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Post by worthym on May 14, 2005 20:59:47 GMT
Hi everyone! This week I got my very first degus! I already keep mongolian gerbils, steppe lemmings and just got some pallid gerbils too, so the degus aren't too much of a huge step away from these rodents. So I hope you'll be willing to welcome myself, and my four boys into your forum here. They are Alvardo, Sancho, Pedro and Chucho (Spanish theme, degus being chilean and all that...). They are still quite young, but have had a hard life to date, until recently being rescued by a fellow rodent owner and breeder. The short version of the story is that she rescued approximately 40 + degus, including pregnant females!.I have since taken these 4 guys on from her. At the moment the four are around 3 months old, I suspect 2 pairs of brothers from 2 different litters, as two are certainly more juvenile than the other two. They are currently housed in a smallish cage - but I plan to get one of John Hopewells big 36" by 18" by 36" cages for them soon (hope that is big enough for them, although they will also have plenty of floor time too). I will hopefully have some pictures soon, although at the moment they are still settling in to their new home, and are a bit timid at times. Anyway - I'm glad to have found somewhere to talk about my new babies, and hope to be a frequent poster on this site!!
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Post by Aimeelou on May 17, 2005 12:28:23 GMT
hi there! Ra has just posted a very usful giude on this subject page. Any questions dont hesitate to ask! Aimeelou
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gina
Newborn Degu
Posts: 5
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Post by gina on May 17, 2005 12:33:25 GMT
Hi, I'm a new dugu owner too, I rescued a mum and 4 pups a few days ago. I normally breed chinchillas, so I didn't know a great deal about degu. I've alway got my cages from John hopewell, and they are always top quality, if you ask him, he may put you a solid base on the cage, as all his chinchilla cages have wire bottoms, and that's not any good for the degu as it can cause bumble foot. Good luck with your babies, and I hope you're enjoying them as much as I am enjoying mine.
Gina ;D
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Post by ra on May 17, 2005 13:23:19 GMT
Hi worthym and Gina! I have been excited to find this forum too! I knew nothing of Degus when I bought Mocha (formerly Virgil when I thought she was a he!). Spent hours surfing the internet for information. Tried to compile information and make sense of it.
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Post by worthym on May 17, 2005 13:32:11 GMT
Thanks for the friendly welcome! As I say - I do have other rodents, but the degus are so different, and so much fun... I do have some sad news I'm afraid to say... Sunday night Pedro (the smallest little guy) began looking fluffed up, and a little lethargic. On taking him out of the cage I quickly discovered (by getting covered) that he was suffering diarrheoa. Obviously knowing how dangerous diarrheoa is in small animals I was very concerned. I tried feeding him water, in an attempt to rehydrate him(Heres a question - what to use when rehydrating degus, as for my gerbils I would use a sugar/salt solution, but with the degus being sugar intolerant I couldn't risk that - any advice?) and rushed him to the vet by the afternoon. The vet administered an injection of antibiotics, at which point Pedro sadly went into shock. Despite further shots of fluids and steroids in an attmept to revive him, the poor guy showed no change and I had to make the extremely difficult decision to have him put to sleep. I am awaiting results of a culture, which should be with me by the weekend, and also have some baytril with which to treat the three reamining guys. I cannot describe the pain I feel at the moment, heartbroken doesn't even cover it, and no matter how hard I try, I can't stop blaming myself. Words really cannot describe how distraught I am... I certainly love the degus to bits, and this hasn't put me off them at all, and tbh the way I have been, you would think I had owned him all my life... I only hope that the culture comes back with some idea of what could have caused it - at the moment I am thinking it may have been the change in diet - but if anyone has any ideas I would appreciate your thoughts. Fingers crossed the 3 remaining guys seem fine, and all will be well with them.
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Post by ra on May 18, 2005 1:50:45 GMT
worthym I am so very sorry for your loss. I quickly become emotionally attached to my pets. I understand your pain.
Don't blame yourself. There is not much advise available regarding Degus. The information I have found has been contradictory too. Have to decide for yourself what you think is best for your Degus after reading all the available information.
Some of the commercial feeds for guinea pigs and chinchillas contain molasses. You want to avoid these feeds. Some of the references say it's ok to feed a raisin or other fruits as treats once in a while. Logic says this is not wise - most fruits contain higher amounts of sugars than vegetables. I've decided to feed no fruits.
I've read where people feed their Degus broccoli too. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower are all related vegetables that are gas forming.
Vegetables from the grocery store may have pesticides on their skins which could cause diarrhea. Infection, viral or bacterial can cause diarrhea. So could stress.
The poor little guy may have just been too traumatized before you adopted them.
I worry about my Mocha a lot. Since she had the babies she has become nervous and flighty. I noticed this morning she has chewed the hair off of her front paws. I worried it was due to stress or depression. I've been searching on line. Read about half the Degus chew the hair on their paws and it's thought to just be a bad habit. I still think it is stress relate.
I wish I knew something to say that would lessen your pain. Please let us know what your vet finds.
With care, Becky
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Post by worthym on May 18, 2005 8:22:54 GMT
Thanks so much for the kind thoughts - its always hard losing any animal - but I've been waiting for these degus for some time, and bonded with them very quickly.... Heres how all 4 looked when i got them home - hiding from me! Fortunately the three remaining guys are helping to cheer me up considerably - and heres how they were last night ( more pics in the Degu Pics section )
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Post by Aimeelou on May 18, 2005 12:21:29 GMT
Hi worthym Im so sorry for your loss,i know how you feel. Mine recently gave birth to 5 pups and sadly one died. Id only known here a week, but it still hurts to think about it now. I tryed looking for info about what causes diorrhea, and theres not much yo go on apart what Ra has given you. Again, sorry my thoughts are with you. Aimee
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Post by Sunshinemeg on May 18, 2005 13:42:12 GMT
Hi Worthym, welcome to my forum, although its grown so much now, it really belongs to all of us now! Im just the silly fool who started it all!
Try not to feel too sad about losing your degu, health wise its a very difficult area, even vets are still new to treating degus, so we all just have to do the best we can and follow our instincts.
The photos are lovely, hang on to the one of all four, its very sweet, and means you will remember Pedro.
The cage you have ordered sounds amazing. Visit the cages section on the forum for more discussion on how to improve their environment.
Welcome to the board, enjoy keeping degus!
SUNSHINEMEG ;D
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Bosley
Foraging Degu
Posts: 59
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Post by Bosley on May 19, 2005 19:01:08 GMT
???Um, forgive my stupidity...but who is John Hopewell and where do you find his cages?
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Post by worthym on May 19, 2005 19:37:10 GMT
No - my mistake really - I should have explained more clearly. I am from the Uk see - and John Hopewell manufactures chinchilla cages, rat and degu cages. Heres a link to the website if its ok posting it here www.johnhopewell.co.uk/home.htmland his degu cages (deeper tray and no wire floor at the bottom!! ) www.johnhopewell.co.uk/r_cages.html
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