Saw them in a pet store yesterday and me and the OH thought they were cute little things. Done a little bit of web searching on them, but does anyone else have any themselves? Would they suit a couple of twenty-something who would be out of the house working 5 days a week?
Anybody own a Degu?
They look like gerbils, so yes id imagine they are suitable for you 
I used to look after the school one. No one else would have it, they always wanted the rabbit / hamster / guinnea pig - which were boring IMO. The mice were fun, the gerbils were mad. My sister and I used to "accidentally" let it out of its cage, our mam used to go spare lol - god knows how we managed to catch it and get it back in.
I used to look after the school one. No one else would have it, they always wanted the rabbit / hamster / guinnea pig - which were boring IMO. The mice were fun, the gerbils were mad. My sister and I used to "accidentally" let it out of its cage, our mam used to go spare lol - god knows how we managed to catch it and get it back in.
I have two Degus. They are great little things - a lot bigger than gerbils though, more like squirrels without the bushy tail, and you have to be very careful with their diet and housing etc.
A good place to start for advice is www.degutopia.co.uk where you will find a wealth of info etc. If you are getting them from a shop then be careful as if they have been fed incorrectly they are prone to diabetes. They do also need plenty of exercise and ideally should be let out each day, or have a very large cage. Another must is to get at least two, as they are sociable animals and do not like being alone, but be careful of the sexes, as you don't want to interbreed and end up with loads of them.
One of them
The cage - although this had wire mesh shelves which we had to change to wood, as the mesh is no good for their feet over a period of time. Ceramic tiles, lino or wood is ok though.
A good place to start for advice is www.degutopia.co.uk where you will find a wealth of info etc. If you are getting them from a shop then be careful as if they have been fed incorrectly they are prone to diabetes. They do also need plenty of exercise and ideally should be let out each day, or have a very large cage. Another must is to get at least two, as they are sociable animals and do not like being alone, but be careful of the sexes, as you don't want to interbreed and end up with loads of them.
One of them
The cage - although this had wire mesh shelves which we had to change to wood, as the mesh is no good for their feet over a period of time. Ceramic tiles, lino or wood is ok though.
Originally Posted by AS1:
“I have two Degus. They are great little things - a lot bigger than gerbils though, more like squirrels without the bushy tail, and you have to be very careful with their diet and housing etc.
A good place to start for advice is www.degutopia.co.uk where you will find a wealth of info etc. If you are getting them from a shop then be careful as if they have been fed incorrectly they are prone to diabetes. They do also need plenty of exercise and ideally should be let out each day, or have a very large cage. Another must is to get at least two, as they are sociable animals and do not like being alone, but be careful of the sexes, as you don't want to interbreed and end up with loads of them.”
“I have two Degus. They are great little things - a lot bigger than gerbils though, more like squirrels without the bushy tail, and you have to be very careful with their diet and housing etc.
A good place to start for advice is www.degutopia.co.uk where you will find a wealth of info etc. If you are getting them from a shop then be careful as if they have been fed incorrectly they are prone to diabetes. They do also need plenty of exercise and ideally should be let out each day, or have a very large cage. Another must is to get at least two, as they are sociable animals and do not like being alone, but be careful of the sexes, as you don't want to interbreed and end up with loads of them.”
are they as manic as gerbils? or a bit more chilled out?
Originally Posted by DaisyBumbleroot:
“are they as manic as gerbils? or a bit more chilled out?”
“are they as manic as gerbils? or a bit more chilled out?”
More chilled out and they sing and 'talk' to you too. They sound like birds cheaping a lot of the time and will call out to you if you are ignoring them. Our two are only about 10-12 weeks old, so still just babies at the moment.
i'll advise you to get them used to you as soon and as much as you possibly can.
they are also not nice at all when they're stressed and can be escape artists
not got my own (just not keen on them) but have had experience caring & handling them
they are also not nice at all when they're stressed and can be escape artists
not got my own (just not keen on them) but have had experience caring & handling them
Originally Posted by AS1:
“I have two Degus. They are great little things - a lot bigger than gerbils though, more like squirrels without the bushy tail, and you have to be very careful with their diet and housing etc.
A good place to start for advice is www.degutopia.co.uk where you will find a wealth of info etc. If you are getting them from a shop then be careful as if they have been fed incorrectly they are prone to diabetes. They do also need plenty of exercise and ideally should be let out each day, or have a very large cage. Another must is to get at least two, as they are sociable animals and do not like being alone, but be careful of the sexes, as you don't want to interbreed and end up with loads of them.
One of them
The cage - although this had wire mesh shelves which we had to change to wood, as the mesh is no good for their feet over a period of time. Ceramic tiles, lino or wood is ok though.”
“I have two Degus. They are great little things - a lot bigger than gerbils though, more like squirrels without the bushy tail, and you have to be very careful with their diet and housing etc.
