Tired of the standard small animal selection? Looking for something besides a mouse or rabbit? Have we got the animal for you! Degus are part of the fast-growing variety of exotic animals becoming available as pets. Now you can choose an animal other than a dog or cat and still be assured that you're getting a quality pet. Before jumping on the uncommon critter bandwagon, however, consider the care your unusual pet will need.

Degus are family oriented and crave social interaction. They do not do well as solitary animals unless you, as their owner, commit to spending quality time with them every day. Degus become hostile without companionship.

Most breeders recommend that you buy two of these animals--even two of the same sex--rather than keeping a lone animal. If handled from birth, degus retain their endearing pet qualities, even when kept in groups. You don't need to rule out purchasing a male/female pair, either; they are still friendly pets when breeding and caring for young.

Normal household temperatures are usually suitable for these animals. Regardless of temperature, the cage for any of these animals should not be placed in direct sun. When sun comes through glass and directly heats them, they can overheat and die on the coldest day.

Degus no longer can be imported, so all animals of this species you encounter should be domestically bred. However, domestically raised animals are not automatically gentle unless they are handled from infancy. If the person selling the animals uses gloves to pick them up and says, "they are just scared," it's probably true. Such animals will be no less afraid at your house than they are at the pet store or the breeder's facility.

Author(s): Linda Watkins

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