Jacky
Foraging Degu
Posts: 68
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Post by Jacky on May 16, 2013 11:43:28 GMT
I was wondering if someone could please tell me what the differences between Blues and Agoutis are..is it just colour? Or do they have different diets? Temprements? Needs? (Diet, habitat, medical etc) Sizes? Or anything else I haven't thought of?
Thanks.
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Post by ntg on May 16, 2013 12:04:15 GMT
It's just colour that the blue mutation effects.
The only thing is, selective breeding is pretty bad with the new colours as they are a recessive gene to the agouti (you have two copies of each gene, one from the mother, the other from the father, and you need both genes to be the same to get a recessive trait, so the parents would have to either be carriers for the blue gene or blue themselves). So the degu might have weaknesses from inbreeding in recent generations to pass on the trait.
Also, sorry for the science lesson if you already know about dominant and recessive genes!
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Jacky
Foraging Degu
Posts: 68
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Post by Jacky on May 16, 2013 12:18:24 GMT
I know a little about genes but ony in regard to medical conditions in people..though thinking about it, I vaguely remember something I saw about an albino wallaby which I guess is similar regarding colour mutations. Thanks ntg you've been very helpful.
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Post by moletteuk on May 16, 2013 12:33:30 GMT
Their requirements and care are exactly the same. The effect of the gene stuff is that blues tend to be a bit more likely to have health issues and can also be a bit smaller.
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Post by saddlers on May 16, 2013 19:33:08 GMT
Their requirements and care are exactly the same. The effect of the gene stuff is that blues tend to be a bit more likely to have health issues and can also be a bit smaller. Our blue is the biggest of the bunch by 40g and has a right temper on him...!!
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sona
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 164
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Post by sona on May 17, 2013 6:43:48 GMT
Our blue is slightly smaller than my agouti. If you put your finger through the cage wire then the blue (Santa) will try to eat your finger. He may be smaller, but he's definietly the one in charge and my agouti (Fluff) is like 'What-ev-er'. It's funny to watch them box. Fluff has the weight advantage, but Santa is the one that has the speed and the agility. Santa is also more nosey, the first one to try get out the cage, the one wanting attention I think blues tend to be more lively, but that's just the impression I get from this board. But ovbviously, that may not always be the case.
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Jacky
Foraging Degu
Posts: 68
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Post by Jacky on May 17, 2013 7:27:07 GMT
Thanks molette..I asked as there seems to be more blues about on preloved and gumtree, and quite a few are in mixed groups, yet sell for vastly different prices..I rang one guy up his 2 agoutis were £25 each, but his blue one was £40. I had it in my head..before asking..that blues must be some sort of pedigree version I guess.
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Jacky
Foraging Degu
Posts: 68
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Post by Jacky on May 17, 2013 7:32:50 GMT
Their requirements and care are exactly the same. The effect of the gene stuff is that blues tend to be a bit more likely to have health issues and can also be a bit smaller. Our blue is the biggest of the bunch by 40g and has a right temper on him...!! Sounds like a proper character saddlers!
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Jacky
Foraging Degu
Posts: 68
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Post by Jacky on May 17, 2013 7:39:03 GMT
Our blue is slightly smaller than my agouti. If you put your finger through the cage wire then the blue (Santa) will try to eat your finger. He may be smaller, but he's definietly the one in charge and my agouti (Fluff) is like 'What-ev-er'. It's funny to watch them box. Fluff has the weight advantage, but Santa is the one that has the speed and the agility. Santa is also more nosey, the first one to try get out the cage, the one wanting attention I think blues tend to be more lively, but that's just the impression I get from this board. But ovbviously, that may not always be the case. Hi sona. Thanks for that..not only helpful but started my day with a big smile
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Post by ntg on May 17, 2013 8:00:23 GMT
sona, I don't think that's the case, my four range from lively to "leave me alone I'm sleeping" and they're all agoutis. When out the three youngsters are complete nutcases, jumping onto me, taking my head/shoulder/legs as a perch depending on if I'm lying down or not. The eldest has his moments but I think a combo of age and lack of tail make him stubborn to keep his feet firmly on the ground The price increase will be because the colour is more rare so they're selling them for more! Was it litters you were looking at?
