Animalscaretips
By far the easiest way to introduce companions to a single degu is by introducing newly weaned degu pups, no older than 8 weeks old. The reason why this is the case is related to the communal nesting habits of degus in the wild.
- How do you pair a Degu?
- Can degus be kept together?
- At what age are degus fully grown?
- What to do if degu dies?
- Can you keep two female degus together?
- Can degus and rabbits live together?
- Why do degus sleep on top of each other?
- How often should you clean a Degu cage?
- Do degus need hay?
- How many babies can degus have?
- Is it legal to own a degu?
- How do you get a degu to trust you?
- Are degus good pets?
- Are degus social?
- How long can degus be left alone?
How do you pair a Degu?
Keep both degus in a separate cage near each other or keep them in a cage with a divider halfway. Your degus should be able to see and smell each other. Also keep food, water, toys and exercise wheels in both cages so they won't fight over this.
Can degus be kept together?
Degus are very sociable and in the wild they live in colonies of up to 100 animals! They are best kept in single-sex pairs or groups of up to 6 as they love to play together and snuggle up to one another, and can become very depressed if kept on their own.
At what age are degus fully grown?
Degus are usually fully adult at around 53-55 weeks old22 and at this age are generally fully reproductively competent. The average age of first conception in wild degus is 6 months51 , 52, but this can vary between 45 days to 20 months52!
What to do if degu dies?
If you need to, visit the place your degu was buried. Send Degutopia a picture of your degu in happier times for the memorial page. Make sure any remaining degu(s) are coping with the absence and not showing signs of depression. Move the cage 'furniture' around to distract any remaining degu(s).
Can you keep two female degus together?
Degus are very social animals who love the companionship of other degus. In the wild, they live in communal groups, working together to protect their territory from other communities. ... Ideally, degus should be housed in same-sex pairs, or a castrated male can live with one or more females.
Can degus and rabbits live together?
Finally, degus should never be housed with other rodent species — such as hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, or guinea pigs — or with other small mammals, such as rabbits, as these animals carry diseases that they can transmit to degus and vice versa. Plus, they may end up fighting over territory or other resources.
Why do degus sleep on top of each other?
Unlike some rodents, like the guinea pig, degus will usually snuggle up with other degus to sleep. They do close their eyes to sleep but will still be alert for potential danger. Since they have short sleep cycles they will be awake in no time.
How often should you clean a Degu cage?
Cleaning the entire cage is usually needed once a month. A lot will depend on the size of the degu cage and the number of degus you keep. For a pair of degus, you can usually only spot clean daily and clean a part of the substrate (1/4) each week. Once a month the entire cage should be thoroughly cleaned.
Do degus need hay?
Degus should have constant access to good quality hay. Hay is much more important than commercial degu nuggets and should constitute the majority of the degus diet. A small measured portion of degu nuggets and some leafy vegetables should also be part of their daily diet.
How many babies can degus have?
Baby degus are large and numerous (3-8 pups to a litter), which can often lead to birthing complications. The gestation period is 90 days, and it often difficult to tell that a female is pregnant until the last month.
Is it legal to own a degu?
Some places consider degus as a potentially invasive species and forbid owning them as a pet. They are illegal to own in multiple states within the United States. Before committing to buying one, check with city and state regulations where you live. Some places may require a permit or health certificate.
How do you get a degu to trust you?
As normal, give your degu treats through the bars, but after a few, this time slowly and calmly open the cage door, then move back to your previous position and offer a few more treats through the bars just to put them at ease.
Are degus 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.
Are degus social?
Degus are small, social and vocal rodents. They have long silky coats that are grey-brown tinged, and a long, thin tail with a tufted, black tip. Typically degus can live for 6-7 years in captivity.
How long can degus be left alone?
As long as they have the company of a contemporary, gerbils, guinea pigs, chipmunks, degus and rabbits can be left alone during the day without any problems. If they do not have company they will waste away. The exception to this is hamsters, which live alone anyway.
