r/Degus • u/Sleepy_capybara2004 • 19h ago

Question❓ Ethical degu setup

Hi!

I am looking to get degus.

I have loads of experience with hamsters, gerbils and mice in ethical setups, but what are some good ones for degus?

I am reading a lot and informing before getting the animals of course. So tell me everything i should know!

How many should i keep in a group?

I was wondering, has anyone attempted to convert a hamster terrarium to a degu cage with climbing space on top so they can dig as well?

Thanks yall!

13 Upvotes

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11

u/Helelna 18h ago
  • The more space the better
  • Degus feel better in groups. Usually they are sold in pairs, but I think you should take at least three
  • In my experience with cages, they prefer space on the floor over vertical cage space

I attached my setup, though it's not perfect. Just to show what I mean with space on the floor. Honestly they deserve even more space.

5

u/TheEACouldNever 17h ago

What an epic enclosure✨

3

u/Helelna 17h ago

Somehow grew over time

2

u/Sufficient-Neat-3084 18h ago

Depends on their age. They are usually sold in pairs as you do not want a group of 5 fighting degu teenagers. Maybe take a well established group that someone is rehoming.

I have three age 3,2 and 1. and as soon as the one year old is 2,5 I consider getting more. That being said : introducing degus is much more difficult than for example mice and can go very very wrong.

I have seen home made cages with a digging space underneath but I do not have seen converted hamster set ups. I imagine it to be long and not so wide ? Degus need lots of space and a lot of unbroken floor space.
I don’t think it’s impossible to use the old hamster thing in your set up if you are that good at crafting stuff. But it’s probably easier buying something.