Mary Allen
The cute little degus are rodents and, unlike guinea pigs or hamsters, are unfortunately still not as well known as their rodent friends. However, the small brown rodents are still enjoying increasing popularity and are now kept as pets, but this has only been the case since the 1980s. The little rascals originally come from Chile and are related to the guinea pigs. In contrast to many other rodents, however, degus are also active during the day, which of course makes them more interesting as pets. However, if you’re thinking about getting degus as pets, it’s important to keep them species-appropriate. In this article we report on what should be considered when buying the animals and what such species-appropriate degu housing should look like.
Degus – small, cute, and demanding at the same time
As already mentioned, the small rodents come from Chile, where they lived in the low-rainfall Andes region. They live up to their description as rodents. Everything is eaten and gnawed, so it can happen quickly that furnishings are completely destroyed within a few days. Furthermore, degus need company and do not live alone in the wild. Therefore, please always keep your degus together with several animals and of course make sure that there is enough space for all rodents. Degus are much more demanding when it comes to keeping them than rabbits or the related guinea pigs. They are very social animals and depend on a species-appropriate diet in order to be able to live a long and healthy life.
Degus have a body size of about 12 cm and a tail that reaches an average length of 10 cm. The small rodents weigh around 250 grams and can live between five and eight years if they are kept appropriately and fed well. However, degus are not cuddly animals that love to be cuddled. They are curious, adventurous, and watching them scurry around brings a lot of joy. However, they are not suitable for small children.
- Size: about 12 cm tall
- Degus are social animals and need fellow animals
- Weight: approx. 250 grams
- Life expectancy: 5 – 8 years
- Species: rodent
Buying the degus – what has to happen beforehand?
Before you buy degus, you should urgently consider whether they are really the right animals for you. As previously mentioned, these are rodents and generally don’t particularly like to be cuddled and carried. Only if you can really offer the small creatures species-appropriate housing should the purchase really be an option. For example, keeping them in cages is out of the question, because regular exercise in the apartment must also be guaranteed. If you have small children in the house, you should wait a little longer before acquiring degus. With older children who understand what the rodents really need, keeping them is not a problem.
Buying degus
When buying degus, it is important not only to listen to your heart, but to bring together a nice and compatible group. The animals can be bought in pet shops, among other things, although animal rights activists would of course not support such a purchase. No wonder, because the poor animals are often kept in cages that are far too small. Going to the breeder would be an excellent alternative. Interested parties can buy the degus at a young age here and also get some tips on how to keep them. Breeders usually know better than the pet shop and the health of the animals is the top priority here. If you want to do a particularly good deed, your first look should be towards the animal shelter, because the cute rodents are also waiting to be adopted and loved here. Of course, under these circumstances it can always happen that the animals are alone in the shelter, so why not merge them with an already existing group? Here, too, there are usually no problems if you only give the animals the opportunity to get used to each other.
What are the costs for holders?
Prices vary widely when buying degus, so where you choose to buy your new pets matters a lot. These are probably the most expensive from the breeder. For example, the cute creatures are offered for 10 euros, although there are also some specimens for which you have to pay 100 euros. The price is not only determined by the provider, but also depends on the age and the coat color. The blue specimens are usually more expensive because they have only been around since the late 1990s and are therefore less common than the red-brown degus. However, please bear in mind that it is not just the purchase price of the animals that will affect you. Above all, the acquisition costs of large cages and the accessories are difficult for the budget and can quickly amount to several hundred euros. In addition, the running costs should of course also never be underestimated, since in addition to food, rodent things and the like, there may also be veterinary costs and any medication costs.
Posture requirements
Degus need space, which means the cage should of course be nice and big. The bigger the better. You can also offer your darlings more activities in larger cages, which the little ones are guaranteed to have a lot of fun with. An enclosure that is inhabited by two to four degus should have a minimum size of 120 x 50 cm and a height of 100 cm to 150 cm, whereby of course there should be several floors. However, degus need lots of different opportunities to play, nibble, and rest. Whether ceramic caves to hide, small tubes through which they can dash or the little house that gives everyone the opportunity to snuggle up and sleep together, there are no limits to the imagination. When it comes to the material, you should always make sure that the cage cannot be chewed through and is escape-proof. However, please also let your degus out as often as possible so that they can run a good distance and get some variety.
Taking care of the degus
The care of the degus is also an important point in keeping the animals. However, the rodents take care of themselves for the most part, whereby they are dependent on the tools required for this. To care for their fur, the little animals prefer to roll around in sand baths, using high-quality chinchilla sand or other bathing sand, for example. Please note, however, that sandbox sand and bird sand are unsuitable for the animals. You can simply offer the sand in ceramic bowls, which should have a diameter of at least 16 cm. The height of the bowl should be at least 4 cm.
Caring for the animals also includes taking a close look. Take a close look at your favorites regularly. Does the degu’s fur shine and are their eyes clear and clean? Furthermore, the claws should be in good condition, whereby claw care can be ensured, for example, by using ceramic sockets.
Important: At the first sign of illness, you should remove the animal from the group and consult a veterinarian. So you can protect the rest of the animals and maybe avoid worse consequences.
Tips for care at a glance:
- Offer your degus sand for grooming
- Are eyes clear and clean?
- Does the fur shine?
- Ceramic objects support claw care
Our conclusion on the subject of degus as pets
Degus are cute little rodents that fascinate people from the first second. The bustle of several animals in a cage or discovering the animals in the apartment, playing together or snuggled up to sleep, there are many great qualities that make rodents so special. And yet, before making a purchase, you should always ask yourself whether you can do justice to the animal in the long term and over the years, which not only affects the financial aspect. You have to take care of the animals, keep the cage clean and make sure the little ones have everything they need. Only then should you really go to the breeder, the animal shelter or the pet shop and get a Degubande. In our articles on the topic “The optimal degu cage” and “The species-appropriate diet of degus” you will learn more about these cute little rodents and their very special requirements for us humans.