I need some rodent pet help.......

[PLHH]

Okay...I've got 8 degu's
Info on Degus here (http://home-1.worldonline.nl/~hleli/index2.html)

I also just bought a rat. A little baby boy we've named Jimmy for Jimmy Neutron (my 3 y/o ds LOVES JN!).

I don't know too much about rats, but was told that I needed to keep him OUT of the habitat we have for our degus (HUGE!). But he was in there and was just fine.....as the degu's were with him. Any ideas on this?

Also, can I feed him just the same food as I feed the degu's? Fortified guinea pig food, timothy hay and alfalfa hay?

I keep getting VERY conflicting information and it's driving me NUTs!

I'd LIKE to keep the degus and rattie together.....as my dh about had a bird when I brought home a rat so I won't give him a heart attack by getting Jimmy a rattie companion, kwim?

OH! and what do they like to sleep on/in? Play things I should get or make for him?

Any great links? Any rattie experts that can share some expertise?

I'd appreciate it!

Thanks!

[stormyray]

I breed rats so I have had lots of experince with them. First off NO CEADAR BEDDING..... It can cause major resptory problems... Use pine or aspen... aspen is the best but a bit more $. Yes he can eat the same as the others. make sure they are small enought for him to naw on also a few pieces of dog or cat food and make sure he gets treats every now and then. They love peanut butter and crackers, ceral and so on. But not to often. they love to chew so a CLEAN plastic flower pot works welll but it will get chewed up. also paper tubes ie raping paper tubes. Im not sure about houseing with anything larger but that you will have to decide on your own. Imo No. There are some great rat email groups at www.yahoogroups.com check it out and good luck

[Willow_Raindancer]

I think they are advising not to put them with other pets, like rats, because of the transmition of ear mites and other parasites.
They are not as resiliant as a rat I guess?
If they are acting non-agressive toward each other, I'd give it a try. Just don't leave them unsupervised for a couple weeks.
At nights move Jim to his own box.
Watch for signs of ear mites and have fun!

Remember.............
snakes won't make good pals LOL!;)

[PLHH]

we've actually found that corn cob bedding is best for my degu's....they like to *dig* in it and they chew on the bits (keeps their teeth at the proper length!).

I'd use the aspen bedding, but I get asthma attacks from it. So I've been using the pine with chloryphyll stuff in it.....doesn't bother any of my rodents and keeps the odors at bay.

Hmmm......dog food.....BLECK! hate the smell of it!

What else around the house will my baby rattie eat? Cereal, pb&crackers......I've heard pasta? Dog bones? (my degu's LOVE Iams puppy biscuits!). How about fresh fruits and veggies?

Play things? Where do they sleep? Will a pile of hay work? Or do they like to be IN something (a little house or something?)? A hammock?

TIA!

[Morgaine14]

Hi. I've raised rats, too. The corn cob bedding, you have to watch them, because they wil swallow it. And they have no gag reflex, so I wouldn't give him too much peanut butter. A little bit on crackers or something works well. My rats like fruits and veggies, too. Like someone else said, yahoo groups has some good ones. They like bird toys, the wooden ones, to play with. Anyway, enjoy him.
Morgaine

[cherrywind]

I have degus as well. Here's what I've noticed about their behaviour.
They may initially treat another animal with curiosity more than anything, however, in time they can become incredibly territorial and aggressive against it.
I've also seen rats get territorial as well.

In MY opinion, I'd keep them seperate, it's safer in the long run.
Plus another cage to house a rat really isn't that expensive.