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I still have two male degu babies from a litter of six that were born on October 23rd that need to find good, loving homes. I’d prefer to rehome them together, but will consider separating to homes that already have degus. The adoption fee to the right caretaker is $20 each. This includes a supply of food mix, birth certificate, care guide, and health guarantee.
Degus (Octodon degus) are adorable rodents native to Chile and related to Chinchillas and Guinea Pigs. Like their caviomorph cousins, degus are long-lived pets with life expectancies of 7-9 years. They resemble gerbils but are much larger, about the size of the average person’s hand and weighing 6-10 ounces. Degus are known for their extremely soft fur, wiry tails, and gentle nature. Always inquisitive and never aggressive, degus make wonderful pets.
Degus are very social and curious animals that thrive on both human interaction and interaction with other degus. If trained to human contact from infancy, degus become both gentle and receptive to their owners, treating them as if they were another degu. It is best if they are kept in pairs or a group as the degu does not do well on its own. With other degus around, they become more playful, social, and vocal. Without social interaction and opportunity for exercise, they can be aggressive and neurotic. Degus are known to make a variety of quiet whistling, chatty sounds, as though they are speaking just a bit too soft to be heard. Degus are diurnal (active during the day), so they won’t be keeping you up all night with their chatter and wheel-running.
Degus need a large cage to support their larger size and active lifestyle. The cage should be made of wire or glass since degus are avid chewers. A chinchilla/guinea pig cage or a 40+ gallon aquarium will comfortably house 2 or more degus. Degus should have a large solid surface exercise wheel in their cage, and thick branches can be added to the cage for both exercise (climbing) and chewing opportunities. Like chinchillas, degus need regular dust baths to keep their skin and coat in good condition. Provide a shallow bowl with an inch or two of chinchilla bath dust a couple of times a week. Never lift or grab a degu by its tail. It will break off, hurting the animal. The area will heal, but the tail will not grow back.
Strict and proper diet is vital to keeping degus healthy. Unlike most common pet rodents, degus are not equipped to digest sugars and have difficulty regulating their blood glucose levels. As a result, degus are extremely prone to diabetes. It is critical that a degu is not allowed to get overweight and sugary foods must be kept to a minimum. Fruit should be avoided as a treat due to their high sugar content. The basis of a good degu diet is a combination of high quality chinchilla or guinea pig pellets. Grass hay such as timothy hay should be available all the times, and a small amount of alfalfa hay can also be offered. A variety of fresh vegetables can be given in small amounts once or twice a week.
Degus make WONDERFUL beginner pets or additions to a current pet household. Getting them from a private breeder ensures that they are young, healthy, and tame. If you're interested in these little guys, come by, hold the babies, and see for yourself how adorable and lovable they truly are!
*Please note, I cannot ship the babies, but will deliver within NJ and parts of NY/PA. Please, no breeder inquiries. They are available as a PETS ONLY.
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