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Jacky
Foraging Degu
Posts: 68
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Post by Jacky on May 17, 2013 9:03:02 GMT
Yes ntg, well the one with the different prices was..there does seem to be a few with small age differences of a couple of months, I'm guessing they're being left to breed indiscriminately, though I may be being unfair..as I know very little about breeding.
I got an alert from preloved for 2 agoutis this morning that live outside, which rang alarm bells as they're only 4 weeks old and also unsexed..I know I'm a novice but still seems irresponsible to me.
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Post by ntg on May 17, 2013 10:31:33 GMT
There could be a few problems keeping them outdoors if they were newborns for temperature etc but at 4 weeks they can regulate their temperatures. It is possible to keep them outdoors if they're kept inside for winter, but davx knows the most about outdoor keeping (I think he's still away at the moment though).
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Jacky
Foraging Degu
Posts: 68
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Post by Jacky on May 17, 2013 14:37:32 GMT
I'd be worried about temperature drops..it snowed in Devon yesterday for example or spikes..and I'd worry about cats and foxes..there's a lot of big gulls here too..not to mention the risk of theft. Though I suppose if you keep them outdoors you're going to make sure that they're protected from all that stuff. When I find mine they'll be indoor goos..but its nice to know those I mentioned earlier are probably fine.
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Post by ntg on May 17, 2013 15:08:56 GMT
That's the worry, it takes an experienced owner to keep them outdoors properly as you need to think of all their needs (and possible predators). Especially in temperate climates like ours!
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Post by ntg on May 17, 2013 15:14:40 GMT
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Jacky
Foraging Degu
Posts: 68
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Post by Jacky on May 17, 2013 15:46:04 GMT
You're right again!..If you're psychic I wouldn't say no to a reading There wasn't any pictures up when I got the alert..must admit that's put my mind at ease about the weather..but that cage..I agree...
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Post by Maravilla on May 17, 2013 15:47:50 GMT
I am also concerned about this 4 weeks of age is too early to separate them. What should have been separated from the rest is the father as the mom is probably pregnant again right now. But the babies should stay with their mom for at least 2-3 more weeks. This cage setup is horrible! Far too small and too dangerous for the degus, and even more for the little ones. The running wheel is too small, I don't see any hay and am not sure about the sand bath. How is it possible to keep degus in such terrible conditions?
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Post by ntg on May 17, 2013 15:56:15 GMT
You're right again!..If you're psychic I wouldn't say no to a reading There wasn't any pictures up when I got the alert..must admit that's put my mind at ease about the weather..but that cage..I agree... Haha no, I'm just really nosey But really I felt like I had to check it out to see what my gut told me, some people have no clue and will assume it's okay to keep them outdoors with no thoughts to the dangers, so I didn't want to take the complacent route! Maravilla I didn't even look at the wheel, just saw what cage, saw the mention of how much you can sell the babies for and didn't want to look any further, it's just asking for people to buy for profit
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Jacky
Foraging Degu
Posts: 68
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Post by Jacky on May 17, 2013 16:00:31 GMT
As he or she says: "Degus fetch £40 in pet shops"..sadly Maravilla I think that's your answer..all they care about is how much money they can make from them..you have better eyes than me I couldn't see a wheel at all!
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Jacky
Foraging Degu
Posts: 68
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Post by Jacky on May 17, 2013 16:04:59 GMT
@ntg I'm a follow my gut kind of person too..I trust my instincts a lot..and theres been too many times to count when its a good job I have..I almost lost my granddaughter last year when some doc tried to convince her mum she had heat rash when she actually had meningitis!!
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