laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
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Post by laiyah on Dec 17, 2021 23:31:22 GMT
So, hi guys. It seems my bf is definitely allergic to the degus because I asked him to keep an eye on them when I left them in the playpen (so I could clean the cage) and it made him blow his nose every ten minutes... Basically after I caught a bad cold, I made a playpen with my bf so he wouldn't have to keep an eye on them during playtime. We have come to the conclusion that we will decide later if we want to adopt them since that also mean I'll have the sole responsibility for everything concerning the degus. (Not drugs. Ty autocorrect.) And if I do adopt them, I'll want us to make a custom cage to have enough bedding so I don't have to clean daily and I will definitely want to change from pellet to forage. We have decided that adoption was a decision for next year and will make it at one point. (Probably after the allergies specialist check him out.) For now, let's all enjoy the festivities and a picture from my photoshoot. For the white stains, I do clean with white vinegar, but I suspect it's from the previous cage owner. It might be from 'age' because it doesn't seem to be clearing up.
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Post by moletteuk on Dec 18, 2021 17:49:50 GMT
I'm sorry you have confirmed the allergy, it seems a shame when you are obviously so keen and want to give them such a good life. How does he feel about antihistamines? Perhaps he could try some over the counter antihistamines for a week or two.
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laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
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Allergies
Dec 19, 2021 4:06:13 GMT
via mobile
Post by laiyah on Dec 19, 2021 4:06:13 GMT
He has allergy pills he is prescribed by doctors because of his strong allergy to dust mites. He does take them when he feels his allergies get him too badly.
I've been taking care of the degus as much as I can to minimize contact and his allergies. That's why I have to fully decide if it will get too much for me (and him).
I do love the degus. I've been doing my best for enrichment and so on (I didn't mention it in the other topic buti did put cardboard on the bottom tray and one of them loved tearing it up), but I admit I'm delaying the decision on my side as well to be sure I can keep the care on the long run without him.
I've been more or less trying to consider a diy cage for easier care and limiting the hay, hair and etc coming out of the cage too easily. I will probably check with you guys for material if it does get to that point.
Honestly, I feel like I might be trying to delay my decision as much as I can to really be certain about it and to check if he will be able to enjoy the degus too with some treatment.
At least, I know I am doing everything I can for them at the rescue and hopefully, the degus know I do care.
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Post by savvy on Dec 19, 2021 4:12:18 GMT
I'm sorry to hear he's allergic, and I hope you can find a way around it and keep both the degus and your boyfriend.
You should find that the bigger the cage, the less cleaning it needs. Spot cleans can be done very quickly with a complete change of substrate when necessary. Perspex guards around the bottom of the levels will help keep everything inside the cage.
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laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
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Allergies
Dec 19, 2021 4:28:51 GMT
via mobile
Post by laiyah on Dec 19, 2021 4:28:51 GMT
I have found that I have a hard time understanding and finding equivalent in terms of material when I browsing through the forum. In all honesty, I wanted to try putting more substrate on the ground to more or less force the degus to forage by hiding the commercial pellets in it. I was trying to put cardboard ledges and it more or less got destroy very fast (my degu found it fun to gnaw at). Plexiglass couldn't be considered because France only has very thin one and from what I gathered, it is quite messy to cut ? I've been more or less considering using wooden parts such as www.leroymerlin.fr/produits/menuiserie/panneau-planche-et-materiaux-bois/tasseau-bois/tasseau-decoratif/tasseau-sapin-petits-noeuds-ep-32-x-l-92-mm-mm-2-5-m-79322523.html but I can't seem to find if it's kiln dried. And I'm not sure how gnawing safe it is. Knowing the degus, imminent destruction seems to be the standard. Aspen doesn't seem easy to find either. I didn't find the perspex guard you talk about either ?
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Post by savvy on Dec 19, 2021 4:37:41 GMT
My apologies, perspex is the same as plexiglass in the UK, and I sometimes forget its not a universal name. If the plexiglass in France is very thin, could it be doubled up so two layers are used instead of one? Also, is it possible to get it cut to size when ordering? I'm asking only because I'm not sure whats available in France. It may be possible to put a metal strip as a guard or if you are going to build your own cage, deep trays will negate the need for guards. I'm tagging bouncy because she's really good at DIY cages.
