New degu owners

[aqh88]

A year ago I did some research into degus but couldn't find any around me so I gave it up. Recently my two 4year old dwarf hamsters passed away leaving the 90gallon tank empty. My boyfriend and I went out looking for some gerbils only to come across 2 young male degus. They hadn't been handled by people, were in a 10gallon aquarium, were being fed gerbil food, and were completely panicked from all the noise and commotion. When we asked to see them the lady had to hold them so tight to keep them from taking off that one let out a little ouch squeak. Of course we came home with the 2 poor little degus. I swear they didn't stop moving for 4hours after being added to the 90g. I don't think they've had space to run before. At first they kept falling off things and wouldn't jump anywhere. Today I saw one jump to the top of the tank which is 2'(60cm) high and the other made it to the top of the driftwood, within degu reach of the top of the tank, without falling. Since I found quite a bit of conflicting info when I researched them before I decided to search again and found this forum.

First I want to double check their diet. We are feeding them the same pellets we give our 9 guinea pigs which we buy in 50lb bags from this site: kmshayloft.com/pellets.html. I don't think she has the latest ingredients listed though. Last time I talked to her she said she cut the molasses in half even though her pellets were already the lowest in molasses of any I've found. She also cut the salt and is using triticale in place of most of the other grains. How much pellets should they have? Then I usually order bluegrass hay from that site as well but the cheapest way to get it is to order 200lbs at a time and I don't have the money until next month so they are eating timothy for now. Last we've given them a few bits of vegetable. They had 1/4th leaf of lettuce today and each had a 1cm cube of butternut squash yesterday. If sugar levels are watched is there anything else limiting how many vegetables they should have? My guinea pigs often get a grocery bag(~2lbs) full of grass and have a 100x50'(30mx15m) garden devoted almost entirely to them.

I also want some advice on how to improve their home. I know they like to climb and despite the height and size of a 90g the glass sides don't offer very many climbing opportunities. They have a large chunk of driftwood that has a branch reaching to the top. It won't fit in my 55g fish aquarium so I decided whatever small animals I decide to keep in the 90g would like it better. Then they have a half log house, a log with holes drilled in it but it was designed for gerbil size animals and I think if the degus get any bigger they'll get stuck in it, a shoe box with a door cut in it, and I used one of the metal grids I built the guinea pig cages out of to support the water bottle. They quite enjoy climbing on and ducking through the holes in the grid. Before I make any plans to use the grids for anything though I need a better idea of how big degus get. The holes are just under 4cm square and they zip right through them but will they get stuck as they get bigger? I also was thinking of using aquarium silicone to attach something like the leap n ledges made for chinchillas to the side of the tank but they are quite expensive. Would well sanded pine boards work? I also was going to use a 5g tank set in the corner of the 90g for a permanent sand bath. Anything else they'd enjoy?

[divegirl]

Hi, well done for rescuing your boys, seems like they weren't leading a very happy life and welcome to Deguworld.

There is tonnes on information on this site concerning all aspects of being a good Degu owner...all you need to do is look in the right place....lol
I am not an expert on Degus, just learning like most people on here, but I'll try to answer a few of your questions:
Degus should not have molasses! They are pure sugar and therefore extremely harmful to Degus.
Timothy hay is fine.
You can not 'watch' a degus sugar levels....No sugar!!!

Not too sure about the squash, I stick to 'green things' with my boys...A little lettuce or dandelion leaf.

Your set up sounds fine, just remember if you use silicon, use one with out an algicide as they will try to chew it and make sure you have somewhere to home your boys for a few days while the product dries tottally. There are lists of safe woods that you can add to your tank for climbing and chewing...apple is the best.

My best advice, just keep trawling this site....all the info you need is sure to be there.
Good luck
Lisa x

[Sunshinemeg]

I used to keep Jerds in a large aquarium while I still lived at home, and made the most of a useful dad. They had a series of shelves built that were in the shape of elongated n's. They were built with wooden pins to hold them together, no glue or nails, and were untreated, much to the Jerds delight, as it meant they could chew them. These ledges allowed them extra running space, and as we progressed became more elaborate, thus ensuring that even with glass sides there were still lots of shelves, and being wooden they were easily replaced.

As lisa said so much, I wont repeat it all, but will agree with the comment about molasses, they are important that they DONT get given to degus. I had a degu die at a very young age because I didnt realise about their diet, so I know nobody is being too concerned when no sugar is mentioned. you can get degu food from various places now, I visit www.zooplus.co.uk as they offer an excellent service, you may want to try them out.

good luck, anyway

[aqh88]

Well technically it is not possible to feed a degu on no sugar since even things like lettuce and hay contain some sugars. Lettuce contains .94grams sugar per 100grams, butternut squash contains 2.20g of sugar per 100g, baby carrots contain 4.76g of sugar per 100g(I know degus shouldn't have carrots), for the amount in hay I'd have to go find my notes from animal nutrition class. Everything has some sugar and that's what I mean by watching the amount of sugar. Checking how much is contained in each vegetable and keeping the number as low as possible while still giving them something to eat. I'm in the united states and haven't seen pellets made for guinea pigs, chinchillas, horses, or anything else that don't contain molasses. In fact I have a horse with insulin resistence and he gets supplemented with things like sunflower seeds because I cannot find any horse feed without grains and molasses. If anyone could point me towards such foods I would appreciate it.

