Pros and Cons
Pros
- You need to get at least 2. It is very entertaining to watch them play and fight (as long as it's not serious). They are both intelligent, clumsy, sweet and at times douchy towards each other. - They are fairly easy to feed. Depending on how you decide to feed them (store bought mix or home made) they don't need a long list of ingredients and fresh, expensive fruit and vegetables. - They don't smell. As long as you clean the cage appropriately they don't smell - thou it might smell a bit of hay and wood depending on your choice of bedding. - They are easy to clean. Other than a bit of tidying up in the cage, you only need to take time a couple of times a month to clean the bedding and clean the shelves and so on. - They are very affectionate. Both to each other and if you give them time, to you. They might not like being pet like other animals, but they might try to groom you and let you groom them back. |
Cons
- You need to get at least 2. The more degus you have the more money it will cost. It won't make a huge change, but it is still a factor to consider. More degus needs more room too, and more attention and time. - They aren't cuddly like a cat or hamsters for example. You might be able to pet them (depending on their personality and taming) but they probably won't be sleeping in your lap wile you stoke them in the evenings. - They gnaw everything. Wood, plastic, electrics, furniture, pillows - everything. You will have to keep an eye on them when they're out of the cage, and you should buy toys and cage accessories accordingly. - They are active 24/7, so they might disturb your sleep if you are planning on keeping them in your bedroom. - They can be a messy. They tend to kick a lot of bedding around, so keep this in mind when getting/building the cage. |