loose degu!

[tru]

Hi I am completely new to the world of degu's. I have had my two boys for two weeks now. They are extremely curious about everything. Just a quick question. If they should manage to escape and run loose. What is best plan for getting them back?

[ntg]

Food and a box is our usual trick, and patience, a lot of patience they are extremely fast so I wouldn't try grabbing them by hand, I can with our 7 year old but that's because he's a lot more sedate lol.

[redheaddegu]

Having had 2 of the new girls escape in the past week, I recommend a number of large hardboard boards. Fortunately I noticed pretty quickly they were out, and managed to shut us all in the same room. I then chased them into a corner and set up the hardboard so they were routed to the cage. It took some patience watching until they went back in, but we got there in the end. The food and box would probably work with my boy, as he is far tamer and used to me, but the girls are currently a bit too skittish to come for food when at risk of being caught.

[moletteuk]

If you think there is a possibility of escape, have a look around your home to check for any holes in walls, behind the toilet, behind kitchen plinths, ventilation holes, that sort of thing, try and cover them over so that they can't escape out of the home or get stuck inside walls or anything.

[dyzired]

I have a humane trap if an escape were to happen. It's a safe trap that will close them in it without any chance of injury.
But I've only had one escape ever and didn't have to use it. Was able to just corner him and scoop him up in a box

[banditcuster]

I can a test to making sure degu size wholes are sealed off. I thought I had mine blocked well... but the girls ended up nesting next to a whole in my floor for heat pipes to come up in a closet... and were out ALL night... my only saving grace was "no degu left behind" since they kept going back to the cage to try and get their sister to escape with them... and decided it would be a good time to make sure the cat I own remember's she has no spine with rodents XD

[moletteuk]

LOL! Love the 'no degu left behind' policy!

[dyzired]

Hahah

[dusty]

Incase of escapeeeeees!!! Have a big cardboard tube at the ready. I use the ones from the inside of rolls of carpet (nice local carpet shop) The guy did think I was a bit weird but when I explained he was happy to give me the old tubing. They can't resist a tube to hide in. leave it on the floor when they run in block both ends with your hands and carry them back to safety - they fall for it every time ;D

[winic1]

Ah yes, the tube technique. Also a good way to transfer degus (and hamsters, and small guinea pigs, etc) from one cage or location to another. As dusty says, they simply cannot resist the tube, once in you cover both ends with your hands, move them to where you need to, then either let them come out, or tip it and slide them out into the new location. Tubes are wonderful things.

[Kins]

Feb 5, 2013 5:14:24 GMT winic1 said:

tip it and slide them out into the new location...

'Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee'

[tru]

Thanks for the advice think will go with the tube method. Sounds like a winner every time and fun too.