[divegirl]

Hi, not an expert on pet foods in the USA, but here in England there are most definately foods available that don't contain molasses. I feed my boys on a mixture of: chinchilla pellets, a premium guinea pig mix and alfalfa chaff. Seems like you have alot of knowledge in the feeding department[animal nutrition class] so maybe you can be of help to us! If you are unable to locate a molasses free diet in America I'm sure that either Diet Otaku or Ra will be able to help you out as they live state side. I hope you found the rest of the information helpful.
Lisa x

[aqh88]

I ordered a few different degu foods to try out and emailed most of the companies(including kmshayloft) to get a more complete analysis than they are required to put on the ingredients labels.

The degus, who will need some names soon, will now take food from us and one is getting really bold. He keeps nipping my hand and Chris actually picked him up yesterday without him taking off. In the meantime the other one nearly managed to make an escape over the edge of the tank behind Chris' arm. Do these guys ever stop bouncing around? I think they are more hyper than gerbils. If that's possible.

[divegirl]

Hi again....glad to hear all is going well. Is your boy nipping or nibbling? Nipping is not so good, but nibbling is good! It's actually their way of showing affection....it's a type of grooming. Got any names yet?

Lisa x

ps....No they never stop bouncing!!!

[aqh88]

The one has been nipping and pinching the skin. Then today he grabbed my boyfriend's finger hard enough to draw blood. The other is just mouthing and licking our hands. I made a post in the behavior section.
I'm horrible with names. All 9 of the guinea pigs are named after food.

Degu pictures:smg.photobucket.com/albums/v244/aqh88/degus/

[divegirl]

Me again!!!! I promise you, there are others on this forum!!! So far as the biting goes, I think you mentioned somewhere that this is the dominant boy that is biting, so I should imagine there lays your answer....he is seeing you as a lesser life form....lol....and is therefore trying to dominate you! On the other hand it could just be that he is not very socialable[sp], not all Degu are friendly[though the majority are], I would suggest slowing down with him, just try to feed him 'treats'[the odd sunflower seed works well]until he learns to trust you. You have only had them a short while and appear to be making good progress, so don't be too down on yourself. Also I remember reading on here somewhere that if your Degu bites, squeek at him loudly, thus immitating a hurt Gu, it's a way of telling them 'NO'.

As for names, do you not have a favourite film, book etc....My boys are called Benny, Joon and Sam after a Johnny Depp film. How about Naughty and Nice, seeing as they already have clear personalities.....

Lisa x

[aqh88]

Personally I wouldn't care if I couldn't hold them at all. It would be nice but I just like giving them new toys and watching them run around. Chris on the other hands wants to hold them and he wants to do it now. I have to keep yelling at him to leave the poor degus alone to settle in. If it wasn't for the limit I put on sunflower seeds he'd constantly have his hand in there feeding them and trying to touch them.

[Erica]

I'm also searching for molasses free food in Canada and the U.S.A. For some reason, it's rare in North America... we even super size our degus!

You might want to check out suggestions in the Food and Feeding section "Looking for Molasses Free Food in Canada/USA".

Have fun exploring this forum!

[ra]

Hi I'm in Western PA and buy Brisky Degu Pellets on line from Mr. Brisky. www.brisky.com
Have been feeding my two Degu Girls Brisky's pellets for over a year now & they're going strong.

[ra]

Check the Degu Behaviour Forum. Tell Chris to be patient please! Rather than endear himself he will scare them away if he doesn't allow them enough time to aclimate themselves. They are prey animals. Don't like quick movements (though they are lightening quick themselves?), don't like to be held or to stay still. Definetely do not try to pick them up from over head. Your hand will appear as a large dark shadow similar to a predator bird. He will want to sit quietly with his hand in the cage allowing the Degus to approach him. I had to sit for up to two hours at a time waiting for Mocha to approach me at first. Then she would nibble,sometimes too hard you have to just take it for a little while. Then if she bit too hard I would say no and withdraw my hand and leave for a bit. They like company. They quickly learn biting hard is not acceptable.

[catherine]

Hi
I'm also a new degu owner and I've found this site really helpful. I got 2 males about 3 weeks ago (Billy and Jack) and they're settling in really well. There are just a couple of things I'd like to hear you opinions on...
They really hate being lifted so getting them back into the cage can be a bit of a pain! I let them out in my bathroom (after taping all the cracks off - I sat outside a hole in the skirting board for 2 hours the first time I let them out!!) But when it's time to go back, they freak out when I try to pick them up. I've given up now and wait for them to get back in themselves, which can take a while!

The other query is about the alfalfa grass and hay I see lots of people give them. I live in Dublin and haven't seen it obviosuly available anywhere. Any ideas?

Thanks, Catherine

[Erica]

If you put down a box or a "new" container and wait a few minutes I guarantee that they'll explore it and go inside. Try a shoe box or a medium sized jar that you can cover the opening with your hand to transfer them back to their cage. Have fun!

[dreamcatcher]

I can sometimes use the dust bath to lure them out or in your case back in.
If they haven't had it in a couple of days, they can't wait to jump right in ;D

[aqh88]

A little bowl with some sand has helped us for the times they don't want to be handled. Also closing your hand around a degu causes them to freak out quite a bit. They think some predator has grabbed them. Loosely cup both hands around them so thay are sitting on your hands and you aren't putting any pressure on their backs and hardly any on their sides. They are much happier that way and don't wiggle as much or try to take off. Then you can slowly and smoothly transfer them to another spot and they will likely stay still of their own accord instead of being forced to stay there.