What are degus?

1. What are degus like as pets?
2. Do degus make good pets?
3. Is a Degu a chinchilla?
4. Are degus smelly pets?
5. What can I put in a degu cage?
6. How do degus mate?
7. Do degu bites hurt?
8. How do you get a degu to trust you?
9. How often should you clean a degu Cage?
10. How much does a degu cost?
11. Can I have a pet rat?
12. Are degus as smart as rats?
13. Can a degu live with a guinea pig?
14. What's the difference between a degu and a gerbil?

What are degus like as 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.

Do degus make good pets?

Degus are small, burrowing rodents native to Chile that make great pets. They are great nappers, but once they get used to your schedule, these little creatures will come to greet you, often looking to play or get some belly rubs. They crave social interaction and exercise.

Is a Degu a chinchilla?

Degus are in the same family as Guinea Pigs and Chinchillas, and these small, burrowing rodents have become a popular pet in the United States. They are native to Chile and are social animals that tend to live in large communities, sometimes numbering upward of 100!

Are degus smelly pets?

So, do Degus smell? They do, but while noticeable, their smell is innocuous, and they smell far less than other rodents such as Hamsters. Like with all animals that are kept in cages, any foul odors often depend on the cleanliness of the cage.

What can I put in a degu cage?

Keep your degus happy and occupied

It is very important to furnish the cage with safe items that your degus can't injure themselves on. Your degus will enjoy: Twigs and stumps or apple, pear or willow tree branches for them to chew and jump on. Wooden or card boxes for them to sleep in.

How do degus mate?

Breeding activities include: the male grooming the female, tail-wagging, nose-to-nose contact, nuzzling, trembling, and the male chasing the female around the cage. After mating the male makes loud, repetitive squeaks that are unlike the usual day-to-day squeaks for up to 20 minutes.

Do degu bites hurt?

Degus are friendly animals that generally won't resort to biting unless they feel threatened and have no way out. A degu might give you a little “grooming” nip but this doesn't really hurt or break the skin. It's only in rare cases that a degu will bite hard and such a bite might hurt and cause an injury.

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.

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.

How much does a degu cost?

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.

Can I have a pet rat?

Rats are very popular family pets. They are extremely intelligent, inquisitive, interactive, and social. ... Rats generally make good family pets but should never be left unsupervised with small children. Rats tend to be nocturnal but are active for periods during the day.

Are degus as smart as rats?

Intelligent like their rat cousins, degus are very social and full of personality. They communicate through an extensive vocabulary of sounds and are very active during the day, unlike many other rodents that are nocturnal, making degus more attractive as pets.

Can a degu live with a guinea pig?

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.

What's the difference between a degu and a gerbil?

Gerbils are smaller than Degus and require less space to live. Degus can be expected to grow up to three times the size of a Gerbil. ... Degus are better companions for the day as they sleep during the night. Both of them are rodents yet they have many differences in their physiology.