No federal permit to keep In-depth sheet

Degu

Octodon degus

Mammals › Rodents (Rodentia) › Octodontidae (Degus and coruros)

Degus are daytime, highly social rodents best kept in pairs or small groups. Their teeth grow constantly, so regular dental checks matter.

Pet trade

Experience: Easy

Degu — Photo: Pierre Camateros, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Pierre Camateros, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Weight6–12 oz

Lifespan5–8 years

ActiveDay

SocialPairs or groups

Care at a glance

Species-specific values

Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.

Lifespan typical captive	5–8 years Pet-rodent table; not maximum longevity	291
Adult body mass male	170–300 g	291
Adult body mass female	170–350 g	291
Diet	High-fibre herbivorous maintenance diet with moderate-to-low nonstructural carbohydrate.	297

Care guide

Care

Keep in pairs or small groups.
Dental checkups every 3–6 months are recommended.

Sources 38

Show the group care guide for degus

Group care guide

Degus

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Chilean scrub. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Tall wire cages with solid levels, a large wheel, dust baths and lots to chew.

Sources 38 297

Diet

For Octodon degus, provide a fibrous herbivorous diet with moderate-to-low nonstructural carbohydrates; avoid high-sugar treats.

Sources 38 297

Social life

Pairs or groups.

Sources 38 297

Health watch

Diabetes and cataracts on sugary diets; dental problems.

Sources 38 297

Understanding the animal

In the wild

Researched for this exact species, not its family. Good care copies these conditions.¹²³

Where it lives	Semiarid Mediterranean matorral on the lower western Andean slopes of central Chile, generally below 1,200 m. Forages among shrubs and grasses near communal burrows.
Ground it lives on	Dry soil with extensive burrows; above-ground grass and shrub cover.
Climate	Cool rainy austral winters and hot dry summers; seeks shade or burrows during heat. Species-specific relative-humidity and complete ambient temperature ranges were not established.
Active	Diurnal; summer surface activity shifts toward dawn and late afternoon, while winter activity concentrates during daylight.
Social life	Social territorial groups, commonly related females with one or two males; communal burrowing and care of young.
Wild diet	Young grass and forb leaves, shrub leaves and bark, and seeds, including thistle seeds; consumes cecal feces.
Behavior to plan for	Digs communal tunnels and climbs low shrub branches to forage. Dust wallows and scent marks contribute to group communication.

What this means for care

Provide compatible social companions, multiple shelters and digging space.
Offer fibrous forage and browse rather than a fruit-heavy rodent diet.
Provide a dust bath and shaded cool retreats.

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 78°F (up to 85°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 40°F (down to 36°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	53–60°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	61–70% on average (driest month about 58%)
Rainfall	about 344 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons
Winters	Cool to cold winters (lows around 40°F) in much of its native range. Seasonal slowdown may be relevant, but species-specific biology determines whether brumation or hibernation occurs.

Measured at 107 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

Profile

Researched for this exact species. Sources are listed under In the wild above.

History

Octodon degus is native to west-central Chile and is generally regarded as endemic there, although an extension of its range into Peru has been proposed without strong support. Outside its native range it has become common in the international pet trade and in laboratory research.

Keeper tips

Base environmental design on a terrestrial, semi-arid shrubland habitat.
Avoid conditions associated with very low oxygen availability because the species is limited by intolerance of low oxygen partial pressure.
Plan secure housing for pups because they begin exploring within hours after birth.
Allow space appropriate for an animal measuring roughly 325-440 mm in total length.

Behaviors reported

Newborn pups begin exploring within hours of birth.
The species readily occupies landscapes modified by cattle grazing.
It can become an agricultural pest.

Unique adaptations

Pups are born furred and able to see.
The cheek teeth are hypsodont.
The biting surfaces of the cheek teeth resemble a figure eight.
The fifth digit is reduced, and the forefoot fifth digit bears a nail rather than a claw.

Remarkable facts

Octodon degus is generally considered endemic to west-central Chile.
It is usually found below 1200 m elevation.
Its native ecosystem is the Mediterranean-type semi-arid shrubland called matorral.
Adults typically weigh 170-300 g and measure 325-440 mm including the tail.
Males tend to be about 10% larger than females.
The species is common in the international pet trade and is also used in laboratory studies.

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The common degu (Octodon degus; ), or, historically, the degu, is a small hystricomorpha rodent endemic to the Chilean matorral ecoregion of central Chile. The name degu on its own indicates either the entire genus Octodon or, more commonly, just the common degu. Common degus belong to the parvorder Caviomorpha of the infraorder Hystricognathi, along with the chinchilla and guinea pig. The word degu comes from the Mapuche word dewü, meaning 'mouse' or 'rat'. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Octodon degus inhabits a mediterranean-type semi-arid shrubland ecosystem called "matorral", which is found on the western slopes of the Andes between 28 and 35 degrees south latitude. — Animal Diversity Web
Social life and communication	Degus have well-developed sight, smell, and hearing. — Animal Diversity Web
Wild diet	Degus are generalist herbivores. — Animal Diversity Web
Behavior	Degus are social and tend to live in groups of one to two males and two to five related females. — Animal Diversity Web
Reproduction	During the annual breeding season, male-male aggression temporarily increases. — Animal Diversity Web
Lifespan	In laboratory conditions, degus typically live five to eight years. — Animal Diversity Web
Appearance and size	Octodon degus superficially resembles a gerbil, but is much larger. — Animal Diversity Web

Data and studies

Researched care notes

Findings checked against veterinary, zoo, welfare, keeper and peer-reviewed sources. Air, basking-surface and water temperatures are kept separate, and where sources disagree both are shown. “Study” notes report what a paper measured, not a universal rule.

