6 Fascinating Facts About Degus
Are You a degu parent still unaware of fun facts about little creatures? In a world where people demand little pets, the playful and curious nature of these octagons has attracted most people’s attention. Despite their social behavior and curiosity, there are still various interesting facts an octagon owner should know before keeping them as their pet. It will help to maintain their health and longevity. Let’s delve deeper and explore some exciting degu facts that you should know as their responsible owner.
1. Degus are Related to Chinchillas
Both chinchillas and octagons are little rodents that share similarities in various aspects, like their herbivorous degu diet. However, exploring them from a taxonomic standpoint shows they are not closely related. Some common differences between them are listed below:
Octodons
- Octodons belong to the family Octodontidae.
- Octodon rodents are vocal and have social or curious behavior.
- There is a clear difference between their size and appearance. The octagons weigh 170-300 grams.
- One interesting fact is that they are diurnal animals, which means they become active during the day.
- The average lifespan of these pets is 4-7 years in captivity.
- They are native to Chile and mostly live in grassland or forest areas.
Chinchillas
- Chinchilla has a family, Chinchillidae.
- They have dense fur and are famous for jumping or climbing.
- They are a little larger than octagon rodents. Their weight varies from 400-600 grams.
- They become active during the night or dusk time. Therefore, they are nocturnal animals.
- In captivity, their lifespan ranged from 10-15 years.
- They live in the rocky and high-altitude environment of the Andes Mountains.
2. Degus can Shed Their tail When Threatened
It is advised not to grab your innocent little companion with their tail. Let them reach to your palm and give them the support of your hands. They get afraid quickly and shed their tails, their natural mechanism. They are considered prey animals; they shed their tail as a defense mechanism whenever a predator attacks them in the wild. Therefore, it is advised to deal with them with care and attention. Below are some beneficial tips to handle your furry fellow.
- Allow them to get used to you first
- Grab them with your cupped hands.
- Offer them their favorite meal when they reach your palm.
- Handle them safely around their cage or on the ground to prevent accidents.
3. Yellow Teeth are an Indication OF Good Health
One exotic degu fact is that they generally have yellow teeth, which is a sign of good dental health. On the contrary, octodons with white teeth show a teeth illness due to improper diet. The teeth of these pets increase; therefore, continuous wear out is necessary. Giving them high-quality hay or vegetables with long fibers will help to wear down their continuously growing teeth and keep them in the right length. Let’s identify overgrown teeth.
- Struggle in eating could be a result of irregular teeth growth.
- Drooling around the mouth
- Loss of appetite
- Swelling in the facial area
- Audible noises while eating
If you witness any of the above signs in your pet, handle them carefully and have a sneak peek inside their mouth. It will help to identify any dental disease on time.
To learn more about Degu Health and care visit: An Ultimate Guide To Degu Health and Care:
4. Degus are at High Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
The octagons are susceptible pets because they are at high risk of diabetes, malocclusion, and obesity. It is a standard recommendation of their veterinary consultant to give them food with lower sugar content. It is one of the degu facts that digesting sugar is difficult for them, and in return they can suffer from diabetes.
Common Symptoms OF Octodon Diabetes: Here are some signs of diabetes you should be aware of if you’re an Octodon parent.
- Drinking Excessive water
- Cataracts
- Passing more urine
- Blurred visions
Giving them food with low sugar and high fiber would be a game changer for their health. Below are some suggested foods that you can give to your little fellow.
- Pumpkin
- Beetroot
- Apple (But in limited quantity)
- Hay
- Leafy Vegetables
- Carrots
- Degu Nuggets
- Corn
- Degu Pellets
- Occasional treats
- Clean Water
Did You Know: Among different degu facts, it is interesting to know that they are a unique model used to study rodent diseases.
5. Degus loves Sand Baths
Octodon rodents spend most of their time exploring and burrowing; therefore, they need a sand bath thrice a week. It is considered as a part of their grooming and skin care. Mostly, they don’t like water baths. Therefore, it is better to remove dust particles or oil from their skin with the help of a sand bath. It is recommended to use a specific type of sand mainly used for these little rodents. Most octodon owners use calcium carbonate sand, chinchilla sand, and volcanic pumice sand for their pets. Below are some tips for a successful dust bath.
- Change the dust once a week.
- Use sand that is specially made for these little octagons.
- 20 Minutes of the sand bath is enough for them
Did You Know: Octodons need a sand bath 2-3 times a week to maintain their oil balance and clean the fur.
6. Degus are Very Vocal
It is undeniable that octodons are very local pets.They have the ability to use various noises to communicate.
- Chirping
- Squeaking
- Chattering teeth
- Barking
These noises show emotions like excitement, contentment, fear, and warning. Understanding these noises will help the octagon owners fulfill their pet’s needs.
Did You Know: Bruxing is a low-frequency noise octagon produced with grinding teeth to show pleasure.
Final Verdict!
Being an octagon parent, it is necessary to understand some exciting degu facts. These little furry companions are native to Chile and share some aspects similar to chinchillas; the sand bath is their favorite activity, they are very local and can communicate in different noises like chirping, squeaking, barking, and grinding teeth, their yellow teeth are the indication of health. At the same time, white teeth show illness, so giving them a proper nutritious diet is necessary to protect them from diseases like obesity, diabetes, and malocclusion. You should know These fascinating facts about the octodons before keeping them as pets.
