Degus
Taking Care of your Degu
The degu (Octodon Degus) is native to the
western foothills of the
Andes
. It is the most
prolific mammal in
Chile
, where it is considered an agricultural pest.
Since their importation into the
US
in 1964, degus have become a popular subject of research in the
areas of diabetes, cataracts, and circadian behavior.
Studies have shown that degus are social, long-lived and
have a low incidence of disease, traits that make them outstanding
pets.
Classification
Degus are rodents belonging to the suborder
Hystricognathi (“porcupine-like rodents’) based upon jaw
musculature and skull structure.
They belong to the family Octodontidae.
Octodon refers to the “figure 8” shape of their
cheek teeth. Other
names for the degu include brush-tailed rat and trumpet-tailed
rat.
Anatomy/Physiology
Degus resemble large gerbils and are dark grayish-brown
with a dark brush on the tip of the tail.
Their pupils are elliptical.
The kidneys produce urine that is normally yellow and
thick. Degus are
hind-gut fermentors and have a functioning cecum.
Their adrenal glands are relatively large.
They have five toes on each foot.
Behavior
Degus are diurnal and do not hibernate.
They dig elaborate burrows, are highly social and
communicate via vocalizations and postures.
If degus are not given social interaction and physical
stimuli, they may become aggressive or self mutilate.
Fighting is rare even when new introductions occur.
They enjoy human interaction.
Housing
Degus should be provided with a large cage containing
shelves, branches, a running wheel and plenty of room to exercise.
Wood shavings, recycled paper products and hay are all
suitable bedding materials. A
dust bath should be provided as for chinchillas.
At least two degus should be housed together.
Diet
Diet in the wild includes a wide variety of plants, roots,
seeds, fruit and livestock droppings.
A successful captive diet consists of a mixture of rodent
blocks and guinea pig chow along with grass hay.
Carrots, sweet potatoes, other vegetables, seeds and
peanuts are given as treats. Foods
containing sugar (e.g., fruits, raisins, breakfast cereal, honey
treat sticks) should be avoided.
Note that most pelleted feeds contain molasses, which is
used as a binder. Starchy
foods may also pose a risk.
Annual
Checkup
A complete physical examination, review of diet and
husbandry and fecal analysis are recommended on an annual basis.
Methods
of Restraint
Degus are usually scooped up with two hands.
They may be scruffed or held in an encircling grip for
examination. Grasping by the tail should be avoided, as tail
degloving easily occurs, requiring amputation of the tail.
Degus readily learn to step into a net, so this method can also be
used.
Breeding
Degus reach puberty at a later age than many rodents.
Breeding should begin when the female is 4-9 months of age and
body weight is below 250 g. In spite of their long
gestation, degus are not born as fully developed as one would
expect. The young are born with sparse fur and their eyes
open around day 3. Both parents assist with
thermoregulation, huddling over the litter to keep them warm.
The pups lie on their backs to suckle while the mother lies on top
of them. Pups nurse for about 25 minutes. Male degus
participate in raising the pups, so the pair must stay together
for successful breeding to take place. Infanticide is rare
among degus.