A good place to start for advice is www.degutopia.co.uk where you will find a wealth of info etc. If you are getting them from a shop then be careful as if they have been fed incorrectly they are prone to diabetes. They do also need plenty of exercise and ideally should be let out each day, or have a very large cage. Another must is to get at least two, as they are sociable animals and do not like being alone, but be careful of the sexes, as you don't want to interbreed and end up with loads of them.
One of them
The cage - although this had wire mesh shelves which we had to change to wood, as the mesh is no good for their feet over a period of time. Ceramic tiles, lino or wood is ok though.”
My gosh, that cage is amazing! If you have the space for them, degus are wonderful pets BUT they need the room to climb and explore. The cage AS1 has shown is perfect. They have to have space to dig, climb and gaze out at the world.
Our cage was a large fish tank full of sawdust for digging and then a wire mesh add-on my dad made with platforms and ladders.
You do have to be careful with diet as they are prone to diabetes and cataracts - reading up on them is essential. They also benefit from having a sand bath to roll in, a bit like chinchillas it keeps them clean and shiny.
Our degus had an awful start in life, but they were gorgeous pets, and very chatty and loving. We got them from a pet shop and found out very quickly that one was pregnant. We assumed we'd be saddled with a male and female, but then the second one got really fat too and we realised we'd been sold two pregnant females.
As long as you have plenty of room, the fact you work won't be an issue as they will have each other and plenty to do for company!
We are hoping that ours are two females, but waiting to confirm it. If they turn out to be different sexes we plan to split the cage in two temporarily until we get a second pair and another cage. One of ours is rather fat, so hoping it is just a chubby one rather than anything else.
Originally Posted by Sulriss:
“I heard their tails can drop off! Ugh.”
“I heard their tails can drop off! Ugh.”
They don't just drop off for no reason.
Ours lost her tail when she attempted to escape and we had to grab her before she got lost. She was perfectly happy and healthy without it and was left with enough for balance.
They're like gerbils, their tail will drop off if they feel threatened or surprised (ie. if you use it to pick them up..which you shouldn't!), but they aren't prone to just losing their tails so there's no worry there!
It is a survival mechanism - better to lose your tail than be eaten by something if a preditor grabs hold of your tail
I had two.
They are not very long-lived - a couple of years and aren't very cuddly.
Mine didn't like being handled so you just get to watch them do stuff.
They are definitely escapers. Very fast and I experienced the worst agony EVER when I tried to catch one and it bit my little finger and clung on. I kid you not - it was hellish pain.
So I wouldn't recommend them. Sorry.
They are not very long-lived - a couple of years and aren't very cuddly.
Mine didn't like being handled so you just get to watch them do stuff.
They are definitely escapers. Very fast and I experienced the worst agony EVER when I tried to catch one and it bit my little finger and clung on. I kid you not - it was hellish pain.
So I wouldn't recommend them. Sorry.
Originally Posted by ESPIONdansant:
“I had two.
They are not very long-lived - a couple of years and aren't very cuddly.
Mine didn't like being handled so you just get to watch them do stuff.
They are definitely escapers. Very fast and I experienced the worst agony EVER when I tried to catch one and it bit my little finger and clung on. I kid you not - it was hellish pain.
So I wouldn't recommend them. Sorry.”
“I had two.
They are not very long-lived - a couple of years and aren't very cuddly.
Mine didn't like being handled so you just get to watch them do stuff.
They are definitely escapers. Very fast and I experienced the worst agony EVER when I tried to catch one and it bit my little finger and clung on. I kid you not - it was hellish pain.
So I wouldn't recommend them. Sorry.”
That is unusual though. If fed the correct diet etc they tend to live for around 6-8 years. Our two are only babies still but will happily climb onto us for handling. I have had a slight nip (nothing bad, just a little warning nip) off of one when I picked her up once, but apart from that they are not generally biters unless scared.
Originally Posted by AS1:
“More chilled out and they sing and 'talk' to you too. They sound like birds cheaping a lot of the time and will call out to you if you are ignoring them. Our two are only about 10-12 weeks old, so still just babies at the moment.”
“More chilled out and they sing and 'talk' to you too. They sound like birds cheaping a lot of the time and will call out to you if you are ignoring them. Our two are only about 10-12 weeks old, so still just babies at the moment.”
This makes me think of Gizmo in Gremlins, before he changes over.
I can't agree with the poster who wouldn't recommend them. Whether or not they like being handled is all down to their owner - ours liked coming out, and used to sniffle at the bars to talk to us. I was never bitten.
Also, I agree with AS1 - with the right diet they can live for five or more years. Ours did, and that was despite the cataracts they developed thanks to the care they received (ie. didn't get) at the pet shop.
