Degu Care Guide

A chatty daytime rodent that's awake when you are

🎓 Some experience helps

By the WhatPetShouldIGet Expert Team · Reviewed against veterinary & animal-welfare sources · Updated Sep 13, 2026

A degu is the daytime answer to the hamster problem: a smart, chatty little rodent from Chile that's wide awake during the day, loves company, and genuinely learns to know its people. Degus need a friend of their own kind, a big chew-proof cage, dust baths like a chinchilla — and one famous rule: no sugary food, ever. In return you get 6–8 years of squeaky, curious, pocket-sized personality.

Is a degu a good pet for kids?

Quick answer: Degus are great pets for most kids. A degu is the daytime answer to the hamster problem: a smart, chatty little rodent from Chile that's wide awake during the day, loves company, and genuinely learns to know its people.

👍 Best for: awake in the daytime — active when kids are, chatty, curious, and fun to watch together
👀 Keep in mind: must be kept in pairs or groups
⏳ Lifespan: 6–8 years
💲 Ongoing cost: about $15–$35/mo (setup & vet extra)

📋 Degu at a glance

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Home

A home with no yard

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Care time

Some

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Cost

$15–$35/mo per animal · you need 2+

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Lifespan

6–8 years

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Cuddliness

Some cuddles

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Awake when

Awake in the daytime

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Handling

Gentle, supervised handling

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Company

Needs a friend

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Kid-friendly

★★★★☆

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Allergies

Not allergy-safe

👯 Company: Degus are deeply social and must live in same-sex pairs or small groups — a lone degu gets lonely, loud, and stressed.

⚖️ Check your local laws: Degus aren't legal everywhere: California, Utah, Georgia, and Alaska ban or restrict them. Check your state's exotic-pet rules before falling in love. See where it's legal →

Should I get a degu?

💚 Why you'll love a degu

Awake in the daytime — active when kids are
Genuinely social and quick to learn trust
Chatty, curious, and fun to watch together
Longer-lived than a hamster or gerbil

⚠️ Things to know

Must be kept in pairs or groups
Champion chewers — need a metal cage and no plastic
Can never eat fruit or sugary treats
Banned in a handful of US states

The honest answer: Yes, if your family can hold a strict no-sugar rule, buy a metal cage, and check your state's laws - degus are the daytime rodent most families are really after.

👍 Get one if…

Your kids want a pet awake every afternoon
You can say no to fruit forever
You have room for two chattering degus
You're charmed by squeaks, chirps, and warbles

👎 Think again if…

You'd slip a degu a sugary treat
You're in one of the states where degus are banned
You have grabby hands at home — a degu's tail skin tears off
You're hoping a plastic cage will hold up

✅ Am I ready for a degu?

Wanting one and being ready for one are different questions. These are the ones worth answering honestly before you decide — there are no wrong answers, and a "not yet" is a perfectly good result.

Degus must live in same-sex pairs or groups — you're signing up for at least TWO. Is your family okay with that?

Two degus, double the fun
I was picturing just one
We only want a single pet

If that one gave you pause: A lone degu becomes stressed and unhappy — two are honestly easier. If one pet is the rule, look at a Syrian hamster instead.

The golden degu rule: NO sugar, ever — not even fruit. Could your whole family stick to that?

No fruit, no sweet treats — understood
Mostly, but grandma sneaks treats…
Wait, not even a bit of apple?

If that one gave you pause: Degus get diabetes shockingly easily. Put a "NO FRUIT, NO SUGAR" note on the cage and brief every treat-giver in the house.

✅ All 5 questions — am I ready for a degu?

How to care for your Degu

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HomeA large multi-level metal cage with wooden platforms, a solid-surface wheel, deep bedding, and a chinchilla-style sand bath offered a few times a week.

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Food & waterDegu pellets or a chinchilla/guinea mix plus unlimited hay — and strictly no fruit, honey, or sugary treats, because degus are prone to diabetes.

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HealthWatch their teeth (they should be orange, not white!), give sand baths to keep fur healthy, and never grab a degu by the tail.

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Handling & playSit low, let them climb on you, and reward with a bit of veggie or a pinch of dried herbs. Scoop under the body — never by the tail.

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AllergiesDegus have fur and use dust baths, so they're not a good pick for allergy-sensitive families.

Degu care in depth

The rodent that keeps your schedule

The most common complaint about small pets is "it sleeps all day." Degus fix exactly that: they're diurnal — awake in the daytime, asleep at night, just like your family. They're also seriously social: in the wild they live in chattering groups, and at home they must have at least one same-sex friend, or they become stressed and withdrawn. Expect a running commentary of squeaks, chirps, and warbles — degus have more than a dozen calls — and a pet that learns your voice, comes to the bars to greet you, and genuinely enjoys company.

Build for a champion chewer

Degus are related to chinchillas, and they treat plastic the way kids treat bubble wrap. Their home needs to be a large, multi-level metal cage with wooden (not plastic) shelves, a solid-surface wheel (wire rungs hurt feet and tails), and plenty of chew toys and branches, because their teeth never stop growing. Like chinchillas, degus keep their coats clean with a sand bath — offer a bowl of special bathing sand a few times a week and enjoy the flippy, rolling show. One handling rule matters above all: never grab a degu by the tail. The skin can tear off as an escape trick — it protects them from hawks, but it doesn't grow back.

