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Post by grah7325 on Apr 9, 2012 21:21:53 GMT
So before I get my degus I have some general questions as I still don't know much about them. So if anyone could answer them or point me in the direction of a page that can I'd greatly appreciate it! 1. Does every level of their cage need to have sawdust on it? 2. How often do they get dust baths & should the baths be left in their cage, or done & then taken away? 3. I've noticed alot of peoples cages have material in them for hammocks etc, so I presume they don't chew fabric? 4. What are the essentials in a cage? Eg wheels, ramps etc? 5. Can they be litter trained? The only small animal I've had was a rabbit & he did all his business in a litter tray, are degus the same way or do they just go anywhere?! 6. How do you guys let them out of their cage, I imagine if I let them run free in my room I'd never find them again!? Thanks & I'm sure I'll end up thinking of more questions!
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 10, 2012 2:02:47 GMT
So before I get my degus I have some general questions as I still don't know much about them. So if anyone could answer them or point me in the direction of a page that can I'd greatly appreciate it! 1. Does every level of their cage need to have sawdust on it? 2. How often do they get dust baths & should the baths be left in their cage, or done & then taken away? 3. I've noticed alot of peoples cages have material in them for hammocks etc, so I presume they don't chew fabric? 4. What are the essentials in a cage? Eg wheels, ramps etc? 5. Can they be litter trained? The only small animal I've had was a rabbit & he did all his business in a litter tray, are degus the same way or do they just go anywhere?! 6. How do you guys let them out of their cage, I imagine if I let them run free in my room I'd never find them again!? Thanks & I'm sure I'll end up thinking of more questions! 1. Degus typically do not stink in and of themselves. Rats, hamsters, and gerbils are rodents we know to be smelly with a distinct BO, but we don't find this to be the case with degus. However, given half a chance, shelving that is left with wee on it will soon begin to have an odor. If that shelf if wooden, the wee can soak into it and the odor can build up more and more over time. Cages that do not have trays . . . a surface with a tall edge around it . . . will be more challenging to keep "sweet" smelling, and for those with sensitive noses, this can prove annoying. Daily wiping of the shelves with a weak water and vinegar solution will be needed to keep the room they are in from becoming rank with the odor or ammonia. This is why we were recommending that you encompass your shelves and level openings with a tall edge so that you are able to lay down a nice depth, 6 - 8 Cm's, of substrate. There are several substrate options to consider, but quite a few of our members very much enjoy any of the following. Megazorb, Carefresh, Finacard, and shredded wood/kiln dried softwood shavings. The majority of us avoid sawdust as degus have very sensitive respiratory systems that are prone to infections, especially when exposed to dusts. Cages that have substrate on all the levels can stay fresh from 3 - 6 weeks. 6 weeks may be stretching it a bit, but that also depends on how many degus reside in the given cage. 2. A good many of us leave the dust bath available to them full time, sifting it through to remove dirt, and replacing it when it is starting to be foul. Chinchilla sands are what is recommended for their dust bathing. 3. They don't chew fabric . . . well . . . yes they do, as a matter of fact. LOL! However this is safe so long as the fabric is monitored. Most degus will not ingest it, they just like to destroy it. If there are threads hanging off the fabric, cut them off to prevent any degu from getting tangled. If the fabric has stretch to it, avoid it as any elastic contained could result in a tangled, or strangled, degu. If there are holes almost large enough for your degu to try crawling through them, it is probably best to either enlarge them so the degu can pass unobstructed, cutting away loose or dangling threads, or to throw it out completely. Once one of our members discovered one of her degus completely tangled in a hammock that had been chewed whilst she was out. The degu had fought to get free, but instead became more and more tangled, and was in grave danger when she found him. He very nearly had to have a rear leg amputated and it was weeks before they were certain that it was recovered and safe to remain on. So . . . if you see chewing that you are uncomfortable with, better safe than sorry. Take it out and replace it, or find something different to put in it's place. Rope cargo nets are excellent choices. 