In the wild they will naturally climb onto the branches of shrubs and small trees
. Space to be active. Their housing should be large enough for them to carry out all their natural behaviours including running, jumping, climbing, chewing, dustbathing, digging and nesting as well as eating, drinking and toileting.
Can degus chew wood?
Degus are rodents that need to chew on things regularly to keep their teeth trimmed and healthy. Wood is a popular and natural choice for degu owners, but
not all types of wood are safe
.
Do degus need a wheel?
Degus love running in an exercise wheel and can run a few miles in it. It's probably the best way to prevent obesity in degus.
Exercise wheels are a must-have accessory for your degus
and they will need to have access to it each day.
What toys can degus have?
- Kaytee Perfect Chews for Guinea Pigs*
- Kaytee Nut Knot Knibbler Toy For Small Animals*
- Sharllen Apple Sticks Pet Chew Toys*
- Niteangel Natural Chew Sticks for Chinchilla, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Rabbits, Parrots and Other Small Animals*
- Kaytee Chew Treat Toy Assortment*
- Ware Manufacturing Rice Pops*
What can I put in a degu cage?
Cage Material
Metal and glass cages are suitable for degus
although glass cages can overheat fast so you'll need to provide good ventilation in that case and check the temperature regularly. Plastic cages are not suitable for degus. They will chew through plastic and can get sick doing so.
What's the difference between a degu and a gerbil?
Size: The main difference between the two lies in their size. This is the first demarcation that you would get to see based on their appearance.
Gerbils are smaller than Degus and require less space to live
. Degus can be expected to grow up to three times the size of a Gerbil.
Can degus be potty trained?
Yes it is possible to litter train degus
, you will find that most degus prefer to urinate and defecate in particular places anyway. You will find it's especially easy to train your one male to do anything (it's an attention seeking thing!).
Are degus like rats?
Very similar to rats
. With a body the size of a rat's and a tail the length of a gerbil's, degus (also called brush-tailed rats) look kind of like oversized gerbils. Intelligent like their rat cousins, degus are very social and full of personality.
How much does a degu cost?
On average you can expect the price of a degu to range from
$30 to $300
with most degus to cost around $40. The price will depend on a lot of factors like the age, the region and the season.
What wood is safe for dogs to chew?
A safe and long lasting alternative to chewing real wood sticks,
Dogwood by Petstages
has all the taste and texture of a natural tree branch, but will last much longer and won't splinter and make a mess as your pup chews.
How do you play with a degu?
How do you entertain a degu?
ROPE TOYS
– Any cotton or sisal rope toys with kiln dried pine beads or other objects are great entertainment for degus. Make sure the colours used to stain the wood are natural dyes. JINGLE BALL TOYS- All degus enjoy rolling jingle ball toys around their home and play area.
What size wheel does a degu need?
Degus need a solid-surface exercise wheel (
12 inches in diameter
).
What cage is best for a degu?
The best cage for degus is
made with metal with bars no more than two centimeters apart
. Degus' teeth are growing continuously. Therefore, it is crucial to source a habitat made of wire, as they can chew their way out of wood and plastic.
How do you make a degu cage?
Do degu make good pets?
Degus are very intelligent and highly sociable animals that love to play and explore. They have a friendly nature and are outgoing little rodents.
They make fantastic pets, but need a lot of care and aren't an animal you should choose on a whim.
What is the best rodent pet?
- Syrian Hamster.
- Dwarf Hamster.
- Chinese Hamster.
- Mongolian Gerbil.
- Fancy Mouse.
- Common Rat.
- Guinea Pig.
- Chinchilla.
How long does a degu live for?
6 – 8 years
Is a degu a chinchilla?
Degus are related to chinchillas and guinea pigs
– and they all come from South America. Unlike most other pocket pets, degus are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day.
Can degus eat cactus?
Degus are in fact significant agricultural pests in some areas.
They take advantage of cultivated prickly pear cactus
, wheat, vineyards, and orchards as abundant food sources, and can do considerable damage.
What nuts can degus eat?
NUTS AND SEEDS- Degus particularly enjoy
sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, as well as natural (unsalted) peanuts and whole hazel or brazil nuts (in the shell)
.
What temperature do degus live in?
They prefer living at temperatures from about
65-75°F
, as they cannot sweat and become overheated at temperatures close to 80°F. Finally, degus do need time every day out of their cages to run around and get exercise.
What are better pets mice or hamsters?
If you are looking for a hands-on pet that you want to be able to handle,
a hamster is an ideal choice
, as they are easy to train and happier to be handled. Mice are a great option if you want a pet with a unique personality that you can happily observe for hours on end.
Can degus and rats live together?
No dog meeting a pet rat for the first time can be considered totally ”safe,”
and rats are also capable of doing serious damage if they feel threatened. Added to that, in this case, I had good reason to assume both my dogs would be likely to consider rats as food, not friends.
What's the difference between a degu and a chinchilla?
Visual Differences
Chinchillas have slightly longer bodies and fluffier tails than degus
. Also, chinchillas have rounder eyes, while degus have eyes that are shaped more like almonds. Some people liken the chinchilla to guinea pigs and the degu to hamsters.
