Degu Food List PDF: A Free UK Feeding Guide
What can degus eat? This free UK degu food list summarises the essentials: unlimited clean hay and water, suitable herbs and leaves, carefully selected additions, and sugary foods to avoid.
Use the page and printable guide as a conservative everyday checklist when comparing foods or introducing a suitable new plant. It does not replace reliable plant identification or advice from a vet experienced with degus.
Free UK printable PDF
A practical degu food list for the kitchen or feeding area
This three-page A4 guide organises daily basics, suitable plants, measured additions and sugar traps. Download it without signing up and print it at home.
PDF · A4 · free · no signup
The degu food list in 30 seconds
- Always available: fresh water and clean, dry feeding hay.
- Plant variety: safely identified grasses, herbs, leaves and flowers, fresh or dried.
- Introduce slowly: offer one suitable new item at a time and start with a small amount.
- Measure nuggets: when used, choose a plain product without added sugar or molasses and follow the specific guidance.
- Avoid sugar: fruit, dried fruit, honey, molasses, yoghurt drops and sweetened mixes are not routine degu foods.
Degu foods at a glance
| Category | Examples and selection | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Daily basics | Fresh water and good-quality feeding hay | Keep both accessible; check freshness, dryness and water flow every day. |
| Plant variety | Safely identified grasses, herbs, leaves and flowers | Use clean, uncontaminated sources and introduce unfamiliar suitable plants gradually. |
| Chewing material | Suitable untreated branches and leaves | Feed only non-toxic species that you can identify with confidence. |
| Leafy additions | Small portions of suitable leafy greens | Published guidance differs on frequency. Introduce slowly and remove leftovers before they spoil. |
| Nuggets | A measured, uniform degu nugget without added sugar or molasses | Follow the product instructions and monitor body condition. Avoid colourful muesli mixes that encourage selective feeding. |
| Do not feed routinely | Fruit, dried fruit, honey, molasses, sweet snacks and sweetened mixes | These add unnecessary sugar to a species unusually prone to diabetes. |
Important: the examples are not a complete positive list. Do not collect a wild plant or branch unless you can verify its identity, source and suitability.
How to use the printable food list
- Download the PDF without registration and print it at A4 size.
- Compare the ingredient list on existing food with the guide categories.
- Verify any new plant with a reliable, professionally maintained source.
- Introduce only one suitable new item at a time.
- Watch every animal in the group and monitor weight, droppings, activity and appetite.
When to contact a vet experienced with degus
Seek prompt veterinary advice if a degu suddenly eats less or stops eating, loses weight, drools, drops food, shows a marked change in drinking, or produces unusual droppings. A feeding pause can become serious quickly in a small herbivore.
Degu feeding questions
What should degus eat every day?
Fresh water and good-quality feeding hay should remain available. Suitable grasses, herbs, leaves and flowers can provide plant variety, alongside a carefully selected and measured commercial ration when used.
Can degus eat fruit?
Fruit and dried fruit are not needed in a balanced degu routine and add unnecessary sugar. UK welfare sources advise avoiding sugary treats because degus are particularly vulnerable to diabetes.
How many nuggets should a degu eat?
Use a nutritionally complete, uniform product without added sugar or molasses and follow its directions for the animal and life stage. Published reference amounts differ, so monitor body condition and ask a vet to tailor the ration.
How should I introduce a new degu food?
Verify that the item is suitable, then introduce it alone and in a small amount. Observe appetite, droppings, weight and activity before adding another new item.
Is this degu food list complete?
No. It is a conservative quick-reference guide, not a complete plant database or an individual feeding plan. Only feed wild plants and branches that have been identified reliably and gathered from a safe source.
Sources and scope
Sources and content reviewed 8 August 2026.
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