What Do Degus Eat? Safe Food List & Feeding Guide
Quick answer: the best everyday food for degus is unlimited good-quality hay, constant access to fresh water and a measured portion of an appropriate low-sugar, high-fiber pellet or nugget. Suitable leafy foods can add variety, while fruit, sweet treats and feeds containing molasses are poor routine choices for a species that is unusually prone to diabetes.
Diet is one of the first topics a new keeper searches for, and it is also one of the easiest places to receive conflicting advice. Degus are herbivores with continuously growing teeth. Their food must support both the digestive system and natural tooth wear without adding unnecessary sugar.
Printable degu safe food list
This compact list reconciles the cited welfare guidance. Published advice differs on how often fresh leafy foods should be offered, so introduce them gradually and follow an exotics veterinarian’s advice for an individual animal.
| Frequency | Food | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Always available | Good-quality feeding hay and clean water | Hay should form most of the diet. Replace damp or soiled hay and check every water bottle daily. |
| Measured daily | Plain, complete degu nuggets | Follow the product instructions and veterinary advice. If degu nuggets are unavailable, the cited RSPCA and PDSA guidance permits suitable molasses-free chinchilla or guinea-pig nuggets. |
| Small additions | Washed leafy vegetables, dandelion leaves or correctly identified safe forage | Introduce one item at a time. Frequency differs between published guides, and uneaten fresh food should be removed before it spoils. |
| Occasional at most | High-sugar root vegetables such as carrot, sweet potato, beetroot or parsnip | The RSPCA recommends only very small pieces as an occasional treat. These foods are not needed for a balanced routine. |
| Avoid as routine food | Fruit, dried fruit, honey, molasses, yogurt drops, sweetened treats and human food scraps | These add unnecessary sugar. Rabbit, hamster and gerbil foods are also not automatic substitutes for a degu diet. |
The foundation: unlimited hay
Hay should make up most of the diet and remain available at all times. Its fiber supports normal gut function, while long chewing sessions help wear the teeth. Replace damp or soiled hay and offer it in more than one location when several degus live together.
Hay quality matters. It should smell fresh, remain dry and be free from visible mold or heavy dust. A degu that suddenly stops eating hay, eats more slowly or drops food needs prompt attention; appetite changes can be associated with dental or other health problems.
Pellets or nuggets: measured, not unlimited
Use a complete degu food when one is available. Some veterinary and welfare guides also accept a suitable chinchilla pellet, but the ingredient list still matters. Choose a uniform pellet rather than a colorful muesli mix that lets an animal select only favorite pieces. Avoid formulas containing molasses, honey, dried fruit or other obvious sources of added sugar.
Published portion guidance varies by product and source. The PDSA describes roughly 10 grams, or one to two tablespoons, of commercial nuggets per degu per day, while Blue Cross gives a one-tablespoon reference. Follow the instructions for the specific food, monitor body condition and ask an exotics veterinarian to adjust the amount for age, weight and health.
How to choose a degu food
- Choose a complete, uniform nugget: identical pieces reduce selective feeding compared with colorful muesli mixes.
- Read the ingredient list: avoid molasses, honey, dried fruit and other obvious sweet additions.
- Check the intended species: use degu food first; use only the suitable alternatives described by the cited welfare sources when it is unavailable.
- Measure the ration: do not keep topping up the bowl, and adjust only with product guidance or professional advice.
- Change gradually: introduce a new feed over time and monitor appetite, droppings and body weight.
The phrase “selective degu food” can refer to a product name or to the problem of selective feeding. This guide does not endorse a brand: the useful principle is to choose a nutritionally complete, uniform nugget that does not let an animal pick out only preferred pieces.
How much should a degu eat?
Hay and water are not rationed: both should remain available. The measured part is the complete nugget ration and any additions. Package directions and welfare references are useful starting points, but the correct amount also depends on the product, body condition, age, health and how food is shared within the group.
Weigh each degu regularly on the same scale and record the result. A trend is more useful than a single number. Ask an exotics veterinarian to review unexplained weight loss, weight gain or a change in eating or drinking rather than trying to correct it with treats.
Can degus eat fruit?
A conservative answer is to leave fruit out of the normal routine. Some guides permit a tiny, rare piece, but fruit adds sugar without being necessary. Because degus are particularly susceptible to diabetes, there is little reason to use sweet fruit as a regular reward when hay-based or leafy alternatives are available.
The same caution applies to raisins, yogurt drops, honey sticks, sweetened cereal, cookies and many generic rodent treats. A package marketed for small animals is not automatically appropriate for degus.
Leafy greens and forage
Small portions of suitable leafy greens or forage can provide variety. Introduce one item at a time and make changes gradually so you can see how the animals respond. Wash fresh plants, remove leftovers before they spoil and never feed a wild plant unless you can identify it with certainty and know it has not been exposed to pesticides, traffic pollution or animal waste.
Scatter a measured portion of pellets or safe forage around the enclosure instead of always using one bowl. This encourages searching behavior and can reduce competition, provided every animal still receives its share.
Fresh water every day
Degus need constant access to clean drinking water. Check bottles and bowls daily because blocked bottle valves, leaks and contamination can occur quickly. In a group enclosure, more than one water point prevents a dominant animal or broken bottle from cutting off access.
A simple daily feeding routine
- Check that fresh hay is available in several clean locations.
- Replace the drinking water and test every bottle valve.
- Measure the appropriate pellet portion rather than topping up automatically.
- Use part of that ration for scatter feeding or a simple foraging activity.
- Remove damp hay, spoiled greens and old food during the daily spot clean.
- Watch every degu eat so a quieter group member is not overlooked.
Warning signs that need veterinary advice
Contact an exotics veterinarian promptly if a degu stops eating, loses weight, drools, develops wet eyes, has a swollen face, drinks or urinates much more than usual, or shows a sudden change in droppings or behavior. Do not try to solve a possible dental or metabolic problem by changing treats alone.
This guide is general education and cannot diagnose an individual animal. Establish a relationship with a veterinarian who regularly treats degus before an urgent problem occurs.
For the person who knows a degu is not a rat
Once the feeding routine is sorted, our original “Degus Are No Rats” design is a lighthearted way to identify yourself as the degu person in the room. Choose the product below to see the current colours, sizes and offer on Amazon.com.
Standard T-Shirt
Degus Are No Rats | Vintage Stripes | For Degu Owners
Continue with the guide to degu colors and coat labels, the degu cage setup checklist or the free cage planner.