The no-sugar rule (and why teeth should be orange)

Degus have a famous quirk: their bodies handle sugar very badly, and they're extremely prone to diabetes. That means no fruit, no honey sticks, no sugary treats — ever. Their menu is degu pellets, unlimited hay, and safe veggies, with a pinch of dried herbs as the "candy" of the degu world. Here's a fun health check kids love: a healthy degu's front teeth are orange — white teeth in a degu are actually a warning sign. Feed them right and these little chatterboxes stick around 6–8 years, two or three times a hamster's run.

🐭 Full Degu habitat setup guideA degu cage setup guide — big multi-level metal cage, wooden shelves, solid wheel, sand baths, and a strict no-sugar pantry. Read it →

Degus are chatty, social daytime rodents that must live in same-sex pairs or groups. They live 6–8 years, love company, and have one golden rule: no sugar, ever.

✅ Before you bring a degu home

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Room at homeA degu pair needs a large multi-level metal cage — plan for something chinchilla-sized — in a cool room away from direct sun, plus safe supervised playtime out of the cage.

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Supplies to get firstGet a big metal cage with wooden shelves, a solid-surface wheel, hay and degu pellets, a sand-bath house and chinchilla sand, water bottle, and plenty of chew toys.

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Finding a vetFind an exotics vet who sees degus before you need one. Watch for tooth trouble and diabetes — the no-sugar diet prevents most of it.

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Money & emergenciesExotic-pet insurance for degus is rare; a small vet fund is more practical. Feeding them right (no fruit or sugary treats!) is the best insurance there is.

🗓️ Your routine — easy chores to remember

☀️ Every day

Fresh hay, pellets, and water
Daytime hangout and playtime
A quick health glance — bright eyes, orange teeth

📅 Every week

Offer sand baths a few times a week
Clean the cage floor and swap bedding
Rotate chew toys

🌙 Now & then

Deep-clean the cage
Weigh them if you can
Check teeth and tail health

💰 Monthly cost: Medium: the big cage is the main cost; hay, pellets, and sand are cheap. Remember you're buying for two!

🤩 Fun facts about your Degu

Degus 'talk' all day with more than a dozen different squeaks, chirps, and warbles.

Meet the Degu types & breeds

Standard Agouti

The natural wild look — warm brown with a cream belly.

SmallVery activeSome groomingOkay with care

Fun fact: Agouti fur has bands of color on every single hair.

Blue Degu

A soft blue-gray coat — the best-known special color.

SmallVery activeSome groomingOkay with care

Fun fact: Blue degus first appeared in European breeding programs.

Sand Degu

A pale, creamy-tan coat with the same big personality.

SmallVery activeSome groomingOkay with care

Fun fact: Sand and patched degus are still quite rare to find.

🛒 Degu supplies & starter kit

Everything to get started. Tap a button to shop.

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Big metal cage

$$$

Amazon

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Hay

Amazon

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Degu food

Amazon

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Sand bath

Amazon

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Solid wheel

Amazon

💬 For grown-ups: the buttons above are affiliate links (we may earn a commission). The $/$$/$$$ badges are our rough budget guide, not live prices — always check the size, fit, and current price for your specific pet.

📚 Helpful Degu guides

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How to Set Up a Degu Cage

A degu cage setup guide — big multi-level metal cage, wooden shelves, solid wheel, sand baths, and a strict no-sugar pantry.

🧒

The Best First Pets for Kids and Beginners

The best pets for kids, ranked by age and care level — guinea pigs, fish, geckos, rats and more, with what makes a great first pet.

🧑

The Best Pets for Tweens (Ages 9–12)

The best pets for tweens (ages 9-12) reward growing independence and interests — rabbits, guinea pigs, leopard geckos, rats, and hamsters.

❓ Common questions about degus

How much does a degu cost per month?

Plan on roughly $15–$35 per month for food and supplies. Medium: the big cage is the main cost; hay, pellets, and sand are cheap. Remember you're buying for two!

Are degus good pets for kids?

Yes! Degus rate 4/5 for kid-friendliness. Sit low, let them climb on you, and reward with a bit of veggie or a pinch of dried herbs. Scoop under the body — never by the tail.

How long do degus live?

Degus typically live 6–8 years. Make sure your family is ready for that commitment before bringing one home.

Are degus allergy-friendly?

Degus have fur and use dust baths, so they're not a good pick for allergy-sensitive families.

Should I get a degu?

Yes, if your family can hold a strict no-sugar rule, buy a metal cage, and check your state's laws - degus are the daytime rodent most families are really after. Get one if: Your kids want a pet awake every afternoon; You can say no to fruit forever; You have room for two chattering degus; You're charmed by squeaks, chirps, and warbles. Think again if: You'd slip a degu a sugary treat; You're in one of the states where degus are banned; You have grabby hands at home — a degu's tail skin tears off; You're hoping a plastic cage will hold up.

Are degus good pets for kids?

For families ready for a pair, yes — they're friendly, smart, chatty, and (unlike hamsters) awake in the daytime. They suit kids who want to interact and watch rather than carry a pet around, and an adult should oversee cage care and the strict no-sugar diet.

Why can't degus eat fruit?

Degus are extremely prone to diabetes — their bodies can't handle sugar. Even fruit is too sugary, so their treats are things like herbs or little bits of veggie. It's the single most important degu rule.

Can I keep just one degu?

No — degus are intensely social and a lone degu becomes stressed and unhappy. Keep a same-sex pair or small group from the start. Two degus are honestly easier to care for than one lonely one.

Are degus legal in my state?

Most US states allow them, but California, Utah, Georgia, and Alaska ban or restrict degus. Rules change, so check your state wildlife or agriculture department before getting a pair.