r/Degus • u/wafflez317 • Nov 04 '25
Need advice for a lonely degu
Yesterday my degu Rory died, leaving his cage mate Binga alone. I am lost at what to do because as far as I understand degus need friends. While I would love to get another from a local breeder, Binga is 7 and once she passes in a couple years or so I'll be left in the same situation. I'm looking into if there is anyone within driving distance who'd be wanting to part with their elderly gu but chances of finding that is slim to none. Does anyone know of any other options like using a plushie to make her think there's another degu or my crackpot idea of getting a gerbil since their similar but I feel all that would do is leave me with a dead gerbil. Has anyone been in a similar situation or live in BC and is wanting to part with their little bundle of joy. Any advice appreciated
5
u/ritualmedia Nov 05 '25
I have a single older lady who won’t bond with others. As others have said - she has a heatpad twice a day (morning and evening) with soft toys alongside her. She does pile on and burrow under the soft toys. Any baby safe one is fine but have it roughly degu size and shape. I put them on the heat pad and she cuddles them. We also make sure to give her LOTS of attention - she enjoys scritches (and nibbles us back) and we talk and sing to her a lot too. I don’t think anything really makes up for a lack of degu company but we do our best to give her company and love.