What to think about before getting degus

Degus can be interesting little pets in the right home and unlike other smaller pets they prefer to be awake and active during the day. They’re very sociable pets and live in colonies in the wild so will definitely need the company of other degus (and of course their owners).

They might be small, but degus need lots of space because they are so busy! If you’re well-prepared for taking on degus they can be rewarding and very entertaining.

Where should I get my degus from?

We’d always recommend going to a reputable rehoming charity to find your new pets. They will do lots of checks to make sure you and your degus are a good match and they make sure your degus will be healthy when you take them home.

There are other places you could get degus, but we’d always recommend trying a good rehoming charity first. They will tell you everything you need to know about your new pets and give you lots of support once you have rehomed them – and you’ll be giving a home to a pet in need!

We would never recommend getting your degus from a newspaper advert or off websites. Wherever you get your degus from, you’ll need to check they have been brought up in a clean living environment and been able to get used to people and a household environment.

Do degus need company? How many should I get?

Degus are social pets and need the company of other degus to be really happy. You should keep your degus:

• In same-sex groups (just boys or just girls) to stop fighting and unwanted litters.
• In small groups of at least two but ideally more! (Make sure you have enough space for them all!)

Make sure your degus are gently handled by people from a young age as they will enjoy spending lots of time playing with you, too!

Do degus like being handled? Can I cuddle my degus?

As long as your degus have gotten used to being gently handled from a young age, they will be fine with being picked up. This said, it’s better to play with them rather than picking them up a lot!

Never pick your degus up by their tails. Degus ‘shed’ their tail when they feel stressed or threatened and this can cause that to happen. It’s important when picking up your degu that you let them climb into your palm and gently support them from underneath using two hands. Picking them up from above can scare them and make them think you’re a predator.

Degus aren’t really ‘cuddly’ pets so we wouldn’t recommend cuddling your degus. It’s much better to give them lots of toys and activities and just watch them be themselves!

What do I need to know about degus before I get them?

The more research you can do about degus before you get them, the better. We’ve put together a list of key things you might need to know before getting your degus:

• They’re more active during the day. Unlike mice, hamsters or other small pets, your degus are likely to be more active during the day and sleep during ‘night-time’ hours.
• They have a specific diet. You need to make sure you’re feeding your degus the right food for them. Check out our full information on what to feed your degus.
• Find a vet first! Degus are a little different to most small pets and you’ll need to find a vet who can treat your degus first. So find vets that specialise in exotic pets.
• They’re not quiet pets. Degus are social animals which also means they like to ‘talk’ to each other and you! They’ll often chirp and squeak a lot.
• Temperature is important. Degus need to be kept at temperatures below 20°C. They’re very sensitive to warm temperatures so anything hotter than this can make them really distressed and even cause heatstroke. See our page on your degus’ home for more information.
• They need company. Degus need the company of other degus to be happy. A lonely degu is a very sad degu indeed.
• They can live a long time. Degus have fairly long lifespans and can live up to nine years!
• They’re really active and fun to watch. As long as your degus have plenty of space and lots of toys and activities, you’ll find them really interesting to watch. They’re active little pets and always on the go, so there will never be a dull moment.