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Post by ravana on Jan 26, 2004 21:12:08 GMT -4
Hi, I'm new here.
I have a spare tank and was thinking of getting either degus or Shaws jirds, neither of which I have had before. It's a fairly large tank, 40" by 15", would this be big enough for a pair of degus or jirds (same sex) or should I make a wire cage extension to go over the top?
Which species do you recommend? I dont mind if they are not 'cuddly' pets but I would like them to be entertaining. I already have lots of mongolian gerbils, so I didn't want anything too similar. Also I would prefer a non-smelly new addition as they will be in my living room. Which species lives longer? I am leaning towards degus at the moment as my local rescue centre has lots of them.(although they do seem to have particularly revolting toilet habits...) What do you guys think???
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Jan 26, 2004 23:53:59 GMT -4
I was asking another poster about degus recently; knowing little, I suggested www.degus.org. This is one rodent area where I don't know much so I hope someone else can enlighten both of us. Suffice it to say, degus sound and look really nice, but I can't find any in NYC, although maybe there is a breeder. . . |
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Post by annvole on Feb 13, 2005 22:41:52 GMT -4
I've had both (I think they were shaw's jirds but may have been a different type of jird). One of the two girl jirds I got died a few days after getting them home so I kept the other girl with a whole bunch of different rodents that were alone. She got along with everybody and was always gentle. I think of jirds as oversized gerbils with real soft fur. They cannot climb very well and kind of hop when they run fast so they need lots of floor space to run in. I think they are supposed to live 4-6 years but I might be wrong. My girl would sit still to be petted but never got used to being upside down like the degus (I like to rub bellies) Thier personalities are more like a hamster. If they are busy at a project (like building a nest) they will ignore you.
Degus love to climb and need lots of layers and things to climb on. Degus like to be in control and if they got it in their head that something should be done a certain way they will let you know vocally and by body actions. They are one of the most talkative pets I've had. Degus are very good at imitating other animals so when I keep them with Guinea pigs, they will make guinea-pig-on-helium noises and when with rats, they make rat noises. Thier natural noises sound like a short-wave radio between stations (alot of blips and twirping). You should always keep degus with cage mates because they get very lonely and show it when by themselves. They like to be the boss so they are always in pushing matches with rats or "my mouth is higher then yours" matches with guinea pigs so I would suggest sticking with other degus for cage mates if you can but ALWAYS have some sort of cage mate.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 14, 2005 0:58:44 GMT -4
Very interesting information. Thanks. >>with Guinea pigs, they will make guinea-pig-on-helium noises <<   ;D |
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Post by annvole on Feb 15, 2005 5:08:47 GMT -4
Vocal arguments between GPs and degus always make me laugh because they make identical noises but the degu is an octive higher in pitch (even their teeth chatter is higher pitched). Wheeeet! tugga-tugga-tugga Wheeeet!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 15, 2005 23:23:28 GMT -4
My gerbils are usually rather quiet; only a little squeaking now and then,
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;D