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Choosing a Cage for Your Degu
If you are getting a Degu, this probably means that you are getting at least two Degus. You will need a cage. The more Degus you get, the larger your cage must be. Furthermore, the cage must be safe for the Degus.
Aside from the size of the cage, one of the most important things to remember is that Degus have chewing habits that cannot be ignored or broken. Plastic and wood cages are not suitable for Degus. Instead, wire or metal cages must be used. When selecting a wire or metal cage, the bars of the cage must be placed close together to keep the smaller Degus from squeezing through.
If the cage that you select has a wire floor, you are advised to get a piece of sheet metal to place in the floor. This will help to keep your Degu from injuring his feet. It will also keep the contents of the cage inside of the cage, and many people also wrap tin or sheet metal around the bottom edge of the cage in order to contain the bedding and such even better.
You can build your own cage, using mesh, but instead of making the frame of wood, you must make it from a metal. This can turn out to be much more expensive than buying a cage in a pet store.
Aside from the spacing of the bars, there is no such thing as a cage being too big for a Degu. There is, however, such a thing as a cage being too small. Your Degu needs as much room as possible for burrowing and tunneling. Cages with shelves are important, as your Degu will love to climb and perch on those shelves. Multi-tiered cages are ideal for Degus.
Cages that are designed for chinchillas are ideal. Bird cages, however, usually will not work, as they are too small. You can, however, use large bird cages that have several different ‘rooms' attached. Don't leave out the shelves. For each Degu in the cage, it is good to have at least one shelf. Wire shelves will work, but must be covered with wood or metal to protect the Degus feet.
Understand that if you use wood for the shelves, you will have to replace them often. Glass can also be used for shelving, and your Degus will enjoy being able to see through the glass, down into the cage below them.
So, how big should your Degus cage be? For two Degus, a cage that measures 100cm x 50cm x 100cm is usually ideal. If you are using a multi-tiered cage, make sure that there are actual ‘floors' so that if a climbing Degu falls (and they all eventually fall while climbing), he doesn't fall from the top of the cage all the way to the bottom, causing injury. Instead, he should only be able to fall down to the ‘floor' that he is currently climbing on.
Degu information,Degu tips, Degu advice,pets,Degu pet
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