Octodon Degus
Common Degu
The degu is native to central and northern Chile, where they live in large groups. In the wild they live in elaborate burrows amongst the rocks and brush of the West Andean slopes. The females raise their young in a communal group. To be healthy and happy, degus should be kept as pets in family groups. As pets, they typically live 5-8 years.
Degus can become very tame if handled regularly and from an early age. They are playful and curious creatures and, like most rodents, love to chew everything. They thrive on social interaction and activity. Without regular social interaction and opportunities for exercise they can become aggressive and neurotic. A degu spends its days digging tunnels and burrowing, so it will need a large enclosure with adequate bedding that allows this activity.
While degus are relatively quiet critters, they do sometimes whistle or make quiet warbling sounds when they groom each other.
Housing
Degus require a large amount of space and should be kept in a big multi-level cage similar to those made for ferrets or chinchillas. The cage should have a solid floor. Provide a sufficient amount of bedding that will allow for digging and stockpiling of food. A solid (no rungs) exercise wheel and tubes (or PVC pipes) for tunnels are important cage furnishings to address degus' natural activities and exercise needs. You will also want to include a flat-topped nest box or igloo. This gives degus a sense of security and, since they like to climb, the box also gives them another place to climb up and sit. Clean, untreated branches from fruit trees put in the cage can also create climbing opportunities and entertainment.
Bedding should consist of dust free killin-dried aspen or pine shavings as these beddings have a high absorbency rating. Make sure to avoid cedar shavings as the oils in cedar are toxic to animals and can cause respiratory tract irritation. Other beddings to avoid are fleece, paper bedding, puppy pads, and old clothing or scrap materials due to lack of absorbency, ingestion leading to Gi blockages, and risk of fibers hurting the degus fingers or feet.
Degus are determined chewers and need plenty of opportunities to chew. Untreated, unpainted wood blocks or commercially produced wood chews made for rabbits work well for degus. Other wooden furnishings such as cage shelf’s and wooden huts are also great for degus gnawing needs!
Like chinchillas, degus need regular dust baths. Provide a shallow bowl of chinchilla dust a couple times a week. They will typically only need it for 20-30 minutes and then you can remove it.
Degu’s are also very social animals that absolutely require groups of 4-5 to be happy in captivity. Small family groups are best when keeping degus happily. They should never be kept alone.
Keep the cage away from direct sunlight, drafts, and other pets such as dogs and cats.
Degus will drink from standard small animal water bottles, food bowls should be ceramic or stainless steel (something that cannot be chewed up).
Diet & Feeding
Degus should be fed a specially pelleted high quality degu diet or a mix of 50% oxbow essentials adult guinea pig pellets and 50% oxbow essentials chinchilla pellets, you may also add a few scoops of oxbow essentials adult rat food to your 50/50 pellet mix as well (we find our degus really love it). Grass hay should always be available the best hay to offer is high quality or oxbow timothy hay or a blend of orchard grass and timothy hay. Some fresh vegetables in small amounts may be given a couple times a week as a treat. These include sweet potato (peeled, uncooked), carrots, green beans, and leafy greens. Degus do bury their food, so remember to remove any uneaten fresh vegetable treats before they spoil.
The diet of a degu should be low in sugars, carbohydrates, and fats. Degus are unable to metabolize sugar, so be especially careful to avoid treats with sugar, including fresh or dried fruit as too much sugar can lead to diabetes in degus. Rodent mixtures consisting of corn, cereals, sunflower seeds, raisins or dried fruit should not be fed to degus.
Clean, fresh water should always be available. Degus will gladly drink from any standard small animal water bottle. It is not recommended to offer water in a bowl as it will likely get spilled and soiled very fast. Offer fresh water at minimum of every other day.
Handling your degu
Start by hand feeding the degu small treats. When they seem comfortable taking treats, scoop them up with both hands, being sure to support their bottom. Handle them regularly to develop their confidence. Once at ease they may learn to climb in your hand when you reach into the cage. Degus move very quickly so when carried or held be careful to keep them secured. Never try to catch a degu by grabbing its tail. As a natural defense against predators, the tail sheds easily but doesn’t grow back.
Playtime and Exercise
For time outside the cage, a large runner ball can be ideal for burning off energy. For exercise you can offer a running wheel inside the cage, but the wheel should be made of metal to prevent the degus from chewing on it. Groups of degus will happily chase and play with each other when housed in proper groups of 3-5.
Medical needs
With degus being unable to metabolize sugar, diabetes is a concern. This can be prevented, however, by offering them degu-specific food and not giving foods high in sugar. If your degu is suddenly drinking a lot of water, contact your veterinarian.
Overweight degus have a higher risk of developing liver issues. Females in particular have an increased risk when they come to breeding age. Avoid feeding your degu fatty foods such as sunflower seeds and nuts.
Degus are also susceptible to ear mites. If you notice excessive itching or scratching at the ears, contact your veterinarian.
Cataracts are a genetic problem degu are susceptible to at any age. Contact your veterinarian should you notice any eye discharge or cloudiness.
Care sheet provided by Fantastic Beast’s Exotic Rescue.
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