Degus
(Octodon degus)
Originating in Chile, degus were originally imported for laboratory experiments on diabetes in the 1950s because they suffer from an inability to process sugar. Considered a pest in their land of origin, they have become popular, if unusual, pets in Europe and America. Their closest relative is the guinea pig although they bear a visual resemblance to rodents and have been mistakenly called Chilean Squirrels. They certainly gnaw like rodents but their diet is more akin to that of the chinchilla or guinea pig, high in fibre and including the consumption of 'night droppings'
Around 25 - 30 cm, domestic degues are smaller than their wild cousins that measure around 40cm. This is probably due to inbreeding as most domestic degus originate from a small stock of only 10 imported originally. They are vocal creatures living around 5 years in captivity
Diet
The degu diet in the wild consists of grasses, seeds and
roots. It is nutrient poor so they spend a great deal of time foraging
and eating. Captive diet should be high in indigestible fibre and
should exclude all sugary foods including dried fruits. Suitable foods
include chinchilla and guinea pig pellets, well cured hay and some fresh
vegetables. High fat mixes such as hamster mix should be avoided
because they can cause liver problems. Fresh water should be available at all times.
JR Farm make a couple of good degu mixes available from Zooplus in the UK, they
are
Degu Premium and
Degu Special.
In captivity, degus do not have to spend as much time searching for food as they would in the wild so it is as well to challenge them to look for food or giving them food that they have to work at. A few pieces of chicory root wrapped in a ball of hay and stuffed into a strong cardboard tube or deep inside a rope of plaited hay will help replicate a more natural pattern of eating. Their food bowl should still contain the bulk of what they need for their daily diet but if they want extra they should be made to work for it rather than risk obesity.
Behaviour
Degus are social creatures, living in community groups in
the wild. It is kinder to keep them with at least one of their own
kind. They live in the wild by digging burrows in soft earth under rocks
with regularly used pathways joining the burrows above ground. Mainly
active by day, during summer months they are more active at dawn and dusk. They do not hibernate but do store food for the winter months when food
sources are low and demands on their energy much higher.
A high sided dust bath helps keep the special chinchilla sand from spilling all over the cage and makes it easier to keep clean. Sift the sand after use to remove faeces, hay and other debris which might cause injury or infection. You should use sand suitable for chinchillas which is available from pet stores. The dust bath must be solid enough that it cannot be tipped over.
Sticks such as hazel, willow, apple and pear tree branches provide something for the degu to gnaw on. In the wild, degu status is connected with the size of the twig nests they build so anything shreddable is always popular. Tunnels and boxes which resemble the burrows they would use in the wild provide places for resting and storing food.
Climbing provides regular exercise and an enclosed exercise wheel allows the degu to run as much as it likes. Take care that the degu cannot fall from a great height though. Provide plenty of corner shelves and ledges both for environmental stimulation and for safety reasons. Degus are curious creatures, but they are also prey animals, regularly watching out for signs of danger. Strange animals and people, especially if the move suddenly or swoop over the degu as a bird of prey would, will cause them to run for cover so it is important that they have places to hide where they feel secure.
If let out of their cage to run around the room they can be difficult to catch. Gnawing electric cables is a big hazard but too tempting for a degu who would naturally dig in soft earth and eat any roots it found. An enclosed exercise wheel such as the Wodent Wheel provides plenty of healthy exercise.
Health and Housing
Degus are prone to diabetes, fatty liver, cataracts and
mouth problems. Their teeth are naturally yellow. An adult degu with
white teeth has a serious health problem. Most health problems in degus can be prevented by correct diet and
hygiene. They should not be kept in cages with a wire mesh base because this can
lead to foot injury and infection or
pododermatitis.
Degus shed their tail if caught by the tail by a predator.
This is painful and the tail does not grow back. Never hold your degu
by the tail. Degus are prone to mouth infections, but these can be
prevented by keeping the water bottle scrupulously clean. If infections
occur despite this, try adding a very small amount of Grapefruit Seed
Extract, such as
Citricidal, to the drinking water.
Colloidal silver and
aloe vera are a good healing combination for sore
mouths.
Degus gnaw through wood and plastic. Cages should be made from metal or glass. Aviary type accommodation or a large aquarium with a mesh top are ideal. The cage should provide space to exercise and to hide, sleep and store food. The floor should be covered in a safe, dust free bedding such as Carefresh or Megazorb. Housing should be out of draughts and direct sunlight. Room temperature is ideal.
Breeding
Unless you have ready homes for the degu babies it is better
not to breed at all. Related animals should never be bred from as
degues are already too inbred, having been bred originally from a pool of only
10 originally imported animals. Baby degus should be separated into male
and female at 6 weeks to prevent the females being impregnated by their
brothers. Young animals should not be bred from, females should
be 6 months old
Pregnancy lasts 3 months and the male helps look after the
babies which are born fully furred and with their eyes open. Average
litter size is 5 but larger litters are not uncommon. Although there is a
risk of post partum mating, the female is normally not fertile again until
the litter is weaned at around 5 weeks. The young remain in the nest for the first few days after birth before
venturing out on their own.
When several females litter at the same time, the babies stay in the same nest and are suckled communally. Degu females have 4 teats. Degus pair for life and male degus pine for their female. The decision to keep a breeding pair means you have to consider the risk of the female having too many babies in close succession versus the upset of taking the male away. One alternative is to have the male neutered.