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Post by r2degu on Sept 17, 2017 21:34:55 GMT
Hello, I am building my own cage and already have the base for it ( www.homebase.co.uk/cement-mixing-tray_p832700 ) I know it's plastic but it's deep enough to hold lots of bedding and I plan on having something to cover the bottom. Anyway I need to build a sub frame around it so it can sit inside on rollers so I can roll it out when it needs cleaning. I am having wire mesh around it and keeping the wooden frame that will hold the mesh (that will be on the inside) surrounded by mesh so it can't be eaten! Anyway even though i'm planning on not having the wood exposed i'm still unsure on which wood to use. I have looked at the threads posted on here but I find it quite confusing. Would normal pine wood do? Thanks for your help  |
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 18, 2017 0:00:27 GMT
Most pine and other softwoods have gone through a treatment called Kiln drying, which removes the vast majority of resin from the wood. You can just check to be sure that the wood you choose has been kiln dried, but yes, kiln dried pine/spruce is totally fine for the job!
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Post by ntg on Sept 18, 2017 8:06:53 GMT
What are the dimensions of the tray r2degu (love the name btw  ). I ask because it looks quite small compared to the base size we recommend of at least 100 x 50 cm - degus do better in a cage that's long and wide than one that has a lot of height but not much floor space as they are ground dwellers who can't climb quite as well as they like to think they can  |
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 18, 2017 15:22:16 GMT
Glad you asked that NTG. I missed the link (was sooo tired yesterday) and just assumed it must be something rather large. Going of course on my own imagination and understanding of what is recommended. Having looked at the link just now, it does appear rather small in the photo. I'm hoping it is larger than it looks to be?
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Post by r2degu on Sept 18, 2017 21:34:19 GMT
Hello thanks for the replies. It's a lot bigger than the pics show it, 92 cm across and 60 cm wide and around 20 cm deep. I only have the one Degu (he was a rescue after being attacked by other degus) I've got the design idea all set up and it's going to be plenty big enough for him, plus he spends most of his time out in the living room playing anyways ha! We have only had him around 6 months and considering he's come from a harsh background he now climbs all over us, eats out of our hands and lets us cuddling him, which would be all night if he could! Thanks for the help!
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 19, 2017 2:16:58 GMT
How old was he when you brought him home? Which would make him now . . .?
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Post by r2degu on Sept 19, 2017 9:56:13 GMT
Hi, he was between 6-12 months I think,we've had him actually around 8 months,I can't quite remember what the person told me his age was when we got him.
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 19, 2017 15:46:16 GMT
Would you consider finding him a companion?
I suspect that the fighting that was going on and resulted in his separation, had to do with dominance fighting and hormones. Degus between the ages of (starting at) 5-6 months and 18 months tend to go through a very hormonal time during which they are fighting to be dominant/top goo and for the mating rights that would come with that. Degu colonies are very hierarchy layered, so you will have degus in position of most dominant all the way down to least dominant. With every new litter, the young ones enter into this colony and have to find their place, which it typically done through fighting. To us it looks terribly violent, and we get very disturbed by it. It is normal, and in our forum we don't recommend separating unless there are bleeding injuries, or if it becomes what we call a FBOD . . . or furball of death. FBOD is very easy to recognize by the fact that they are so tightly locked together that you cannot distinguish one degu from the other, and they roll rapidly about while viciously biting each other. This type of fighting we interfere with as quickly as possible, as it can result in fatal wounds to both animals. Often, owners intervene before they really need to, or should, and then a degu is often labeled as vicious, or mean, or a fighter, and left to live alone. Which they do not naturally do. They are naturally a colony animal, very social, and very much better off when with companions.
It sounds like he is past the age of 18 months, so hopefully, if you were to able to/interested to find another male of like age, he would be well able to bond with the other and they could live very happily together.
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Post by r2degu on Sept 19, 2017 21:38:16 GMT
To be honest not really.He has sustained quiet bad injuries (both ears have been split and his tail has been chewed at the end) it's not worth the hassle to be honest and if I did get another single (which has probably been separated) what happens if they don't get along?I really don't have to space for two cages and it really wouldn't be fair on little R2, who I've spent so much time and attention with, for me to spend that same time trying to get to know and tame another degu.It wouldn't be fair on either of them.I have considered it but it's a no.We give him so much love and affection and he has really grown since we first got him.He loves coming out to play and being very mischievous!He has a great personality and we both love him very much.Thank you for your advice though it's appreciated :-)
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 20, 2017 15:42:57 GMT
I'll be honest right back. We do strongly recommend that degus be kept at least in twos, and more is better. They are naturally a social colony animal and all of their behaviors are group and family oriented. Grooming, watching for danger, foraging, sleeping in a pile . . . it is what helps to keep them safe, healthy and happy. We humans are great, but there is nothing quite like having your own kind to be your companion.
