laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
|
Post by laiyah on Jan 1, 2023 22:31:39 GMT
Hi everyone, I'm back as life goes on. I think I haven't said anything after the electrician, plumber and kitchen worker started working. (To sum up, things got a lot messier than expected. I had to push degu stuff to later and rethink budget priorities.) So, first thing first, I guess I'll tell you what happened so far for my degus. 1- the two cages have been fused into one somewhat successfully. The plastic hanging thingy are still being used because it's simpler and I wanted to improve the enclosure first and foremost. 2- I haven't had the time to make the enclosure fully accessible so I have found a temporary solution : I have a bird cage in the middle of the enclosure and I have managed to get a free cardboard tube for plumbing, to link the opening of the bird cage to the degu cage. So... I guess they technically have three cages I feel like I'm making everything more complicated. Either way, I removed the bottom of the bird cage so they can go through the 2 meter long tube to get to the bird cage and go down to the floor of the enclosure. 3- As a good degu slave, I have been gifted a sewing machine and started making degu hammocks. But I feel like the degus hate cotton fabric... They have chewed a hole of my tube because they refused to go in. I wanted small ideas of fabric and if you find some more 'degu ideal' in this tutorial. ratropolis.com/Rat%20Tutorials/Tutorials%20for%20Common%20Rat%20Hammocks%20and%20Accessories.pdfFor now, the things I really want to do are : - I have the ferret nation cage that I am keeping for vacations. I literally am going to use them next week so... The plastic trays are in bad shape, so I will be making wooden trays and try to make poop guards. - Get more toys. I think that I need to fill the cages better. But I am not sure what could be good boredom breakers. I have some wooden toys but they mostly chew them if it's in the way of chewing bars... - Get a tank and fill it with bedding for foraging. Maybe get a second tank for sand. - Restart the grass plantation. The degus really like the fresh grass but I feel like they eat more than it grows ? Also, small question... My degus just keep bringing hay in the bathing sand. Tissue, food... And they pee in it. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to try to stop them ?
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Jan 2, 2023 3:29:10 GMT
You certainly have a lot going on in your home!! I am not surprised that you have had to rethink things. I think anyone looking at all the same things would have to rethink their approach and timing of things.
I have to admit that I am having some trouble visualizing what you are doing with your cages. Would you be willing to share some photos of them as they are now, after the changes you have made? Maybe some photos of your hammocks as well? Seeing what you have done should help with advising and hopefully with helping your degus to feel more settled and happy in their environment.
|
|
laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
|
Post by laiyah on Jan 2, 2023 10:22:16 GMT
Pictures felt a bit hard to see so I tried to make a video. Not sure if it helps a lot... drive.google.com/file/d/1_YOkBB0-3mdZT89D8r69aErBGP7Nw8ld/view?usp=share_linkThe white things are actually um, pee pad (?). As my boyfriend is allergic to a lot of things, I used pee pads to make sure the degus have a dried surface to avoid pododermatite and I use small containers with hemp litter so they can bury food. There is a hemp mat, on the metal bars level (I need to change to wood at one point) to ensure a thick flat surface when they jump. The degus don't pull on the pee pads unless they don't have enough time out or if I don't give them tissue. Once I put the tube from the enclosure to the cage, it looks like this. I feel... like I'm going to get yelled at a lot for the mixture of plastic and the pee pads. ^^; (But I swear, the degus would rather chew on the plastic than on my pee pads.) I have a lot more tubes, but I don't put everything at once because sometimes the degus make it fall inside the cage.
PS: Sorry, the room is a mess, but degu room isn't on the priority list for cleaning... But I swear I clean once a week. (Just expect it to stay clean for half a day)
I'm also trying to make the enclosure closer to the cage at one point to be able to air the room once a day.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Jan 2, 2023 19:29:56 GMT
The space looks amazing overall - if they are using and enjoying the space and the setup isn't driving you mad, then it doesn't matter if it looks a bit complicated!
