Pixie Rodent Rescue

Degus

Degus are very social animals and can become very tame if you are willing to put the effort in and interact with them daily. They are naturally playful and curious, which helps a long way in taming. Without social interaction and opportunity for exercise, they can be aggressive and neurotic. Degus must live in at least pairs or a small colony, lone degus can quickly become depressed. Degus are diurnal (active during the day). In the wild they live in communities (much like prairie dogs) and dig an elaborate system of burrows to live in.

Degus need a large cage, wire is the standard but they need a solid floor to walk on. Larger is definitely better and large multilevel cages can help you maximize the space efficiently, the more full levels the better as this provides more running areas and less opportunity for injury through falls. Many degu owners choose to make a custom cage for themselves (see example below) as commercial cages can only really offer the space for a pair of degus. Wheels are an absolute must as degus need to run 5 miles a day, metal wheels are best as most degus are avid chewers so anything else won't last long. A brilliant low cost solution can be found here. Degus enjoy sandbaths in their cage but these should be put in for around 1 hour per day or it will fast turn into a litter tray!

Diet is extremely import in degus as not only do they lack the ability to produce vitamin C like guinea pigs, they are extremely prone to diabetes and cannot process sugary foods. Hay should be readily available to them, Timothy Hay is a favourite. All our degus are fed on Gerty Guinea Pig food, and we ask all new owners to keep them on this. Puffed wheat (with no additives) has proved a brilliant healthy treat for training our goos!

For more information please see the links below:

Above pictures courtesy of Rhydowen Rodent Refuge

Degus available for adoption

Visits are encouraged for the degus, as they do all look very similar in photos but all have very different personalities. Though please bare in mind degus can be very stranger wary, so don't be offended if they hide when you first arrive!

Waldorf, John, Paul, George & Ringo

The Beatles are 4 brothers from the same litter born here at the rescue on 12/06/12. They're still young, small and very playful! Lone boy Waldorf joined them when they left mum, as he was pining terribly for his lost friends. All boys are friendly and inquisitive, and love their puffed wheat! We are willing to let these got as a pair and a trio, as they do scrap a little and we feel they're more likely to get a nice large cage with lots of space this way! Of course if you have a goo-mansion and would like to adopt them as a 5, you're more than welcome! Visits are encouraged for the degus, as they do all look very similar in photos! Though please bare in mind degus can be very stranger wary, so don't be offended if they hide when you first arrive!

Ginger, Spice & Bee

Bee came into rescue in January, in a mis-sexed group. She had a litter here but unfortunately non made it. Ginger and Spice are the daughters of another degu who came in with Bee. Bee is blind, and this limits her mobility around the cage, and also makes her harder to tame. She has now learnt that humans = treats however and is coming round very slowly Unfortunately change upsets her so her progress in rescue has been limited but we feel once in a stable home she will excel.

Ginger is a very bold degu who has been friendly from day one, despite Bee's danger squeaks! She's the first one coming up to you begging for her puffed wheat and will even climb onto your hand to get some on good days! Spice is not as bold, but she follows her sisters example very well and sometimes it can be hard to keep them both happy and full of treats at training time!

You can tell the difference between these three as Ginger has a reddish tinge to her coat (thus her name) and Bee is a different shape to the younger girls.