pets @ home info check

[quaver45]

Hi, Just want to check some of the info i was given by them when i got hugo and boss cos seen a lot of bad stuff bout them on here: Firstly was told that any treats etc suitable for chinchillas is ok for degus and secondly that the people working there give them chocolate drops (like what you give hamsters) as treats and also toast??? i didnt trust the choc drop thing cos thought must have a lot of sugar - but how about the other things?

thanks

[deguconvert]

No, treats for chins almost always have molassas, cane sugar, or some other form of sugar incorporated into them, as well as fruits. These are NOT suitable for degus, so mustn't be given to them. NO . . . not the chocolate drops either. Degus cannot process the larger amounts of sugars that are found in fruits, and certainly not in the chocolate drops, yoghurt covered treats, or the treats that have syrups, sugars, maltose, dextrose, or any other "ose" in them. I am sorry to have to say it, but yes, you have been given faulty advice.

Look at this thread deguworld.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=food&action=display&thread=15795 which contains links to severl food and treat threads that are very helpful and will give you TONS of ideas for appropriate food and treat choices.

[jenowuk]

Mine adore dandelion leaves (fresh or preferably dried), so much so that we now specifically grow some in the garden. Every evening when my husband comes home, all the goos race to the top of their cage, because they know he brings them in a piece (only about 1cm each if it's fresh). We just collect and dry most of it in the airing cupboard and it keeps all year. They also like porridge oats.

Thanks for the links to the old posts - didn't know about millet seeds, but will try that one:-)

[quaver45]

hey thanks for your replies - i thought it sounded dodgy to me so havent given them any of the stuff they said anyway! Just thought I'd check tho in case I was wrong! :-)

Thanks xx

[Lrak]

I found the staff in my local pets at home knew a fair bit, or the one that helped me anyway, the new guy did tell me they live for like 30 years but hey, he was new

[jenowuk]

We have fantastic staff in our local Pets Corner (Chinnor, Oxfordshire). They all know about degus and are very friendly & helpful. They've also brought out a new degu food, which is mixed nuggets, hay and other bits, and our goos are currently going mad for it!

[Lrak]

i found that our local pampered pets had a good range of foods for Degus but not much else, they only sell birds and rabbits