Do you think i should buy a degu (south- american rodent) instead of a hamster? and why?

My hamster died not too long ago so i want a new hamster. If you want to, suggest another small pet, nad tell me why please.Do you think i should buy a degu (south- american rodent) instead of a hamster? and why?
I keep degus and I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. My degus don't smell (like some small animals do), they are friendly and social (and like to interact with us humans) and are very intelligent and best of all - AWAKE DURING THE DAY! =)





But, do some research online for more information about degus before buying. They do need some special care and there are some do's and don'ts.





1) Buy a pair of degus (same gender from the same litter if possible.) They are very social and do better if they are not on their own.





2) Learn what they can and cannot eat. Sugars and fats are not good for them. Their bodies are not designed to metabolise them well. If you feed them the wrong things they could develop diabetes or other health problems and die. (It's the same with any animal, but don't just assume that hamster food is good enough. It isn't.)





3) Give them a good sized cage and lots of things to chew and play with. I have a two story chinchilla cage for mine.





4) Don't get them wet if it can be avoided. Their fur is thick and absorbant and it takes them ages to dry out - so sandbaths (chinchilla sand) is what they use to keep clean. (The only time they should get wet is if they have a medical problem that requires being washed with water.)





5) They have predatory tails. This means you should NOT pick them up by the tail because as a response to predators, their tail will come off. Losing their tail will not kill them, but it isn't nice and I'm sure it doesn't feel good to them. And they have beautiful tails. =)





6) It is difficult to tell males and females apart by having a quick look underneath. Make sure the person who is sexing the degus knows the difference, and if all else fails put the pair into a glass bowl and look at them from underneath. If the space between their #1 organ and their #2 organ is the same - then it is likely that whether they are male or female they are the same gender and you won't end up with unwanted babies.





7) Inbreeding is sometimes a problem with degus - so make sure you trust the person you get them from. No animal should be bred with a member of it's direct family, and if it happens their offspring should never be allowed to breed. But sometimes it happens and sometimes it causes genetic problems - such as blindness, cataracts, diabetes, teeth problems. Use a reputable breeder and you reduce the chances of this significantly.





7) Lifespan. Degus generally live 5-8 years (in my experience.) I've heard of people who have had degus for 8-10 years, so this is no short-term pet. They are also illegal in some places, and I have heard of difficulties transporting them across state/country borders. So if you're at a stage in your life where you could be moving around a lot or the amount of time you can offer them is going to change a lot, you might be better off with a small and furry with a shorter lifespan.





Personally, despite the strict diet and the fact that they need room to play and social activities and exercise, I wouldn't consider degus to be time-consuming as far as care. Maybe I don't notice the amount of time involved with their care because they interact with me and we have a great time together. I never have a problem with spending time with them. =)





**Knowing you have a vet in your area that is familiar with small animals and/or exotics is also a benefit. If something does happen and your degu needs medical attention it is alarming to go to the vet and have him ask 'So how is your rabbit/hamster/gerbil?' because they've never seen a degu before.Do you think i should buy a degu (south- american rodent) instead of a hamster? and why?
im actualy getting 2 degus . i used to have like 5 hamsters ... not at the same time





but i heard that you have to get the degus in pairs bc they are very social and im sure youve read that if you seperate them and keep them alone..theyll become very hostile





they need alot of attention and they are really good at escaping so be careful





they have a strict diet...no sugars or theyll get diabetes and die





know that if their teeth are yellow ...better


if they are white it means the degu is gonna die soon





you need a really big cage for the degus because they need room.. make sure its not a cage they can chew out of because they chew like crazy. id get a degu instead of a hamster bc they are more fun... as long as your gonna give it attention theyre great





i would suggest degus


just make srue you get 2 ... NOT 1


they can be 2 males... as long as they are brothers


or 2 females


not male and female bc they ll have babies


duh





lol





jusst make sure you do your research about degus b4 you get one bc they are very unique and require special care





my hamsters died and i was sooooooo sad


hamsters live alot shorter than degus





so make sure that if you get a degu be prepared to keep it for 10 yeras or so...





youll get really attatched...





good luck





get a degu... they are interesting and cute





and nobody else has them
Degus are a lot bigger then a hamster or gerbil- I still say Rats are the best. You will have to put a lot more work into Degus, it is a different sort of time commitment. They are also more exspensive and need a larger cage (more like a small rabbit, guinea pig or chimchilla).
I like gerbils better than hamsters for a few reasons. One, they are inexpensive. Two, they are desert animals, so they don't drink as much and therefore don't urinate as much, and therefore don't smell as bad. Three, they aren't as nocturnal as hamsters, so they are often awake longer during the day. I also think they are very cute, about the same size as hamsters, and eat the same food, use the same litter and cages.





Degus are probably expensive and I don't know how hardy they are.
My suggestion is to look carefully at any pet you are considering to get. I personally wouldn't consider getting an exotic as it will take more work to care for but if you are up for it more power to you. I have over the years raised the assortment of mice, hampsters, and guinea pigs. My personal favorite was a guniea pig as I could pet it and it wasn't as delicate as a hampster. However you know how to raise hamsters and already have all the equipment so why not just get another one.
hamsters are way more fun ! i used to have one !
Go with the Degu. Mine died a few months ago and I would love to get another. They are really awesome. Also they are quite frendly. However be sure to feed them a balanced diet. I think that's what happened to the one I had. Not enough veg/grain.
Ferrets!!!! They are quite Fun, and love attention! They will play alot and you dont have to be so fragile with them they love horse play! And Dont worry they dont smell, they do though if you give them baths every other day! conntact me or Search Engine Caring for ferrets for more information. Trust me they are worth it fun and inteligent!