Degu Care
Degus are social animals. In the wild, they often live in groups of thousands. In captivity they should be housed with at least one other degu of the same sex.
Degus live 6-10 years, sometimes longer when housed in pairs. They are significantly larger than a hamster or gerbil, often growing to be 12” long.
Housing
Degus should be housed in a multi-level barred cage. When purchasing a multi-level cage, ensure that the levels are not too far apart in case of a fall, and for any barred cage ensure the bottom is plastic. Always double check the bar spacing to ensure it is not too wide and ensure the cage has a top as degus can jump very high.
Bedding
Using the right type of bedding in your degus’ home is imperative for his health and well-being. Pine or cedar shavings must be avoided at all costs. They cause respiratory problems and can be very dangerous for all small animals.
Aspen shavings, Care Fresh or a similar paper shaving, or shredded paper can be used. Degus also enjoy building nests from organic apple or willow twigs. Degus also like to take a dust bath 2 or 3 times a week in chinchilla dust.
Cleaning
Keeping your degus’ home clean is important for their health and happiness. Wet or dirty bedding should be scooped out daily. The entire cage should be cleaned with soap and water once a week along with entirely fresh bedding. Toys, houses and other items should be cleaned at least once a month or more often as needed.
Nutrition
Degus should be fed a mix of chinchilla and guinea pig pellets, or a pellet designed specifically for degus. They should always have access to fresh hay which aids in their digestion, and may also be used for nesting. We recommend timothy hay.
A degu’s diet can be supplemented with a small amount of fresh vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, broccoli and dandelions. You may feed corn kernels, sunflower seeds or nuts in a shell as a treat. Do not feed your degu fruit or other high sugar foods.
Toys and Exercise
Degus love having places to hide and play. We recommend:
- A hidey-house– this will give your degus a place to tuck away and feel safe
- A solid metal or plastic rat-sized wheel. Avoid wire wheels at all costs – they can be very dangerous for little degu feet and their long tails can get caught. The wheel should be large enough that the hamster doesn’t arch his back when running.
- Toilet paper rolls, cardboard boxes and wooden bird toys
- Organic apple or willow branches for chewing
In order to create our degu guide we used the following sources:
www.rabbitrescue.ca
www.degutopia.co.uk
http://degucage.com
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