What Pet Would Be Best For Me, Degu, Chinchilla Or Gerbil?
Monday, February 1st, 2010 at
10:31 am
I want one of them but I am not which one to get. I would want something that I can hold and stroke, one that is awake during the day and one that does not smell bad
Tagged with: Best • Chinchilla • Degu • Gerbil • What • Would
Filed under: Other Pocket Pets
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Each of the pets you mention are pretty active, mobile critters who aren’t going to be happy sitting around being petted for hours on end.
Chinchillas are crepuscular. Their busy times are basically sun up and sundown. In between, they sleep, but when they are up they are very active and busy. They do not, as a rule, enjoy being held and stroked and clutched. They have such thick fur that they overheat very easily and it is very uncomfortable for them. Chins are much more “chinavision” than people realize. I know they look cute and cuddly, but they rarely enjoy it.
Degu are a LOT of fun. I have degu and chins. My degu are absolutely hysterical to watch. They are friendly, bright eyed, busy little creatures, but again, they are not really big into being clutched and held. They don’t mind for a short period of time, but they would much rather be busy and running on their wheel or exploring the couch or bed. They sometimes remind me of cats. They run up for a pet, then run off again, busy at whatever they are doing.
Gerbils, are very busy little critters! They are constantly moving and running. They are cute, friendly little guys, but they are very busy!
All of these animals, like most pets, have special needs. For instance, a chinchilla and a degu need to have a special pellet formulated just for them, or in the case of a degu you can use a chinchilla pellet, but you need to mix in a guinea pig pellet or supplement their vitamin C. Degu are also prone to diabetes, so you have to be very careful about what you give them as treats. Degu and chinchilla also have to be kept in air conditiong of 70 degrees or less. Some will say they can go higher, but can you imagine sitting around in a full length fur coat in higher temperatures? It would be pretty uncomfortable. Neither degu or chinchillas smell, but you also need to realize that any caged animals is going to stink if you don’t clean their cage often and well. Gerbils are just little tiny beings, but they can generate a lot of urine that can really smell. If you keep their habitat clean, however, you shouldn’t smell them very much at all.
If you want a more cuddly, strokeable pet, have you considered either a guinea pig or a rat? Our guinea pig Emo will sit with you for hours while you rub his head and behind his ears and make all kinds of interesting noises. Our rats are very, very social as well, and love behind with their humans. These two animals will also be happy to wake up any time you want to play with them and are thrilled to be out of their cages. We constantly have a pig loose in the house, and he’s just hysterical to watch. A rat will sit on your shoulder for hours while you play video games or are on the computer, or they will run around the desk and come up to groom you. They are much more cuddly and outgoing than the pets you mentioned above.
Whichever you choose, be sure to do proper research into each one so you find the one that is right for you. Remember that even though they are small, relatively inexpensive animals, their vet bills can be costly, so that is something you need to figure into your decision making as well. Where you can purchase food, do you have a vet available, what kind of cage do they require – these are all important considerations before purchasing any pet.
Good luck in whatever choice you make.
I don’t know about those three animals for you.
Really the best pet you can get is a guinea pig:
->They are lovely and will be happy for loooooong cuddles
->If you clean their cage out every week they don’t smell
Female guinea pigs smell the least but you could get a male and have him done
It is better to get 2 piggies so that they can play 2gether
But whatever animal you do decide to get PLEASE adopt one and help the homeless animal list grow shorter
I keep gerbils, but for you I would not recommend them. They are easy to handle once they are tamed but they are not the type of animal that will happily sit still and be cuddled and stroked. They are very inquisitive and like to run and climb all over the place. Degus are similar in that they are active all the time.
My in-laws keep chinchillas. They do not smell and enjoy being held and stroked, they are quite happy to sit still for a while. They need quite a lot of space, but I would recommend you get a chinchilla out of those three animals.
a degu is always on the move and so are gerbils so it is quite hard to make them sit and stay with you.
i don’t know much about a chinchilla but heard they sit staring at you from their cage.
but i prefer rats. i have three boy rats that are all brothers and are very social and extremely intellegent. rats live for about 2 – 3 years and love snuggling up to you and love adventuring. the only thing is that sometimes the smell a bit if you are next to their cage and female rats get tumors easily.
but over all by far, a guinea pig is best because they will sit all day with you.
hope this helps
gerbil
easy to handle
not too expensive
soo cute
and doesn’t smell if you clean the cage properly!!!
my personal favorite…
My brother has got degus and they are great but you will have to get more than one. Guinea pigs like to sit on your lap and be stroked.
i think a gerbil would be good for u
xhinxhilla will do i think they r cute and not smelly