Fabric items can be very hit and miss and also tend to be things that they will ignore for months and then the day before you give up and remove it they start using the item. My degus enjoyed a hanging basket that I made a fleece liner for, a simple tube that I hung in such a way that they could climb inside or on top, and I've seen tent style fabric structures well used and liked. Fabric choice can be tricky and it's worth bearing in mind that very occasionally they can get caught by the nails in some stringier fabrics which can have disastrous consequences if the item is a hanging one - so actually cotton facing is a good choice because it would be very difficult for them to catch nails on it. Sometimes degus will chew a hole if they think something needs another exit for safety purposes, so maybe they were just modifying it to suit?
It's totally normal for them to stash stuff in the sand bath. You can sieve it periodically and you can bake it to sterilise it occasionally if you want to. Since you have quite a lot of space you could give them a smaller sand bath for actually bathing that you can keep a bit cleaner, and a another sacrificial maybe bigger one for them to do as they please with.
You could grow multiple trays of grass and let them have them in rotation, so each tray has a chance to recover and regrow.
Google is saying access denied for the video, but I can see the picture and get the gist. Have you thought of using more hemp or coco matting instead of the pee pads, it works well for some people as a general substrate? I think you can either find it sold for pets or in bigger sizes for gardens, you just need to check the garden centre stuff is not treated with anything.
|
|
laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
|
Post by laiyah on Jan 2, 2023 20:48:28 GMT
Sorry, I just realized I haven't put the sharing setting to "anyone with the link". For the hemp mat, tbh, I mostly didn't put it because I just recently purchased the roll of hemp. I was waiting to test it out on the cage and it kind of dragged on.
To be honest, I think I need to modify more things, but so far, the degus have been pretty smart about things. (Like I forgot to take off some tape and they don't care about it.)
For the sand, right now, i put a lot of sand in a chinchilla sand bath in the enclosure. It kind of makes it harder for them to mess it up too bad and I try to sieve it every day. (or every two days).
Small question, i have an unripe tomato that grew during autumn (then winter hit and the plant died). My degus are obviously very interested in it. (I put it there for ten seconds and they almost started a fight) Is there a big warning against it for them ?
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Jan 3, 2023 1:16:54 GMT
My degus LOVED tomato paste when they were younger. It was plain tomato paste with no salt or sugar added. I would give them a small amount on a wooden stir stick. Is it just the tomato fruit that they are very interested in? I would think they could have a very small amount. I wouldn't give them the leaves or vines.
|
|
laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
|
Post by laiyah on Jan 4, 2023 18:10:20 GMT
So, the video of the degu room should be watchable now. For the tomato, basically, it's one green tomato fruit. It's a little bit bigger than a cherry tomato, but smaller than usual tomato. On top of it, it's the only one and completely unripe. Since I can't do anything of it, I was hoping I could give it to the degus. Small bad degu owner move, I realized today my water bottle was blocked. Seeing my degus drink for a FULL three minutes, I directly went to buy another water bottle and a bowl to put under it. That way, they'll have two bottles and one bowl so they can drink. I feel so bad... Hopefully, they are good now.
|
|
|
Post by winic1 on Jan 4, 2023 22:56:39 GMT
Great idea to always have at least two water bottles, for just such an occurrence. These things happen. They will be fine.
Looking at your video, when you connect the two cages by the tube, one thought I had was that IF they got it into their furry little heads to try running ON the tube instead of inside it, or to try leaping out of the now open space around the tube, they could fall and get hurt. Maybe make something, out of cardboard or ? to block the open door space and only give them the choice of going into the tube to travel across.
