Degu

Facts

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

Facts about this animal

The degu is is a endemic rodent from Chile, stout-bodied, rat-sized rodent with the tail shorter than the head and body. Head-body length ranges from 17-21 cm, the tail from 8-14 cm, and the body-weight from 170-260 g.

The degu's front legs are shorter than its back legs and the ears are quite large. They coat is long and silky, grey-brown tinged with orange on the back and creamy yellow to white on the belly.

The degu is a seasonal breeder with a birth season between September and December. After a gestation period of 87-90 days, the female gives birth to alitter bof 3 to 8 young weighinhg 14 g. The offspring is weaned at 5-6 weeks.

The diet of degus consists of grass and other green vegetation, bark, seeds and fruit. Degu's feed on the ground, but will climb into the branches of shrubs and small trees. They are active during the day and all year round. They construct an elaborate, communal burrow system and live together in small colonies.

Did you know?
that degus have an interesting way of escaping predators? If the tail is caught, a degu may spin until the skin comes loose.

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	RODENTIA
Suborder	HYSTRICOMORPHA
Family	OCTODONTIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Octodon degus
Name (English)	Degu
Name (French)	dégu, octodon, Dègue du Chili
Name (German)	Degu
Name (Spanish)	Degú
CITES Status	Not listed
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Pierre Camateros

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Western Chile
Habitat	Coastal areas, montane regions, in burrows of rock crevices
Wild population	Unknown, but it's a common species in Chile
Zoo population	616 reported to ISIS, but this species is also common in the international pet trade and is often used in laboratory studies

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 79 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Vera Buhl

Why do zoos keep this animal

The degu is of educational interest as it is a diurnal and social representative of the octodontod family (other octodontids are nocturnal). The species is frequently in pet trade, and zoos may also come into the position of having to acceopt abandoned pets for reasons.

How this animal should be kept

Degus are kept in well-ventilated terrarium-type enclosures. For a pair or a small group of compatible animals a minimum surface of 0.5 m² x 1 m high is required. Exhibits should, however, have a surface of at least 1.5 m². The floor should be covered with a layer of about 10 cm of a suitable substrate, such as wood shavings and hay, to allow burrowing. There must be structures for climbing and a sand bath must be available. A nest box of about 20cm long x I5cm wide x 15cm high is also needed, and suitable substrate for nest building should be provided.

Temperature should not exceed 20°C.

Degus should be fed good quality hay, a large supply of fresh green alfalfa, fresh dandelion leaves. root vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potato, etc., and chinchilla or guinea pig pellets, containing a wide variety of seeds, cereals, grains and dried vegetables. High fat foods like peanuts, sunflower seeds and food high in sugar like fruits and carbohydrates should be avoided. The provision of clean drinking water in a metal spouted drinking bottle is essential.