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Post by bouncy on Dec 19, 2021 13:17:32 GMT
Thanks savvy! The thickness of the plexiglass doesn't matter, provided the goos cannot access the edges, AND the frame around it is solid. You only need to think about thickness if you want to use it as a floor. If it's too thin for a floor, it'll bow. I have a build using Bosch aluminium (link below), and the plexiglass just slots in! I am a bit of a DIY nut, so I did all the cutting. store.boschrexroth.com/Assembly-Technology/Basic-Mechanic-Elements/Profiles-and-accessories/Strut-profile?cclcl=en_GBForget to mention - plexiglass is easy to cut if you have a very strong knife (Stanley blade), and a piece of wood.
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laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
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Post by laiyah on Dec 21, 2021 22:15:09 GMT
France doesn’t provide cut to size plexi, only glass. So I am mostly considering getting cut to size if I want to actually build a diy cage (and therefore adopt in spite of allergy) and then I’d probably have to solve the issue about making actual doors. (I’ve read a lot of people got for sliding doors, but I’m not sure how much I’d prefer sliding over regular doors.)
On the side note of cutting the plexiglass with a strong knife and a piece of wood, how do you ensure you cut well (and straight because I get a bit ocd about it) and is there a secret to the drilling ? I have read about people’s plexi breaking due to drilling ?
Basically plexiglass is sold in three different thickness 1.2 mm, 2.5 mm and 5 mm. Pricing is… pricy. And the aluminium profiles are sold with a minimum of 6 mm spacing inside. And I definitely would need a 5 mm if I do decide to use profile… and the degus have shown that they will somehow get their teeth in there (proven by the playpen… but maybe it’s because it’s cheap wooden boards, but they have been trying… and me scolding !)
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Allergies
Dec 21, 2021 23:31:15 GMT
via mobile
Post by bouncy on Dec 21, 2021 23:31:15 GMT
If you are putting a panel inside aluminium profile, there is usually a strip that you insert first. It will hold I think 2mm upwards.
Cutting is easy. For small pieces, I use a hacksaw. For larger pieces, place on a flat surface, and a hard edge along the line you want to cut and fix it somehow I use clamps. Leaning hard, score along this line several times with the knife. If you're cutting a thin piece (1.5-2.5mm), this will be enough to cut all the way through. For thicker pieces, score, then place the plexiglass on the wood, score line along the wood. Snap the plexiglass!
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Post by moletteuk on Dec 23, 2021 17:05:50 GMT
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laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
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Post by laiyah on Jan 13, 2022 13:38:54 GMT
Hi guys, just to keep you guys updated.
While I was trying to sell the diy cage to my boyfriend, the rescue received an adoption request for the degus. Therefore I've been waiting to see how it goes and painfully hoping if they do get adopted, they would be in a nice home.
Apparently, the other party hasn't answered the mail from the rescue, telling them about changes they should make in their cage for the good of the degus (I was told that yesterday). They might have been deterred by the suggestions (change the wheel, cover the mesh floor, etc.) so the plans are slowly coming back up.
I will keep you guys updated about the plans and whatnot.
Meanwhile, I'd like to know if you had suggestions for the playpen ? I feel like the degus are bored in the playpen...
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Post by moletteuk on Jan 13, 2022 16:53:30 GMT
Aww that sounds nerve wracking!
You could chuck in a ton of cardboard boxes. You could fill a deep baking tray with sand and then hide treats in the sand, they should have fun hunting for the treats, be warned the sand will go everywhere.
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laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
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Post by laiyah on Jan 13, 2022 23:10:42 GMT
To be honest, it is a bit nerve-wracking !
It's just I don't want to officially turn in the papers for adoptions because if my boyfriend's allergy is severe, I will be returning them, making them precious time. But I do love them ! (And I think I'm making great progress with them. The scared one has stopped running away randomly and even accepted to land on my hand when she climbed too high to get down safely !) So the stress is building up from me trying to do everything right to every party ! Gotta make sure degus got a nice home and not to kill boyfriend. :')
When you say sand, are we talking about the sand they use for their bath ? I've also been using a terracotta bowl I've filled with hay and cardboard litter to sprinkle grass seeds mix and dried flowers mix in there in the cage. That way, they kind of have to dig and look through it for the precious. Are we talking about something similar with sand and treats ?
