Can degus eat the same food as hamsters or gerbils?

Not reliably. Degus are prone to diabetes in a way hamsters and gerbils are not, so a food suitable for those species can carry too much sugar for a degu. Choose a food specifically formulated for degus or chinchillas where possible.

Why can't degus have dried fruit?

Degus lack the enzyme most rodents use to process sugar efficiently, making them unusually prone to diabetes. Dried fruit is concentrated in sugar, so even small amounts fed regularly carry more risk for a degu than for most other small pets.

How much hay does a degu need?

Hay should make up the majority of a degu's daily diet, available more or less constantly, in the same way it does for rabbits and guinea pigs. It supports both digestion and the continuous tooth growth degus have throughout their lives.

Is a general small animal food safe for degus?

Not always — many general small-animal mixes contain more sugar than suits a degu specifically, even when marketed for a range of species. Check the ingredient list carefully, or choose a food formulated specifically for degus or chinchillas instead.

Degu food — what to feed and what to avoid

Degus are prone to diabetes in a way most other small pets are not, which makes their diet more particular than a generic 'small animal food' label suggests. A good degu food is low in sugar and fat, built around hay and a plain pellet rather than a fruit- and seed-heavy mix, closely reflecting the dry grassland diet they eat in the wild.

Why sugar matters so much for degus

Degus lack the enzyme most rodents use to process sugar efficiently, which makes them unusually prone to developing diabetes on a diet that would be perfectly fine for a hamster or gerbil. Dried fruit, sugary treats and many general small-animal mixes are best avoided entirely for this reason, however appealing they look in the bag.

This is one of the clearer cases where a species-specific food genuinely matters rather than being an upsell — a generic small pet mix marketed for 'rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals' is very often unsuitable for a degu specifically because of its sugar content, even when the packaging does not flag any concern.

What a good degu diet looks like

Hay should make up the majority of the diet, exactly as it does for rabbits and guinea pigs, supporting both digestion and the continuous tooth growth degus share with other rodents. A plain, low-sugar pellet formulated specifically for degus or chinchillas sits alongside the hay as the main measured food, with fresh water available at all times.

Fresh vegetables can be offered in modest amounts, but fruit should be an occasional rare treat rather than a regular feature, given how sensitive degus are to sugar compared with most small pets. A small piece a week, rather than a daily addition, is closer to the mark for most degus.

Spotting a food that isn't suitable

Check the ingredient list for dried fruit, added sugars, or a colourful muesli-style mix with visible sweet pieces — any of these are reasons to look elsewhere. A plain, uniform pellet with hay as a major ingredient is the safer pattern to look for specifically.

If you are ever unsure whether a food is appropriate, a food genuinely formulated for degus or chinchillas — species with similarly sensitive digestion — is a safer starting point than a general small animal mix, even where the packaging suggests it suits 'all small pets'. When in doubt, ask before buying rather than after your degu has already eaten a whole bag of it.

Water, exercise and the rest of a degu's routine

Fresh water should always be available alongside food, and degus are active, social animals that need space to run and climb as well as the right diet — a good diet on its own does not compensate for a cramped or under-stimulating setup.

Degus are also prone to obesity if underexercised and overfed relative to their activity level, so keeping portions measured and giving them room to be active matters just as much as choosing a suitably low-sugar food in the first place.

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Common questions

Can degus eat the same food as hamsters or gerbils?: Not reliably. Degus are prone to diabetes in a way hamsters and gerbils are not, so a food suitable for those species can carry too much sugar for a degu. Choose a food specifically formulated for degus or chinchillas where possible.
Why can't degus have dried fruit?: Degus lack the enzyme most rodents use to process sugar efficiently, making them unusually prone to diabetes. Dried fruit is concentrated in sugar, so even small amounts fed regularly carry more risk for a degu than for most other small pets.
How much hay does a degu need?: Hay should make up the majority of a degu's daily diet, available more or less constantly, in the same way it does for rabbits and guinea pigs. It supports both digestion and the continuous tooth growth degus have throughout their lives.
Is a general small animal food safe for degus?: Not always — many general small-animal mixes contain more sugar than suits a degu specifically, even when marketed for a range of species. Check the ingredient list carefully, or choose a food formulated specifically for degus or chinchillas instead.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.