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Post by jammybendy on Aug 6, 2020 8:18:23 GMT
Hi Guys, My name is Jaimie and i am from Antwerp, Belgium. I loved reading a lot of topics here but there is so much information that i don't really know where to start for myself so I wanted to create a thread with some of my questions. I have 2 boys who are 3 years old. I bought them from a rodent breeder in The Netherlands 3 years ago aprox. I have ![]() been feeding them Beaphar Care+ all this time, with unlimited hay, and the occasional dried pea's and sometimes a peanut. Because that is what the breeder told me they only require. But a few days ago one of my boys had an eye inflammation (he is healthy now) so i started to look up more about degu nutrition. Unfortunately there aren't many good forums or sites in Dutch about Degu's so i stumbled upon this forum. It made me realise that i was not being a very good owner for my boys so i want to learn a lot more about their health, enrichment, etc.... So my questions are: - Is Beaphar Care+ a good food pellet for them? (Saw some negative comments about it) if not, what do you use and is available here in Belgium? - What can i give them more? Like what kind of herbs/nuts/seeds (The breeder told me Nuts and seeds weren't good for degu's because of the fat%) - What bedding do you use? Right now they have pellets in their enclosure. Thanks for helping me out. |
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Post by moletteuk on Aug 6, 2020 10:28:37 GMT
Welcome to the forum  Beaphar Care+ is OK. Science Selective, Versele Laga Complete or Crispy (check packet for grass based one, they change the names) and JR Farm Grainless Guinea are what I tend to recommend mixed if possible but not all degus like the the JRF grainless or the Versele Laga grass based ones. Next you want as much forage as you can get and in a variety. So different hays, alfalfa, safe flowers, herbs, hedgerow & meadow plants, tree leaves. This is the healthiest thing as it is high in fibre and has ideal nutritional content when they get a selection and is what degus are designed to eat. Next you can add a high calcium oil seed mix if you would like to try it. Nuts, other seeds and things like dandelion roots are good for treats. Recommended beddings are pulped paper based ones like Carefresh or cardboard based ones or things like chipped flax or other plants or wood flakes/ shavings or any combination of the above. We have a thread here for more info deguworld.proboards.com/thread/8754/cage-bedding-reviewshttp://deguworld.proboards.com/thread/8754/cage-bedding-reviewsI will also link you to our beginners guide, you might want to check your cage size too as breeders and shops give terrible advice usually on cages. deguworld.proboards.com/thread/19754/beginners-guide-degu-keepingI'm not sure if we have any members from the Netherlands I mean Belgium, not regular ones anyway, but Zooplus and Hansemann's (in germany should be available to you) and there is another one in germany isn't there, bouncy ? |
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Post by bouncy on Aug 6, 2020 10:57:52 GMT
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Post by jammybendy on Aug 6, 2020 12:03:50 GMT
That are German sites  I had like 1 year German in school so that isn't really helpful tho :-D |
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Post by savvy on Aug 6, 2020 12:49:20 GMT
Welcome to the forum!
I've used Hansemanns a lot, they are my primary food source outside of Ratrations which are uk based, I speak no German apart from being able to count to 10, lol, and I've never had a problem with their English, it's better than mine.
If you use Google, it will translate the website for you.
My guys recommend their SAB mix, noses are through the bars whenever the bag is opened.
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 6, 2020 17:16:44 GMT
Hello, Jammybendy! Welcome to the forum!
Are you looking for ideas of how to put foods together? Or for nutritional information on specific food items? Or for available pre-made foods?
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Post by jammybendy on Aug 6, 2020 19:17:04 GMT
Hello, Jammybendy! Welcome to the forum! Are you looking for ideas of how to put foods together? Or for nutritional information on specific food items? Or for available pre-made foods? Hey, I was wondering of Beaphar Care+ was a good food pellet for my boys. They just get that and a lot of hay. They get dried pea's as treats but if i look around on the forum it seems that they are missing out on a lot. So yes i am looking for Maybe a more complete diet for my boys cause i feel like i am not feeding them properly |
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Post by savvy on Aug 6, 2020 19:30:28 GMT
Personally I go for a ready prepared mix to start with until you get more confident in mixing your own.
Pellets can get very boring over time as there's no change in texture or taste. I think they will love the new diet. Just add it slowly so their digestive systems can get used to it.
When I adopted Bumblebee (RIP) he'd been fed similar to yours, just pellets and hay. I switched him to a more natural diet and within 24 hours he'd kicked the pellets straight out of his cage. There was no stopping him after that.
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Post by jammybendy on Aug 6, 2020 20:13:14 GMT
Personally I go for a ready prepared mix to start with until you get more confident in mixing your own. Pellets can get very boring over time as there's no change in texture or taste. I think they will love the new diet. Just add it slowly so their digestive systems can get used to it. When I adopted Bumblebee (RIP) he'd been fed similar to yours, just pellets and hay. I switched him to a more natural diet and within 24 hours he'd kicked the pellets straight out of his cage. There was no stopping him after that. Do you Mean by mixing, mixing different types of pellets or pellets with more natural foods likes seeds, nuts and different kind of hays? Can you give an example of what your goo's eat? |
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 6, 2020 20:50:36 GMT
Jammybendy . . . have a look through the posts in here . . . deguworld.proboards.com/thread/21261/feed-degus . In these posts the members describe what they feed. Some are things they separately and mix in different ways. Some they forage for. Some come as already made mixes. Have a read through, and then ask what questions you have. |
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Post by savvy on Aug 6, 2020 21:16:29 GMT
I meant until you have experience of mixing different types of forage yourself, as in plants, flowers, etc. to create your own forage blend.
I'd give pellets too, as they will still eat them, but not as many as before you added extra forage.
Edit: written on my phone with a very small screen, says what I wanted to say now, lol.
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Post by bouncy on Aug 6, 2020 23:30:05 GMT
We have a spreadsheet in the feeding section (I think) that is a translation of the Hansemann shop!
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Post by jammybendy on Aug 7, 2020 4:47:32 GMT
Jammybendy . . . have a look through the posts in here . . . deguworld.proboards.com/thread/21261/feed-degus . In these posts the members describe what they feed. Some are things they separately and mix in different ways. Some they forage for. Some come as already made mixes. Have a read through, and then ask what questions you have. Ow thanks ! Don't know how I missed this thread :s Maybe because I was browsing using my phone. Going have to have a good read on this thread and write al lot down ! Thanks for the help guys. I just want to give my boys the best they deserve. |
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Post by savvy on Aug 7, 2020 9:41:29 GMT
No problem, keep us posted as to how you get on.
Oh, and we love photos!
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Post by bouncy on Aug 7, 2020 13:57:48 GMT
No problem, keep us posted as to how you get on. Oh, and we love photos! Shameless begging there, Savvy!  |
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Post by savvy on Aug 7, 2020 14:07:10 GMT
No problem, keep us posted as to how you get on. Oh, and we love photos! Shameless begging there, Savvy! Thought I'd get in before everyone else, lol. |
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Post by deguconvert on Aug 7, 2020 21:39:02 GMT
"Shameless begging" she says!! We DO all have degus, right? We've learned from the best! Well . . . my dogs are pretty good at it too! LOL!
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Post by jammybendy on Aug 14, 2020 14:51:11 GMT
Shameless begging there, Savvy! Thought I'd get in before everyone else, lol. I don't know how to share pictures on this thread? :-\ |
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I had like 1 year German in school so that isn't really helpful tho :-D
