Brand new owner

[bethanielauren]

Hiya. I'm about to get three male degu, and I've read a lot of different information about them, and I just have a couple of questions.
1) What is the ideal cage size, and how many levels should it have?
2) What should I use for bedding?
3) How many toys should they have?
4) Should they be fed seperatly? (I read that they should have 8-10grams hard feed per day, should they have seperate bowls so this can be monitered?
5) When I let them out, should they all be allowed out together?
6) In case of illness, what should be watched out for most?
7) What are the best treats for them?
8) Is it true that they can learn to recognize their names?
9) What would happen if they fell off one of the levels in their cage?
10) How long will it take for them to settle in?

Thank you!

[deguconvert]

You need a minimum of 16,000 sq cm up to a recommended roomy 24,000 sq cm . . . this figure is achieved by measuring the length and width of each level and mulitplying it so find the square centimeters. We recommend that degus have cages that have full floor levels, not just ledges to rest on or jump to. This is the link to our cage recommendations page. deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Cage&action=display&thread=9396

Bedding that is popular on this forum would be kiln dried pine/spruce/softwood shavings (not sawdust), aspen shavings, Finacard, Megazorb, Cleanfresh (my brain is a little addled today so not sure I have the right name for the last one there).

You want to use your toys wisely, degus are huge chewers so things that are safe for them, and you don't want to pack their space so full that they have difficulty moving about. Things such as a dust bath, one or two wheels with at least a diameter of 12 inches/25+ cms, hammocks, large stones placed very carefully so they cannot be moved by the degus or fall ontop of degus, hanging parrot toys, ladders, rope hammocks, some cat toys like the small balls with bells in them seem to be liked, toilet paper, cardboard roll/tubes, wooden nesting houses . . . to name a few of the things you can find, make, and use.

No, they can be fed together, but if you find that eating times are stressful and they are contentious, you can put in a second or even a third bowl for them to eat from. Feeding styles depend largely on the owner. I fill the bowls and refill when they are empty, leaving them available at all times. Others feed morning and night, measured amounts as per each degu . . . about 10 gms each.

Yes, let them all out together. Make sure that you have enough trust with them, and hand training that you will be able to retrieve them easily. Now laugh over that . . . getting them to come back is a difficulty most owners have to figure out how to do, as most degus would much rather have the run of the house 24/7 than go back into their cages. If you can begin training them to come to you for a treat they ADORE then you will have part of the battle won. If you can also train them to come to you for the treat at the ring of a bell, better yet!!

Respiratory infections and diabetes, both of which can be hard to treat and can cause fatalities. RI's are more common, but diabetes is right up there, a close second. So avoid commercial feeds that have molassas, cane sugars, frutose, maltose, sucrose, (any "OSE" usually refers to a sweetener of some kind, so avoid these) corn syrup etc. Also no fresh or dried fruits in their ingredients. Degus also tend to be a little kamakasi when it comes to trying jumps, climbing things, or what have you, so injuires to legs can happen. Also, loss of their tails . . . their tails will deglove very easily if pulled on or grabbed, or if caught in something, so tail loss is a very common injury. It isn't usually dangerous, but it is nasty.

Here are some links for you to read though, there are TONS of great things in each of them.
deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=food&action=display&thread=15657
deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=food&action=display&thread=15795

Yes . . . they definitely can learn to recognise their names, especially when their names are reinforced with a treat that follows recognition.

A fall from up high can result in strains to a limb, internal injuries on some occasions, sometimes a break in a bone. A severe fall can cause spinal injuries and death. It is best to arrange your cage so that there are no long drops possible.

You need to give them at least a week or two to begin to adjust to the changes they have just experienced. Some degus make the adjustment within a few short hours, while others may take upwards of a month before showing a lessening in their stress levels. It is important to be talking to them, and offering treats placed inside their cage, but without attempted contact the first day or two. Then begin to sit beside the cage, and offer treats through the bars for a day or two. Then sit with your cage inside the cage with the treats on your open palm. Do not try to touch them, just let them come to you. They will most often snatch and run, but they will begin to see that you are not trying to grab them and they will sit closer and closer to your hand, until they rest their feet on you while they eat! Very exciting time! (Some degus do this much quicker than others, so you may see one be very forward whilst another hangs back) Then you go on, encouraging them to interact with you, and you will be building a valuable trust bond with them.

