Post by mandiw on Mar 4, 2013 15:57:39 GMT
Hi there!
Dunno if anyone can help ….I have a lone male degu.
I found him dumped in a wheelie bin last year. I decided to get him tame and over his shock before rehoming him. He was almost adult when I found him, I worked out that although he didn't look like a pup, he wasn't eating the full amount of food each day but by Ocober he was eating the adult recommended amount so I am assuming he is now approximately 16 months old.
Having never had a degu before the internet became my source of information. I have previously kept rats over the years and fast realised how very different a degu is to a rat in both behaviour and care. He is doing well but is still in a cage which is a bit small for him. I have created a run for him and get him out of his cage twice a day to run around and play. He loves being on my shoulder and sitting in the hood on my sweatshirt for a snooze when I'm on the computer. As with many degus he doesn't like being picked up but will readily climb into a box for me to move him, or climb onto my arm. He loves a good rub under his chin and belly (if you don’t approach him too suddenly.)
The upshot is that I am unable to keep my lone male degu (sadly) due to being in a financial hole at the moment. He is a healthy degu, but looking ahead, I am concerned about any future vet bills as well as the fact that he needs a much bigger and more degu proof cage. It was only ever meant to be a temporary home with me to get him over his wheelie bin trauma (in July 2012), and then rehome him. He really is lovable but watching his behaviour I feel he really needs the company of another degu. I know this can be difficult as males often fight quite badly. ( I have heard they can fight to the death, but don't know how true this is?).
Can anyone suggest a good home for him? I have to say if he is with another degu in a bigger cage, then letting him out for a run won't be so necessary, but if he remains on his own he must have lots of attention!
(I live on the Wirral.)
Thanks
Mandiw
Dunno if anyone can help ….I have a lone male degu.
I found him dumped in a wheelie bin last year. I decided to get him tame and over his shock before rehoming him. He was almost adult when I found him, I worked out that although he didn't look like a pup, he wasn't eating the full amount of food each day but by Ocober he was eating the adult recommended amount so I am assuming he is now approximately 16 months old.
Having never had a degu before the internet became my source of information. I have previously kept rats over the years and fast realised how very different a degu is to a rat in both behaviour and care. He is doing well but is still in a cage which is a bit small for him. I have created a run for him and get him out of his cage twice a day to run around and play. He loves being on my shoulder and sitting in the hood on my sweatshirt for a snooze when I'm on the computer. As with many degus he doesn't like being picked up but will readily climb into a box for me to move him, or climb onto my arm. He loves a good rub under his chin and belly (if you don’t approach him too suddenly.)
The upshot is that I am unable to keep my lone male degu (sadly) due to being in a financial hole at the moment. He is a healthy degu, but looking ahead, I am concerned about any future vet bills as well as the fact that he needs a much bigger and more degu proof cage. It was only ever meant to be a temporary home with me to get him over his wheelie bin trauma (in July 2012), and then rehome him. He really is lovable but watching his behaviour I feel he really needs the company of another degu. I know this can be difficult as males often fight quite badly. ( I have heard they can fight to the death, but don't know how true this is?).
Can anyone suggest a good home for him? I have to say if he is with another degu in a bigger cage, then letting him out for a run won't be so necessary, but if he remains on his own he must have lots of attention!
(I live on the Wirral.)
Thanks
Mandiw
