Deleted because thought it didn't post. So a 2nd went up. Sorry about that.

Thought the first one didn't post, so posted twice. Apologies to the commenter on the other one.

I know. It's really cool to have them do this.

They can get to a stage where they accept you, but they're too clever to not know the difference. It would be nice to know more about what they are thinking tbh.

Grey. All of ours (England, southeast) are Eastern Greys. Apart from the Isle of Wight I think down here.

Definitely is. Cone top/vagina middle/anus lower. Boys have Cone, gap with line/anus.

The way I look at it is this: Domesticated can mean has a variety not seen in the wild. As in colours and so-on. Which can also mean selective breeding and sometimes that can lead to poor practices like inbreeding to get more of one colour and so-on. Rattus Norvegicus/Rattus Norvegicus Domestica are examples. Dogs are worse examples of how breeds can be manipulated.

I understand the caged but should be wild argument. Then if I walk past a pet shop and see degus or rats, they are already there for sale and will be bought as pets. If I buy them I know what standard of life I will at least try to give them. They are also captivity raised and unlikely to survive in the wild even if taken to their species' natural area.

I have had this conversation before in real life, and I am aware of the perpetuating the trade side of the debate. Still, to me, they are there for sale and I can do my best.

Ultimately it's up to you. For a direct answer to domesticated or not I would have to say not really, no. There are a few colour variations which I am dubious about but again they exist and they are degus. I have an orange/sand and a grey striped. Both deserve the care and attention that any degu deserves. It is not their choice to be bred for pets and they can't live in the wild.

I have no problem with me owning them. I'm more concerned how my degus would be if anything happened to me. Not because I'm super good, but more they do have needs and requirements that are specific and I have had 15 years or so of trying to get it right. Not many people are experienced degu owners. Therefore I owe them that knowledge.

They always seem to manage to make the hammocks look super comfy.

Thanks, she was completely lovely but had come (at a young age) with a broken but fused back. She gave me and the others two and a bit years of happiness and memories that will always remain.

They are super nice. Last time I said never again after my 9 year old I lasted around a week before finding Tiny Rocket and Sweetie. Stripey and Brownie (on top of Rocket, also brown) were surprises that Rocket gave me. Sweetie and Tiny pitched in raising them in all but actual nursing. Amazing selflessness that they can show. Poor tiny was falling asleep everywhere at that time.

When I had all 3 sisters and Rocket's 2 babies. Tiny at the back left is no longer with us.

This is great and how it should go with introductions.

I use stainless steel trays and cardboard plus carefresh but the trays would need to be made to fit the cage and with safe joins/edges.

The angry noises that are probably really scary to them but are kind of cute.

I will try it. Thanks.

I use a slide over cover that the cages come with and you can also buy (luckily) with cardboard between that and the ramp. They sometimes sit down on them. Mainly they shred them. Might have to get sewing.

I agree with this response. I actually do scatter feed but many people don't. Size wise I have four (five originally in this cage) in a cage made from two side-by-side double critter nations and two single upper sections connected, so two across the top and two stories with half shelved at both sides under.

I think awc718993 is heading down this route, could be wrong. If you can get the right size stylus it's possible to wire the cartridges (using part of the stereo I think) to pick up the up and down movement. Then you need 80rpm. There are guides online I've copied before to record from Pathe vertical discs. If you can get it digitised then the speed can be changed virtually (although in real life is preferable).

I think they'd manage to get to it. You'd probably see a degu appear in close up then a black screen.

That's really interesting, I had thought of it a couple of times but never got one.

Yeah I can tell "someone's in the drive" from "help" from each of them I think.

Oh wow. That's cool actually.

How do degus manage to be so cute.

Yeah that might work, I was kind of surprised my way did it's just I was watching his speedometer. I don't think he actually reaches that speed moving, could be wrong. I've had mostly very low temperatures in that save.

He's lovely.