I really want a Degu (two of them) I think they are perfect pets for me, but i am having trouble finding info about them .. I need to know,
how to take care of them
where to but them (I live 20 minutes from Toledo, OH)
How much they cost
What is the best cage
Thanks so much!!
Why do people always say "____ is the perfect pet for me, now how do I take care of them? "?
Shouldn't have you found that out while doing research on them?
The bigger the cage the better, they are VERY active animals, and you will need a couple good running wheels (mine burned through one at least every 3-4 months).
Caring for a Degu is very similar to caring for a chinchilla or Guinea pig. You can feed them chinchilla diet, but it is very important to remember to always offer them ruffage such as timothy hay or alfalfa as it helps with their digestive tracts and offers them a healthy source of fiber. Offering them veggies and fruits from time to time is also a good idea but you MUST be careful when it comes to treats with sugars. Degus are very prone to diabetes. An easy way of checking up on your degu to be sure their diet doesn't contain too much free sugars is to check their teeth. Degu teeth are suppose to remain yellow ... If they start turning white, they are getting too much sugar!
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Another thing to remember about Degu teeth is they NEVER stop growing. Like many other rodents, Degus must keep chewing in order to wear their teeth down so it is very important not to house them in cages that have plastic bottoms or ramps/levels or they will destroy them. So it is best to keep them in a cage with metal bars and surfaces. I would consider the critter nation cage by Ferret Nation. It is also a good idea to give your degus items that they are allowed to chew up, such as commercial chew blocks, edible igloos or hide aways and even apple tree twig and branches.
Due to a high metabolism, Degus are always on the move so it is important to include an exsersive wheel into their enviorment. I would advice a metal barred wheel for again, the chewing, but be careful when it comes to the spacing of the wheel's bars. If they are too wide, the degu can get it's tail caught in the bars and possibly break it so just remember, the smaller the bars, the better. It is also a good idea to get more then one. Degus are very social creatures and need the companionship of one another. Just remember to get two of the same sex and that they are if not roughly the same so no one gets dominated over too much.
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Degus are pretty tricky to find. You just have to know where to look. We got ours off of craigslist from a professional breeder. They costed us 15 dollars for a pair. You can also find them at flea markets but I'd take the time to look for a breeder before you try that ... you never know what your getting at a flea market.
I hope this has helped you! Good luck!
