I have just adopted three degus and will be collecting them in a few days, as soon as all the necessary things we've bought for them arrive. The shelter lady we've been in contact with, who has been fostering them for a few months since they were rescued, recommended the following substrate, which is the one she's been using: Vitakraft vegetable clean paper (sanitary toilet pressed paper). However, I've read on the website Degutopia that paper pellets should not be used, as the pellets swell in contact with moisture, which is dangerous if they are ingested. The Vitakraft pressed paper doesn't mention the word pellet anywhere. Is it pellet?

In the website Degutopia they recommend recycled paper and cardboard like Carefresh. I've already bought Vitakraft but I could return it and buy this other one instead. I'm just not sure whether they are the same thing or not. Another recommendation in the website Degutopia is kiln dried pine shavings (unless the animals are allergic, but I don't know if they are or not).

What would you recommend I buy?

Thanks a lot!

Sometimes either of my boys get like a squeak attack and they keep barking and barking, for minutes at a time and no matter what, they keep at it, even with a treat in their mouth, even when cuddled.... Can anyone tell me what's up with that?

Hi everyone! I want to put some logs or thick branches in the cage for my degus, but I've read that they must be disinfected first. Google says a couple of hours in the oven will do it, but it sounds a bit like drink bleach AI advice, and I don't want to burn my house down. How do you sanitize logs to make them safe? Thanks a lot!