How long do degus live
Degus live 6–8 years. The dominant health issue is diabetes (driven by sugar and high-carb diets) and dental disease (their teeth grow continuously). The usual failures are solitary housing (stress, self-mutilation), sugary treats, and wire-bottom cages that hurt feet. A pair, a hay-based diet, and a solid floor carry them to old age.
Housing and the social need
Keep at least two (same-sex or neutered pair) in a large, multi-level cage with a solid (not wire) floor. They chew relentlessly — wood, cardboard, and safe branches are mandatory enrichment. Provide a dust bath (chinchilla sand) 2–3 times weekly. Secure the cage; degus are escape artists.
Diet: the no-sugar law
Base diet: high-fiber degu/rabbit pellets and unlimited grass hay (timothy). Fresh greens (leafy, low-sugar) in small amounts. ABSOLUTELY no fruit, no sugary treats, no yogurt drops — these trigger diabetes. Provide a mineral block and fresh water. Weight them monthly; sudden thirst/weight loss signals diabetes.
Light, teeth, and handling
Degus need natural daylight cycles (they are diurnal) and UVB helps calcium. Their teeth need hay to wear down — offer apple-wood chews. Handle gently from a young age; they are friendly but nippy if scared. A vet experienced with exotics should see them yearly for dental and diabetes checks.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Feeding fruit or sugary treats — diabetes.
- Keeping one degu — they need a companion or they suffer.
- Wire-bottom cage — bumblefoot and injury.
- No hay — dental overgrowth.