Welcome back to the Degu Diaries!
Now we’re all acquainted, it’s probably about time to get down to business, isn’t it. This post will focus on how we chose the right cage for Pixie and Pika and the weekly process of cleaning out - which really isn’t as unpleasant as you might think!
Let’s start with the cage itself…
The girls’ cage was purchased before they were adopted, and we did a lot of research into which would be most suitable for both them and us: obviously it needed to be big enough for two degus, but anything too big may have been difficult to live with in a rented property with limited degu-appropriate space. With some help and advice from the folk at Notts Nibblers, we decided on this cage from Amazon. At under £100 and inclusive of medium-sized water bottle and hay tub, it seemed reasonable and perfect for our needs, and it arrived with easy-to-follow instructions so didn’t prove too difficult to put together (for reference, it took James and I around 45 minutes to build).
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| The cage set-up before the furballs moved in |
The only concern with this cage was whether or not the spacing between the bars were too large, meaning that, if the degus decided to stick their heads through, they could get stuck and hurt themselves; many comments on the Amazon page seem to think this generally wouldn’t be an appropriate cage for degus. My opinion is that it may be unsuitable for younger goos as they could well be able to fit their heads through the bars and subsequently get trapped or hurt, but for slightly older/bigger degus it would be perfectly fine – Pixie and Pika are around a year old and can fit their noses through the spaces, but have never shown any sign of getting stuck and have never tried to force their way through the gaps.
The cage size you’ll need depends on the number of degus who will be living in it; this useful advice sheet from the RSPCA recommends a cage 100cm x 60cm x 60cm for two degus. Our girls’ cage is ideal for them as there is plenty of room for them to run and play in without being cramped by each other or their food, toys, etc, but three or more goos would require a bigger cage.
As you can see, this cage came with plastic floor levels. In the last six weeks or so the girls have discovered that the corners of these are great to gnaw on, and a number of holes have appeared at the sides. To counteract this, James laid down some degu-safe wood on top of the plastic which seems to have worked brilliantly – the girls now have something safe to chew on that won’t damage them or their home!
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| Taking a hammock nap after all that playing! (Pika on top, Pixie below) |
So, now we have the cage and its furry residents, how do we give it the weekly spring clean?
Pixie and Pika absolutely love their cage being cleaned because they get a little change of scenery: they get wheeled into the bathroom and have the chance to get a proper run and play outside while their home gets freshened up. The bathroom is a safe environment for them as there are no exposed wires or other electrical dangers for a curious degu to nibble on, and there is a hard slate floor which is much easier to clean than the carpet in the living room where they normally live. There also aren’t any corner or hidey-holes for the girls to get lost in and all surfaces are much too high for them to reach, so there’s no need to worry about them getting into any mischief!
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| Pika keeps herself entertained in the forage box! |
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| For Pixie, cleaning day means a chance to go on an epic quest for treats |
Cleaning out the degus’ cage usually takes an hour to an hour-and-a-half, depending mostly on how much the girls decide they want to ‘help’ that day. Below are all the items I use when cleaning out the goos (a Spotify account can also be really useful: degus are adorable, but aren’t great conversationalists). You’ll also need a decent-sized bin bag for all the old bedding etc.
From left to right:
- A soft, easy-to-clean cloth (and plenty of hot water). Microfibre cloths or towels are perfect for cleaning out purposes and can usually be bought extremely cheaply from a number of high street shops or supermarkets.
- Hay (£9.00 for 3kg, Pets At Home). Pixie and Pika have timothy hay, but many types are available including meadow hay and hay with alfalfa (although alfalfa can be sweet for degus and, as they aren’t allowed a great deal of sweet or sugary things, isn’t the best choice). Goos use hay for both bedding and food, so it’s an important and very necessary resource! Always keep a reasonable amount on hand for supplementing the cage supply if it gets low, and replace dirty or uneaten hay weekly when cleaning out.
- Degu-safe cage disinfectant (Johnsons Clean N’ Safe, £3.50, Pets At Home). Degus will normally choose a preferred spot in the cage to treat as a toilet area, but it’s always an idea to wipe down all surfaces with a specialised small-pet-appropriate disinfectant to be rid of any lingering odour-causing bacteria. For our girls I tend to spray some of the Johnson’s cleaner on to a damp cloth (keeping well away from the degus, obviously), wipe around the cage floors after removing old bedding, rinse the cloth thoroughly in hot water, and wipe the surfaces again to lift away any excess disinfectant or dirt. It probably goes without saying, but don’t use bleach or usual household products to clean an animal’s cage!
- Cage scraper (circa £5.00, local pet shop). A handy item to reach the back of the cage while removing dirty substrate, bedding, or hay.
- Wood shavings (£5.00 for medium bale of degu-safe wood shavings, Pets At Home) or cardboard substrate (FinaCARD cardboard degu bedding, £15.00 for maxi-bale, www.finacard.co.uk). Although wood shavings are pictured, I do prefer using cardboard for the degus’ bedding. Wood shavings can be dusty and therefore irritating to a degu’s respiratory system, but are soft and comparatively cheap (do make sure to use degu-safe wood shavings though, such as those from wood-fired pine. Many types of wood are unsuitable for goos!). When bought in bulk, however, shredded cardboard is hugely economic – one FinaCARD maxi-bale lasts for around two months – and is more environmentally friendly; not to mention easier to clean up!
- Cheap but durable dustpan and brush. Don’t bother spending pounds and pounds on a fancy dustpan and brush when all they’ll be used for is cleaning out degus. Something for a couple of quid, like this set from Wilkos, will see you right.
- Chinchilla dust (£4.50 for 3kg, Pets At Home) and sand bath. Having access to a sand bath for about half an hour two to three times a week is vital for degus as the dust removes grease and dirt from their fur. Pika loves bath time and it’s adorable to watch! Although this is chinchilla dust it’s perfectly fine for degus, too.Instead of a designated sand bath from a pet shop – which can cost upwards of a tenner – we picked up a loaf tin similar to this one for about three pounds from a supermarket. It has high sides (a necessity as sand has a tendency to go everywhere when degus get involved with it) and is made of metal, so won’t be nibbled to death.
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| Before: all old bedding has been removed and the flooring has been wiped clean |
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| After: spick and span! New wood shaving bedding and fresh hay in the nest box. Try dropping sheets of tissue paper in for the degus to tear up! |
The key with cleaning out cages is being patient and methodical: start on the top level and work your way down, replenishing food sources and thick layers of bedding throughout. Give all nest boxes, toys, etc a wipe down with a damp cloth as you go, and try putting recreational items back in different positions or places each time: goos love variation!
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| Both girls have an obsession with the cage scraper; they love nibbling and trying to steal it. Cute, but not helpful... |
What items do you use for helping degus feel at home? Is there anything you’ve found which works better than anything else, or is there a product you really dislike? If you have any advice or useful tips for choosing and maintaining a degu cage, please do leave a comment below!
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