|
|
laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
|
Post by laiyah on Jan 4, 2023 23:25:24 GMT
So, I did check for the tube. Basically, when I don't put it right against the "wall", it's not stable enough so the degus won't go on top. For the leaping, my degus are very careful and won't be jumping at this kind of height. They have fallen at the beginnings before (they used to climb thanks to the bars and then let go if I happened to come in), for the simple reason that they were scared of me back then. They are basically trained not to jump from any height that is above 50 cm. As for the cardboard blocking part, I went to get the wood to link the enclosure to the cage at the same time I got the water bottle. So I think I'll take out the tube, it kinda worked on a very temporary basis and it'll be done after the four days away with the degus. (My boyfriend's grandma got into health trouble recently so we're going with the degus to see her) It kinda gave us a reason to clean and treat the rust on the ferret nation (which we decided to use as vacation cage). I got the wooden planks and covered them with adhesive tiles to protect it so the degus won't be touching mesh directly. (I'll show you guys the picture once we put it together. It'll be basically the setup for vacations and it'll be one level or two levels depending on space and time. This time it'll be the entire thing since I might not have the time to give them free range time.) I'm considering keeping the tube for extra access since I think the degus love it. But do not fear, if I do plan to keep it, I will block the open space. I really just need to cut the small plank to fit the door at bottom of the cage and they will have direct access to the enclosure when I open the door. I think my biggest issue for the degus isn't space, now... Since they got the double cage, the enclosure and, well, I guess the bird cage ? (I only used it to give them access but I feel like it's not really a problem to have it there.) My biggest issue is I really don't know what to put in there to make sure they can enjoy themselves. I'm worried to go full litter for the whole allergy issue, but I feel like it's necessary if I want to give them forage ? The whole access to the enclosure helped dealing with their need for exploration since they get a lot of time in there. (About... 8 hours a day ?) But I would love to turn exploration into adventure
Also, small note.
We will be taking a 2 hour ride, I know the degus won't suffer from not having a water bottle during, but how do you guys give water ?
My rescue recommended me a cage for transport I bought, but the bar spacing is too small for the water bottle to go in... (And don't worry, I cover the mesh bottom with cardboard, I took out the undersized accessories and I put a Trixie terracotta flat tube so they have a hiding place. I add hay and sprinkle a bit of their food in there just in case they're hungry) Since I don't know how long they were going without water this time, I don't want them to go thirsty on the go either.
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Jan 5, 2023 7:41:35 GMT
OH MY GOODNESS! That looks too small for mice! That isn't the cage they would stay in for the duration of your visit is it?
|
|
laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
|
Post by laiyah on Jan 5, 2023 10:45:50 GMT
No no no ! I'm not giving them a double cage to make them stay four days in that ! It's for the two hours car ride. It's mostly used for vet trip and car rides for its easy to carry size. I usually put that on my knees and keep an eye on them during the ride. Once we're in his aunt's house, we'll set up the ferret nation (the savic royale suite equivalent. It looks like this www.ferretnation.org/ferret-nation-182-double-level-cage/ ). I was just wondering if there was a good way to provide water during those two hours...
|
|
|
Post by deguconvert on Jan 6, 2023 5:37:37 GMT
WHEW! That is good news about the travel cage! I was pretty sure that you had said you have a larger cage for them to stay in . . . but figured it didn't hurt to ask you.
Well . . . when we traveled with our degus, I put a water bottle up that I had tightly secured so it wouldn't fall or anything. I put it up high enough that I could put a dish with a sponge in it to catch any water that dripped, and covered that with wire mesh so they couldn't reach the sponge and pull it apart. I did this to keep the cage dry.
BUT bar spacing doesn't permit in your cage. You could have a drinking water bottle, like you would have for yourself, and a syringe for giving meds that you could fill with water from the bottle and offer water to them from that. If you very slowly push out drops of water so that they can lick the drops up, that would work. So long as they catch onto the idea and are willing to drink. They are pretty smart, so I expect it won't take long for them to realize what is happening.
|
|
laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
|
Post by laiyah on Jan 6, 2023 11:40:25 GMT
For reference, they're currently staying in this :
It's a bit empty since my bf and I have a 4 seater car (smaller) and this cage took quite a lot of space. I literally forgot to take bowls (for the hay and the food) and extra stairs, but I have checked, they can get to every spot in the cage. I guess they'll have to get forage from the floor for a few days. (They get pellets and dried flowers/leaves/herbs) They have two wheels (one plastic, one metal), the sand bath, two hammocks, one wooden house and two bridges/tube (one terracotta, one wood + one between the two layers). I would love advice on what is the "must have" when I have to go somewhere.
