Seriously Cute Photo Of Our Degus

[xxBarneyxx]

These are our 4 girls. We have had them for about 3 months now and they are around 9 months old. We where going to get rats but then we saw Degus for sell in a local pets at home and my other half fell in love with them. A few weeks later we found someone that was trying to rehome these 4 so we had to take them

They are some of the funniest critters I have ever kept.

 

[JustKia]

I simply LOVE Degus! I had a breeding pair when I was around 13-14.
I adopted them from a friend who could no longer keep them, he'd had them about 2 years by then and they'd never bred - 6 weeks I had them before I got the first litter from them LOL
I would let them out of their cage in the evenings for a run about and the female actually bought the babies out of her nest and put them in my lap (I was sat on the floor) and then, after she'd had her run around, she came and took them back from me to the nest.
That had to be one of the most precious moments ever.

Such awesome creatures. Really intelligent - you can (with patience) get them to work for treats =)
Just keep an eye on their teeth. Mikey's bottom teeth started to curve outwards (left and right) and so didn't wear down properly and I had to have the vet trim them every couple of months - they grow super fast. An apple branch is great for them to wear their teeth down naturally.

These guys will also "look after their own". As Mikey couldn't nibble properly with his teeth, Missy used to nibble up food and then pass it to him!

Oh and watch out for:
Tail biting - if these guys get bored they do self mutilate, unfortunately.
Escapism - check their home regular for holes - these guys chew on everything.
My dad made me a "rodent hotel" and they managed to chew through the back panel, into the skirting boards (not impressed parents!)

But you'll have loads of fun with them, their so interactive - Ohh you're making me want some again now (feeling all nostalgic).

 

[Loops]

Awww they are soooo cute!

Are they easy to keep?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah Kia, they are very intelligent and extremely nosey (they like to investigate EVERYTHING). We let them out in the dining room (which is the only room we can make "degu safe" ).

In terms of care they are fairly easy to look after but there are some special conditions that have to be met:

1. 1) They are a very social animal, they can not be kept alone and ideally you want 3 or 4.
2. 2) They are very intelligent and get easily board. As such they need a large cage with lots of things to explore and chew on. Our cage is about 5ftx3ftx2ft and I personally wouldn't want to put 4 Degus in anything smaller.
3. 3) Carrying on from 2 they need to regularly (ideally daily) be let out of their cage for at least half an hour and they need regular dust baths (min every other day imo).
4. 4) They are avid chewers, they can chew through pretty much anything except solid metal. We buy "lava ledges" for our cage which are meant as platforms they can jump on to help where down their claws. However our degus seem to love the taste of them and can completely destroy one in about a month (these things are made of a porous stone and arent small!).
5. 5) Very important is diet. They can NOT process any sugars. Giving them any sugary foods will give them diabetes.
6. 6) They also must have a low fat diet. In the wild they forage mainly for dried grasses and seeds. We feed them a mix of special degu pellets (much better then the "mixed food as they cant just pick out the bits they like" and timothy hay, they always have a large supply of this on hand to help wear down their teeth and supplement their diet. We use branflakes as treat foods and VERY occasionally monkey nuts which we hide around their cage.
7. 7) You also have to be careful about what wood you use with them as some is very toxic. We have just picked up a load of apple branches which is perfect for them and we put some in the cage as it is and then make small toys out of the rest.
8. 8) There is more you need to know so if you are interested definitely do your research first (same as keeping any animal). I would say though dont get them if you want a cuddly, sit in your lap, pet. Ours will come and be stroked for about 30 seconds but would rather be of exploring.

This is our girls home (phone pics so not great quality). This was in the middle of a revamp so most of their toys where not back in the cage yet.
Side:

Front:

 

[JustKia]

That's a great home, sounds like you really know how to give these creatures the best too - well done

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Thanks I always think that if you are going to keep an animal you are obliged to do you best to give them the highest possible quality of life you can.

Just noticed you can see the back of the computer chair there. The rip in the side is where the chair got to close to the cage

 

[Inchworm]

Hi xxBarneyxx

They are absolutely adorable! I'll nominate that first picture for October's POTM contest. I hope you can find a second.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Hi xxBarneyxx

They are absolutely adorable! I'll nominate that first picture for October's POTM contest. I hope you can find a second.

I fully agree... & looks like you did a lot of research on 'em.... and on second thoughts, I think this deserves to be seconded.... I second and third for October POTM....

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Thanks for the nominations

 

[chesterscot]

you get my vote to cute as............
regards scot

 

[razer121]

do we still do POTM? on the 1st post that is a win for it!

ive never been into them but they are real cute!