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girlrazor
Baby Degu
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| Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 7:29 pm Post subject: A couple of questions! (I'm a newbie to degus!) |
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amethystbelle
Degu Rock Owner
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Location: Nottinghamshire, UK
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| Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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I mix my own to some extent but its more of a case i mix guinea pig biscuits with guinea pig mix and then add dried herbs and flowers to it then actually buying lots of stuff and actually mixing 
The problem i have found with premixed degu foods is that they are often bulked out with grains which are fattening and are ok to give once a week but i personally wouldn't feed anymore then that so i tend to treat them as a treat and stick to feeding the guinea pig food as the staple diet. There are 4 degu foods on the market at the moment in the UK, one made by Prestige that i wouldn't touch as it contains fruit so thats a big no no, there is also Vitakraft Degu Menu which is a nice mix but bulked out with grains, the zooplus food is a nice mix i have brought a bag of it in the past and it smells great and looks tasty but again it has been bulked out and to be honest i can create a simular mix for less at home. The Xtravital degu food is the only one i haven't actually tried as of yet i have heard good things about it but don't know that much about it as i have researched it in the past and there isn't much on it so would be interested to hear from anyone who has tried it and could give me an ingredients breakdown 
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girlrazor
Baby Degu
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| Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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I'm going to try the Xtravital as it was recommended to me, but I know the goo's diet is very particular and I don't want to feed them the wrong stuff.
I was just wondering if you could make your own crushed oats and timothy mix, or something along thos lines |
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amethystbelle
Degu Rock Owner
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| Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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You could make your own if you wanted but you would need to keep in mind that it would need to be low in sugars and carbohydrates and have a good level of vitamin c for it to be healthy for your goos
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girlrazor
Baby Degu
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| Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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In case you were wondering, this is what the Xtravital looks like:
Looks like a really good mix and they seem to love it |
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amethystbelle
Degu Rock Owner
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| Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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Do you have a list of the ingredients? I have to say it does look lovely, i might get a bag to mix in with my boys normal food and see what they think
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girlrazor
Baby Degu
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| Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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Yes there's a concise list of ingredients and other details contained on the reverse of the bag, it all looks great! It's apparently approved by vets too which is a plus.
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Ingredients: Wheat, high value soya, fibre extrudates, peas, alfalfa, locust beans, maize, carrot flakes, soya oil.
Sugar-free and low in fat! XtraVital Degu food is a tasty and balanced complete premium food. Degus are strictly vegetarian and have special nutritional needs. This food is a special formula containing vegetable nutrients. In the wild degus mainly eat grass, tree and shrub bark, vegetable leaves, grains and occasionally. High-quality ingredients maximise acceptance and healthy growth. The protein-coated chelated minerals ensure excellent absorption of these minerals into the body.
Also contains:
Echinacea, a plant extract that boosts the body's natural defences for a degu full of life.
Extra crunchy ingredients for dental health.
Added FOS* to boost the growth of healthy intestinal bacteria MOS** prevents harmful bacteria from forming in the intestines or being absorbed into the faeces, endangering other animals.
Recommended feeding: This tasty food is readily consumed. We advise that you monitor while the degu is eating. When starting with XtraVital you may like to mix it with the old food. Never feed peanuts, raisins or food containing sugar! The average degu eats around 20-25g per day. Refresh the food every day, and add a large portion of fresh straw and clean drinking water! |
£1.99 for 500g.[/b] |
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amethystbelle
Degu Rock Owner
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Location: Nottinghamshire, UK
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| Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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Its all sounds ok, the only things i would be wary of feeding would be the locust beans and the dried carrot but apart from that it seems fine. Well apart from the info on the back of the bag about feeding straw instead of hay 
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Andrea
Baby Degu
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Location: Chilliwack BC, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:20 am Post subject: |
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I mix my own food.....
I use Martins Guinea Pig Food, rolled oats & other cereals, a budgie mix (millet), and puffed wheat. My Goos love it and the Vet comments on how healthy they are.
I also give them fresh grass, romaine and parsley.
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girlrazor
Baby Degu
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| Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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That's a good idea and it looks tasty - is it expensive to mix up? I already have a bag of guinea pig and chinchilla pellets in the cupboard. I'm going to continue feeding them Xtravital at least until the two bags I've got have run out, but if I could find a nice, economic home alternative that would be great 
Thanks! |
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Andrea
Baby Degu
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| Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:59 am Post subject: |
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The pellets are the most expencive.
The oats and such i buy bulk and puffed wheat is pretty cheap (like $2 a bag). I also have to mix foods for 24 gerbils (and a hamster) so some things I buy more of then others.
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dilkara
Baby Degu
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| Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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I've been mixing the xtra vital equally with guinea pig food for my boys. I figured that if the xtra vital wasn't great I'd still be covered by the recommended G-pig food. |
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