The name degu on its own indicates either the entire genus Octodon or, more commonly, just the common degu. Native to Chile, degus are quite social animals that live in communities of up to 100 in the wild. These rodents grow to attain lengths of 10-12 inches from their tails to the tips of their noses. Degus are diurnal, meaning that they are awake and active during the daytime. Rats are much simpler pets and not as messy and require a smaller cage. On the other hand, rats have thinly-furred ears that are quite prominent, moderately long … Your email address will not be published. Single vs. your own Pins on Pinterest do 08 apr 19:37 Coronacrisis What to consider when getting a degu. As big as a guinea pig but with brown fur and a long, thin tail, degus look like oversized gerbils. Degus are placed in 2 genera: Genus Octodon. For this reason, you should not keep one degu alone. Degus have fingers on their rear and front feet. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your privacy controls. And while they may doze off here and there, once they get used to your schedule, these little creatures will run to greet you when … 17 maart 2021 - Op 17 maart werden twee nieuwe jaarlijkse Vlaamse literatuurprijzen gelanceerd: de Boon voor fictie en non-fictie en de Boon voor kinder- en jeugdliteratuur. As such, it can become neurotic and aggressive if it does not get enough exercise and interaction. They love human interaction and enjoy living in busy, active homes. They do well housed in same-sex pairs or small groups in captivity. Their eye colors include ruby, red, light ruby, pink, dark ruby, and black. De Boon is een samenwerking tussen vzw Vlaamse Literatuurprijs, de VRT en De Standaard. Gerbils are smaller than Degus and require less space to live. Degus often prefer to live in pairs as they will be most happy with a … Degus are said to be a social animal, thus making them the ideal pet for your home. The common degu (Octodon degus) is a small sized rodent with a similar appearance to the domestic rat (Rattus norvegicus).However, their lifespan is generally much longer than the rat and they can live to around 10 years of age if well-cared for. Discover (and save!) Degus live for a maximum of ten years in captivity. The ideal minimum floor space for a rat’s cage is two square feet (12 x 24 inches). Multiple: Best kept in groups, however males may fight so female groups usually better. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. De degoe (Octodon degus) is een knaagdier uit Chili.De degoe werd halverwege de 18e eeuw ontdekt in de Andes in Chili door de Spaanse jezuïet Juan Ignazio Molina. Though they are both rodents, the above facts have shown you that there are stark differences between a degu and a rat. I have not kept any personally and those I have seen appear rather more flighty than rats. Dietary Requirements: A good quality pellet or feed block formulated for rats and mice is ideal. Nutritionally complete block type or pellet feeds for rats are readily available in pet stores. We are a small team of passionate writers and animal lovers. First Experience With Rats & DegusToday I had my very first experience with rats and degus! Remember to always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your pets. They will also require daily sand baths, to remove grit and dirt from their fur. The popular pet rodents currently are degus and rats. If you cannot get a degu-specific feed, you can mix guinea pig or chinchilla pellets with a rodent block for a nutritious degu feed. Rats also love exploring, burrowing, and climbing. VIVOPets.com does not intend to provide any kind of veterinary suggestion. When choosing your Degu’s residence choose carefully. A degu’s large ears have dark pigmentation. A light agouti is the original color of degus. You can even teach them tricks! O. bridgesi, Bridges's degu, found in Argentina and Chile; O. degus, the common degu, historically referred to as just "degu… Degu (Octodon Degus) What is the difference between a Degu and a Gerbil? Ensure alfalfa or timothy hay, and clean water are available throughout. Nowadays, there are also black, sand/red, lilac, chocolate, champagne, cream, white, and blue/blue agouti degus. Degus eat a diet high in roughage and low in carbohydrates. Like most wild rodents, it is easy to tame a degu when you start handling it from an early age. What is a Degu? Its fifth digit is smaller, and its forefoot has a nail rather than a claw. Though several animal species can make excellent pets, rodents are among the best choices. Degu Appearance and Behavior. By clicking "Accept all" you agree that Verizon Media and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies and process your personal data, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. This page might contain affiliate links, which will earn us a commission. We’ve created VIVO Pets to help animal enthusiast around the world learn and care for their pets. Degus have round squat bodies with yellow-brown fur on their heads and backs. