Do degus like to be held? Degus do like to socialize with their owners. However,
degus do not like to be held or cuddled
. Allow your degu to come to you, and limit the amount of time you spend holding it.
Do degus like to cuddle?
Degus require a lot of attention and also get depressed easily if they're left alone. They are smarter than some other rodents and love to live in a clean and neat place, that's why it is very common to see degus rearrange their home.
They also love cuddling and will cuddle with you once they start to know you.
Can you hold a degu?
Once your degu is happy being held and is settled in your company it is possible to carefully pick them up by putting your thumb behind their front legs and your fingers over their back. Lift gently and support the hind legs with your other hand.
How do you bond with a degu?
How do you tell if your degu likes you?
Nibble On You
If your degu starts to nibble on you, don't worry — he's not being aggressive or worse, trying to eat you! His way of showing affection is by
gently nibbling on your skin
.
What does it mean when a degu squeaks?
Why does he do this? Degus will give an alarm vocalisation, known as the ‘wheep' (a loud squeak)
if they think a predator/threat is approaching to alert other degus
(and you). If your degu feels insecure, he may run to a place that is covered where he feels more secure until the threat has passed.
How do you train a degu?
Let them jump on your hand, pick them up (be sure to keep your hands flat and open), let them walk around your arms for a while and then put them down, then reward them straight away
. After a few weeks training, your degus will love being picked up.
Do degus get lonely?
Degus do not thrive alone
, they should never be kept alone.
Can you toilet train a degu?
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!).
How much does a degu cost?
Purchasing Your Degu
Breeders and pet stores usually have domestic-bred degus for sale. They cost
$25 to $100
.
What can you do with a lone degu?
Move the cage ‘furniture' around to distract any remaining degu(s)
. Clean the cage thoroughly, including toys (replace if necessary)- this will help remove the scent of the departed degu and is reported to improve the mood of any remaining degu(s). Spend more time with any remaining degu(s).
Can you teach degus tricks?
Training takes time, and remember that all degus learn at different rates. One last point to make is that although young degus are easier to train and pick things up much faster, older degus can be trained too (
you CAN teach an old degu new tricks
!!).
Can degu eat lettuce?
Overfeeding of fresh greens, in particular lettuce, cabbage and peas, can cause bloating55, but
most vegetable types are safe for degus to eat
(a list of degu-safe veg can be found in the guide via the button above).
Why is my degu squeaking at night?
The main reasons why degus keep squeaking are because they're trying to warn their cage mates, they're being territorial, they're trying to be friendly, they are squeaking while asleep, and they'll do it even after mating with each other.
What music do degus like?
The degus prefer
South American folk instrumental music
to Western music. They did not show selective preference for either Western music style, but showed preference for Chilean music over Peruvian.
Do degus purr?
A vocalisation, or sound, is the sound made by a degu to communicate with other degus and their owner.
Much like a cat when they purr to show contentment
, a degu's vocalisations can be very useful to help owners understand how their degu feels. More vocalisations will be added in future.
How do I stop my degu from chewing his cage?
If they don't have enough toys then you can try adding in more, but not all at once though, try putting the new toys in their cage slowly over time.
Giving your degu a bigger cage can also help them stop chewing so much
.
Are degus smelly pets?
Degu urine is smellier than guinea pig pee
but isn't quite as strong as rat pee. Fresh degu pee doesn't smell right away.
How often do degus need a dust bath?
Do degus 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 do baby degus eat?
- Hay: The majority of a degu's diet should consist of good quality hay, such as Timothy Hay or Meadow Hay. …
- Guinea pig or degu specific food: You can give these to your degu, as they contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals suitable for your pet.
Degu factfile
Degus are sociable
– in the wild, they make communal burrows and live together in groups. Degus are active – they spend lots of time digging and chewing.
Are degus nocturnal?
Degus are
diurnal
(most active during the day) and can live for 6 to 8 years.
How long do degus live for?
5 – 9 years
How often do degus poop?
Degus poop very often and on average, a degu can poop
every 10 to 20 minutes
. Degus poop so much because of how much they eat, along with their fast metabolism, and because they're marking their territory.
Do degus need bedding?
Always ensure your degu has fresh water and hay. Degus being the social animals they are will usually snuggle and sleep together in the bed/nest area of the cage. Always make sure you have a dedicated bed area for your cosy degus.
Bedding can just be shredded pet safe paper or long soft strips of soft paper/ tissue
.
Can degus live in tanks?
Degus should never be kept in glass tanks
. This can lead to breathing problems and can get too hot.
How big does a degu get?
9.8 – 12 in.
Can degus eat rat food?
Are degu like rats?
Do degus hibernate?
They do not hibernate
and are active throughout the year, storing food in their burrows for winter. Degu colonies consist of extended family groups.
How do you keep a degu?
Degus require a large amount of space and
should be kept in a big multi-level cage similar to those made for ferrets or chinchillas
. The cage should have a solid floor. Provide a sufficient amount of bedding that will allow for digging and stockpiling of food.
Can degus drink from a bowl?
So, can degus drink their water from a water bowl? If you decide that you want to use water bowls in your degu's cage for them to drink out of instead of water bottles then
that's absolutely fine
. Putting a water bowl in their cage is safe to do as long as you're using the right ones.
Can degus eat peanut butter?
For treats, most degus relish seeds (e.g. sunflower seeds), peanuts, and whole nuts in the shell. However,
these should only be an occasional treat, due to the high fat content
.
Should I get a male or female degu?
Conclusion. So to wrap up
if male or female degus are better it ultimately comes down to their individual personalities
. Because both of them can become aggressive at different times depending on the situation. But they can also show the same amount of affection towards each other and their owners as well.
