Animalscaretips
They have round, squat bodies, weigh between a half pound to a pound, and grow to about 10-12 inches long, from nose to tail tip. The tip of their tail has a tuft of black fur, while their bellies are covered in tan fur, and they have bristly hair on their hindfeet.
- How big is a full grown degu?
- How much space does a degu need?
- What age are degus fully grown?
- Is a degu a good pet?
- Can Degu live alone?
- Can Degu climb?
- Do degus smell bad?
- Are degus as smart as rats?
- Do degus need hay?
- How do degus mate?
- Do degu bites hurt?
- How do you calm a degu?
- Do degus like to cuddle?
How big is a full grown degu?
So, how big do degus get? The average degu will grow to a length of 9-11″ (25-30 cm). This includes the tail, which typically measures at 6″ (15cm). They generally weigh between 150-300 grams at full size.
How much space does a degu need?
What size should my degus' cage be? Degus need space, so ideally the bigger the better! As an absolute minimum, their floor space should be 100cm long by 50cm deep, but they'll need additional floor levels of up to four times this, so that they get plenty of floor space.
What age are degus fully grown?
Degus are usually fully adult at around 53-55 weeks old22 and at this age are generally fully reproductively competent.
Is a degu a good pet?
A degu can make an excellent pet for older children and adults. Degus are social animals that can be tamed easily and will form a bond with you. Contrary to most pocket pets, like hamsters and chinchillas, the degu is active during the day. It can also adjust it's sleeping habits to your own lifestyle.
Can Degu live alone?
Degus are social animals that live in large groups in the wild. In general, it's recommended to keep at least a pair of degus. There are some rare cases where a degu is (temporarily) kept as a solitary pet. ... They're not used to living alone like some pocket pets.
Can Degu climb?
In the wild they will naturally climb onto the branches of shrubs and small trees. Space to be active. Their housing should be large enough for them to carry out all their natural behaviours including running, jumping, climbing, chewing, dustbathing, digging and nesting as well as eating, drinking and toileting.
Do degus smell bad?
So, do Degus smell? They do, but while noticeable, their smell is innocuous, and they smell far less than other rodents such as Hamsters. Like with all animals that are kept in cages, any foul odors often depend on the cleanliness of the cage.
Are degus as smart as rats?
Intelligent like their rat cousins, degus are very social and full of personality. They communicate through an extensive vocabulary of sounds and are very active during the day, unlike many other rodents that are nocturnal, making degus more attractive as pets.
Do degus need hay?
Degus should have constant access to good quality hay. Hay is much more important than commercial degu nuggets and should constitute the majority of the degus diet. A small measured portion of degu nuggets and some leafy vegetables should also be part of their daily diet.
How do degus mate?
Breeding activities include: the male grooming the female, tail-wagging, nose-to-nose contact, nuzzling, trembling, and the male chasing the female around the cage. After mating the male makes loud, repetitive squeaks that are unlike the usual day-to-day squeaks for up to 20 minutes.
Do degu bites hurt?
Degus are friendly animals that generally won't resort to biting unless they feel threatened and have no way out. A degu might give you a little “grooming” nip but this doesn't really hurt or break the skin. It's only in rare cases that a degu will bite hard and such a bite might hurt and cause an injury.
How do you calm a degu?
As normal, give your degu treats through the bars, but after a few, this time slowly and calmly open the cage door, then move back to your previous position and offer a few more treats through the bars just to put them at ease.
Do degus like to cuddle?
How Are Degus Affectionate Towards Their Owners? ... They are smarter than some other rodents and love to live in a clean and neat place, that's why it is very common to see degus rearrange their home. They also love cuddling and will cuddle with you once they start to know you.
