Animalscaretips
- Can you have just one degu?
- Do degus need to be in pairs?
- How long can degus be left alone?
- What size cage does a degu need?
- What does a degu need?
- How much does it cost to own a degu?
- How do you keep a degu as a pet?
- Is degu a good pet?
- What Should I Feed My degu?
- How do you calm a degu?
- What to do if degu dies?
- How big is a degu?
- Can male degus be housed together?
Can you have just one degu?
Can degus live alone? Degus are social animals that live in large groups in the wild. In general, it's recommended to keep at least a pair of degus. There are some rare cases where a degu is (temporarily) kept as a solitary pet.
Do degus need to be in pairs?
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.
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.
What size cage does a degu need?
Degus need a large cage. A minimum cage size of 24 inches by 18 inches by 24 inches should house two degus comfortably. The larger, the better. Multilevel cages built for ferrets or chinchillas are ideal.
What does a degu need?
Degus should be fed a specially pelleted degu diet or a mix of 50% guinea pig pellets and 50% chinchilla pellets. Grass hay should always be available. Some fresh vegetables in small amounts may be given a couple times a week as a treat.
How much does it cost to own a degu?
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.
How do you keep a degu as a pet?
Degu cage. Degus need plenty of stimulation to keep them happy and healthy so there should be plenty of space to exercise. It's best to keep them in wire cages with lots of levels and ramps so they can climb and burrow to their heart's content.
Is degu a good pet?
A degu can make an excellent pet for older children and adults. Degus are social animals that can be tamed easily and will form a bond with you. Contrary to most pocket pets, like hamsters and chinchillas, the degu is active during the day. It can also adjust it's sleeping habits to your own lifestyle.
What Should I Feed My degu?
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 do you calm a degu?
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.
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).
How big is a degu?
The average degu will grow to a length of 9-11″ (25-30 cm). This includes the tail, which typically measures at 6″ (15cm). They generally weigh between 150-300 grams at full size. As such, they are considered small rodents.
Can male degus be housed together?
You *cannot* put two unfamiliar degus together in the same place/cage and expect them to get along. In the wild, all degus (male or female) are very protective of their group and territory, and will defend it from intruders that might threaten the group dynamics.