The mesh layers have been covered with fibreboards cut to size with adhesive floor tiles. A hole has been cut on the top layer and I have managed to put a curved tube there so they can go up and down. (They seem to like it) The back is covered in plexi (thank you previous owners !) and when I got the fiberboards cut, it had enough extra to give me four sides. I will have to find time to make a poop guard out of it (maybe turn the floor into a tray later) with something on the front. Will have to see later.
We may trade the double cage to the ferret nation at home because it was quite tedious to assemble it on the go. We will have to check again how it goes to decide. I feel a bit bad if I have to change a double for the ferret (it is about 1.2 times bigger than the single but smaller than the double cage), but I need to have a vacation cage that is easy to transport and assemble.
This is the first time they come with us during a vacation (they usually stay at home or go to an animal pension), but I think they might be better when they're with me. They seem to be calmer faster.
|
|
laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
|
Post by laiyah on Jan 17, 2023 9:49:49 GMT
So, return to the daily life of home. The degus have returned to the double cage. I have bought a secondhand Skyline Kerry to serve as the forage area for now as a test. I figured that if it didn't go well, I could resell it or use it as a giant sand bath. For now, the degus have enjoyed digging (or should I call it SPRAYING LITTER AROUND. lol) and moving the food they find back to the cage. I still need to get more toys, but for now, they seem to find the exploration space enough as they haven't destroyed much wooden items so far. (That's how one of them express her frustration) I was curious as to how much litter for foraging is enough and how and how often do I have to clean it ?
Edit : Side note, I couldn't use cardboard to hold the tubes properly, so I used plastic book cover It's slightly more flexible, but it will be enough to stop degus from going ON the big tube.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Jan 17, 2023 16:47:47 GMT
I think as long as they have food, nest/shelter, hiding place, wheel, what else you put in a travel cage is personal preference. I do think hiding places are important when degus are in a new location. I would probably take cardboard boxes since they are light and disposable, but my goos always liked boxes. I don't think there is a good way to provide water, I would put a bottle in if possible and something to soak up the leaking. If it's not too hot they should be ok for 2 hours without water. I hope the trip went well.
When you say foraging in litter, what type of food do you mean and what type of litter?
|
|
laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
|
Post by laiyah on Jan 18, 2023 23:54:38 GMT
For the litter, it's hemp. I don't have specific forage goods, so I just put what I usually give them : pellets, dried herbs, dried flowers and dried leaves. I usually hide two sunflower seeds to keep them interested in digging.
Somehow, I think only one digs very deep. The other only does it out of necessity.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Jan 19, 2023 11:31:51 GMT
If you are feeding pellets and herbs/flowers/leaves (forage) elsewhere in an easily accessible way, then I think you can mix any food in the litter for fun in any way that works for you, and clean it in any way that seems sensible. If they aren't equally interested in digging then I would definitely feed pellets and forage in an easy way that encourages them to eat it, forage in particular is too important and expensive to increase the wastage, in my opinion.
|
|
laiyah
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 181
|
Post by laiyah on Feb 24, 2023 8:20:30 GMT
So, that's going to sound weird but...
I bought the terrarium second hand and the person gave me all his pet accessories (tbh, not much). I was just wondering if you guys had any good ways to clean them ?
I was planning to reuse his water bottle to put more around the cage. I put them in water with bleach but I noticed some weird residue i managed to take off with a cotton swab. I'm not sure if it was plaque.
Any good tip ?
|
|
|
Post by savvy on Feb 24, 2023 11:27:54 GMT
If the water bottle is glass, try boiling it in plain water for a few minutes, or putting it in a warm oven for about 10 minutes after you have thoroughly washed it. This will sterilise it.
Steam cleaning of any wood or plastic items will also give them a good clean.
|
|
|
Post by moletteuk on Feb 24, 2023 13:09:27 GMT
Maybe it's limescale? Could you soak the affected area in vinegar or limescale remover, without the vinegar soaking any plastic fittings that might absorb the taste.
I use Bruclens or F10 SC to sterilise things, the Bruclens is a steriliser for brewing equipment that isn't supposed to leave any residue or taste.
|
|