Can you mix degu?

[allan]

I am trying desperately to regime my degu but as an alternative I may get another but don’t want to go through all the possible fighting for  dominant.
so I was getting a female? Do you think this could work?

[misscatafer]

Male and female pairings tend to be easier. You will have to get your male neutered first though to avoid a population explosion. The recommendation is to wait 6 weeks after neutering before introducing to make sure he is no longer fertile. I successfully introduced a 2 year old neutered male to a 4 year old female, it took me around 7 weeks. They still live together now and are completely in love.

[winic1]

Do know that if you don't get your male neutered first, and wait the six weeks to make sure he has lost all remaining fertility, it is pretty much guaranteed she will get pregnant and have babies. And a new batch every 3 months, most often 5-6 per litter.

But yes, male-female introductions usually work well. (not guaranteed, but most of the time.)

[deguconvert]

Read, and I ditto the other comments. Male female pairings are lovely, but they repopulate faster than rabbits, and pups are fertile early too, so female pups can conceive by 6 weeks age, and male pups can impregnate females by 8 weeks age. So . . . with that kind of reproductive power, the numbers and frequency of increase are quite staggering. Neutering the male is really necessary. Female neutering is much more precarious and more often has a sad outcome.

Did you look into the Blue Cross place?

[deguconvert]

OH!! If you do following this route . . . you need a vet that is very experienced with degu neutering. It has been assumed by vets unfamiliar with degus, on a wide basis, that because they are rodents that the neutering surgery is the same, but it is not. Most rodents carry their testes on the outside wall of the abdomen, but degus do not. Their testes are inside the abdominal cavity and the surgery required is significantly different.

[allan]

Thank you very much for all your help this is a big help, I am really desperate now it’s absolutely heart breaking to see him like this

[allan]

Have you ever heard of a rabbit mixed with a degu?

[misscatafer]

I can't see this being a good idea on any level and I would advise against it.

Firstly the size difference could lead to serious injury or death - my rabbit killed my guinea pig when they were put in a shed together during winter, most likely by either kicking him or jumping on him (his neck was broken). Secondly, they do not speak the same language, so you are not alleviating the loneliness or helping either species in any way. Thirdly, rabbits and degus need different diets and living environments so would not be able to live safely together anyway. I do not think you should pursue this idea at all..

What about neutering your male and getting a female friend?

[allan]

Good news I found two Degu that need new homes!
Hopefully start the adoption process tomorrow

[moletteuk]

Great, boys or girls?

[allan]

They are two boys about six months I just brought them home yesterday