New to Degu's with some questions

[lilithastar]

Hello, new to both the site and Degu owning and have a couple of questions.

I've got a Pets @ Home cage for my degu's and thats where I got my girls, and I've checked yes they are definitly girls and both seem fine so far. However having read up on this site a bit more I was wondering if that cage is actually the correct kind of cage for my girls, they seem happy with it do far and I've always planned on doing some modding for it but haven't got round to it yet (to be honest I've almost blown this month paycheck on them alone ).

Also if that cage isn't a good idea for them would modifying this chincilla/parrot cage www.theonlinepetstore.co.uk/prod_show.asp?id=2398&ref=froogle&prodid=2398 be a better option for them. They've got a fair amount of toys already its just keeping the shavings in the cage and obviously and more importantly giving them more room if its needed. I woudl love to make them a cage but have never ever been good at wood work and would probably cause more damage with some small thing going wrong than not but modifying things I seem to be able to do. If not this cage can anyone give me some advise on which ones?

I'm also a little worried about my girls today. I opened the cage and they both ran for my hand, leapt bounced off each other and fell out of the cage a good three feet or so. Both of them are running around fine now and still seem happy with me despite the fact that I picked them both up and put them back in the cage to rest but I've read that they have a high pain threshhold and only having them a week I'm not 100% sure on what to look for. I was a little scared to be honest.

Also I want to get them out to have a run around, is it advisable just to let them run? I'm worried as my room has a lot of wires becuase its also where I do some of my work for well...work and I don't want them to get hurt. Obviously this is a major issue for me as I don't want them to get fat or bored.

Sorry if this is long winded or a bit, go over it lots but some of the answers I could find and some I couldn't. Thought it would be best to ask them all together.

Many Thanks

[deguconvert]

Jul 14, 2013 16:26:38 GMT lilithastar said:

Hello, new to both the site and Degu owning and have a couple of questions.

I've got a Pets @ Home cage for my degu's and thats where I got my girls, and I've checked yes they are definitly girls and both seem fine so far. However having read up on this site a bit more I was wondering if that cage is actually the correct kind of cage for my girls, they seem happy with it do far and I've always planned on doing some modding for it but haven't got round to it yet (to be honest I've almost blown this month paycheck on them alone ).

The P@H Thickets cage is definitely a small cage for degus, and can be quickly out grown. For that reason we do encourage members, and visiting readers, to look into alternate cage options for their degus.

Also if that cage isn't a good idea for them would modifying this chincilla/parrot cage www.theonlinepetstore.co.uk/prod_show.asp?id=2398&ref=froogle&prodid=2398 be a better option for them. They've got a fair amount of toys already its just keeping the shavings in the cage and obviously and more importantly giving them more room if its needed. I woudl love to make them a cage but have never ever been good at wood work and would probably cause more damage with some small thing going wrong than not but modifying things I seem to be able to do. If not this cage can anyone give me some advise on which ones?

I have seen that cage successfully modified, but it has limitations in accessibility that can make it awkward for you when cleaning etc. The Xtrail, Aventura, Explorer, are three cages that we highly recommend for ease of access, overall surface for the degus to live and run on, and because they are easy to modify to increase surface area and reduce mess that is kicked out of the cage. One of our members has brilliantly modified a double decker Explorer and if I can find that thread, I'll link it here. AH HA!! Found it . . . deguworld.proboards.com/thread/15977/paradise-critter-nation That will give you some excellent ideas for what can be done.

I'm also a little worried about my girls today. I opened the cage and they both ran for my hand, leapt bounced off each other and fell out of the cage a good three feet or so. Both of them are running around fine now and still seem happy with me despite the fact that I picked them both up and put them back in the cage to rest but I've read that they have a high pain threshhold and only having them a week I'm not 100% sure on what to look for. I was a little scared to be honest.

You are certainly not the first who has experienced this heart stopping event, and you won't be the last. Just keep an eye on them for any limping or lethargy. The most concerning will be if you see lethargy, and if you do, I strongly recommend that you get the lethargic degu to the vet ASAP as there is potential at that point for an internal injury that needs attention immediately.

Also I want to get them out to have a run around, is it advisable just to let them run? I'm worried as my room has a lot of wires becuase its also where I do some of my work for well...work and I don't want them to get hurt. Obviously this is a major issue for me as I don't want them to get fat or bored.

I suggest that you make sure that you have a strong growing bond with them before you give them too much freedom in your room. Degus are also quite trainable, and this training you can begin with them now, before you start letting them have free time. It will come in VERY handy for you, as recall is a great thing to have established for putting them back in the cage, or calling them back from any dangerous situations. Degus will learn their names, and will learn to come accordingly, but can also be clicker trained like dogs and other animals are trained. Of course you use treats as their reward and degus have a great fondness for all things stomach related. Our treats threads in the Diet and Nutrition board have great suggestions for treats that can be used to reinforce the behaviors you wish to teach . . . some that are often highly favoured by degus are clover, dandelion, and rose flowers (whole or petals), millet and sunflower seeds, walnut and pecan nuts.

I hope these will answer your questions for now. If you have more, and I expect you will . . . please ask away!! That's what we are here for!! Do let us know how you are getting along.

AND . . .

WELCOME to the forum!!

Sorry if this is long winded or a bit, go over it lots but some of the answers I could find and some I couldn't. Thought it would be best to ask them all together.

Many Thanks

[lilithastar]

They where both a bit lethargic afterwards but now are running around like crazies. I think the lethargy was due to the heat as even with my fan on, window open and door open it got to 28oc in here. I'm working on getting some ice packs to put just far enough away form the cage that they don't nibble on them.

Do you think I should still worry? The soonest I could get them to a vet is tommorrow simply because all the ones in my area are closed on Sundays. Still if I blow on her nose she runs up to the cage door and bounces off my nose >.< So I think she maybe ok. Just the heat?

Sometimes I hate asking silly questions but its better to be safe than sorry

[ntg]

Hi and welcome to the forum, DC has given you some great answers to your previous questions, although I should add that the treat threads often recommend things like oats and other grains which we are trying to move away from because of the complex sugars they contain.

As for your fall, if they seem to be okay with themselves now and acting normal then the initial lethargy you saw could have been due to shock. It might be best if you see what they're like in the morning and reassess calling the vets.

Also, for the out of cage time, you can easily create a playpen by using mdf board and hinges deguworld.proboards.com/thread/7310 or you could use a similar design to hide away all your wires, as, despite what DC says, some degus are just too tempted to listen to your "no"'s (my lot are absolute horrors for doing what they shouldn't and I sometimes have to give their bums a light shove to stop them ).

[ntg]

Forgot to say, if you have a tile shop nearby then you might be able to get sample tiles that you could stick in the freezer for 5 mins to chill them and give them to the goos (just make sure it doesn't feel too cold before giving it to them) and make sure they are in a shaded area rather than in direct sinlight.

[saddlers]

If they are running around as normal now, I would just keep an eye on them for a couple of days for any signs of continued lethargy. We have also had goos who have taken the odd tumble, and they are actually resilient little things.

We use a piece of drain pipe/chube for transferring them from the cage to the floor for free time, some don't mind hopping out onto your hand, but no one can resist the dark tube for some bizarre reason. You do however need to think about quite a few things if getting them out....cables are certainly a worry as is just about anything that can be nibbled.....skirting boards, architraves, doors, furniture, flooring, just about everything is likely to get nibbled unless you are willing to watch one at a time like a hawk!!

It is also important to make sure there are no small holes about that they can get into, we have had a few posts where they have got under floorboards etc. so you really need to be able to check that the room is escape proof...and even then they will try and find a way