Degus

I have considered owning a Dagu but they simply look like big Gerbils.

More info would be appreciated - how alike Gerbils are they? Are they desert
animals too? Do they urinate? Do they drink alot? What is the deal with
dustbaths?

etc...

"GOOSEY" <goosepool.RemoveThis@aol.comGOOSEY> wrote in message
news:20030825140620.29543.00000534@mb-m24.aol.com...
> Anybody have degus on this NG? They are the sweetest, cutest little
creatures.
> Bigger than a gerbil (we have those) and smaller than a chinchilla. We
call
> ours the "wheebles" because of the noises they make, will be happy to chat
on
> this board with similar rodenty-type people.
>
> Regards
>
> Thunderwoman
> By far the better half :o)
 >> Stay informed about: Degus 

>More info would be appreciated - how alike Gerbils are they? Are they desert
>animals too? Do they urinate?

I'm sure they do. But they never did it while I was carrying them, and
their cage doesnt smelll if you change it every week.


> Do they drink alot?

No that much

> What is the deal with
>dustbaths?

They will roll themselves in the dust....it helps to keep their fur
nice and clean.
Euh

I have the body of a god... Buddha
 >> Stay informed about: Degus 

>ubject: Re: Degus
>From: "Mark Teng" markteng RemoveThis @verizon.net
>Date: 25/08/03 20:25 GMT Daylight Time
>Message-id: <Uot2b.155$zL2.53@nwrdny01.gnilink.net>

>More info would be appreciated - how alike Gerbils are they? Are they desert
>animals too? Do they urinate? Do they drink alot? What is the deal with
>dustbaths?

They function much in a similar way to guinea pigs. They love a dustbath like
chins do, they like places to climb, scurry through and hide in. They love to
chase each other around, and like spinning around in exercise wheels. They are
not like gerbils for cleanliness though, and need to cleaned out pretty
regularly or they can get whiffy. They are pretty destructive too, and like
gnawing on stuff, so a big metal cage is probably best.

Their diet is mainly guinea pig food, chinchilla pellets, fresh grass (in
summer time) hay or alfalfa in winter. They cannot, however, digest fruit,
because their little bodies cannot metabolise the sugar, and will become
diabetic. Try www.degus.org for more info. We feed ours on guinea-pig food
and give them peanuts in a shell every day.

Hope this helps

Regards

Thunderwoman
By far the better half.
 >> Stay informed about: Degus 

>
> Hope this helps
>
Indeed! Thank you.
 >> Stay informed about: Degus 

Hi there,

I don't have Degus, but I do have Gerbils (2 brothers)-- have you ever tried
to give your Gerbils the sand bath option? Just curious to see if they'd go
for it.

Thanks
LeeAnne
"GOOSEY" <goosepool.TakeThisOut@aol.comGOOSEY> wrote in message
news:20030825140620.29543.00000534@mb-m24.aol.com...
> Anybody have degus on this NG? They are the sweetest, cutest little
creatures.
> Bigger than a gerbil (we have those) and smaller than a chinchilla. We
call
> ours the "wheebles" because of the noises they make, will be happy to chat
on
> this board with similar rodenty-type people.
>
> Regards
>
> Thunderwoman
> By far the better half :o)
 >> Stay informed about: Degus 

> We put some sand in a small plant tray (the kind you get to catch the
water
> under plant pots). The gerbs tried to gnaw the plastic edge, but one of
them
> went for it...he had a good old roll in the stuff. If you know anyone
with
> chins, ask if you can have a saucerful of sand, just so's you can give it
a go.
> You may be surprised. After all they are desert creatures, they must
have
> some sort of sand-rolling instinct. :o)

Interesting, perhaps I should try it out on my new Gerbils. btw, Gerbils are
from Mongolia, which isn't the sand-type of desert (it is more like desert
steppes, a cold desert).
 >> Stay informed about: Degus 

>Subject: Re: Degus
>From: "Mark Teng" markteng RemoveThis @verizon.net
>Date: 27/08/03 16:23 GMT Daylight Time
>Message-id: <z143b.5902$zL2.5748@nwrdny01.gnilink.net>

> btw, Gerbils are
>from Mongolia, which isn't the sand-type of desert (it is more like desert
>steppes, a cold desert).

Well Yes, Mongolian gerbils are :o)
Egyptian Gerbils come from guess where ?
Actually mine came from the RSPCA LOL

Vee x
 >> Stay informed about: Degus 

Well I've got me a pair of male Degus.

They have been ignoring the dust bath I've given them, but they are still
very new so I'll give them time and post when I know more.

The Degus seem friendly and do not panic-run like Gerbils. This is a good
sign. They are really rather pleasant thus far.

They cost me an arm and a leg though ($40 for the pair). Ouch.

