Animalscaretips
- Can degus be kept outside?
- What temperature is best for degus?
- Do degus like the sun?
- Can degus survive in the wild?
- Can degus get wet?
- Can you litter box train a degu?
- What can I use for degu bedding?
- Can degu climb?
- Where do degus live?
- How do you house a degu?
- Do degus need to burrow?
- What's the difference between a degu and a chinchilla?
- How old is the oldest degu?
- What kind of animal is a degu?
Can degus be kept outside?
They are known for being good escape artists so regularly check their enclosure for signs of attempted break-outs! Temperature is vital to degus and they should never be kept at temperatures above 20°C.
What temperature is best for degus?
Degus should be kept at room temperature (68°F) and away from drafts and direct sunlight, because they can overheat. Degus should be fed a combination of guinea pig pellets, chinchilla pellets, and rodent chow. Timothy hay should always be available in their cage.
Do degus like the sun?
Degus absolutely love being in the sun, and what you're most likely seeing is your degus sunbathing. It's perfectly fine for them to be in the sun as long as they have a place in the shade to cool off if they get too hot. Sunbathing is a natural behavior that both domesticated and wild degus do every so often.
Can degus survive in the wild?
In general, degus in captivity will live between 5 and 9 years. There are several factors that will influence the lifespan, such as genetics, care, and diet. In the wild, degus will live between 1 and 4 years.
Can degus get wet?
Degus have a limited ability to swim to safety in small bodies of water. However, degus should never be placed in water. Degus don't like taking a swim or a water bath and giving one can lead to health issues or drowning. So degus don't really like water and can even drown when you let them swim.
Can you litter box 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!).
What can I use for degu 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 degu climb?
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.
Where do degus live?
Degus are native to northern and central Chile and can be found living at high elevations (1,200m) in the Andes mountain range. They're also diurnal animals which means they're active during the day and sleep at night.
How do you house a degu?
You can make a hiding place using a cardboard box or a large cardboard tube. You can simply place a box or tube in the cage for your degu to hide in. You can also buy hiding boxes and toy caves at a local pet store. Make sure, however, all the materials used are safe for animals the size of degus.
Do degus need to burrow?
In the wild, degus spend part of their day above ground foraging for food. But they also need a place to flee to evade predators and to keep cool on hot days, so they dig tunnels and create burrows. ... They are diurnal, so expect to see your degu most active in the late evening and early morning hours.
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.
How old is the oldest degu?
Longest living degu
One scientific article referenced an 11 year old degu, but that's all we could find in terms of verified long degu lifespans. However, degus are generally one of the longest lived rodent species.
What kind of animal is a degu?
degu, (genus Octodon), one of four species of ratlike South American rodents found primarily on the lower western slopes of the Andes Mountains. It is one of the most common mammals of central Chile at elevations up to 1,200 metres (3,900 feet), where it prefers open grassy areas near shrubs, rocks, and stone walls.
