Guinea Pigs or Degus?

[SoapyVP]

Hi

I haven't been on here for ages but still love my hamsters. I currently have 5 having lost a couple in the last few months.

In the next year or so I'm thinking of keeping either degus or guinea pigs aswell and can't decide between them.

I've been on a degu forum and a guinea pig forum so get some advice on both. Currently I'm at the stage that if had gps I could get a large home for them which I like and would be very happy with in the corner of my room. This would also be the cheapest and easiest option. However, I can't stop thinking about degus! They appear to be more interesting than gps? But I can't find a large enough home for them which isn't made by me - and therefore, I suspect, a hideous monstrosity in my living room.

I wondered what everyone on here thinks?

[ayemee]

I have 6 guinea pigs. Once they've settled in and their personalities shine through they're loveable and highly entertaining pets. I could sit and watch mine for hours!

[cypher]

I've never kept either so I can't offer any advice but whenever I browse through adoption sites I'm always surprised just how many degus need rehoming which leads me to think that they may not that easy to keep without doing lots of research & being sure you can cater to all their needs.
As guinea pigs have been popular as pets for so much longer it may well be easier to find out more about keeping them than degus & also easier to find the necessary housing, supplies etc. If you're not sure you have the space to house degus then I'd really look into that before you go much further with your plans, they are adorable but sadly we can't all give them what they need.

[katmick]

Degus are lovely and inquisitive pets,they love to live in a small group and sleep on a big pile on top of each other.I am looking after them in pet store and they do get overlooked as they are not so colourful as other pets.
They are lovely,but I personally would prefer piggies ...I don't know why.I like piggiepigpigs on YouTube for years,so maybe that's why.
I think people who get degus should be absolutely mad about them as they live up to ten years...
Their set up must be big and escape proof,which you are right,is not very pretty to look at.
There are good cages for degus by Ferret nation on internet,you can customize them to suit your needs with hammocks and wooden accessories.
But I agree with Cypher,piggies are well established pets,therefor there is more info and accessories available for them out there.
Decision is yours...all I can say is listen to your heart and if you are excited about giving either of them good home with everything they need,go for it...Just make sure that you are doing it for the right reasons,not just because one of them is cuter than
the other..xx

[BrainGirl]

Degus are extremely intelligent and will need a lot of stimulation to keep them from getting bored. They also need a carefully controlled diet because they are prone to diabetes. They would be really cool and entertaining pets but a lot like chinchillas in their needs. Degus jump!

Piggies are vocal, sometimes loudly so, which you may find endearing or annoying. As katmick and Cypher pointed out, they are well established in the pet trade and you're more likely to find supplies and vets for them. Also, they don't jump, at least not well. Escape-proofing will be a lot easier!

[hrl20100]

I own 3 female piggies myself and they are lovely pets. I adore them and couldn't imagine a life without guinea pigs! They are very vocal and can be kept both inside or outside. Compared to Degus they are not very smelly, but they have to live with other guinea pigs, much like degus and without company, can get depressed and develop health and behavioural related problems.

Guinea pigs are naturally skittish animals, though they are lovely to hold when you do eventually catch them. Degus are also naturally skittish, and once you have caught them, they are quite a handful to hold! (My friend has 4 of them and I have worked with them at my college)

Degus chew-a lot. They are incredibly active at night and are very noisy. They need a very large cage along with lots of enrichment. Guinea pigs need a cage with a lot of floorspace as apposed to the height of the cage, as they cannot climb. Degus are going to be far more expensive than guinea pigs and its a lot harder to find a specialised vet.

Personally I would go for guinea pigs!

[JBH316]

Although I've never had degus, I have had chinchillas and I would say that guinea pigs would definitely be the easier option! I can't remember my guinea pigs ever chewing my carpet/curtains/skirting boards/window sills.....

[virtualkeith]

I know this is a bit off topic, but I think sugar gliders are one of the most acrobatic pets I've ever seen. (never in person though) I didn't even know what one was, but some people in the states keep them. Not sure if they're even in the UK. Check out this video of them on an 18" wheel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSnQdr-s4fg

[cypher]

Don't tempt me lol! I've always wanted one of those but no way do I have the space to make one a good home, such a shame!

[racinghamster]

I have to agree with everyone regarding both guinea pigs and degus. I took on a pair of degus (a male and a female) a good while ago from a lady who was far too busy with her young children to devote time to them and the poor things were kept in a shed. It took a while, but she eventually drove them over. They were housed in one of those metal chinchilla cages with the wooden ledges. I don`t know why I was even interested in degus, they just became available and I asked about them and ended up owning them!

They were fed on Gerty Guinea pig food and hay. There are better degu specific foods on the market now though but I still feel degus are a bit of an enigma and health wise, they are much like guinea pigs. Both can need complex treatments by a vet regarding tooth problems, skin conditions and various other things they can suffer from. My male was older and a sweet little chap. Quite thin. During the time I had him, he had two urinary operations as he took urinary tract infections and a penile prolapse, which my vets fixed thankfully. But then he took a bad abscess on his left shoulder, possibly due to a bite from the other degu as she was a little madam. He went in for surgery but the mass was so large and infected, the vet suggested that he would lose his leg, so we sadly had to let him go. I was gutted because he was the better of the two in regards affection, being tame.

Soon after, I realised I wasn`t having anymore and found a local man who was looking for degus, so I contacted him and he and his daughter came out and rehomed her. had mixed emotions if I`m honest because I did love her, but knew she needed a home where there were other degus or chinchillas. I was more a gerbil, mouse, hamster person.

Basic degu knowledge like housing, correct diet, enrichment, health issues to be aware of are all things I would study before making a choice. Guinea pigs are probably the better choice and they are delightful animals. I would have loved some myself but never bothered due to pain issues I have with bending/kneeling and because piggies are larger anyway than your average hammie!
So many in rescue as well so that`s the place to look. Female piggies get on better than boars I understand although I have always been a male animal keeper myself and would probably have two males regardless!

I wouldn`t put anyone off degus because they are funny, cheeky pets. But try and go beyond the basics.

Look at the websites of Peter Gurney on guinea pigs. He was a piggy guru and sadly passed away a few years ago, but the man knew more than some vets regarding the welfare of guinea pigs, so do have a good look at his webpages and articles. x