Nevertheless they are a welcome addition to the family :)

"GOOSEY" <goosepool DeleteThis @aol.comGOOSEY> wrote in message
news:20030825140620.29543.00000534@mb-m24.aol.com...
> Anybody have degus on this NG? They are the sweetest, cutest little
creatures.
> Bigger than a gerbil (we have those) and smaller than a chinchilla. We
call
> ours the "wheebles" because of the noises they make, will be happy to chat
on
> this board with similar rodenty-type people.
>
> Regards
>
> Thunderwoman
> By far the better half :o)
 >> Stay informed about: Degus 

On 25 Aug 2003 18:06:20 GMT, goosepool.RemoveThis@aol.comGOOSEY (GOOSEY) wrote:

>Anybody have degus on this NG? They are the sweetest, cutest little creatures.
> Bigger than a gerbil (we have those) and smaller than a chinchilla. We call
>ours the "wheebles" because of the noises they make, will be happy to chat on
>this board with similar rodenty-type people.
>
Yep, we have a family of four in a tank and a single male Degu (that
got bullied by the alpha male) in his own tank.
The range of noises they make are fascinating, from low, comforting
"wibbly" noises to the loud "guess what I've just done!!" WEEEP! noise
of the male ;-)

Ours breed quite regularly, but at the moment the females seem to have
lost the knack of motherhood and we've lost the last two litters.

I wouldn't call ours cute though.... man-eaters yes, cute, no! They're
fine with the wife putting her hand in the cage, but if I do it...
it's like a pack of furry Piranas! Must be a scent thing... And no, I
haven't upset them in the past! That's the thanks I get for building
them shelves and perches to siit on.....!

Mark.
 >> Stay informed about: Degus 

On Mon, 25 Aug 2003 19:25:40 GMT, "Mark Teng" <markteng DeleteThis @verizon.net>
wrote:

>I have considered owning a Dagu but they simply look like big Gerbils.
>
>More info would be appreciated - how alike Gerbils are they? Are they desert
>animals too? Do they urinate? Do they drink alot? What is the deal with
>dustbaths?
>
They're from South America.

They're not related to Gerbils, but have more in common with Guinea
Pigs and Chinchillas. Although their exact genus is subject of
numerous debates. They may even be more closely related to Pikas or
Rabbits.....

For an animal the same size as a Degu, but more closely related to a
Gerbil, have a look for Jirds on the internet.

Degus urinate a lot more than Gerbils. Gerbils are built for life in
the desert, so they conserve moisture by urinating less and having
very dry (and relatively odurless) poo.

Degus, on the other hand can get quite smelly if you don't clean them
out regularly, especially if you have a large group.

Degus produce a huge range of vocalisations, from soft wibbly noises,
to very loud WEEEP! noises. The WEEP! WEEP! WEEP! noise can be a
warning/alarm noise, as in keep away, or can be used by the male for
ages and ages to let everyone know what he's just done to the female
(typical of a male to brag about it!!).

Degus need a strict diet. An excessive amount of sugar in the diet can
cause them to contract diabetes. Most owners keep them on a sugar-free
diet (so no fruity treats). They can also get liver disease from
eating too much fat, so fatty items like nuts should be rationed.

As for dustbaths, they use them to keep their fur clean, like
Chinchillas do. Give them a bowl with some Chinchilla dust in it and
they'll roll around happliy for ages.

One internet site I recommend if you're interested in less common
rodents or small mammals, is:

www.smallandfurries.co.uk

Click on the "Species" link.

I've no links with the site, but I've found it extremely interesting
and a huge source of information about some of the less well known
small mammals. I warn you: it gets addictive!

We have both Degus and Jirds (along with a few other small mammals).
See: www.delphiusrodents.co.uk

I must update it some time, We've had at least one new aquisition
since I last did it (Makes note in to-do list...).

Mark.
 >> Stay informed about: Degus 

Um hate to rub it in like this but my new degus are perfectly lovely and let
me handle them - no biting etc... :)

Well maybe they'll turn vicious when they get older - their just babies, but
I certainly hope not!
"Mark G Phillips" <mphillips.RemoveThis@delphius.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3f4d2b7c.1921783@news.individual.net...
> On 25 Aug 2003 18:06:20 GMT, goosepool.RemoveThis@aol.comGOOSEY (GOOSEY) wrote:
>
> >Anybody have degus on this NG? They are the sweetest, cutest little
creatures.
> > Bigger than a gerbil (we have those) and smaller than a chinchilla. We
call
> >ours the "wheebles" because of the noises they make, will be happy to
chat on
> >this board with similar rodenty-type people.
> >
> Yep, we have a family of four in a tank and a single male Degu (that
> got bullied by the alpha male) in his own tank.
> The range of noises they make are fascinating, from low, comforting
> "wibbly" noises to the loud "guess what I've just done!!" WEEEP! noise
> of the male ;-)
>
> Ours breed quite regularly, but at the moment the females seem to have
> lost the knack of motherhood and we've lost the last two litters.
>
> I wouldn't call ours cute though.... man-eaters yes, cute, no! They're
> fine with the wife putting her hand in the cage, but if I do it...
> it's like a pack of furry Piranas! Must be a scent thing... And no, I
> haven't upset them in the past! That's the thanks I get for building
> them shelves and perches to siit on.....!
>
> Mark.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Degus