what are grown up degus like?

[wazioc]

Since mine are only 14 weeks old right now, and I've never even seen a degu other than mine, I was wondering how high I should set my hopes. What are they like when they grow up?

Are you able to let them roam around the room freely as long as theres no electrical wires to chew on or anything too important within degu reach?

Do they ever calm down and just sit on your lap or shoulder or just want a nice back scratch?

how big do they actually get? I read in a book 9-11 inches from nose to rump (not including tail) but they never look that big in pictures.

has anyone ever gotten them tame enough to wear a ferret harness or something similar to take them around to different places?

I just have such high hopes for the little boogers that I dont want to be too terribly let down when I realize they are going to just be crazy little cage critters forever.

[hikori]

I think it really depends on the degu. Like people, they have their own personalities. I got two of my girls at 6 weeks (to be friends with my older female), and they are starting to look much more like adult degus now (they are 7 months). But they all have very unique personalities, and unique faces. Abby (my senior goo) and Emma are much more quiet and affectionate; they'll sit in my hand, or if I let them down on my lap they won't go very far. Abby adores having her armpits scratched and Emma likes her ears scratched. Emma's sister Gerty, on the other hand, is a little rocket! I would never trust her loose anywhere unless it was a smaller space and I was 100% positive there were no little nooks she could hide in -- she's so fast and loves to run! Gerty is hand tame but gets so excited about everything and just won't sit still.

I think the main thing is to try and get them as used to you and being held as possible. That way you will have degus who will gladly come out of their cage and see you once they are older I found with my young ones it didn't take very long for them to be comfortable being touched and held by me (especially once they realized I was the source of tasty treats! ;D).

[ra]

I'd say the measurement of 9 - 11" INCLUDES the tail. Mine are about 5" long in body length PLUS another 3 - 4" of tail.

I've let mine loose in the bath room to play. Mocha likes to hide behind the toilet. Eventually they both venture over and crawl up onto my lap, over my body up my shoulder and sit on my head! They do like to be in high places so they can survey their kingdom.

I only wish I had a Degu proofed room where they could roam cage free. Ah well.

Mine are 2 and 2 1/2 yrs old mother and daughter. They get along very well. They are alert and interested in their surroundings. I have noticed they enjoy classical music. They do their darndest to get my attention in the mornings when I'm trying to sit quietly and meditate. They chirp and whistle, run in their wheel, dump the food dish. When I finally do go in to see them they chatter and run to their cage door waiting for a treat and a scratch.

They really aren't much for sitting still long, but will sit for a few sunflower seeds in my hand.

I enjoy my Degu Girls immensely.

[wazioc]

wow, I would think they would get bigger. I just stuck a ruler next to mine and they are about 4.5 inches nose to rump when they are puffed up just sitting there, but if there is a treat above them, they can stretch to about 6, and they are only 14 weeks old. How long does it take them to get full grown?

As for the behavior, we can definately tell a difference. They were hard to tell appart at first and we kept getting them confused, but now, Peanut is way more people friendly and will do just about anything for a treat, and Loki is crazy for exploring. Any hole she thinks she can fit in, or anything she thinks she can climb, she'll try it. And if she's in the middle of exploring, she's nearly impossible to catch because she's so fast.

Thanks for the help so far, this forum is great

[kioshiandtomeo]

At about a year old they are full grown. sometimes a bit over a year, from what i've heard and my observations with Tori in his late stage of finishing growing.