4. Containers for water and food, hay, wheels, bedding/substrate, things to chew like branches off trees such as apple, birch, hazelnut, plum, cherry, weeping willow, a nest building/hidey place, access to other levels through ledges, ramps, ropes, ladders, cardboard tunnels (ie tubes from inside carpeting or posters etc.), dust bath, hammocks, snugglesafe heating pads are MUCH enjoyed. That's all I can think of right off. I'm sure if I've missed things, others will chime in and jot them down for you. 5. Litter training . . . no. Degus have the ability to see ultraviolet light, and their pee fluoresces under it. Degus use these pee trails to navigate their territories as well as to mark and establish it, warning others to keep clear. There are many other clues and bits of information that are conveyed to the degu mind through the different chemicals detected in their urine, so it tends to be left far and wide and is frequently checked through taste and smell. As for their poo . . . well . . . poo flinging is a highly valued skill among degus and is practiced continually so that all may be prepared to put forth their best effort at the next degu Olympics. LOL! I have put a comical spin on this, as it tends to be a source of wry humour with most owners, but I am serious . . . they do fling their poo. 6. We do let them out for runs, but are careful to do so in safe areas. For degus that are being hand trained, the bathroom tends to be the best place to start with this, as it is confined, small, and easy to control. Before you do this though, do have a very good look through the bathroom and make sure there are no holes or cracks behind furniture etc. that the degus can get into or through. They are able to squeeze through very small spaces, so I would say anything wider than 2.5 cm needs to be blocked. We recommend that owners go in with their goos, lay down on the floor, have some treats readily available to entice them with, and reward them when they come near, and then just be quiet and let them run all over. They will sooner or later begin to run over top of you as they grow in confidence and trust of you. Once you have determined that you will be able to retrieve them without difficulty (we've found that if you put their favorite treat in a tin can and shake it when you want them to return to you, they are VERY willing to do so if it means FOOD!), then try out your room!! Once again making sure there are no places they can squeeze themselves into, under, over, or through. ALSO guard all your electric wires. The rubber and plastic that most wires are covered with is IRRESISTIBLE to the chewing instinct of degus, and they WILL give every bit of it a taste and a gnaw. Degus are also INTENSELY curious, so never assume that they won't jump or climb something to check something else out. They will look into everything they can. Degus are also hoarders, so don't leave your keys or valuables where they can find them and then "store" them somewhere for treasure. Degus will take on ANYTHING if they like it . . . queen sized comforters, shoes, boxes of tissues, skipping ropes . . . if it tickles their fancy, they will try like anything to take it to their treasure chest. And . . . you may not always know where that chest is. ;D Well, there you go. I hope you didn't fall asleep while reading!! Anymore questions, please do ask!!
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Post by grah7325 on Apr 10, 2012 14:44:29 GMT
Thanks for all that info deguconvert! Shame they can't be litter trained, I really hope they don't fling the poo out of their cage cos my dog loves nothing better than eating poo!
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Post by grah7325 on Apr 10, 2012 14:52:42 GMT
A food question now, this is the info I've gotten from the lady I'm adopting them from on what they eat...
'All food items are available from pets at home.
They are fed on degu nuggets and hay (that is their main diet), I have been giving them a small amount of the dried things (there are 3 kinds) along with their food (just 1 not all 3) and change it every day. I have fed them some vegetable - carrott, peas, corn, pepper and even grass from the garden.'
By the dry things she means the bags of dry salad from pets at home. Does this sound like a good diet or would anyone suggest any changes? Also is there an alternative to pets at home nuggets & dry salad I could look for thats not TOO expensive as I really dont like pets at home!
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Post by potnoodle94 on Apr 10, 2012 14:54:38 GMT
ive always fed mine degu nuggets as their main diet and then bought a bag of exra vital degu food to give as a healthy alternative to treats aswell as general additives to their food.
