Anyone got a Degu?

sallyrsm

Right I fancied getting a couple of Guinea Pigs for the DS ( and me if truth be known) and I went to Pets at Home and they've got Degus... looks like a cross between a chinchilla, a GP, and a Rat... Ad in the shop says they are friendly and inquisitive pets for older children but I've googled them and one site said they are brill but can chew through anything even the plastic base of a Guinea Pig cage in a night, and another site said they are prone to health problems with their feet and their metabolism (they are basically Type 1 diabetic animals) and you have to be v careful what you feed them, plus if you grab their tail by mistake they can shed it in a bloody wound which can then easily get infected... so now I don't know what to think...

Anyone got one or two or more and would give me their honest opinion?

Ta

Kelinik

If you want I can PM you the email address of a friend of mine who works for a small animal rescue. They sadly had a huge intake of Degus earlier in the year (still lots looking for homes btw) so she knows all about them. They do need all metal cages and a careful diet but other than that I don't really know very much about them, she will definitely be able to advise you though.

cazscoob

hi sallyrsm

we have kep degus before and they chew everything in sight they also breed non stop i think we started with 3/4 and ended up with around 20+ within a few weeks. they are great animals but are like hamsters in a way some are so easy to handle and others will try to take your hands off.

to be honest i would opt for the guinea pigs they are great wee animals who purr and make the cutest sounds when they are happy and being handled and have a much nicer temprament. hope this helps!!

tru

I don't know much about them (tho mr tru is desperate for some so he's researching lol) but I DO know that any decent breeder/pet shop will refuse to sell one on it's own - they're very sociable and get lonely on their own, even to the point of refusing food (I've read that but can't find a link to the info - sorry).

kr15snw

My cousin used to breed them and they are great little animals but I wouldnt reccomend them for younger children. They are very friendly, but like chinchillas (which Ive had in the past) they are very fast and skitty. Not the most cuddly animals, which I worry a smaller child may get a bit nervous around.

Know what I mean?

Plus yes they will eat anything. If your going to get one then I would get a chinchilla / ferret cage (the metal ones) so that it cant eat its way out

Lucina_2

They are lovely animals but you do need to spend time ensuring that you have a large cage that they can't chew through. They need much more space than they are given in PAH!

They need to follow a careful diet and to be honest I think they are a pet for an older child.

I have 2 guinea pigs, 2 rats, 2 gerbils, 1 hamster, 2 dogs, 1 cat & fish at home and they all are lovely.

For a younger child I would recommend guinea pigs (in pairs, they get very lonely) they move slower and will happily chat away to you. They do need a large cage, to be honest bigger than the Nero 3 at PAH - I've made my own for them and they have plenty of room for exercise, places to sleep, ramps etc... and they seem very happy.

My son is 9 and is very wary of the rats & gerbils as they are very quick and skittish.

i_need_help_3

Hi i would not recommend getting degus for a child, unlike other rodents they need special attention but to have them is so rewarding because they have so much character. I have two boys and they are lovely. If you give them the love, affection and time they can be very loving. Mine love tickles and even lift there leg up for a tickle on the chest, and sometimes even stand on the hind legs for a belly tickle. They are cute lil things but need proper feeding and regular sand baths (like chinchillas). I feed mine food called Xtravital Degu which can be specially ordered as it is rarely found in most pet shops. If you are still thinking of getting one go to http://www.myhomezone.co.uk/degus/ and then go to the degu forum. There is so much information on them and is so helpful. I feel sorry for the degus being sold at places like pets at home because owners are not told the correct information about them and end up feeding them nice lil sweet tip bits which is totally wrong as they are prone to diebeties then because of that they don't live long at all.

I know this was posted a while ago however i hope this helps if you still haven't made a decison.

Pink_Tomato

Degus are briiliant, rewarding pets as they are friendly, inquisitive and very intelligent. Their diet is easy to get the hang of, you just have to avoid any sugars and fruits, and you DO need an all metal or glass cage/tank. They are also sociable animals so you need to get at least a pair.
However I agree with others here that they are not suitable for young children as they are unlikely to put in the time to really develop a good relationship with the animal.

Anyone thinking of getting degus please consider contacting charities such as the Animal Samaritians to see if they are trying to rehome any. Alternatively there are breeders who can give very good advice to prospective owners (some people have had issues with P @ H getting the sexes wrong).

I just wanted to add that Degus are pregnant for 3 months so the person below must have bought a pregnant degu (although they are potentially capable of getting pregnant again immediately).

cazscoob wrote: »

hi sallyrsm

we have kep degus before and they chew everything in sight they also breed non stop i think we started with 3/4 and ended up with around 20+ within a few weeks. they are great animals but are like hamsters in a way some are so easy to handle and others will try to take your hands off.

Chaos_Theory_3

I have a pair of gorgeous degu girls. They are fantastic pets, but only for teens and adults I'd say. It can be very difficult to keep reminding yourself they can't have fruit or sugar and you need to be patient and build trust with them. Not all young children have the ability to do that. I had hamsters, rabbits and rats fro mthe age of 11 and was solely responsible for cleaning and feeding. I think even my young self wouldn't have had the patience to ge tto know degus.

Westywoodpecker

Our degus are great fun, but are a bit bored I think as they do chew their cage a lot. Has any one any experience of a hammock for them to use?? I've been looking for a rat one locally to no avail. They always have fresh branches to climb & chew, any other ideas

Chaos_Theory_3

A wheel is the main toy for degus. They like slumber tunnels and hammocks as well. Mine don't really play with much other than the wheel. They like cardboard tubes, kitchen roll for bedding and wooden chew toys, but nothing beats their wobust wheel!

Try this site for hammocks http://www.hammockyhammocks.co.uk/