Environment
A suitable living environment
Diet
A suitable diet
Behaviour
To be able to behave normally
Companionship
To have appropriate companionship
Health
To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
1
Environment
A suitable living environment
2
Diet
A suitable diet
3
Behaviour
To be able to behave normally
4
Companionship
To have appropriate companionship
5
Health
To be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
Degus can be very active and enjoy exploring their surroundings. They are able to gnaw through plastic very easily so choosing a large metal cage with a solid metal floor is recommended. Degus need lots of vertical space to allow them to climb. They also need constant access to nest boxes filled with hay for resting and sleeping in. Degus also need to be kept in a quiet and cool room away from direct sunlight, radiators and other sources of heat. Natural enrichment is very important for degus - rocks, sand trays, willow tree logs, wooden hides, ceramic tunnels and plenty of hay to browse on all make ideal enrichment for degus.
Degus are herbivores. A healthy diet plays a big role in helping to prevent dental disease in degus. They should have constant access to good quality hay; in fact their diet should consist of 85% good quality green hay, 10% fresh and dried safe plants (such as herb pot marigold flowers and rose hips to bramble leaves and willow stems), 5% dry pellet feed and a large bottle or ceramic bowl of fresh clean drinking water. Muesli type feed and a lack of hay can lead to life threatening dental disease. High sugar fruits & treats should also be kept to a minimum for degus as they are prone to diabetes.
Degus are very active and inquisitive animals; they enjoy keeping busy exploring their surroundings and interacting with their companions through vocal sounds and grooming behaviours.
Some degus can enjoy socialising with their humans; they can become hand tame and enjoy taking treats from you and having a little chin rub. Providing degus with the ability to spend time coming out of their cage for some free-range supervised time in a secure room will give them even more opportunities to explore and play.
They also like to dig and burrow so provide them with a deep layer of bedding material for them to do this. They should also have access to a clean dust bath two or three times a week for about 20 minutes each time. You can fill a shallow bowl with chinchilla sand - make sure the bowl is big enough and you give them enough sand (about 4cm) to roll around in.
Degus are very social animals who prefer to live with at least one degu companion. They are best housed in same sex pairs or can be as a castrated male and a female. Naturally degus would live in large groups; a lone degu is likely to be less happy than one living with a well-matched companion degu. Many rescues offer a mixing service for single degus looking for a new companion. The following PAAG members often rescue and rehome degus: Wood Green the Animals Charity, Scottish SPCA, Raystede, RSPCA and Blue Cross.
Degus can be prone to diabetes and sometimes dental disease; however, the risk of these illnesses can be reduced if fed a healthy diet. Incorrect handling can cause stress and fear, as well as tail injury or loss. Degus should be gently scooped up or encouraged to climb onto your hands in their own time.
You should register your degus with a vet who will be able to provide you with more advice on things like neutering and general health care. Some vets have more experience with degus than others.
Check before you buy
Please consider contacting your local animal rescue/rehoming centre
Many rescue centres who take in multi species rescue and rehome degus. All reputable rescue centres will have health checked, neutered where required and socialised each degu prior to rehoming. The average fee is often the same as purchasing a degu from another source, except degus from elsewhere will often not have had the above done and may come with considerable financial and emotional implications. Check out the charity links below for your nearest rescue centre with degus available for rehoming.
Ensure you are 100% confident that the degu(s) is the correct gender that you have been advised it to be
If you are unsure, speak to your vet for further advice. Unexpected litters & accidental pregnancies are common with small pets as people don’t always ensure the sex of their new pets.
Spend plenty of time with the degus to ensure their character will suit your family
Ask lots of questions – reputable establishments will be happy to answer these for you.
Always health check any degus you intend to purchase prior to taking them home
Healthy degus should be:
- Alert & inquisitive
- No hair loss
- Eyes bright with no sign of weeping
- Clean nose
- No tail injury
- Teeth meeting each other and yellow/orange in colour
- Eating well without signs of discomfort
Common Scams
Be aware that degus being sold on through selling pages may have had little socialisation and may not be keen on being handled at first
