The Degu: Our Newest Pet

The Degu (pronounced day-goo) is a relative newcomer to the North American pet scene. Introduced here in the 1960’s, this rodent is a native of Chile and was imported for the purposes of diabetic research. Degus get diabetes quite easily if fed the wrong diet and this made them popular in the medical community.

But their popularity as a pet exploded once people became familiar with these bubbly little characters. With personality plus and an intelligence that makes them easy to train, the Degus soon found themselves in the hearts of pet owners around the country.

They remain classified as an exotic pet and are still difficult to find in pet stores. Sometimes called a Brush-Tailed Rat, the Degu is a closer relative to the Guinea Pig and Chinchilla than it is to the family of rats.

Degus are not simple pets to keep. They are extremely social and require a lot of attention and a large habitat to roam in. Each pet Degu has its own distinct characteristics and their personalities develop the more you interact with them.

General appearance of the Degu:

-- Commonly have brown fur, but genetic mutations and intentional breeding have produced white, cream, black, blue and tan coloured variations of the Degu pet;
-- Degus will normally grow to the size of a rat. Adults will become 15cm (6 inches) for the head and body, with an additional 10cm (4 inches) for the tail;

-- Their weights can reach 300 grams (10 ounces, or half a pound);
-- Stocky and strong, the Degu has short legs, with very powerful back ones to allow them a speedy escape from predators.

Disposition and temperament:
-- Degus are gentle pets and will act much like dogs once they’re used to being handled;
-- These animals are easy tempered and will go out of their way to avoid biting which makes them good pets for children;
-- These pets will often groom their owners by a gentle nibbling action;
-- They can give a defensive bite if they feel threatened, or startled;
-- Bubbly personalities.

Comparison to other rodents:
-- Degus are diurnal which means they are active during the day as compared to the normal nocturnal ( active at night) habits of most rodents and small animals;
-- The average life span of this pet is 5-9 years, but some have been know to live for as many as 12 years in captivity;
-- Possessing a high intelligence, the Degu is an easily trained pet;
-- The Degu has a tendency to gnaw much more than other rodent pets and will readily chew through the plastic bottomed cages found in pet stores.

Sociable traits of the Degu:
-- Degus are highly social animals and live in groups of up to 100 in the wild;
-- If left alone, these pets will suffer in health due to boredom and loneliness.
-- Single Degus will have a significantly shorter lifespan than those maintained in a social environment;
-- Consider getting two pet Degus unless you’re prepared to spend a great deal of time the one pet;
-- If buying a pair, it is suggested that you get 2 of the same gender;

General Characteristics:
-- Although pet Degus can tolerate the cooler temperatures, they don’t take well to extremes of heat and cold, or damp conditions;
-- Pet Degus like to sunbath, but need shaded areas to get out of the sun when they want;
-- Degus reach sexual maturity at about 7 weeks of age for males and 12 weeks for the female. -- It’s important to segregate the sexes at this age rather than waiting until they’re 4-5 months old;
-- They reach full size at about 54 weeks (just over a year) when their body weight becomes stable and their growth and development has stopped;
-- These pets have a wide range of communication techniques with an elaborate vocal repertoire;
-- Affectionate, but not cuddly. This pet doesn’t sit still for very long and enjoys being able to run around and explore its surroundings;
-- It will taste anything it finds of interest, including fingers, toes and furniture;
-- Degus are burrowing animals. In the wild they will have a communal dig where quite large and elaborate burrows are developed through a group effort;
-- Female Degus within a group will nurse one another’s offspring;
-- Being a rodent, the Degu’s teeth will grow throughout their lives. These teeth are naturally orange due to the ‘carotenoids’ (orange and red pigments) found in many plants.

Overall, Degus make great little companions. Their easy going personalities and humorous antics make this animal a great pet for a loving family.


Picture courtesy of: Sofia Högberg
Website: http://estrellados.webs.com/index.htm

Special thanks to: Degutopia
http://www.degutopia.co.uk