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.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Wooden hay rack with tray for rabbit, guinea pig and chinchilla (€21.90) · the whole shop
Our products don’t ship to you yet, but the PDF practical guide is instant: 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.
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.
The guides that apply to you
- The guinea pig's "wheek": a learned call tied to food
That high-pitched squeal a guinea pig lets out the moment it hears a bag of pellets isn't random. What research shows about its vocal repertoire, and how to keep a consistent feeding routine.
- Why baby guinea pigs are born almost ready to fend for themselves
Full coat, open eyes, nibbling hay within hours of birth: baby guinea pigs are among the most precocial of rodents. What that changes for how they're fed.
- Degu: why it sometimes refuses to eat under a heat lamp
An ecophysiology study shows the degu trades off between a low-fibre diet and the thermal cost of foraging — a useful pointer for where to place the bowl and the heat spot.
- Why the Mongolian gerbil drinks so little: what its kidneys reveal
A Chinese study on the Mongolian gerbil details its exceptional ability to concentrate urine to save water. What this actually changes about the water bowl.