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. Depends on the person) Rats are probably more social to people, they are kind of like miniature dogs. Clean drinking water should be available for the rodent throughout. Rats are playful and smart rodents that long for human attention. Jerboas form the bulk of the membership of the family Dipodidae.They tend to live in hot deserts. Pet rats live for up to three years. These rodents are nocturnal and will thus be most active during the night, at dusk and at dawn. The best home for a Degu would have enough room for a sizeable cage, with other Degu friends and a few gentle humans to bond with. Pet rats will need not less than an hour of play outside their cages daily. Degus can be expected to grow up to three times the size of a Gerbil. She loves to cuddle up under my chin, and to sit on my shoulder. Escape-proof the room you will use for playtime by closing the windows and doors. They are generally slender and weigh 450-650g. On average, a rat’s gestation is 21-28 days, after which the female gets 8-18 pups. A glass or metal cage is preferable to a plastic one as Degu’s are notorious chewers. The average litter size of a degu is five but it can be any number from one to eight. The content of this website is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The ideal rat block should be low in calories and fat with soy meal rather than corn as one of its ingredients. A lonely gerbil or degu will not thrive and will be lonely and unhappy when you're not with it. Can Hamsters Eat Chocolate? The common ones for pet rats are black, tan, white, gray, and brown. Het biedt je tekst, beeld en audio gebundeld in rubrieken en dossiers, met extra duiding door onze experten. Sometimes, you might hear a high-pitched screech from your pet when it is threatened or hurt. Temperatures above these might make your pet distressed and at risk of heatstroke. This is not advisable as degus are territorial and will fight the rats for cage dominance. Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history and influence TV recommendations. Both are already behind a rainbow bridge: ( R.I.P. As long as you as an owner can put in the time to look after them and provide them with a nice calm space for them to … A metal cage with multiple levels like a rat’s cage is ideal.Make sure your pets have regular access to Chinchilla sand as Degu’s need sand baths to keep their coats healthy. Common Degu. The word degu comes from the indigenous language of Chile, Mapudungun, and the word dewü, meaning 'mouse' or 'rat'. Adult Size: 350-650 g (rats) and 30 g (mice). The animal is curious and playful. I'm not sure about a Degu, but Rats are amazing pets! Giving your Degu ample things to chew within the cage such as branches and rope is a good idea. They are brown in color with a somewhat lighter belly. After a gestation period of ninety days, the rodent gives birth to 3-10 pups on average. The Degus are a group of octodontid rodents in the Octodontidae family, but historically referred to the common degu (O. degus). [*] The front paws have a nailed digit that helps … The rat cage might be a bit small but it would depend how much time they spent in there and how much outside playing. Degus are diurnal which means they’re active during the day. Jerboas (from Arabic: جربوع jarbūʻ ) are hopping desert rodents found throughout Arabia, Northern Africa and Asia. 5 Things to Consider. Zuszek - 31.07.2008r. Rats are more sociable, and plus I'm fairly sure Degus are nocturnal. Read more…, VIVOPets.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The diurnal sleep pattern of the degu, in contrast to that of nocturnal rats and mice, makes it an excellent model to investigate human sleep/wake and circadian behavior (Lee, 2004). In the wild, they live in communities of up to 100, much like prairie dogs, and dig elaborate burrow systems comprised of food storage spaces and sleeping nests. Rats have adult body sizes of 9-11 inches with an extra eight inches for their long tails. They are inexpensive to buy, easy to maintain, and remain cheerful. The Degu is one of the most common mammals of central Chile; these hardy creatures tend to live in higher elevations of 1,200 meters and up in open grassy areas that have either small shrubs, rocks, or stone walls nearby for shelter. Thus, the basis of a proper degu diet is a combination of high-quality chinchilla or guinea pig pellets and a rodent block. Bekijk onze rat degu selectie voor de allerbeste unieke of custom handgemaakte items uit onze shops. The shelter has a chipmunk? (just saying, not that it's a bad thing. Some species are preyed on by little owls (Athene noctua) in central Asia. 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