If you are one of those who is looking for a pet but wants something different beyond the dog and/or the cat, today we show you an option that is considered to be the great unknown for many people, but which nevertheless has more and more followers. Under the name of degu, this is an animal very similar in size to hamsters but with a much higher lifespan. Of active characterplayful and curious, they spend much of the day climbing, climbing, digging and gnawing in search of food.
For many degus are the ideal pet of the moment
Sharing the same characteristics of large rodents such as guinea pigs or chinchillas but in a smaller size, the degu -also known as the brush tail mouse- is an animal that comes from Chile. Highly social, if we have several of these they will live more relaxed. With a longer life expectancy than hamsters (they can live up to seven years), this animal is a herbivore and does not eat any type of animal protein, sugars or fruit. That is, it only feeds on hay or dry grasses such as mint.
That is why if we want to welcome this type of live animal at home, we must choose to give them a special high-end feed without seeds or fruits in its content. Moreover, sugar could be the trigger for making them suffer from diabetes -it is a disease to which they are prone-, therefore the control of food is essential.
What do degus need?
Being a social animal that lives in the wild with many specimens of its species, the lack of social interaction in captivity can lead to aggressiveness and erratic behavior. That is why it is recommended to purchase several copies. If you are one of those who is thinking of having this animal at home, you should know that they need a cage that is at least one meter long, one meter high and half a meter deep – up to four of them can live in it. This must be made of bars, since plastic or glass cages do not allow good ventilation and easily raise the temperature. In addition, it is also recommended to take them out of the cage under supervision so that they can explore, jump and run.
However, the cage can have accessories with which the animal can stay active, such as platforms at different heights, ropes to climb, wheels (they must be at least 30 centimeters in diameter), etc. In summer time you have to give them more water so they can drink and satisfy their appetite.
What should a degu’s cage contain?
As we have already mentioned, it is recommended to offer them several accessories so that they remain active at all times. However, these are some of his favorites -and that the experts recommend-.
- Substratum. The cage must have a floor without a grid, on which we must put a good layer of substrate that allows the degus to dig.
- Material suitable for gnawing. The teeth of the degu are of continuous growth, and to maintain a correct oral health it is necessary that they have material to gnaw such as pieces of natural wood or cardboard rolls.
- Tunnels, ramps, ropes, and branches at various heights. To stimulate their exploratory behavior.
- Material to make the nest. They can come in the form of shredded toilet, kitchen or newspaper paper, hay, or non-fraying strips of cloth.
- exercise wheel Good size and preferably without bars, to prevent the legs from getting caught.
- Feeders and drinkers. It is recommended to put several, one per individual, to avoid hierarchy problems.
- Sand baths. This animal needs regular sand baths to maintain the correct quality of its skin and hair. They must be supplied at least twice a week for half an hour, in a container in which they fit completely and can bathe and turn comfortably. In addition, it is not recommended to always make the container with sand available.
Main photo | Arjan Haverkamp
Photos | Jacek555