What is a Degu and Why You Should Own One

Be the first on your block to own a Degu. This cute little animal looks like at rat but is not. They are closer related to the rabbit. It has tweed brown colored hair. Light circles adorn the eyes and their tummy is of a creamy hue. The whiskers are long and their ears are big. Its length when grown is 6 inches and its tail is fluffy on the end.
In fact it is called the trumpet tailed rat for this reason.

They are friendly in nature and have an exuberant personality. Also you will find Degus are awake during the day. Their nature allows it to become attached to its owner. The life expectancy of a Degu in captivity is five to 10 years.

Do not catch a Degu by its tail. Because it will fall off. This is its natural defense mechanism. So never catch a Degu by its tail.

When handling a Degu, it is best to lift the the creature with both hands. Make sure you pick it up beneath it's under carriage. Predators grab it by the neck. If picked up this way they will bite.

It is best to choose a couple Degus as pets. This is because they are socialable animals. You should make sure that you have two of the same sex. If this is the case, they will fight. When scared Degus emit a beep beep sound. They are like the Siamese cat of the rodent world, if it is not pleased, it will tell you off.

Degus have yellow teeth. White ones indicated unhealthiness.

They are comparable in size to a Guinea pig. So purchase a large rat or Chinchilla cage. But be forewarned that the bedding can be kicked out of the cage. A fish tank can also be used to avoid this problem.
The best type of bedding is megazorb horse bedding. Degus are climbers. So string an old belt like a cloths line. Also provide a wheel without spokes. More info on this type of wheel can be found at http://erodent.co.uk.

Wooden toys and chews made for Chinchillas should be provided. A must-have is a stone that will trim down their claws. Use a parrot perch that is made of stone. It will serve a dual purpose as a perch and a claw trimmer.

Purchase dust that will keep them clean. Place it in a ceramic bowl. This level in the bowl should be an inch or two. Degus will love it if you provide a hay rack as well as a water bottle and a nesting box.

A Degu should be fed a combination of Guinea Pig or Chinchilla pellets. Make sure the feed does not include molasses. This ingredient consists of sugar and a Degu cannot tolerate this Too much sugar will cause diabetes.

So take a chance and buy one of these unusual creatures. They are having just started to become popular and can be found in pet stores. Because of their friendly and loving nature you'll be glad you did.