All pet owners have a responsibility to their pets, and to buy a pet means a lifetime commitment to its care. Make sure you know everything you can about your chosen pet species before you buy. Try buying a book and asking our staff. All animals should be provided with fresh food and water, adequate housing, and a friend, if suitable for that species. All animals should also be taken to a vet as soon as possible, if required. Your style of life and household should also be considered when choosing a pet. If you can provide a pair of degus with all of these things, then read on……

Degus are great pets for older children and adults. They’re friendly, inquisitive and easy to look after. With lots of attention they can become very tame. Degus are very intelligent and love to play and explore. They usually live between six to eight years.

Degus should be kept in same-sex pairs or groups – they thrive in this social situation. They tend to be happier and healthier when kept together, and this way they have a play mate and someone to snuggle up with to sleep! You should buy degus together if they are to live together, so they are already friends. It can be very hard to introduce them later in life.

Degus are part of the rodent family and love to chew everything. Therefore, it’s essential that you buy an appropriate cage from which they can’t escape. A wire cage is a good choice but it’s important that it has a solid (rather than mesh) base to prevent your pets developing problems with their paws. Alternatively, you could keep your degus in a Pets at Home large gerbilarium or even in a fish tank with a suitable top.

Degus are very active, like to climb and need space to exercise. Ideally, their cage should have several levels or shelves as degus love to bound around from one level to another! Keep the cage out of direct sunlight and damp spots and away from anything which may cause rapid temperature fluctuations such as radiators or draughts. Degus don’t like high temperatures so don’t keep them in an overly warm room.

You should provide a large wooden nesting box full of hay for them to sleep in. Clean branches from stone-less fruit trees such as an apple tree will provide entertainment as will gnawing blocks. Cuttlebone is great for chewing on and provides calcium. Wooden and woven toys made from natural materials are always welcome – you’ll find these in your local Pets at Home store.

There are a few specific diets for degus but Pets at Home guinea pig nuggets (not muesli) are recommended for your pets. It’s important to feed them what they’re used to as this will help to prevent stress caused by changing their food at the same time as their surroundings. Good quality hay, such as Timothy hay, should always be available as should fresh water in a sturdy bottle.

Never feed your pets foods that are high in fat or sugar (sucrose, glucose, fructose) or honey as degus do not tolerate sugar well and it can cause a type of diabetes, which will make them very ill.. Fresh (not dried) fruits in very small quantities make ideal treats. Pets at Home stocks a selection of small animal treat sticks which may be given to your pets occasionally. However, you must check that they’re specifically designed for Degus as some treats will be too big for them and may contain sugar. Vitamin supplements are useful to ensure your degus remain in optimum health and mineral treats are also popular. You’ll need to buy a sturdy feeding bowl that is hard to tip over such as a heavy earthenware or stainless steel bowl. Uneaten food should be removed everyday and the food bowl and bottle should be cleaned and refilled daily.

Always keep more than one degu in a cage to provide companionship.

Your pets’ lives can be enriched by providing them with toys and stimulating natural behaviour. For example, hiding treats around the cage keeps them amused and stimulates natural feeding. Branches, shelves, different levels and tubes provide hideaway holes for food similar to those they’d find in the wild. It’s important to replace their toys and rearrange the contents of their cage regularly to stop them from becoming bored.

Time spent outside the cage should be built up slowly and carefully supervised as degus move very quickly. Do not allow them out in your kitchen or bathroom as there are many hazards and they may chew on electrical cables. A small pet playpen is useful. Many parrot toys are excellent for degus especially if they’re wooden and chewable! A large runner ball is ideal for burning off energy and you won’t have to worry about your pet escaping.

When you take your degus home, allow them a few days to get used to their new surroundings without being disturbed. You should then start talking to them quietly so that they get used to your voice. The next step is to introduce your hand into their cage and perhaps offer a treat. Once they’re comfortable with you, you can pick them up. Hold your pet close to your chest so that it’s facing you with one hand over its back and the other hand supporting its bottom. It’s important that you handle your pets regularly to develop their confidence and maintain your relationship with them. Degus do wriggle a lot but once they’re at ease with you, they may sit on you and allow you to stroke them.

Never pick a degu up by its tail. This could harm your pet and is very painful.

Keeping me clean

Degus are usually very clean creatures. Your degus’ cage and toys should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week using a pet safe disinfectant.

Given the correct care and attention degus are usually problem free. As with all animals the emphasis should be on maintaining clean and hygienic conditions and correct feeding regimes.

Like all rodents your degus’ teeth are constantly growing and it is important to provide him with wooden toys, mineral stones or treats to gnaw on or the teeth can become overgrown, requiring veterinary treatment.

Several times a week a dust bath filled with chinchilla sand should be placed in the cage so it may be used as a bath. This stimulates grooming, keeping the coat clean and shiny. Dust baths should be removed after about half an hour, to prevent them becoming soiled. Light grooming with a rabbit brush will help to build up their trust in you.

• Degu cage
• Home
• Small animal bedding
• Pets at Home guinea pig nuggets
• Sturdy food bowl
• Water bottle
• Mineral stone
• Dust bath
• Chinchilla dust
• Treats
• Toys
• Degu book

Click here to download the degu care information leaflet:

• Degu Care