Degu

Provide climbing branches and platforms as well as deep digging bedding and hay-filled nest boxes; floor area alone does not describe the usable enclosure.¹
Provide a suitable sand bath for grooming; RSPCA suggests supervised access two or three times weekly for about 20 minutes.¹
Keep hay continuously available as the bulk of the diet, with a measured portion of suitable nuggets and leafy vegetables.²
Avoid sugary foods, fruit-containing mixes and molasses-containing feeds; degus' susceptibility to diabetes makes high-sugar treats inappropriate.²
Keep compatible degus in pairs or groups; same-sex groups avoid unwanted breeding, and mixed-sex groups require careful management of males.³

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Lifespan

Reported5–8years

Royal Veterinary College Exotics Service 385–8

Maximum recorded lifespan

Highest reported14years

AnAge 16214

Myhrvold et al. 16314

Longest recorded lifespan reported by each database; typical lifespans are usually shorter. The AnAge record comes from an animal in human care.

Typical adult weight

Average of sources7.8oz

AnAge 1628.3

Myhrvold et al. 1637.2

Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).

Litter size

Average of sources5.7young

AnAge 1626

Myhrvold et al. 1635.3

Average per litter or clutch.

Gestation

Average of sources90days

AnAge 16290

Myhrvold et al. 16390

Female maturity

Average of sources6months

AnAge 1626

Myhrvold et al. 1636.1

Veterinary & husbandry research

Octodon degus (Molina 1782): a model in comparative biology and biomedicine Ardiles AO et al., Cold Spring Harbor protocols 2013
Revisiting rodent models: Octodon degus as Alzheimer's disease model? Steffen J et al., Acta neuropathologica communications 2016
Diseases in pet degus: a retrospective study in 300 animals Jekl V et al., The Journal of small animal practice 2011
Nutrition and behavior of degus (Octodon degus) Edwards MS et al., The veterinary clinics of North America. Exotic animal practice 2009

Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. See all 28 on PubMed → 170

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

USDA Animal Welfare Act. Keeping a pet for yourself doesn't need a federal license. Dealers (including many breeders who sell wholesale or sight-unseen) and exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) generally need a USDA license and inspections; some small-scale breeders and retail sellers are exempt. 184

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Animal Welfare Act standards

Warm-blooded animals not covered elsewhere (Subpart F). Applies to USDA-licensed or registered dealers, exhibitors (including encounters and paid programs) and research facilities. Private pet owners are not covered. These are legal minimums, not best care; the species care on this page goes further.

Facilities must be structurally sound and strong enough for the species, with reliable power and water, protected food storage and proper waste disposal. §3.125
Indoors: temperature regulated to protect from extremes, adequate ventilation without drafts, and lighting suited to the species that protects animals from excessive light. §3.126
Outdoors: shade from overheating sun, shelter suited to the local climate, and drainage. Animals must be acclimated before facing climate extremes. §3.127
Outdoor facilities need a perimeter fence at least 8 ft high for potentially dangerous animals (large cats, bears, wolves, rhinoceros, elephants) and 6 ft for others, at least 3 ft from the enclosure, unless USDA approves otherwise. §3.127
Space must allow each animal to make normal postural and social adjustments with adequate freedom of movement. Poor condition, stress or abnormal behavior can show the space is inadequate. §3.128
Food must be wholesome, palatable and of enough quantity and nutritive value for the species, age and condition, fed at least once a day except during hibernation, normal fasts or veterinary treatment. §3.129
Water must be available as often as needed for health and comfort, in clean receptacles. §3.130
Animals sharing an enclosure must be compatible, and must not be housed near animals that interfere with their health or cause them discomfort. §3.133
There is no general enrichment rule for this subpart; enrichment requirements apply to primates, birds and (exercise) dogs. §3.128

Source: 9 CFR Part 3, current eCFR text (USDA APHIS Animal Care).

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Included in our hand-checked list of animals kept as pets, livestock or in zoos
AnAge has a longevity record from an animal in captivity
Covered by one of our in-depth care sheets
129 iNaturalist observations of captive animals

Sources for this sheet

Royal Veterinary College Exotics Service: Degu care Zoo, university or veterinaryVet-school exotics hospital factsheet, reviewed 2021–2024.
AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources) Peer-reviewed researchCurated, referenced longevity and life-history records for thousands of species; maximum lifespans are often from zoo animals.
Myhrvold et al. (2015). An amniote life-history database. Ecology 96: 3109 Peer-reviewed researchPeer-reviewed compilation of life-history data for over 21,000 birds, mammals and reptiles.
9 CFR 2.1: Animal Welfare Act licensing (USDA) Zoo, university or veterinaryWho needs a USDA license to breed, sell or exhibit animals.
Edwards (2009): Nutrition and behavior of degus (Octodon degus), Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice Peer-reviewed researchAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.