Octodon degus — Fact Sheet

Octodon degus · Octodon degus · Degu · Degu

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• Indoor secure enclosure with solid floor, ventilation, and room for night activity
• Adult minimum should allow exercise, hiding, feeding, and toileting areas
• Substrate: dust-free bedding or washable liners kept dry and clean
• Avoid wire floors, unsafe wheels, damp bedding, and cold rooms

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Sleeping hide, solid exercise wheel where appropriate, tunnels, feeding area, and water dish/bottle
• Soft nesting material and enrichment that cannot trap feet
• Easy-clean layout for frequent hygiene

💡 Lighting

• No UVB required for normal keeping
• Stable room day-night rhythm with darkness at night
• Avoid bright night lighting
• Photoperiod: normal household cycle

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking spot: 23-27 °C

• Warm zone: 23-27 °C

• Cool zone: 23-25 °C

• Night: 23-25 °C

• Clear gradient required; the animal must be able to move between warm, cool, and hidden zones

• Measure basking surfaces with an infrared thermometer and ambient zones with digital probes

• Avoid heat rocks and unguarded heat sources

💧 Humidity & water

• Normal dry indoor humidity is suitable for most pet hedgehogs
• Fresh water always available
• Keep bedding dry and remove waste frequently
• Avoid damp, cold, or poorly ventilated housing

🪳 Diet

Feed regularly:

• Balanced high-protein staple diet and suitable feeder insects

In moderation:

• Treat insects and small controlled extras

Avoid:

• Sugary foods, fatty overfeeding, dairy, seasoned food

Supplements:

• Use supplements only under a clear diet plan or veterinary advice

🩺 Health — warning signs

• Wheezing or nasal discharge → respiratory disease
• Weight gain or loss → diet, exercise, dental, or illness issue
• Persistent scratching → mites, skin disease, or bedding irritation
• Lethargy or torpor-like behavior → temperature too low or illness
• Diarrhea → diet change, infection, or stress

Consult a reptile- or exotic-animal veterinarian for severe weakness, injury, breathing signs, swelling, or prolonged refusal to eat.