Can my degus have this?

[DRattmann]

I have a couple of things to ask about:

I bought this bed (there are two pictures, so make sure you scroll!) before my hamster died and I have nooo idea whether or not it would suitable for my degus. Of course they would chew it, and I am worried that the material might be harmful to them. It is, however, an adorable little bed so I wanted to check before selling it or giving it away.

Also, I have some left over nesting material. It's some coconut hair and shredded coloured paper. Is this safe for my degus and would they like it?

[yasmin]

I'd sell it/give it away because it's such a lovely bed. It would be a shame if it went to waste; if I were put in my degus' cages they would just chew it up and poop/peep on it. Don't know if it would be harmful for them or not.

My degus aren't like my gerbils – they don't sleep in the same place all of the time. They don't usually make a nest. They usually just pile on one another wherever – in a hut, on top of a hut, in the ferret hammock, under a wheel, on a chinchilla ledge, wherever.

As for nesting material, I'm super hyper about artificial colouring and materials that they won't be able to digest so mine only get the Carefresh paper cage litter, torn up paper towelling and plain unprinted newsprint. A while back, I bought my degus shredded paper to be used as litter/bedding and they proceeded to eat it! Had to remove it right away and give it to my gerbils instead (which they use for their nest). So, if it's finely shredded paper that's like tissue paper, I wouldn't use it without making sure they won't eat it.

Hope this helps.

[DRattmann]

It does - thanks! I have been giving them Carefresh as well, plus some shredded paper stuff I had left over which they seemed to actually really like as bedding. I had the same thought about the coloured paper.

[Karma]

I would try it, but make sure that they don't try to eat it!

My degus sleep everynight on a pair of old pajamas of mine and haven't tried to eat them at all.

[amie]

The fabric on in would be fine for them, but it's the fluffy material that would be dangerous. They can injest it easily and it could build up in their system. I used to have a similar things for my degus when they were babies without the fluff and they loved it! Til they got older and shredded it lol.