If you are one of those who are looking for a pet but want something different beyond the dog and/or cat, today we show you an option that is considered the big unknown to many people, but still has more and more. followers. under the name deguThis is an animal very similar to hamsters but with a much longer lifespan. of the active characterPlayful and curious, they spend most of the day climbing, climbing, digging and gnawing in search of food.
The ideal pet of the moment for many degus
Sharing the same characteristics as large rodents such as the guinea pig or chinchilla, but smaller in size, the degu – also known as the brushtail mouse – is an animal from Chile. Extremely social, they will live more comfortably if we have a few of these. With a longer life expectancy than hamsters (they can live up to seven years), this animal is an herbivore and does not eat any animal protein, sugar or fruit. That is, it only feeds on hay or dry grass such as mint.
Therefore, if we want to host this type of livestock at home, we must choose to give them a special premium feed that does not contain seeds or fruit. In addition, sugar can be a trigger for them to develop diabetes – a disease they are prone to – so it is very important to control their food.
What does Degus need?
Because it is a social animal that lives with many specimens of its own kind in the wild, lack of social interaction in captivity can lead to aggression and erratic behavior. Therefore, it is recommended to buy several copies. If you are one of those who are considering keeping this animal at home, you should know that they need a cage that is at least one meter long, one meter high and half a meter deep – up to four of them can live. . It should be made of bars, as plastic or glass cages do not allow good ventilation and easily raise the temperature. It is also recommended that they be removed from the cage under supervision so they can scout, jump and run.
However, in the cage there are platforms of different heights, ropes for climbing, wheels (their diameter must be at least 30 centimeters), etc. There may be accessories where the animal can stay active, such as In the summer you have to give them more water so they can drink and satisfy their appetite.
What should a degu’s cage contain?
As we mentioned earlier, it is recommended to offer them a few accessories to keep them active at all times. But these are some of his favorites—and experts recommend.
- lower layer. The cage should have a grate-free floor, on top of which we need to put a good layer of substrate that allows the degus to dig.
- Material suitable for gnawing. A Degu’s teeth are constantly growing and to maintain proper oral health, he must have materials to gnaw on, such as natural wood chips or cardboard rolls.
- Tunnels, ramps, ropes and branches of various heights. Encouraging exploratory behavior.
- Material for nesting. They can be in the form of shredded toilet, kitchen or newsprint, straw or strips of non-fraying fabric.
- exercise wheel Well sized and preferably barless to avoid pinching the legs.
- Feeders and drinkers. It is recommended to put several, one per person to avoid hierarchy issues.
- Sand baths. This animal needs regular sand baths to maintain the right quality of its skin and hair. It should be given at least twice a week for half an hour, in a container in which they can fit well, take a bath and turn around freely. In addition, it is not recommended to always have a container with sand ready.
Main photo | Arjan Haverkamp
Photos | Jacek555
Source: Trendencias
