Degu?

[5melrose5]

Hi all. I was told that a degu, (a female I think )would make a good cage mate with my male chin? Has anyone ever done this? Thanks! Mel.

[Inked Up Tara]

Chins should not be housed with other animals. Just too many risks for all involved, but they can be in the same room, I think.

There are other members on the forum who can better direct you on the being in the same room thing, but as far as the same cage, I wouldn't do it.

[bethany]

They can safetly be caged together without zoonotic risks. However, it is not benificial to either. Degus get up and play for 20 min then take a 2 hour nap and repeat. chins as we know sleep during the day and stay up at night. The degu will drive the chin insane. Degu are very social and prefer colonies more than chins. You need to look into getting at least another degu.

[dawn]

Chins barely tolerate other chins let alone another species, its hard to get two chins to bond and there is no guarantee they will or stay that way long term.

[Stacie]

Not sure who in the heck told you that but it's definitely a no go!

[Tara]

Don't house them together. Chins and degus eat different pellets, have different sleeping habits, and are best housed with their same species.

I have 3 chins and 2 degus. They are all housed separately (so I have 5 cages to clean ), and the chinchillas and degus do not play together. If my degus even see the chins they are terrified so I hang a sheet on the fence to keep the peace.

[Tara]

Jul 22, 2009 7:55:43 GMT -5 bethany said:

You need to look into getting at least another degu.

Definitely! Degus love the company of another degu. I house my 2 boys separately because they got into a fight when they hit puberty, but I do let them have playtime together. They groom each other during that time and can still talk to each other while in their cages (they're next to each other).

[bethany]

I just wanted to add that because of the difference in sleeping habits I do keep my degus in a seperate room than the chins. That is just my personal preference you don't have to.

[5melrose5]

Thanks all! I am too afraid to put them together! A chinchilla breeder recommended it, she said that degus are cousins of the chins? Anyhow I saw online that a degu and a chin need a new home.They have pics and the chin and degu are cuddled together. I was wondering if that was common or just an exception. Poor guys, I wish I could adopt them, they are in a 30 gallon aquarium! I would have to buy decent cage though, and I cannot afford one at this time. I really wish I could rescue them all! *sigh*

[bethany]

There is a forum for chins and degus. A guy on there houses them together and it works out okay. He basicly said that the degus jump all over the chins and pretty much take advantage of them.

I don't see how that is at all benificial to anything around except for the PERSON watching. I know for whatever reason that I have to get up several times in a night for an extended period that I am cranky and mad. I can only imagine what the poor chin would feel like constantly being woke up every 2 hours.

Cousins is a loose term, if you want to look at it that way we are cousins to monkeys.

I have a mule, and have had donkeys as well. Both of them do not like to be with horses. If they are the only one with a group of horses they will hang out with them, but you still see them seperated from the herd. If you have 2 or more or a mule and donkey they will stay away from the herd and stay together. My mule generally stays with the cows.

Basicly my point is that yes a mule (the dam is a horse and the sire is a jack) is related to a horse. Enough so that they can interbreed species (a mule is sterile though). However, given the option they prefer the company of their own.

[Carol~Anne]

^^ That was a very interesting comment Bethany and I enjoyed reading it. Are mules always male btw?

[bethany]

No they are not, but either sex will be sterile. My mule kate is female she is the short brown one in the back of the picture found in this thread: chinsnfriends.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=games&action=display&thread=9792

A jenny and a stallion cross is called a henny. They are mean and look more like a donkey.

[Carol~Anne]

Thanks Bethany, I was just reading your previous comment out loud to Gordon and he thought that all mules were male but wasn't sure. I said I'd ask.