🍖Feeding a Degu: the exact diet and the bans
Degu : Unlimited hay and degu- or chinchilla-specific pellets with no added sugar; no fruit, no sweet treats, no molasses-coated mixes. Dried herbs and leafy greens as extras.
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.
The Degu diet, precisely
A strict herbivore strongly prone to diabetes: unlimited hay and sugar-free pellets, never fruit or sweet treats. At 170 to 300 g on the scales, excesses show fast: measure by the spoon, not by eye, and distrust colourful mixes it will sort for the fatty bits while leaving the rest.
Fresh food, treats and forbidden items
On fresh food, the rule is gradualism: one novelty at a time, in light touches. On the blacklist: chocolate, onion, excess citrus and sugary industrial treats — a deal-breaker in a species predisposed to diabetes: even fruit is off the list. Water is changed daily, with the bottle brush-cleaned weekly.
The hoarding factor
Serve at activity hours (diurnal — active on your schedule) and remove uneaten fresh food within 24 hours. The species detail lives on the full Degu profile.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Degu eat day to day?
A strict herbivore strongly prone to diabetes: unlimited hay and sugar-free pellets, never fruit or sweet treats.
Which treats suit a Degu?
No sugary treats, fruit included: the species is diabetes-prone. A dried hibiscus flower or premium hay makes a better reward.
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