Lots more reading that can be done throughout the forum here, so snoop through and read till your brain needs a break. LOL! Also ask questions, just as you have done. Lots of fine people here that will answer you!!

Welcome to the forum, Bethanielauren!! I hope you find it most enjoyable and helpful!

[bethanielauren]

Thank you so much, this was incredibly helpful!
I'm trying to gather as much information and write it all down before I get them, so I always have the basic info I need and it's there from the start.
The main thing I'm worried about is getting them back in, so I think until they're trained I'll have to get family members to help me when they're out and about, I don't want to be sat there for hours trying to get all three back in the cage!
Thank you again

[cherrysparkey]

Hi there! My goos are fairly well trained to come back to the cage (mainly by food lol) but sometimes when they are being particularly stubborn and I need to get them in quickly I find tubes help. I've made a fabric tunnel held open with metal wire loops, like the tunnels you can get for kids or the pop up washing baskets, if that makes sense. They love them and once they're inside you can gently block the ends and move them into the cage fairly easily. I think cardboard tubes could work if they're fairly long.

I also top up their food bowl, even just a little bit if there is still food in there, just before I get them in. The sound of it normally attracts them back to see what food I've put in.

You might just have to be patient and let them go back in by themselves when you first get them. Mine didn't like you moving much, especially suddenly when we first got them and then they would find the most awkward hidy hole to sit in lol

[bethanielauren]

Tubes are a great idea! Oh I love that, I have a feeling that'll come in extremely useful in the near future!
Yeah that's what I was thinking, I'm gonna let them out for a run every evening just before feeding time, so eventually they'll figure out that once they go back in they get fed.
How soon after I get them should I let them out? Should I give them time to get used to the cage first, like a couple of days, and then let them explore the room?

[cherrysparkey]

Probably depends how shy they are. I think we let them out the evening we got them. We spent most of the day talking to them through the bars and giving them food etc. They seemed like they wanted to come out so we just opened the door and sat back a bit and let them do their thing.

My boys are quite bold and curious so they gradually explored the room (I think they ignored us the first couple of times though, too many exciting things in the room lol). If your boys are looking a bit scared or shy I'd probably leave them in the cage for a day maybe and let them get used to the new smells etc but if they aren't hiding and come and take food from you through the bars you could always open the door and see if they want to come out.

[bethanielauren]

Yeah, I was planning on getting them Saturday, letting them explore the cage, and then letting them come out Sunday if they wanted too. They're rescue shelter goos, so they're bound to be quite timid, at least at first.

[deguconvert]

A great place to carry them into and let them run about is the bathroom. It is generally a small and confined space where you can sit on the floor with them and get to know them. LAYING on the floor and not moving, allowing them to run up to you, over top of you, and all around you, is a great way of helping them to get to know you. It can be a LOT of fun!! Also, it is usually easier to catch them once the play time is done. You do need to ensure that there aren't any holes they can climb into behind the toilet, or any cupboards. You want to be sure it is safe, no electrical cords to chew. But once you are sure it is all good, then go for it and have fun with them in there. This is what we did with out boys, and it was amazing how well we all got to know each other there. That is also where I did some of the hand/treat training, and it was very helpful.

[bethanielauren]

Theres not even enough room to lay on the floor in my bathroom! I think the bedroom would be okay, so long as I made sure they couldnt get under my wardrobe or anything, as any wires currently on the floor can easily be moved where they can't reach them. I might use the bathroom for the first couple trips out while I teach them to come back and respond to me, and then slowly get them used to just being let out in the bedroom.
Thank you!

[yasmin]

Hi bethanielauren:

I'm aka 16degus. Welcome to this forum.

[posieposie]

Hello!

I too am a new degu owner - we have 2 boys. i find thier balls are helpfull for getting them back in their cage when they have been out and dont want to go back (we have a rabbit run filled with toys, ladders etc. for playtime). They will go in their balls pretty much umprompted which is handy (especially when they make a run for it around the living room!)!! our cage is quite small (one from pets at home, it only has shelves, not full floors) so we get them in the playpen everyday now as well as spending time on us (can be very amusing!).

Think we will look at getting/making a bigger home for them - ours do 'playfight' quite a bit so maybe a bigger cage will help.

How are you getting on? They are great pets! we're concentrating on teaching them their names now - hopefully soon we can leave the cage open and they can explore more of the living room knowing they will come to us rather than us TRY and get to them!! Mind you, they will do anything for a sunflower seed!