Degus, nice or mean?

Question

ok, i am considering getting a degu. i know how to care for them, and some recomended things u would want to get for them, and what type of cage to buy. but i want to know things like:

*how much do they cost?

*how much does there stuff cost?

*where do u get one?

*should i get 1, or 2?

and

*if i get two, what genders should they be?

THANKS!!!

Answer 1

Degus are like a mix between gerbils and chinchillas. They look and behave more like a gerbil, but their diet and cage requirements are more like for a chinchilla.

Degus used to cost anywhere from $50 to $150, but now you should be able to buy them for somewhere between $15 and $30.They are still new in the pet trade, so a lot of places have them, but people aren't buying them much yet. So there are a LOT of surplus degus in rescues right now. I had 24 at one time in my rescue a few years ago.

The cost of their stuff just depends on what you get. A decent sized cage for two degus will probably be around $70. It can be cheaper if you build your own, and it is always the most expensive when you buy one in a pet store. For degus, I like the rat cages at martinscages.com. The Rat Cabin is the smallest size I would recommend for a pair of degus. Bigger is always better. And don't put them in an aquarium unless it's 40 gallons or bigger. Degus are very active during the day and need plenty of space to run around. You will also need to get a 12" wheel, a food dish, a water bottle, a dust bath and dust, a sleep house or igloo, bedding, plenty of logs and toys and things to do, and you'll want to slowly start putting money away for vet costs in case something happens.

The biggest health issue with degus is obesity and diabetes. This can cause cataracts and foot/skin problems. To avoid this, you should never give them sugary foods like fruit or some veggies. And no commercially made treats. A healthy degu diet consists of lots of Timothy Hay, a pelleted chinchilla diet with no seeds, and a few insects on occasion. You can also offer them some leafy veggies like kale or romaine, but no carrots.

You should always try to find a rescue near you that has degus before looking to buy one. You could be saving a life. You can look on Petfinder.com, or search for degu forums and yahoo groups to look for homeless degus. If you can't find any in rescue near you, look for a good breeder. As a last resort, you could go to a pet shop, but it's important to be picky about where you buy so that you aren't supporting animal cruelty and bad breeders.

If you have never had any before, I would suggest getting two males. Male degus are a lot more laid back and friendly than the females. They are also more likely to accept new buddies than females. When you get females, you usually have to get two sisters or a mom and daughter to avoid fighting.

And yes, degus can make marvelous pets. Anyone who says they are "mean" obviously hasn't spent much time with them, or any other small animals for that matter. ANY small pet can be aggressive, but that usually only happens if they have been neglected or mishandled. All the degus I've ever worked with were very curious and bold, and I have only been nipped by them a few times (and only by ones I had just met). Daily interraction will help you bond with your degus.

Degus also live a long time. 8 - 10 years or so. Make sure you will be able to include them in your life for that whole time.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Degus are the frienliest creatures ive ever had the pleasure of owning. I have four and they never have shown any aggression towards me or my family. They sometimes argue between them selves though. They adore being handled, they even squabble at whos coming out next. They are great fun. Cons are they are a messy bunch, love to destroy anything and throw whatever they distroyed outa their cage.

Answer 3

1st person:are you serious? I read degus hated being handled and they where really active .  i also read they were more active in the blah blah blah.

well you should get 2 or more.  you really shouldnt get just 1.  and either get 2 females or 2 males it doesnt matter.

their cage is probably liek $70 cuz it has to be so high

their litter isnt much, like $8 for a huge bag that lasts awhile.  and then degu food wont be too much

and idk where to get one.  I never see them in stores.... maybe you could find a breeder