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Post by marumba7 on Feb 18, 2006 23:04:47 GMT
I know mice love it, but I'm not sure about degus:
What about filling an aquarium with dirt and growing grass for the degus to live in? Mice will dig holes and burrows and generally love it, yet I've been unable to find any evidence that degus might enjoy a similar environment.
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Post by ra on Feb 21, 2006 16:35:41 GMT
It's a great idea and I'm sure they would love it but:
I thought about building a sand pit for mine to play in but how would you keep it clean? With a sand pit, I'd have to empty the pit once the sand got too wet from urine. I leave a large Chinchilla bath house in their cage with Chinchilla sand for a Degu Bath. (It's plastic an yes they do chew on it. I will eventually have to replace it.) Any way, they do use the bath house as a bathroom after awhile since I leave it in their cage. I replace that sand weekly. I have taken the time to sift the poo out but it's easier and probably healthier to change the sand completely.
How would you keep the dirt/ grass clean in an aquarium? After awhile, you would have to replace the entire set up. In their natural environment, they burrow separate tunnels for sleeping areas and bathroom areas. The out of doors is large enough to dig a new tunnel once one becomes too soiled. I don't think you'd have enough room in an aquarium.
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Post by marumba7 on Feb 23, 2006 5:19:49 GMT
Cleaning the dirt would be the biggest issue. Still, it would be such a great treat for the degus.
My solution: The five of them live with me at university. I think I'll have my mom set up an at-home aquarium. That way during spring break they can enjoy the small taste of the wild without enduring too much of their own natural waste.
What do you think? A week shouldn't be too bad.
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Post by ra on Feb 23, 2006 21:23:57 GMT
No, I would think a week would be fine and they would love it.
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Post by marumba7 on Feb 24, 2006 5:37:07 GMT
I called home today. My folks have an empty 55 gallon aquarium unused in the garage. Not to convince my step father to allow dirt in his fish tank.
Could you imagine though?! 55 gallons, 1/3 of it being dirt and grass for the babies to live in for a week of Spring Vaction. I'm giddy at the thought!
Thanks for your imput.
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Post by flibble on Feb 26, 2006 15:23:15 GMT
Hey.
I bet the degus would love that. When I was at college studying animal care they used to keep gerbils in tanks full of peat, they really liked that and you didn't have to clean it out very often either something to do with it being peat i guess, breaks the waste down or something!
Naomi ;D
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