AboutCarol Expertise I can answer questions about degu care and breeding.
Experience I breed degus with an emphasis on healthy, social pets.
Education/Credentials Before obtaining our first pair of octodon degus, I did considerable research. These animals have more misinformation floating about than most pets, and care is easy once you sort fact from fiction.
Expert: Carol Date: 6/12/2008 Subject: Degu Issues
Question I currently have 2 one year old male degus who were not really handled from birth. I've been trying to let them become more comfortable with being held and played with by opening the door and putting 2 sunflower seeds on my arm and letting them walk out to get them but they immediately bolt back into their cage. Since I'm just now trying to teach them to be handled, do you think I'll ever have cuddly degus?
Also, I've heard people talking about letting their degus out to play in a room. Do you put them in a fenced in area of some sort? I don't know about everyone else, but Pip and Nibbler can squeeze under doors and dart around like crazy... and the poop/urine on the floor? Should I put them on hardwood?
Answer Greetings!
I have had several degus gotten from others over the years who were not handled at all. Some came to be the snuggliest goos ever, others tolerated taking treats from me but not much more. It just depends on the temperament of the individual. That's why we handle all our babies from birth to make sure regardless how innately snuggly they are, they are used to human interaction. I'd say just keep trying. One of our moms actually will bring her newborns to us to hold--after she was one of the ones never touched by human hands until she came to us at age 3.
As for letting them out of the cage, the only times ours are out of the their cages is when they are ON us or when they are in a large critter ball rolling "free" in a room. They are still totally protected, easily found, but contained. Mine too are smart enough to get out of anything, so I do not risk even letting them run free in the bathroom with the door shut as some do. While the bother of them getting loose is great, the risk of harm to them while gone is greater (in most homes, anyway) so I don't take that chance. We still have the occasional kamikaze jump off my arm and subsequent 15 minute capture, but in *my* opinion it's just not worth buying trouble. The large sized balls can be found at most pet stores for under $25.
I hope this helps,
Carol