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Post by moletteuk on Apr 10, 2012 17:41:49 GMT
Just a few different thoughts on your questions: You don't need to put substrate on all levels, you can leave a couple bare if you like and see how it goes. My degus chew fabric, but they love fabric hammocks and so on so much that I just repair and replace as necessary. It's best to use natural fabrics because they will break down if swallowed, and are easier for them to chew their way out if they get into difficulties like deguconvert describes. Having said that, polyester fleece is popular and we haven't had any reported problems. Most people using fleece line it with cotton. I've just found some old jeans, so I'm going to use those more in future, they are nice and thick and cotton. Another additional item that you might have space for in your cage is a digging box. Some degus are potty trainable-ish. It's quite common for them to pick certain places to wee, so with a bit of persistance, you can sometimes put trays or dishes of some sort in these places so they are then easier to clean up. You might find the degus just move the dish out of the way, so it can be helpful to use adhesive velcro to stick down the dish. A playpen is a fantastic way to make a safe space for your degus, here's a link on how to make one: deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Cage&action=display&thread=7310You can make one out of anything with solid sides. Beaphar Xtravital degu, Supreme Science Selective degu, and JR Farm Degu Premium or Special are all recommended feeds, there are others too. The first one is a mix but with a limited selection of items, the second is a nugget, and the JRF ones are mostly natural mixes. It can be a good idea to mix a couple of different brands together. Hay is vital, again it can help to try 2 or 3 different ones. Herb and dry leaf mixes are fantastic, again try whatever you can get your hands on, Zooplus online shop is good for forage mixes. Non sugary veg is good, fresh or dried out, brocolli, cauliflower, courgette, green beans, celery etc. Food is a great way for you and them to have fun together, so experiment, and use their favourite things to your advantage for taming and training
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Post by grah7325 on Apr 11, 2012 11:32:44 GMT
Thanks for all the info guys! Will be getting the degu's at the weekend So I'm sure I'll have more questions after that if there's anything the previous owner can't help me with! Actually one more! My friend gave me wooden chewing blocks that were her gerbils until they passed away, is it safe to give them to the degus when they've already been chewed a little by another animal?
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Post by deguconvert on Apr 11, 2012 14:25:14 GMT
That is a really good question, Grah7325. I would answer that in part by asking you if her gerbils ever experienced illnesses such as cold or infections? If they did, I would give an unequivical "no." However, even if they were healthy for the most part, I still feel some hesitation, personally. So, I would probably go on the safe side and choose not to use them.
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Post by Karma on Apr 11, 2012 15:13:18 GMT
you can also soak the wooden blocks in a 10% bleach solution for 10 minutes and then VERY WELL rinse them off (like rinse, soak in clean water, rinse etc) - let them dry and make sure NO bleach smell remains.
We do this for our wooden houses for the hamsters and it gets rid of wet tail so the wood is defintely getting clean.
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Post by seraph on Aug 1, 2012 10:03:21 GMT
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Post by moletteuk on Aug 1, 2012 18:52:13 GMT
Sorry, it's not big enough, even for two degus. In fact there aren't any commercial cages suitable for 4-6 degus that I know of unless you link multiples together. The Xtrail/ Explorer/ Critter Nation is the most suitable bought cage for a decent price, which will house 3 degus. Have a look at our cage recommendations here deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Cage&action=display&thread=9396 Feel free to ask questions
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Post by dusty on Aug 2, 2012 8:08:26 GMT
Hi Seraph, welcome to the world of goos Just wanted to add a couple of things - I'm not sure what experience you have with degus so please ignore me if you are aware of the following - the cage you were looking at says it has mesh floors. Mesh flooring can cause bumblefoot so would need to be covered with something. It would be better to go for something with solid floors. 4-6 sounds like rather a lot if you're new to them (obviously depending on the other helpers in the household). I have 3 girls and when I only have 2 hands things can become a bit chaotic ;D You might also benefit from taking a look at a thread called "show us your cages", sorry I am useless at posting links. lots of people here have been building their own, it's very inspirational and may give you a few ideas.
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