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Your Degu and Plant Life
In the wild, Degus live on plants. Nobody brings them pellets, and any fresh vegetables that they get are those that they find either in a garden, or growing in the wilds of Chile. Wood is a particular favorite of Degus, not only for the nutrition, but also for the chewing required.
With that said, however, there are many woods that are lethal to Degus. As a Degu owner, it is important that you know which woods are acceptable, and which ones are not.
Unacceptable woods include Alder, Almond, Apricot, Aspen, Balsam Fir, Beech, Birch, Black Locust, Blackwood, Boxwood, Cashew, Cedar, Cherry, Citrus, Cocobolo, Cypress, Dahoma, Ebony, Elang, Elderberry, Elm, Ecalyptus, Fig, Fir, Goncalo Alves, Greenheart, Hemlock, Chestnut, Iroko, Juniper, Kapok, Laurel, Mahogany, Mansonia, Maple, Mimosa, Myrtle, Nectarine, Oak, Obeche, Okuhaba, Oleander, Olivewood, Opepe, Padauk, Pau Ferro, Peach, Peroba Rosa, Pine, Plum, Prune, Purpleheart, Quebracho, Redwood, Rosewood, Satinwood, Sassafras, Sequoia, Snakewood, Spruce, Teak, Walnut, Wenge, Yew, Yunnan, and Zebrawood. Man made woods are also unacceptable.
As you can see, this is a pretty extensive list. So, what woods are acceptable for Degus? That list is very short. Acceptable woods include Hazelnut, Hawthorn, Apple, and Kiln-dried Pine.
Aside from wood, your Degu needs fresh vegetables. Any type of green vegetable will be truly loved. Fruits should be avoided because of their high sugar content. Hay and grass are also incredibly important to your Degu. Timothy Hay is recommended.
Many Degu owners actually grow grass right inside of the cage for their Degus, using a grass box. This is a small box that has soil with grass seed. The top of the box is covered with mesh to prevent the Degus from chewing the grass all the way to the ‘ground.' The grass will continue to grow, and the Degus will eat the grass that grows above the mesh wire.
Finally, even though there are woods, grasses, hays, and vegetables that are perfect for your Degu, any acceptable plant that has been chemically treated is not acceptable. Simple washing doesn't necessarily wash away the chemicals used to grow the plant. All plant life that is made available to your Degu should be organically grown.
Seeds and nuts are also important, but should be limited due to their high fat content. Degus have a natural foraging instinct, and it is important to maintain that. Scatter a few seeds among their bedding, and allow them to forage for them. This also works with cereal grains.
If you don't have access to the appropriate woods, visit your local nursery. Also visit the pet stores in your area. If you cannot find appropriate wood in these locations, shop online to find the wood that your Degu will enjoy. Blocks of wood, branches, and even small sticks are all required.
Degu information,Degu tips, Degu advice,pets,Degu pet
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