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Post by moletteuk on Jan 14, 2022 8:44:15 GMT
Yes, sand bath sand. There will be a sweet spot for the size of the treats, probably around hemp seed size would be about right, broken up bits of dandelion root are also good.
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Post by bouncy on Jan 14, 2022 15:33:39 GMT
I'm late wading into this, but........
I've currently got six goos. When I got the first three, I already knew I had issues with animal fur. Dogs aren't so bad, but the finer fur of cat, rabbit, and other small beings sets me off. I made the decision long ago that I couldn't live without my little furries. I take an antihistamine daily, and committed myself with adoptions, a massive cage build, etc.
I guess what it comes down to is how serious things are between you and your boyfriend, and whether he is willing to make a sacrifice of a daily antihistamine?
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laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
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Post by laiyah on Jan 14, 2022 17:20:41 GMT
Basically, the issue is mostly if it's his dust mite allergies that are waking up. He has very big allergies to dust mites, which was improved after years of desensitization. We have more or less agreed as soon as we started going out that dogs and cats were out of questions due to the sheer amount of fur. His allergies are triggered upon the proximity with them. Even then, he still suffers chronic rhinite on a daily basis due to their presence and keep a very strict schedule to avoid having too much dust at home.
That's why we're waiting for the allergy doctor to tell us if it's dust mites or something that can easily be managed (with just a pill) or... something that will worsen over time.
And we are in a pretty serious relationship. :') We literally just included each other in our wills.
His family tree seems to have some pretty serious allergies so it might sound like we're overdoing it, but... you know.
Just small note for future reference, has anyone tried using plexiglass some parts of the structure to give the inside more natural lights ? (My previous sketch blueprint had the "back" with mesh for airflow, but there isn't much light going inside the cage with wooden sides.)
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Post by bouncy on Jan 14, 2022 21:11:33 GMT
This is my build. Where the panels aren't mesh, they are perspex/plexiglass. Because of the upper levels, there is still a lack of light, so I ended up fitting LED strips.
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laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
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Post by laiyah on Feb 12, 2022 18:14:53 GMT
Hi everyone, coming back here for one simple reason...
so, I have officially installed an air purifier and in the process of getting rid as much as possible of the hair of the degus, I have switched out the flannel and wooden board I have laid out on the mesh to leave them directly on the litter tray... which led to a terrible event.
I saw a degu ate carefresh litter. I did notice her taking a mouthful of it for nesting before (as in moving it from point A to point B), which didn't worry me, but I have really seen her take a bite out of it like it was pellets. I haven't starved them, the bowl is still filled with pellets and other foraging goods...
I have more or less chosen to go for the carefresh litter for the allergy issue, but I recall reading they could get gastric blockage. So, what should I do right now and how long before I should get very worried about the possibility of blockage ?
(On top of it, they seem to be a lot meaner to each other, fighting over dumb stuff like access to water... I'm also wondering if that could lead her to eat litter...)
[Side note, the allergy doctor has prescribed tests for my bf. He isn't allergic to hay, definitely to dust mite and awaiting results over allergy to gerbils since there is no test for degus.]
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Post by savvy on Feb 12, 2022 18:26:28 GMT
Carefresh is paper based so its a form of fibre, I wouldn't worry too much about them eating it. Intestinal blockages are usually caused when they've ingested a bedding which swells when wet. These are usually used for cat litter, etc. If you want to check, drop some water on a sample and see if it swells or disintegrates.
Degus tend to go into adolescence at 6months old and this can last until 18months, remind me, how old are they now? Being on heat can also make tempers flare.
Hope the allergy tests come back OK.
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laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
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Post by laiyah on Feb 12, 2022 19:24:23 GMT
So, I just wet it a little bit and it didn't seem to swell, but in a large quantity of water, it didn't seem to dissolve. Or at least, it seems to need way more water than the degu usually drink. I'm assuming it means they will poop it out.
Right now, they're a little over a year old. Do you think that being in heat could make them eat litter ?
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