Why Degus Make Great Pets

Degus are small and easy to keep Degus are diurnal (awake when you are) Degus are very intelligent and have huge personalities Degus love to be stroked and will groom you back if you give their Degus don't need 'special' diets (other than restricting sugary foods) Degus love human company and can learn to see their owner as another degu Degus will keep you entertained for hours with their antics; they're cute, funny, clever, naughty and playful! Degus are loyal and brave little creatures Degus are amazing at adapting to new environments and are not easily stressed Degus don't produce strong-smelling urine unlike some other small animals Degus are fascinating creatures and have contributed to great discoveries in the scientific community Degus can give you the inspiration to write a whole website dedicated to them and helping other people get inspired! Convinced? At Degutopia we believe every animal lover wants a degu, they just don't know it yet! Want to know more? Browse around Degutopia to find out all about the world of the degu. >Degus In The Wild< Wild degus have inhabited South America for years and are currently (and since early reports in 183252) the most abundant Chilean caviomorph, indeed the most common small mammal in central Chile to be active during the day109. Once endemic in this continent, the area inhabited by wild degus is decreasing rapidly probably due to human disturbance. Although pet degus are adorable, wild degus are frequently considered agricultural pests due to their widespread dispersion and preference for root crops. To find out more about our pets' wild brothers and sisters, click the links below. >TIPS FOR HEALTHY DEGUS< 1. Weigh your degus regularly- Keeping a weight record for each of your degus is one of the best ways to check their health. Often, the first sign of illness is a change in your degus behaviour, followed by weight loss. Weigh your degus every month and compare the reading to that of the previous month. Remember, a healthy, adult degu should weigh in the region of 220-250 g. 2. Monitor drinking habits- It's a great idea to keep track of how much water your degus are drinking, as over-consumption can be a sign of diabetes, and under-consumption can cause problems such as constipation. Each day when you change the water in the water bottle, note down how much has been consumed (most bottles come with measurements printed on the outside). At the end of the month, add up the water consumed. On average, this should be around 1,000 ml per month for 2-3 healthy adult degus. Remember that degus drink more in hot weather, so this might go up slightly during the summer. 3. Let your degus have a dustbath every day- Dust bathing keeps your degus fur in top condition and also satisfies an important behavioural need. 4. Give each degu evening primrose oil- Another way to promote shiny coats and healthy skin is to give your degus a supplement of a few drops of evening primrose oil every month in their feed. You can also apply it directly to the skin to help degus with dry skin problems. 5. Keep an eye on your degus' behaviour- As mentioned, the first sign that there might be something wrong with a degu is that they do not appear to be their 'usual self'. 6. Check your degus' eyes- The eyes should be fully open, shiny and free from discharge or odour. They should appear dark, without any white or red spots- this can be a sign of cataracts or retinal problems. 7. Check your degus' feet- Looking at the underside of your degus' feet on a regular basis will help you to spot the early signs of bumblefoot such as sores or open wounds. You can then act to stop it getting worse by treating their feet and modifying the cage as necessary.