How long do degus live and what does it depend on?

Chilean squirrel degu is liked by adults and children for its smart, cheerful disposition. This animal belongs to rodents, caring for them is similar to caring for similar animals, but their owners need to observe some of the nuances of keeping. What is their specificity, character and how many degus live - you can find out from the article.

The tiny exotic Chilean degu squirrel looks more like a rat, mouse, chinchilla, belongs to the species of South and Latin American rodents from the eight-toothed family. In the scientific world, it is called Octodon Degus (bush rat), or Degus, natural habitat of which is a foothill area with shrubs in South American countries - Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Peru.

Chilean squirrels have a body length of 10-24 cm (depending on gender), their long tail is 7-15 cm, and their weight ranges from 100 to 400 grams. In captivity, the weight of a degus usually does not exceed 200-250 grams. On the elongated muzzle of the animal, there are dark beady eyes, a slightly flattened nose, thick whiskers, large rounded ears sticking out above the head. The hair of these rodents is delicate, soft to the touch, and at the end of the tail there is a small brush of long hairs. The front legs of the degu, with which it grabs food, are shorter and weaker than the hind legs.

The color of the animal in nature is gray-brown or yellow-brown, on the back it is usually darker, and on the abdomen the coat is light gray or cream. Now in artificial conditions, spotted, blue and sand degus are bred. During danger (in nature, this is an attack of birds of prey) or a stressful situation, squirrels shed their skin with hair from the tail, leaving it to the enemy, then the animal bites off the naked, dead part of the tail to itself. She will not grow a new tail, so, having met a short-tailed bush rat, it can be assumed that she survived stress.

Degu sleeps at night, leading an active life during the day. In nature, she feeds at the beginning or at the end of the day, at this time the sun in her homeland is not so active and the animal will not receive heatstroke. At home, the protein can adapt to the owner's regimen.

Like many rodents, Chilean squirrel stores reserves for the winter season in its burrow. The teeth of this rodent grow throughout its life. Only 20 teeth, their animal periodically grinds on various planks or branches.

Dwelling in flocks in the wild, degus are gregarious in nature. On the foothill territory of the Andes, they dug whole communicating tunnels underground. Nimble and fast (this is how they resemble squirrels), degus build a strict hierarchy in their society, do not like strangers and guard the territory belonging to the group from them. Home-bred degus can be characterized as very nimble, agile animals with a curious and sociable character.

They are quick-witted, smart, know their name and even trainable. But each individual of the Chilean squirrel has an individual character, which is laid down from the childhood of the animal. This is especially true for degus raised in captivity. How the animal will behave, what to prefer in nutrition, will depend on how it was treated, in what conditions it grew up.

With regard to the senses, it is important to note that The degu's vision is poor, albeit with a good 360 ° view. But the hearing is very sharp: in a quiet and calm environment, the rodent's ears are relaxed and almost lie on the head, but they immediately straighten if they hear a slight rustle or noise. Degu know how to communicate through sounds, express their positive attitude or dissatisfaction.

The only degu in the house will demand attention and affection from the owner, to whom he will become a true friend. A couple of Chilean squirrels will not be so bored, they will communicate with each other, delighting the eyes of others with their funny behavior and games. Shrub rats are very shy and react nervously to sudden noise or movement; they need to be tamed for a long time and carefully. This must be taken into account when maintaining them, as well as warn children and guests who come to the house about their characteristics.

The life of Chilean squirrels in natural conditions, where they need to get their own food and defend themselves from enemies, is usually shorter than the life spent in captivity. In the wild, degus live only 5-6 years, becoming, as a rule, the prey of birds of prey and foxes.

They are almost not susceptible to diseases, they have strong immunity.. A squirrel tamed by man can delight its owner for 8–11 years (on average 9.5 years) and even degus-record holders are known who have lived up to 15 years of age. At the same time, degus, which have an unusual, artificially bred color, live significantly less than their natural-colored congeners. The life of blue or sandy species is only 3-4 years.

The longevity of these animals is achieved with great care and love of the owners, and also depends on the following factors:

• creating a favorable microclimate;
• correct feed;
• cell size;
• elimination of stress for the animal;
• organization of leisure, communication;
• timely access to the veterinarian.

In advance of the appearance of the Chilean squirrel in the house, it is necessary to take care of a comfortable and durable home for it. It can be a metal cage or a glass aquarium with a minimum size of 75x60 cm and a height of 50–70 cm. The floor should be covered with sand, paper or rags. For the absorption of waste products, it is important not to use coarse cat litter, pellets, hay. Fillers can injure degus legs, and they eat hay, sand is suitable for a toilet, an absorbent diaper.

There should be several important accessories for the animal inside the cage. These are various walkways made of wood, which the degu gnaws over time, a rotating wheel with a diameter of at least 35 cm. You also need to install a "mink" - this can be a house made of wood or an unnecessary ceramic flower pot. A few ordinary tree branches thrown inside the dwelling are suitable for grinding teeth.

It is better to choose an automatic drinker with clean water and a feeder to avoid scattered feed and spilled water.

Degas love to take "sand baths", it is better to put a container-pool with sand for these procedures temporarily for the sake of cleanliness around. Place the degu's dwelling away from drafts and heating appliances, trying to avoid direct sun. Animals do not like noise, so places near the TV and radio are not suitable. The kitchen is not the best room for Chilean squirrels, which cannot stand strong odors and high temperatures. Cleaning of the degu's home is obligatory - weekly duty and general cleaning once every 1-2 months.

The degu's diet consists of roots, cereal grains, seeds, herbs, leaves. The most adapted food for chinchillas in pet stores is a mixture of cereals, flakes, dry herbs, roots, dried berries. Occasionally, you can feed your pet with fresh unsweetened vegetables, rose hips, rowan berries, but in no case with sweets. Sugar is contraindicated in the degus' body, they are susceptible to diabetes mellitus. The daily food allowance for degus is usually divided by 3-5 times during the day.

Paying attention to a rodent pet, taking care of it is an important part of keeping Chilean squirrels. Constant contact with the owners will inspire the trust of the animal, it will feel more comfortable. You need to communicate with him calmly, in a quiet voice, avoiding sudden movements. Do not grab the degus from the back or from the side with your hands, because of fear it can show a defensive reaction and shed the skin from the tail. Show first an open palm, holding it all the time in front of the squirrel's eyes.

In addition to games and fun, it is imperative to monitor the external condition of the degus' fur and skin. The coat should be smooth, without lumps, skin without corns, redness. The mucous membrane of the eye should be clean, without conjunctivitis crumbs. A healthy degu should be cheerful, mobile, and jump frequently.

Degus are not susceptible to chronic diseases, but (often due to sugar intolerance and consumption of starchy foods) problems such as:

• dental;
• diabetes;
• baldness;
• cataract;
• obesity;
• digestive disorders.

Degu often catch colds, therefore hypothermia, water procedures, drafts are contraindicated for them. They are treated for colds by drinking plenty of fluids, giving rest and flushing the mucous membranes. In other cases, a timely appeal to the veterinarian, adherence to the rules of hygiene and nutrition with the complete exclusion or limitation of sucrose, fructose, nuts, will help.

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