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Post by mschips on Mar 10, 2019 9:58:15 GMT
Hello! I have been lurking but this is my first post. I appreciate this board-- it's been helpful.
I recently adopted two adult degu sisters. I researched all of the exercise wheels and the Kaytee 12" spinner (which is what they had when I adopted them but am using a newer one now) seemed to be the best. They love the spinner and have plenty of wood and hay to chew. One of the two sisters has begun gnawing on the edges of the spinner in the middle of the night (it's loud!) which is a very hard plastic. When I get out of bed to investigate it's always the same one while her sister simply watches. I know the solution would be to get a metal wheel, but the only ones I can see (I'm in the US) are the ChinSpin which seems like it would be too heavy for them (one reviewer said it threw their pet in the air because it takes time to stop), and the Exotic Nation treadwheel which doesn't have great reviews, either.
Any idea why she would do this only in the middle of the night? Is she trying to get my attention? Because they love the spinner otherwise I'm hoping there is a work-around or that this is temporary!
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 10, 2019 11:03:18 GMT
Hi Mschips, welcome to the forum Degus will nearly always chew plastic eventually, it's just the case that degus will chew anything that they can. It could also be for attention or maybe it is too close to the nest or it's just at a good height for chewing. For the short term perhaps you could remove the saucer at night time. I've seen positive reports about the 14" Exotic Nutrition Treadmill saucer for degus and another place called Pandemonium Pets sell an all metal upright style wheel.
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Post by mschips on Mar 10, 2019 17:04:18 GMT
Thank you, moletteuk. Do you think they will get upset if I remove their wheel at night? I may give the Exotic Nutrition Treadmill a try if this keeps up!
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Post by hpdegus on Mar 10, 2019 17:37:43 GMT
I remove wheels every night, otherwise it would be too loud to sleep! I also live in the US and just ordered a wheel from pandemonium pets--I can let you know how that goes!
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Post by deguconvert on Mar 10, 2019 17:52:23 GMT
Hello, Mschips! Lovely to meet you!!
I have nothing more to add to the advice you have been given. I will say that I don't think degus equate loving a thing with not chewing that thing. In fact, our boys seemed to chew the things they loved even more. LOL! Almost like grooming in a way. "You are a member of my colony" Gnaw, gnaw, gnaw. "I love to run on you and feel the wind in my fur." Gnaw, gnaw, gnaw. "You complete me."
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Post by mschips on Mar 10, 2019 18:08:59 GMT
Thank you, hpdegus and deguconvert!!
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Post by moletteuk on Mar 10, 2019 20:21:14 GMT
I would say give it a try and see what happens. Maybe if you take the spinner out at the same time that you turn the light off it might work best.
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