Ref. 75982-65IS it a rat, is it a mouse, is it a gerbil? No, it's a Degu.

John Warwick, at the Swindon and District Animal Haven in Wootton Bassett, has his hands full with a delivery of Degus little brown rodents that are like a cross between a rat and a gerbil.

He has agreed to take a total of 48 and they are currently arriving in batches.

The first thing he does is split the female and males to prevent a breeding frenzy.

He said: "They came from somebody in Basing-stoke that was a little bit irresponsible and didn't separate them.

"The owner started off with four but they breed very quickly.

"Shelters up and down the country are looking after them there are about 60 altogether."

He said they are like gerbils but bigger and better than rats because they don't bite.

Some are only a couple of days old while others are about eight weeks old.

"Some do look like little mice because they are only two days old," he said.

Degus originate from the lowland areas of Chile where they live in large groups, making their homes in rocks or hedges. In the wild can live up to 15 years, but in captivity they rarely become 10 years old

Meanwhile, a two-foot long iguana called Draco is settling into his new home after a flurry of interest from people who saw him featured in the Advertiser this week and were keen to give him a new home.

Draco had been taken to the animal haven by a woman who lived in Walcot. She had had him since he was a baby but had to move to the north for a new job and was going to live in rented accommodation where she couldn't have pets.

But an Adver reader who already keeps iguanas but who wanted to stay out the limelight, came to the rescue.

In fact John was inundated by people offering Draco a home.

He took calls from at least eight definites and another eight possibles. John said Draco's new home seemed ideal.

He said: "There was lots of interest. You wouldn't have thought there were so many people into them.

"But he is now settled into his new home he seems quite comfortable."

If anyone can offer a new home to any of the animals contact John at the haven on 07990 868887.

Tamsin Davis