Degu

Degu. Image created with craiyon.comImage created by Linda Velwest with craiyon.com

Degus are related to chinchillas and guinea pigs.  All these animals come from South America, degus specifically come from Chile. Degus are considered to be exotic pets and have only been used as pets for a relatively short time. Also, be very careful. Degus are considered invasive species in some U.S. states and are illegal to own as pets in California, Utah, Georgia, Alaska, and Connecticut. So check the laws in your state to be sure you can own a degu

Cage

Degus need lots of space in their cage to run around and they like to burrow. A minimum cage for two degus would be 24 inches by 18 inches by 2 inches, but the bigger the better. A wire cage with a solid bottom is fine. They will chew through wood or plastic cages. Their primary predator is birds, so keep a good roof on their cage.  


You need to provide them with dark hidies and nesting boxes so they can feel comfortable and rest easy. Provide them with branches to climb on and different platforms to explore. 


Like with all small furry animals, keep the cage away from drafts, direct sunlight, and other predator pets such as cats or dogs. They will get too hot if the temperature goes over 80 degrees F, but they are from a warm climate and don’t adjust well to very cold temperatures, either.Bedding


Another degu. Image created with craiyon.com Image created by Linda Velwest with craiyon.com

Bedding

Avoid any bedding that is dusty or contains ink or chemicals. Paper bedding is considered ideal for degus, as long as it has no toxic inks. 

Food and Water

You can feed degu pellets designed especially for them, or for small pets in general. Put their food in a non-tip bowl.  They should have constant access to high-quality hay. They can have vegetables a couple of times a week. Degus tend to bury their food, so be sure to clean their cage well after giving them fresh vegetables.  Also, degus have difficulty digesting sugar and often get diabetes, so avoid food with honey, molasses, or sweet vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots.


Sociability, Activity, and Toys

Degus like to be with others of their kind.  You can keep them in groups of up to 6. Be careful of mixing the sexes. Sometimes males together fight a lot, especially if there are females around. They definitely need a lot of social interaction and may get aggressive and neurotic if they don’t get enough stimulation. If you are introducing a new degu, do it slowly. Keep them in separate cages where they can see and smell each other for a while.  Then give them supervised time together until you are sure they are used to each other.


They like to chew on wooden toys. Keep them away from plastic because they will chew on that as well. Provide them with degu-proof spaces to run around in - a play pen or a room that is safe for them. 


A solid exercise wheel is a good idea, and you can give them PVC pipe to run around in. Running balls for exercise outside the cage will work fine for a degu. A flat-topped hidy is a good choice so they feel secure.


They can be easily trained to enjoy being petted and handled by humans. The more you interact with them, the more they will enjoy your company.  Just be sure to handle them gently and don’t grab them by the tail. Their tails are very sensitive and might fall off if the tail is pulled.  It won’t grow back.


While degus do like to nap a lot, degus like to be awake during the day, so you’ll be able to observe a lot of their activity. They tend not to bite people unless they feel threatened.


Degus are pretty quiet pets. They may whistle, chitter chatter, or make quiet noises when they are interacting.


They also need dust baths.  A small bowl of chinchilla dust given to them for about a half hour a few times a week will keep their fur and skin healthy.


Degu standing on a log. Image created with craiyon.com Image created by Linda Velwest with craiyon.com

Size

Degus tend to be 10-12 inches long including their tails. They weigh 6 - 11 ounces.

Lifespan and Health

You can expect your Degu to live about 6-8 years. Watch out for excessive drinking or urination because that is a sign of diabetes.  They are also prone to eye problems and bacterial infections of the feet. They tend to shed once a year.

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