Contents of degus

Degu are small South American rodents, they live in Chile. Due to the close resemblance to proteins is sometimes called degus Chilean squirrel, but the name is wrong: degus are not related to the family of squirrel and family octodontidae.

Degu is a small rodent with a long tail (by the way, if you get a degu, never catch it by the tail: the caught degu dumps the skin from the tail, and the tail or part of it then nibbles off). Degu has a short, rather coarse fur: gray-brown (often with an orange tinge) on the back and cream-yellow on the abdomen. The paws of the dego are pale gray, the tip of the tail is white with a small brush.

Degu - very sociable animals, by nature they are schooling animals. But not all owners can affordthe contents of the degu gaggle: several animals are more difficult to take care of, in addition, not all owners are ready to mess with the offspring, which will inevitably appear. If you choose one degu, remember that you will need to pay much attention to it. Very much - otherwise your pet will wither from boredom.

The contents of degu will not be a big deal for you if you already kept other rodents. Keep the degu preferably in an all-metal cage (because the wooden or plastic partsdegu can easily gnaw), the maximum distance between the rods is 1.5 cm. The ideal size of the cage (in centimeters) is 80x65x90. This is if you decide to get one degu, for two or more animals you need a cage of a higher height.

Also possible content of degus in a special terrarium for rodents (the ideal size is 90x65x40 cm for one degu) or an ordinary aquarium or a terrarium volume not less than 60 liters, closed from above solidmetal mesh. In the house for the degou must be a feeder, a drinking bowl, a house, and accessories for climbing. To care for the skin of the dego, you need a bath with sand for chinchillas. It is possible to put a running wheel, but only one piece, without gaps between the "steps".

As a filler, it is best to use a special pressed filler for rodents. Degoo - cleanliness animals, not possessing a specific "mouse" odor, so in this aspect the content of the degu problems will not cause: excrement is solid, they are easy to clean.

The correct content of degus includes a special diet of feeding. Degus feed on grain mixtures. In addition, every day you need to give them unsweetened fruit and fresh vegetables, hay, tree branches, vitamin and mineral supplements (mineral stone, ground egg shell, chalk). 2 times a week you can give legumes, gammaurus as a source of protein. In the summer every other day, fresh grass. As a treat - fresh seeds, berries, nuts (3 pcs every other day).

Categorically, you can not give fat and fried foods, spicy foods (including spicy vegetables and herbs, canned foods, all sweet and salty. Degus are prone to sugar intolerance, so sweet is contraindicated to them!

From time to time, the degue must be let out of the cage to walk around the apartment, so that he has what to do with his irrepressible energy. Usually do not bite furniture when walkingjust for the sake of chewing. But nevertheless it is necessary to remove far away all the wires and cables, as well as indoor plants - the degu can try to taste them. In extreme cases, you can let the degus walk in a walking ball.

Degu - very friendly, sociable and intelligent animals. They quickly get used not only to the owner, but alsoto all members of his family. They are easy enough to tame, but do not immediately try to take a newly purchased pet in his arms: let him get used to it and get used to it. Degas like to play with children, but do not give degus to children under 10-12 years old: the child may frighten or offend the animal, and the child, in turn, bites the child to the blood, defensively.

The content of degus is not a very difficult task, if you strictly follow all the rules.