allan
Foraging Degu
I swear my degu laugh at me when I clean their cage
Posts: 63
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Post by allan on Jun 22, 2018 20:18:24 GMT
I have a old fish tank that I’m going to fill it tomorrow. I have seen people put organic soil and hay are good but would wood wood chipping? And sawdust?
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 23, 2018 0:54:57 GMT
Not sawdust, the dust in sawdust is quite hard on their lungs. As well, the organic soil and sawdust can collapse if they are trying to tunnel and suffocate them. Perhaps I should ask, is this for the purpose of a digging pit?
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Post by savvy on Jun 23, 2018 1:01:02 GMT
If you want a digging pit, how about using something like carefresh, or torn cardboard/paper something they can rummage around in, but is light enough for them to move out of the way so they don't get trapped. You also need to use something which is easy to clean or replace as they will use it as a toilet.
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Post by deguconvert on Jun 23, 2018 1:03:26 GMT
OH MY GOODNESS!! Can you tell it has been a LONG DAY? Had I read the title . . . so sorry . . . please forgive my empty head.
I would not use the soil and sawdust.
You can fill it with large wood chips. Or you can make a mix of straw, clay, and peat moss which will form a structure that will not collapse on them. However, we have noted that not many degus seem to get that into digging. Doesn't hurt to give it a try though. Please let us know what you decide to use, and what your degus think of it!
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Post by misscatafer on Jun 23, 2018 8:46:22 GMT
I tried a dig box with coco soil, they used it for one day then it just became a toilet. I would recommend hay and exactly what Savvy has recommended. Just be aware though this will probably prompt them to move their nest into the dig box so you won't see them at night. I don't think degus dig as much as people think to be honest. From my experience they prefer building and maintaining nests and chewing things.
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Post by bouncy on Jun 23, 2018 11:41:59 GMT
I have tried normal woodshavings, carefresh, hemp, barley straw, jumbo flakes, and even feathers (or a mixture). So far, giant woodshavings work well.
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allan
Foraging Degu
I swear my degu laugh at me when I clean their cage
Posts: 63
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Post by allan on Jun 23, 2018 11:54:32 GMT
I have done as you guys said and gone for hay and organic soil with a few wood shavings. So far they don’t seem to bothered. It was because the small one keeps digging at the bottom of the cage even though they have loads of room I just figured he wanted to dig?
Thanks for all the advice 😁
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