I understand not wanting to risk all the things you mention, and I respect that he is yours to love and care for, and to provide companionship for. So if this is what you are firm on, I would like to just ask you to keep an eye out for any signs of lethargy, loss of interest in food, lack of interest in his bathing sand, grooming practices slipping and starting to look dull and clumps of fur, increased repetitive or neurotic behaviors. These can be indications of depression setting in from loneliness and lack of other degu companions. If things get really set in, they can exhibit aggression and become mean, which is very unlike typical degu nature and behavior.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2017 18:09:37 GMT
It's not always a walk in the park getting degus to get along. All of mine sustained injuries from the introduction process. But it's so worth it.
Poppy lost 1/3rd of her tail, bitten open leg and foot, nose bites.. Pickle got bitten.. and so on.
Imagine in the wild, it would happen too. Any sort of disruption to the hierarchy may cause them to fight in the wild.
I was constantly tending to wounds at one point, I considered whether to carry on with Pickle, I considered having her as a lone goo as she seemed to thrive on human attention. I now have 6 degus, rather than the 3 I wanted. I have three pairs of two.
I am SO glad I didn't make her become a lone degu, she now has a degu husband who she loves. She doesn't bother with me at all now. The others all do, they all still love human attention.
But she was so dependent on me, as she was alone for so long (since 7 weeks old probably), that now she has a degu companion she doesn't need me. She will come and say hello, but she's now so happy and content she doesn't pine for human interaction.. it's so nice to see her act like a DEGU! Rather than a needy dog or equivalent.
She snuggles her husband Pumba every night, naps with him in the day, she never ever has squabbles with him (the others squabble), shares beautifully, makes nests with him, grooms him and vice versa. I didn't want 6. I wanted 3. But a group of three didn't work, so I made sure they all had friends in whatever way it became possible.
Degus are hassle sometimes lol. That's a small part of degu keeping - hassle and worry. Being labelled as separated means nothing usually - it's very rare indeed to find a degu who will simply not tolerate any other degu. Pet shops will label them as "to be alone" because they don't introduce them properly, just bung them all into a tiny space and then are shocked when they fight, people who perhaps aren't totally clued up on degus do the same too, and then claim their degu is too dangerous to be with others. When in reality all it takes is patience, education and love! So please don't be put off getting a degu who has a "danger" label, a friend.
There are rescues who help with introductions, and most rescues you can return the degu if they don't get on.
Degus don't really need people attention in the same way a dog does. They need lots of stimulation! So free range time, new toys, puzzles etc.. so don't feel that your current degu wouldn't get enough attention from you - he'd have his new companion 24-7, who (not meaning to be harsh) is better for him than a human as the new friend is a degu, so understands the degu world a lot better than we ever could lol.
I'm not aiming this directly at you, so don't feel I'm ranting at you. I'm just saying in general, just in case others read this thread.
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Post by r2degu on Sept 21, 2017 10:43:32 GMT
Yeah look I only wanted to know what wood to use for my cage not a lecture on if they should live in pairs and that I need to get a partner for my degu.I researched degus and how to care for them before I got one,I intended to get a pair but fell in love with this guy.I highly highly doubt I'll be getting him a partner but if the moment comes where I feel it's absolutey necessary then I will.He is fit,healthy and most of all happy right now,so why on earth would I do anything to jeopardise that?I've said it before but I don't have the time to start introducing another degu and you seem to have missed the point that I don't have room for two cages and the fact of they may not get along,so then what?thanks for the advice on the wood anyway at least I know what to buy.
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 22, 2017 20:04:21 GMT
I hear you, R2degu. We are enthusiastic for the care of degus and to see them well housed and in conditions that best suit their natures. We also try very hard to understand and support the needs of their owners, because after all, the needs of the owner greatly impact the needs of the animal.
I hope your cage ideas and plans work out very well for you, and that your degu absolutely loves his new home.
We have a boat load of information on degus here. Perhaps you have already done a boat load of reading! If you are interested in more reading, don't be shy to troll through, and don't be shy to ask questions.
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). 