What is a degus?

1. Are degus good pets?
2. How much does a Degu cost?
3. Is a Degu a gerbil?
4. How often should you clean a degu cage?
5. What is a degu look like?
6. How do degus mate?
7. Are degus smelly pets?
8. How do you get a degu to trust you?
9. What does it mean when a degu squeaks?
10. Do degu bites hurt?
11. Is it legal to own a degu?
12. What's the difference between a degu and a chinchilla?

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.

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.

Is a Degu a gerbil?

As big as a guinea pig but with brown fur and a long, thin tail, degus look like oversized gerbils. They have round, squat bodies, weigh between a half pound to a pound, and grow to about 10-12 inches long, from nose to tail tip.

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.

What is a degu look like?

What Is a Degu? 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.

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.

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.

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.

What does it mean when a degu squeaks?

Many Sounds. Degus are said to have a wide range of sounds. An annoyed degu might chatter his teeth, which sounds like grinding. A rapid succession of squeaks usually signifies that the degu is scared; it is attention-grabbing, so you'll know to check on your degu if you hear it.

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.

Is it legal to own a degu?

Legality in the United States

There are only a handfull of states that have regulations that prohibit ownership and keeping degus as pets. These states are California, Utah, Georgia, Conneticut, and Alaska.

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.