Housing a Degu: 100 × 60 cm and the full setup
Degu : A large multi-level metal cage of at least 100 x 60 x 100 cm for two, with hardwood or ceramic platforms and nest boxes. Deep bedding for digging and a temperate room below 25 degrees Celsius.
In our shop, for this use: Ceramic hideout for hamsters and small rodents (11.5 × 9 × 8.5 cm) (€24.90) · the whole shop
In our shop, for this use: Electric pet heating pad 45 × 45 cm (17.7 in) with chew-resistant cord ($48.90, ships from the US) · the US shop
Outside our shipping area? The downloadable practical guide: Small Pet Rodents: Choose Well, Care Well (€15)
In short: Around 12 to 20 cm without the tail and 170 to 300 g, a lifespan of 5 to 8 years, and a lively, vocal, very playful temperament. Lively, vocal and very playful, this Chilean degu is one of the few rodents active at your own hours. Its diabetes is well documented and serious: no fruit or sugar in its diet, and never a solitary life for this highly social rodent.
100 × 60 cm of floor: the serious minimum
For a Degu (and it does not live alone), aim for 100 × 60 cm of uninterrupted floor space — shop cages almost always fall short. Then add height: solid levels, ladders and hammocks multiply this climber’s territory.
The standard layout
Dust-free bedding 5 to 10 cm deep, an accessible sand bath, one hideout per animal plus one, a nest of hay or ink-free paper (never fluffy cotton, which garrottes limbs), a ceramic bowl and a bottle checked daily.
Temperature and placement
A temperate room (18 to 24°C), no direct sun or draughts, away from speakers and the television. Placed in the living room, this diurnal animal enjoys your company at the right hours.
Frequently asked questions
What cage size for a Degu?
100 × 60 cm of floor space minimum, plus solid upper levels — pet-shop minimums sit below serious welfare recommendations.
Where should a Degu cage go?
In a temperate, calm room, ideally the living room.
The guides that apply to you
- Roborovski hamsters orient their nest to Earth's magnetic field, a German study shows
Researchers measured that Roborovski hamsters build their nest along a preferred magnetic direction. Reason to think about the stability of their environment, not just its decoration.
- Roborovski hamster: what a comparative study reveals about its need for exercise
A Japanese study compared the activity levels and learning abilities of the Roborovski hamster with the dwarf hamster. The results change how you should think about its habitat.
- What cage for a rat? Height, levels and dimensions to respect
What cage does a pet rat need? Minimum height, number of levels, bar spacing and budget: our advice for an aviary-style cage suited to this born climber.
- What Size Cage Does a Hamster Need? Minimum Dimensions and Traps to Avoid
Minimum floor space, height, bars or acrylic: our advice for choosing a hamster cage that truly fits, far from the undersized models sold everywhere.