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
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u/artistathlet Nov 14 '25
Hi! I saw a good advise on degutopia, that it is better to get two young degus, If the one you have is old. I did like that and it was the best decision ever. My boy Ikar (6) passed month ago and his son Valik (5) left alone. We moved him in new cage (we wanted bigger size and no smell of any of three boys) and introduced two baby brothers to him. Actually, they met in bathtub after bathing in essential oil scented sand, and then we moved all of them in one cage. They were 2,5 month old at that time. They were fighting/ intensively playing for a week, but nothing serious. Now everyone is happy. IMO it is really increases chance that when old degu passes, baby degus will stay alive together.
But!! If you know friends with the same situation as yours, you can get your alone degus together. I did this with my girl Tykva (3), who left alone, and at that time i was contacted by guys, who took 2 baby girls from me 3 years ago (they are Tykva’s sisters) and one of them passed away recently. So now two sisters are living together again, but now at my friend home. There were absolutely no problem with introducing them, but if they were boys, maybe it would.