Also, I agree with AS1 - with the right diet they can live for five or more years. Ours did, and that was despite the cataracts they developed thanks to the care they received (ie. didn't get) at the pet shop.
I was the person who started this thread.
Last night I went out and bought a couple!! Got two female Degus now in a big metal cage in my front room!
Leaving them alone for the first 24 hours or so before I do anything with them, so they get used to their new environment.
Last night I went out and bought a couple!! Got two female Degus now in a big metal cage in my front room!
Leaving them alone for the first 24 hours or so before I do anything with them, so they get used to their new environment.
I used to keep them. They dont have a short lifespan, as already posted its not unusual for them to live 6-8 years, or even longer. I had my original two for around 5 years before they were rehomed (with other Degus) in that time they had a few litters, that were all rehomed.
Quick question, hopefully someone can help.
Pets At Home have them listed on their website at £24.47, but I'm not sure if that's for one or for a pair (since they only sell them in pairs). Anyone know?
Pets At Home have them listed on their website at £24.47, but I'm not sure if that's for one or for a pair (since they only sell them in pairs). Anyone know?
Originally Posted by Ghost World:
“Quick question, hopefully someone can help.
Pets At Home have them listed on their website at £24.47, but I'm not sure if that's for one or for a pair (since they only sell them in pairs). Anyone know?”
“Quick question, hopefully someone can help.
Pets At Home have them listed on their website at £24.47, but I'm not sure if that's for one or for a pair (since they only sell them in pairs). Anyone know?”
I think we paid around £35-40 a pair from pets at home.
Just be careful that they have been kept well there, not in too small a cage, not with a wore mesh base, fed well and seperate from the opposite sex.
I know of so many people that have problems with getting Degus from some of their stores. Mainly being told they have one sex and they turn out to be a pair of different sexes.
I am hoping to get a pair of males as well in a couple of months, having my name on a breeders waiting list for them at the moment.
Rather than start a new thread I thought I'd dig this old one up. We bought 3 Degus (Marvin, Bert & Ernie) about 4 months ago and they are terrific pets, but I would not advise them for younger kids as the are really fast and will escape given any oppurtunity.
We fell in love with Degus as soon as we seen them in a shop, then bought the 3 from a private seller. They all have different personalities, Marvin is the starver and always eating, he's also the easiest one to handle, Bert is really naughty and Ernie follows Bert around everywhere.
It's funny, we can pick up Marvin at any time and he doesn't mind, but the other two are a bit hit or miss and are not so fussed on being picked up unles it suits them!
They are great pets, really cute and really placid (they don't bite at all), and hopefully they'll give us many years of enjoyment.
Mark
We fell in love with Degus as soon as we seen them in a shop, then bought the 3 from a private seller. They all have different personalities, Marvin is the starver and always eating, he's also the easiest one to handle, Bert is really naughty and Ernie follows Bert around everywhere.
It's funny, we can pick up Marvin at any time and he doesn't mind, but the other two are a bit hit or miss and are not so fussed on being picked up unles it suits them!
They are great pets, really cute and really placid (they don't bite at all), and hopefully they'll give us many years of enjoyment.
Mark
degu's are great pets, but a couple of points for those considering them:
1) they are very social animals - make sure you get at LEAST 2
2)any bar biting behaviour is stress related, if they start that - make sure they have plenty to play with, no outside stresses etc
3) they are extremely prone to diabities (sp?) which causes all sorts of problems and is usually only diagnosed when cattaracts (sp?!) show up (by which time its well advanced). Make sure you limited the amount of fruit they get as frutose is bad for them and never ever ever give them raisins (which people often give them as they love em!)
Lots of handling and care will mean some fun, lively, friendly pets!
1) they are very social animals - make sure you get at LEAST 2
2)any bar biting behaviour is stress related, if they start that - make sure they have plenty to play with, no outside stresses etc
3) they are extremely prone to diabities (sp?) which causes all sorts of problems and is usually only diagnosed when cattaracts (sp?!) show up (by which time its well advanced). Make sure you limited the amount of fruit they get as frutose is bad for them and never ever ever give them raisins (which people often give them as they love em!)
Lots of handling and care will mean some fun, lively, friendly pets!
I've never owned any but worked with a colony of about 20 when I was doing work experience, they're gorgeous little things, really cute and inquisitive
Originally Posted by Emzie21:
“I've never owned any but worked with a colony of about 20 when I was doing work experience, they're gorgeous little things, really cute and inquisitive”
“I've never owned any but worked with a colony of about 20 when I was doing work experience, they're gorgeous little things, really cute and inquisitive
”
My grand-daughter has two and they are bonkers. They are lovely though, and so cute, especially when they talk to each other and give each other piggy-backs. I'm fascinated with them, but they can be a bit timid at first and squeak a bit.
