Do degus like being held?
Degus will only tolerate being held (restrained) for short periods of time if they are familiar with the person and only when they are comfortable. Degus hate being held completely around the abdomen (middle) as this is similar to being grabbed by a predator in the wild. If held in this way, the degu will try and wriggle out of it to break free (this promotes survival from a predator). However your degu will enjoy sitting on your hands/arms for a while if you give them a rub behind the ears. Very tame degus have even been known to sleep on their owner’s shoulder or in their hands. A relaxed degu will sit very still or even lie in a comfortable position. You can tell if your degu is comfy if they yawn, stretch, close their eyes or grind their teeth together briefly.
