a gentle stroke he ran back in but came straight out again then about an hour later i opened the door and he ventured right out had to chase him a little and got a lovely cuddle out of him, my daughter may take more convincing as he sunk his teeth into her finger (broke the cardinal rule of eatign something sweet before handling, I guess she tasted nice) ^_^

[violetfae]

back from vets for pets and SHE has a clean bill of health possible "warts" on her feet any tips for that? but yes we now have a Sparkle in the house and all is good, vet recommended a vet in liverpool for anything major

[deguconvert]

Degus naturally have little bumps on their feet. Are those what the vet was refering to? Glad SHE has a clean bill of health. ALSO glad you now know the he really is a she!

[violetfae]

Sparkle has a lil black lump on the top of one of her front toes, where the other toes have a covering of hair that toe doesn't, it doesnt currently hinder her climbing and running about, the vet said it could be cauterised if it became problematic.