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Post by Xellie on May 18, 2021 20:47:42 GMT
As I've been feeding my girls more forage and seeds etc, they are losing interest in the pellets. So I've been reading up on the SAB diet.
I'm considering halving their pellets (to 5grams each) and making up the rest with natural foods or giving them pellets on alternating days to make it more interesting for them.
The question I have is, how much should they have? For seeds I've been doing a teaspoon each every other day.
I have some SAB leaf mixes here that they eat happily, but I have no idea if I'm giving them too much or too little (this all said, "too much" gets eaten throughout the following days).
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Post by bouncy on May 18, 2021 21:08:25 GMT
Providing they believe there's always food to eat if they want some (i.e. the bowl is never empty), degus will not overeat. The only thing to be wary of is that many prepared foods, like pellets, are fortified with vitamins. A key one is D3, cholecalciferol, which is usually produced through sunlight. Modern window glass blocks up to 90% UV, so you'll need to think about supplementing with drops or a lamp  Oh, and I feed 100% natural. |
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Post by savvy on May 18, 2021 21:56:03 GMT
I feed both, but way more SAB than pellets. I put four science selective pellets per degu in each day and they do get eaten as does the ratrations SAB mix and seeds.
They seem to like the variety, especially the new ladies.
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Post by Xellie on May 18, 2021 22:46:25 GMT
Providing they believe there's always food to eat if they want some (i.e. the bowl is never empty), degus will not overeat. The only thing to be wary of is that many prepared foods, like pellets, are fortified with vitamins. A key one is D3, cholecalciferol, which is usually produced through sunlight. Modern window glass blocks up to 90% UV, so you'll need to think about supplementing with drops or a lamp Oh, and I feed 100% natural. Ah we already have UVB lamps. I decided to set up lamps and try them after my older boys both had horrific dental issues. I have this one www.northernparrots.com/arcadia-mini-uvb-avian-light-kit-prod828150a/This also factored into my thoughts, I thought well, they could OD on D3 through pellets, or maybe they won't get enough. I think it's just safer to let them have the UVB to synthesize it as needed. I've also been considering changing the "day length" with the lamps to make it more natural for them too, maybe I get to pick when breeding season is that way so I'm prepared for squabbles LOL. I also just like the idea of them having "sunlight" and a day/night cycle with a nice midday sun to bathe under. |
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Post by bouncy on May 18, 2021 23:00:54 GMT
Yeah, mine loved to sunbathe!
I started with a lamp for a year, but didn't see any dental improvement. It was the drops that gave a significant impact on Scaredy. Ironically, my mum didn't put any in the other group's bottle whilst I was away for a few weeks. When I came back, Sausage needed his one and only dental! I started a thread on here somewhere about my vit D3 experiment, which I discussed regularly with my vet.
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Post by Xellie on May 18, 2021 23:05:50 GMT
I'm hoping it will be more of a preventative measure. Poor Fluffytail's dental disease was so advanced nothing could have made an impact.
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Post by bouncy on May 18, 2021 23:21:40 GMT
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Post by Xellie on May 18, 2021 23:30:32 GMT
Are you still proceeding with the Vit D? I was worried about toxicity, but actually reading that is very reassuring
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Post by bouncy on May 19, 2021 8:31:47 GMT
Yep. Because they eat 100% natural, it's important. I give the same four drop dose. John (vet) agreed with each additional drop, which virtually stopped the root progress, and you can see the changes in treatment gaps. He's a very proactive vet, and kept checking for signs of toxicity, but hasn't found any.
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Post by moletteuk on May 19, 2021 9:20:05 GMT
Forage must be in a decent variety and must be unlimited for a full natural diet.
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