|
|
Post by kovu07 on Jun 6, 2011 15:21:33 GMT
So for fun I just took the degutopia owners quiz and all but one of my answers indicate that I am ready to own degus. The question which I apparently didn't answer correctly is posted below. Question 4 was about cages and the options were as followed - I have a huge outdoor cage especially built - I have an old hamster cage my friend gave me - I have a large cage I built myself- I have a large cage I bought especially for degus So I clicked the 3rd option and it stated that I was 'Not quite ready... are you sure?' - ( Err yes I am sure.  ) Surely this is a little unfair as it states that it is a large cage and doesn't specify what material it is made from; I could understand if it siad it was plastic. However it seems to be saying that having a cage you built yourself isn't acceptable, what does everyone else think  |
|
|
|
Post by philbailey1806 on Jun 6, 2011 15:37:14 GMT
Oh dear! I'm presuming that degutopia is presuming that you're going to be a first time owner that hasn't done any research and as knocked together some random combination of unsafe wood and mesh, I wouldn't worry about it Kovu, if you answered everything else right and you've done your research into how to build a cage and actually built it, I'd say you're more than ready  |
|
|
|
Post by kovu07 on Jun 6, 2011 15:40:41 GMT
Thank you Phil, it just seemed odd to not to mention anything about making cages, instead of just saying 'Not quite ready... are you sure.' I'm glad you think i'm ready though, when I finally get them i'll have been researching for over 5 months  |
|
|
|
Post by philbailey1806 on Jun 6, 2011 15:51:57 GMT
Thats good going! I had done roughly the same amount of research! But I must admit I would've got them sooner if my dad would've allowed it. I'm sure you would already have them too if you could  |
|
|
|
Post by kovu07 on Jun 6, 2011 15:53:27 GMT
Nods But at least this way i've covered every possible aspect of them and their care. |
|
|
|
Post by philbailey1806 on Jun 6, 2011 15:57:51 GMT
Yep! Just double check the sex when you get them and you will be fiiine lol! I can't believe I never thought to do it! lol. I'll definately do it with every pair of animals I get in future!
|
|
|
|
Post by kovu07 on Jun 6, 2011 16:00:28 GMT
I sure will lol, not having an Edna and Ernie situation on my hands 8 pups  Nooooo |
|
|
|
Post by philbailey1806 on Jun 6, 2011 16:01:25 GMT
Ha ha! U'd love it really, I know you would |
|
|
|
Post by fred on Jun 6, 2011 16:02:38 GMT
That's interesting. Degutopia is a great resource in many respect but their views on cages beggar belief. It's almost like: small depressing metal cage – good; large wooden degu palace – bad. Just look at some of the pics which are supposed to show examples of “good cages”. Oh please |
|
|
|
Post by kovu07 on Jun 6, 2011 16:51:01 GMT
Nods I thought they would be encouraging people to build woodedn cages as they can be tailored to suit a degus needs more, and there is a much lower risk of bumblefoot. But it seems they prefer metal cages, as I can't find any information on wooden cages on their site  |
|
sam99
Burrowing Degu
Posts: 126
|
Post by sam99 on Jun 6, 2011 17:14:20 GMT
Kovu...Am I reading it right that you haven't got any goos??? If I am, I hope you manage to get some really soon as you are bursting with knowledge and they would be lucky goos!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by kovu07 on Jun 6, 2011 17:17:37 GMT
Nods I doubt many on here would guess and you probably wouldn't know it from my posts but yes i've never owned any. I'm still researching since i'm moving house in Spetemeber and feel it would be unfair to get some before then, as it's a big move and may stress them out which I don't want. Also i'm using this degu-less time to research and build them a cage |
|
|
|
Post by malteser60 on Jun 17, 2011 9:37:56 GMT
After reading a few posts from the degutopia forum it seems that the antipathy towards wooden cages is that Chloe has had degus chewing a hole through one of her book shelves, indicating that they can chew flat wooden surfaces. Personally I think that potentially the shelf had a knot in it, or something that the degus could get their teeth into.
My opinion is that wooden cages, if built well, are great way to control mess and design an awesome degu cage - tailored to the goos wishes!
|
|
|
|
Post by fred on Jun 17, 2011 21:33:49 GMT
Ahh, that could explain it Maybe its time for the big experiment, one hundred goos, fifty book shelves with knots and fifty book shelves without knots? Maybe, just maybe Chloe can be converted?  |
|
|
|
Post by blossombrooks on Jun 17, 2011 22:00:00 GMT
I know lots of people successfully build cages from wood and they do look amazing and function perfectly. I have witnessed Pepper sink her teeth into a smooth, knotless wooden shelf though. She's stripped it aprox a cm so far and has started on another shelf now. I guess it depends on the goo, she is sooo stubborn!! No wooden cages for me. :-(
|
|
|
|
Post by emz on Jun 17, 2011 22:18:56 GMT
Degutopia's information should never be taken as absolute, take it with a pinch of salt as to be honest some of it is out dated.
|
|
|
|
Post by weaselprime on Jun 26, 2011 23:49:38 GMT
6. Other pets
a) I have a house full of cats
b) I have a rabbit, two gerbils, a tortoise and five goldfish
c) I've never had any pets
d) I have two goldfish
I find this question misleading and unhelpful. Before getting my degus I had two beautiful rats, I grew up in a house with 7 dogs 13 cats hamsters a rat several fish and birds and I think the basic principles of animal care are transferrable to all pets.
Am I being naive in this assumtion?
|
|
|
|
Post by woodchip on Jun 27, 2011 7:45:12 GMT
I agree that the questionnaire isn't great. The two highlighted questions should possibly be redressed as I've currently got a Thickets cage which was purpose built yet I'm also buiding a 3x2x4 palace for them with ramps and ledges yet this wouldn't be suitable. I'm going from 6000cm2 of running area to about 21000cm2 of running area.
As for the second question, I fall into catergory E. I've owned fancy rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, gerbis and tropical fish (until the heater malfunctioned, overheated, exploded and fried/boiled the lot). When I got the goos I owned no pets at all, so didn't actually fit one of degutopias catergories.
Yes, there is some strange information on degutopia, but I think Chloe prefers to air on the side of caution (which. Is understandable).
|
|
|
|
Post by emz on Jun 27, 2011 15:15:10 GMT
6. Other pets a) I have a house full of cats b) I have a rabbit, two gerbils, a tortoise and five goldfish c) I've never had any pets d) I have two goldfish I find this question misleading and unhelpful. Before getting my degus I had two beautiful rats, I grew up in a house with 7 dogs 13 cats hamsters a rat several fish and birds and I think the basic principles of animal care are transferrable to all pets.Am I being naive in this assumtion? It isn't asking you that to see if you know about basic animal care I believe it is asking you to see if you have animals that may disrupt the degus. I dislike the question also though. I have multiple rooms for a reason! |
|
|
|
Post by amie on Jun 27, 2011 18:03:37 GMT
Yeah. I have five cats and have a seperate room for the degus for that purpose! LOL.
.
|
|
)
Nooooo 
