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Post by joosteruk on Dec 3, 2005 17:02:54 GMT
Hi
I have just got 2 lovely male degus (Harry & Ron). I have read about housing on this site and they have a large all metal cage with several wooden levels, rope bridge, sand bath & several log ladders/huts. I will be getting some pipes later this week & am waiting for an apple branch from my bosses garden as he has never used anything on it, but will soak it well before I put it in.
I also have 3 rats (Robbie, Sam & Frodo) & was told I could put in sandpaper like budgies use to help keep their claws trim (they also love ripping it to pieces) as well as clean rocks.
I was wondering if I could put sandpaper in with the degus? They have plenty of places to sit off the wire but I thought that if I put a piece on the bottom this would also help but do not want to do so unless it is safe.
Thanks in advance.
...Mikki...
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Hanlou
Burrowing Degu
Basil
Posts: 284
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Post by Hanlou on Dec 3, 2005 23:29:47 GMT
Personally, I wouldn't use sandpaper /sanded sheets for rats / degus/ birds (though I have done in the past) as it's rough and I've been told that it can chafe their feet. I don't know if eating it is good or not - though I hope I don't sound like I'm 'having a go', I don't mean to! I give my rats newspaper as dyes are vegetable dyes nowadays and they're cheap and a great bedding.
A clean (preferably new) house brick can help to keep claws down, though I personally never found this to work with my rats. The concrete perches you can buy for birds have also been suggested as being helpful for keeping claws down in degus, especially if placed where the animals have to go on it to get to food. It means they're not on it all the time or resting their feet on it a great deal, which I think is better.
I clip my rats' claws myself - not an easy task, but I've not found anything that works better yet, unfortunately. I do keep 'trimmex' in as well, so if I do 'nick' the quick of the claw, I have something to stop it bleeding immediately. I haven't had to use it yet, but I like having it there.
Hope this helps!!
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Post by diet otaku on Dec 4, 2005 16:23:15 GMT
i've heard of some people placing sandpaper strips on the wheel so the degus wear their claws down as they run. haven't heard of any adverse affects as yet.
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Hanlou
Burrowing Degu
Basil
Posts: 284
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Post by Hanlou on Dec 4, 2005 16:30:32 GMT
I guess then though that they'd only be on it some of the time, not be resting on it? Not sure I'm explaining what I mean very well!! 'Tis all a matter of personal choice at the end of the day really.
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Post by diet otaku on Dec 4, 2005 19:53:37 GMT
yeah, the sandpaper should be only in one place where they will not be on it all time.
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Hanlou
Burrowing Degu
Basil
Posts: 284
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Post by Hanlou on Dec 4, 2005 20:19:43 GMT
He he - yep - that's what I meant.
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Post by themoosevodka on Dec 15, 2005 19:18:17 GMT
i think the greatest thing ever for trimming claws is a chinblock, its a specialized rock made for chinchillas and my degu loves sitting on it, or leaning on it while he's getting scratched, if you could find a few of those it would be great. im not too sure about the sand paper though.
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