Degus as Pets 2026: Diet, Housing, and Social Needs

Degus are not hamsters with longer tails. They are diurnal, intensely social, fast-moving rodents native to the dry scrubland of central Chile, and the husbandry required to keep them healthy is closer to a chinchilla setup than to anything in the mouse or gerbil family. They live six to eight years in captivity when fed correctly, and they crash into metabolic disease within months when fed the standard “small animal” sugary mixes sold at most pet stores. This guide covers the housing, diet, and social structure that keeps a degu colony stable for the long run.

What a degu actually is

Degus look a little like fat gerbils but behave like miniature prairie dogs. In the wild they live in burrow colonies of 8 to 12 related females with one to two males, forage in daylight, and communicate through more than 15 documented vocalizations. They have hypsodont (continuously growing) teeth like chinchillas, a similar fur structure that requires dust bathing, and a uniquely low tolerance for dietary sugar. Their pancreas does not produce enough insulin to handle the fruit or starchy vegetables that most rodents process fine, which is why a single grape can start an irreversible cataract progression.

They are loud during the day, quiet at night, and surprisingly affectionate once a colony bonds with its keeper. They are not, however, beginner pets.

Legal status before you buy

Degus are illegal to keep in several US states because they are considered an agricultural risk if released. The current banned-or-restricted list includes California, Alaska, Hawaii, Connecticut, Georgia, New Jersey, and Utah. Australia bans them nationally. Some Canadian provinces require permits. Check the law in your specific city, not just the state, and confirm with your rental lease before purchase. A rehome from a banned state is not legal even if the original purchase was.

Housing

Degus need vertical space, deep bedding for digging, and metal bar construction.

• Cage size: minimum 36 by 24 by 36 inches for a pair, larger for three or more. The popular Critter Nation double-unit and Ferret Nation 182 are common choices. Glass aquariums do not provide enough airflow and overheat.
• Bar spacing: half an inch maximum. Adults can squeeze through 5/8 inch bars.
• Bedding: 4 to 6 inches of paper-based bedding or aspen shavings on the bottom level for digging. Avoid cedar and pine.
• Wheel: 12 inches minimum, solid running surface, no axle bar across the back. Wodent and Silent Runner 12 both work.
• Hides and platforms: multiple wooden hides, cork bark tubes, and at least two ledges at different heights.
• Chew load: apple, willow, pear, and hazel wood. Degus chew constantly and damage soft furniture if given the chance.
• Temperature: 65 to 72F is ideal. Above 78F is dangerous because they cannot sweat or pant efficiently.

Position the cage in a room with predictable daytime light. Degus are diurnal and need a regular light cycle to maintain their cortisol rhythm.

Diet

This is where most new keepers fail. Degus tolerate almost no dietary sugar.

Daily base:

• A high-fiber chinchilla pellet (not a colored “degu mix” with seeds and dried fruit). Mazuri Chinchilla and Science Selective Degu are reasonable choices.
• Free-choice timothy or orchard grass hay, replaced daily. Hay is most of the diet by volume.
• A small handful of safe leafy greens daily: romaine, kale, dandelion greens, parsley, cilantro, basil.
• Filtered water in a bottle, changed daily.

Treats, small amounts, two or three times weekly:

• Plain rolled oats.
• Sunflower seeds (one or two per degu, no more).
• Fresh herbs.
• Dried rosehips.

Strictly avoid:

• All fruit (fresh or dried).
• Carrot, sweet potato, corn, peas.
• Honey sticks and yogurt drops sold for small animals.
• Anything labeled “treat” with sugar, molasses, or fruit in the first three ingredients.

A degu diet mistake compounds. Cataracts from sugar damage can appear within months, and reversal is not possible.

Social structure

Degus must live in same-sex groups. A solo degu develops repetitive behaviors (cage bar biting, fur chewing, weight loss) within weeks. Recommended group sizes:

• A bonded pair from the same litter is the easiest starting point.
• Trios of females work well.
• Trios of males can work if introduced young and housed in enough space.
• Mixed-sex pairs require neutering, which carries surgical risk in such a small mammal. Most keepers avoid it.

Introducing unfamiliar adults is difficult. Plan for a split cage method over four to six weeks with scent swapping before any direct contact. Adult male introductions sometimes fail entirely.

Handling and bonding

Degus are not lap pets in the rabbit or guinea pig sense. They prefer climbing on their human rather than sitting still.

• Hand-feed greens or oats daily for the first two weeks.
• Never grab the tail. The skin can degloves under pressure and does not grow back.
• Scoop from underneath with both hands.
• Expect three to six weeks before a degu willingly climbs onto you.
• Out-of-cage time in a bunny-proofed room of 30 to 45 minutes daily is healthy once trust is established.

A bonded degu will groom your fingers, accept food from your mouth, and respond to a name with food association.

Health monitoring

Watch for:

• Cataracts: cloudy eyes, bumping into objects. Often diet related and progressive.
• Diabetes: excessive drinking, urine smelling sweet, weight loss with normal appetite.
• Bumblefoot: open sores on the paws from wire flooring. Always use solid surfaces.
• Malocclusion: drooling, weight loss, dropped food. Requires a small-mammal-experienced vet.
• Heat stress: lethargy, splayed posture. Treat as an emergency above 80F.

A small-mammal-experienced vet is a non-negotiable before adoption. General-practice vets often do not know degu-specific issues.

Who should keep degus

Adopt if:

• You can commit to a six- to eight-year lifespan and find a small-mammal vet locally.
• You will keep at least two and avoid all sugar in their diet.
• You enjoy diurnal pets and do not mind the daytime chatter and wheel noise.
• You have space for a 36-inch cage and chew-proof out-of-cage area.

Skip if:

• You wanted a quiet, low-maintenance starter rodent.
• You live in a state where degus are illegal.
• You travel often and have no sitter familiar with their diet.
• You wanted a single solo pet.

Degus reward attention. They are not a beginner rodent, but for a keeper willing to learn their dietary rules and respect their social needs, they make some of the most interactive small mammals available.

Frequently asked questions