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Classification / Natural History
Biology
Behavior
Housing
Feeding
Diseases
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CLASSIFICATION
phyllum : chordata
class : mammalia
order : rodents
suborder : caviomorph
family : octodontidae (Molina 1782)
species : octodon degus
names : octodon, degu, bori.


NATURAL HISTORY
origin : the origin of the order of rodents is almost unknown, the oldest fossils - dating from Eocene (52 M.a) - already showing all its characteristics.
geographic distribution : degus live in Chile - from central Chile to south of Peru - and they can be found in some part of the Andes (altitude max to about 2000m).



BIOLOGY
Degus are diurnal and gregarious animals ; they live in burrows but spend most of the day outside to look for food.
The name "octodon" comes from the particular form of molars and premolars looking like an 8. (picture of a skull)

longevity in captivity : 6-9 years
longevity in the wild : 2-4 years

body size : 12-19 cm (4.6"-7.4")
tail size : 9-16 cm (3.5"-6.2")
adult weight : 170 to 300 gr

sexing degus : the distance between the anus and the genital papilla is smaller with female than with male (see the picture page)
sexual maturity : from about 75 days
gestation : 87-93 days
litter : 3-11 babies (pictures of babies)
nursing : 20 days
weaning : 4-5 weeks

body temperature : 37°9 C (100.9°F)
chromosomes : 58
particularity : a part of the tail can split if it's pulled.

senses
eyesight : + + +
hearing : + + +
smell : + +




BEHAVIOR
In the wild
Degus live in big communities, each community is composed by clans which usually contain each a male and about 3 females. These groups can reach several thousand of degus and this can be compared to prairie dogs.
Each clan lives in burrows where numerous galleries lead to diverse rooms ("bedroom", food-tank, litter room) in which the ambient temperature is constant (between 22-24°C / 71.5-75.2°F).
Each access of the burrows is trimmed by a mound of sticks, little stones, and other stuff that makes a very good visual landmark for degus in the event of a danger, but these mounds seem to be also useful for males to show their dominant position : the bigger the mound the higher the male position in hierarchy. Some observations would have shown that the destruction of the mound cause the loss of the hierarchy rank for the degu.

In captivity
Degus are social animals ; they need a lot of contacts so a single degu needs a lot of attention to be happy. Two or 3 degus play together, fight a little for food, sleep together, well, have a more "natural" life.
Degus are funny animals, fear almost nothing, are easy to tame, they rarely bite, and love to be scratched on the neck and behind the ears (picture).
They sleep a lot but when they are awake - in the morning and in the late afternoon - they are very active, spending most of time in their wheel. They are also chatty animals and usually make 3 kinds of sounds :
- a strident "weep" when they are afraid or after they mate (I think it's to dissuade other males to approach their female and by this way maximize their gene transmission) and in this case they can "weep" for a long time (sometimes 20 min).
- an indescribable "fight of sound" when they get food -->2 degus getting food (.wav)
- a lovely low warbling when they are happy to see one another.


HOUSING
room temperature : 18-25°C / 64-77°F ( ! a temperature of 32°C / 90°F or above is lethal)
degus chew a lot : do not keep them in anything plastic.

cage
minimum size for 1-2 degus : L 80 x W 40 x H 70cm (32"L x 16"W x 28"H) = a floor and 2 upstairs.
degus need a lot of space so the bigger is the best. (pictures of cages)
substrate : wooden chips ; do not use cedar chips (toxic).

accessories : a solid wire wheel (diameter 20cm / 8" minimum), wood branches (birch, chesnut-tree, hazel, apple-tree, willow, fruit trees) if they have not been treated with pesticides.
degus need dust baths to keep their fur silky and clean : let an aquarium or any sturdy bowl with chinchillas special soft sand (layer : 2-3 cm high) in the cage for about 30 minutes every day.


FEEDING
In the wild, degus consume hay and grass (about 60%) , leaves of shrub (15% ), seeds (9%), flowers (8%), fruits (5%), bark of shrub (2%), insects (1%).

In captivity they need hay, green vegetables, and pellets as a complement.
The water consumption depends of the room temperature and of the quantity of vegetables in the diet, so a bowl of fresh and clean water is usually let in the cage.

example of food consumption for an adult :
- hay at discretion
- 4-6 green-beans /day
- 1-2 leaves of salad /day
- 1-2 little pieces of carrot /day
- a small container of mix of guinea pigs/chinchillas pellets (about 40g for 4-5 days).


DISEASES
Degus are robust animals and the most frequent diseases are due to feeding or hygiene mistakes.

white teeth : can be the symptom of an ill degus but is most of time the symptom of a vitamins deficiency.
-> degus need fresh vegetables every day.

diabetes : incurable ; common symptom : increase of the water consumption, cataracts can be observed
-> never give raisins, honey or other tidbits containing sugar.

obesity : cause respiratory, cardiac or articular troubles.
-> never abuse of fat seeds (sunflower seeds, peanuts...)

diarrhea : can be caused by diet changes, musty or soiled food, intoxication by plants.

wounds : degus heal very quickly (4-5 days).

shedding: degus usually shed twice a year (spring / autumn) ; if it's more frequent it can be considered as abnormal.
usual causes : too warm and dry ambient air, lack of hygiene, health problem (the degu can "have a cold", parasites or an infectious disease).


LINKS

information about degus :
http://www.geocities.com/~octodont/deguz.html
http://www.erodent.co.uk/DeguInfo.htm

article (nutrition and thermoregulation) :
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2120/is_n7_v78/ai_20417941

classification :
http://www.chez.com/rodent/Octodontidae/Octodontidae.html

anatomical images :
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/octodon/o._degus$media.html




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