Calling Degu owners in Ireland!

[april]

Hi, I have 2 degus and am finding it really hard to find cage accessories etc. in Dublin. It took me 8 months on a waiting list before I could purchase my first degu and another 6 months before I could get him a mate.( he was getting very lonely!) I know I can purchase stuff online but many places I have tried don't post outside the UK/USA. The added cost of postage and currency exchange also have to be considered.I surely can't be the only Irish degu owner having this problem? Don't know if it's allowed to promote individual shops on this website but I'm really loosing patience here! By the way, my degus are well fed and cared for but would just like to be able to do a bit more for them without having to search all over the world if possible! Thank you all, all imput greatly appreciated. ;D

[deguqueen]

April, there are a lot of toys you can make at home for them. Like homemade hammocks, you can find stones that they can carry around, branches are always a treat as long as they arent toxi to the degu. I believe a list of safe wood to use is available at www.degutopia.co.uk. Also, this forums main website has environmen enrichment tips as well.

Oh but something that I think is a necessity for all rodents is a wheel.
It has to be big enough though or they wont be able to run in it.

[april]

Thanks Deguqueen! I have had a wheel since I got my first guy, along with a hammock which they both love-and look really cute lying in! I also have a wooden house, well,actually on my third at this stage due to destruction and various other wooden chews and climbing frames ,but all very hard to come by so was just hoping somebody could tell me where to find some locally if there is a place here that I just haven't stumbled across yet!!Will definitely have a detailed look at degutopia and degu world for more ideas for environmental enrichment and let you know how it goes!! Thanks again!

[deguqueen]

No problem. My degus arent too playful really.
I do know that degu toys can be very expensive and I think they're amused easily anyways.
Even just giving them a fuzzy ball-they carry it around and move there stuff the way they want it.
A fun game to them is shredding up paper towel I give them for their nest.

I also let them sneak out of the cage sometimes onto the table and let them think that I dont know what they're up to.

[thatllbe]

kitchen roll and toilet roll tubes are a great toy - and think adaptability - dont' buy degu specific only - i have several parrot toys hanging in my cage - also the latest added treat was a coconut shell bird nest i got from wilkinson's for 97p!!!!! i am always on the degu hunt - i have also got a springy bird feeder that hangs which i put a few of their favourite treats in and they spend hours trying to prize them out - and i'm sure someone on here had the fabulous idea of putting food and a few treats into an egg box and letting their degu's rip it apart?

just don't give up!! keep modifying -

[april]

Thanks all, found a UK company that post all the way over the pond to the distant Isle of Ireland!! What's even better is that they offered a great service so my order got here in a few days- even in the middle of an Irish postal strike! The degus now have a few " leap n ledges" among other things that they are happy to jump on. Have tried the egg box thing already ( and will again ), it's demolished in hours!

April

[Sunshinemeg]

glad to see other people are trying the egg box idea. I got some serious grief from some people when I first suggested it, I was accused of starting degu world war three! opps! hehe

But glad its working well for some people.

Whats the company you are getting things from? post details on here so we can all check it out!

thanks

[april]

Can't believe you got grief about an egg box! It's a great idea! The name of the company I used was called Merlins Mail Order Pet Supplies, they are connected in some way with Superpet Warehouse, both in UK. I called them to place my order and they even offered advice as to what would and would not suit Degus. Very impressive really! Didn't know if it was ok to mention individual companies, that's why I hadn't mentioned it until now. Lots of liitle things on their site that can be used for Degus, but the "Leap N Ledge" shelves are by far the best, making use of all the areas in the cage.They also have a chinchilla bath house which can be used inside and outside the cage and prevents all the sand going everywhere! Listen to me, I sound like an advertisement for Merlin's ! Should ask for commission on my next order!!!

[Sunshinemeg]

Is there a link to the site that you can post? I dont mind good companies linked, it gets worrying when the bad ones pop up on here, but if we can share getting the best for our degus, im not about to complain!

the leap n ledge product is amazing. I have 6 in my cage now, and the boys love them!

[april]

Sorry Meg, have a very limited ability with computers! Merlins is a ebay .co.uk shop if that's any use to you. If you know how to put it up as a link , I'm sure it wouldn't only be me using them!

Thanks!