Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
Why do degus need hides?
Because they are prey animals, and a degu with nowhere to hide is a stressed degu. In the wild, degus live in burrows; Degutopia describes a nest box as an artificial burrow, and says pet rodents choose a dark, solid box over open space. The PDSA says degus prefer a solid roof they can't see through, and the RSPCA wants them to have hay-filled nest boxes they can get into at all times.
Hides also keep the peace. Degus are very social and should never live alone, but even close friends need a place to go when they want a break. The RSPCA asks for enough hiding places for each degu to shelter on its own, as well as one nest box they can all share.
How to choose a degu hide
Check five things: size, material, roof, entrances and how easy it is to clean. A good degu house ticks all five.
| Check | What you want | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Room for every degu to curl up together; about 20 × 15 × 15 cm (8 × 6 × 6 in) for two | Degus sleep in a heap for warmth and safety |
| Material | Untreated kiln-dried pine, willow, card, terracotta | Degus chew everything; it must be safe to swallow small bits |
| Roof | Solid and opaque | The PDSA says they feel safer under a solid roof |
| Entrances | Two openings, each 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) | A second way out stops one degu trapping another |
| Cleaning | Removable roof or open base | So you can change soiled hay without a struggle |
We have reasoned the entrance size from the size of an adult degu, a body of about 15 cm (6 in) and a weight of 220 to 250 g (8 to 9 oz) according to Degutopia; none of the charities gives a figure. Most hides sold for guinea pigs and chinchillas have openings this size or larger.
What are the best materials for degu houses?
Natural, untreated materials that can be chewed safely, because they will be. Degutopia says any wooden house should be kiln-dried pine, and that thick card is a cheaper option that won't last as long. Its own degus sleep in a large, open terracotta plant pot laid on its side.
- Kiln-dried pine or untreated wood: sturdy, chewable, lasts a few months.
- Willow: woven tunnels and huts double as chews.
- Thick card and cardboard boxes: free and safe, replace when soiled or chewed through.
- Terracotta: unglazed plant pots or ceramic hides stay cool in summer and can't be chewed.
- Fabric: soft cubes and hammocks are fine if your degus sleep in them rather than eat them.
How many hides and where to put them
For a pair, we'd use one shared nest box and two or three more hides. For a group of four, use one large nest box or two, plus a hide for each degu. Spread them out rather than clustering them in one corner.
- Place the main nest box low. Put it on the floor or a wide lower shelf in the quietest corner, away from the door you open most.
- Fill it with hay. The RSPCA asks for hay-filled nest boxes, and degus will add their own shredded paper.
- Spread the other hides. Put one on each level so a degu can get away from the others wherever it is.
- Give each a clear way out. Make sure no hide sits right at the edge of a big drop or blocks a ramp.
- Swap one now and then. Chewy suggests rotating hides every so often to keep the cage interesting.
Our degu cage setup guide shows where hides fit alongside the wheel, hay rack and dig area.
What should degus nest in?
Hay and soft paper. The RSPCA suggests hay, shredded paper and paper tissues; Degutopia uses long strips of kitchen roll and shredded cleaning cloths. Degus love to carry and shred nesting material, so give them a little extra and let them build it themselves. Avoid fluffy cotton-wool style hamster bedding, which can wrap round legs and be swallowed. Our degu bedding guide covers what goes on the cage floor.
Our picks: the degu hides we'd look at
We don't make pieces for degus yet, so these are from other shops we'd look at. Measure the openings and the inside of the house before you buy.
Corner Cabin for Small Pets (large)
An untreated pine corner house, 42 × 30 × 15 cm (17 × 12 × 6 in), with an entrance of about 10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in). The large size is listed for chinchillas and degus, and the corner shape tucks neatly into a cage floor. It suits a pair as a main nest box. Check: it's indoor-only wood, so replace it when chewed thin.
Log Cabin with Roof Terrace
An untreated wooden house, 43 × 28 × 22 cm (17 × 11 × 9 in), with a stepped roof that makes two lookout platforms. A good size for a pair or trio, and the roof adds climbing space. Check: confirm the round opening is big enough for your degus, and watch the roof for chewed edges.
Trixie Willow Tunnel (large)
A natural willow tunnel, 20 cm (8 in) across and 38 cm (15 in) long. It works as a hide, a tunnel and a chew all at once, and two open ends mean nobody gets cornered. It suits any group as a second or third hide. Check: willow gets chewed fast by keen chewers, so expect to replace it.
Oxbow Enriched Life Burrow Box
A hide made of corrugated card, willow bark and paper, listed for chinchillas, rats and other small pets. It suits degus as a cheap extra hide they can shred and forage in. Check: Oxbow doesn't list dimensions, so check the size suits your degus, and treat it as a chew that will need replacing.
MidWest Nation Cozy Cube
A soft polyester cube that clips to the roof of Critter Nation and other cages, so it makes a hide up high without taking floor space. It's machine washable. It suits degus that nap rather than chew fabric. Check: inspect it daily for chewed holes and loose threads, and take it out if they start eating it.
Cleaning and replacing hides
Change soiled hay in the nest box when you spot clean, and give hides a full clean at the PDSA's fortnightly deep clean with a pet-safe disinfectant, rinsed and dried. Put back a little old, unsoiled bedding afterwards so the cage still smells like home, as the PDSA suggests. Throw out card when it's soiled or chewed through, and wooden houses when the walls get thin. Our degu cage cleaning routine has the full list.
For more ways to keep them busy, see best degu toys and degu enrichment, and for the cage itself, best degu cages. Everything else is in our complete degu care guide.
Degu hide questions
How many hides does a degu need?
One more than the number of degus is a good rule. The RSPCA asks for a nest box big enough for the whole group to sleep in together, plus enough separate hiding places for each degu to shelter on its own. For a pair, that means one shared nest box and at least two more hides.
What size hide does a degu need?
Burgess suggests a nest box of about 20 x 15 x 15 cm (8 x 6 x 6 in), which suits a pair. For three or four degus, go bigger, around 30 x 20 x 15 cm (12 x 8 x 6 in) or more, so they can all curl up together. Entrances should be at least 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) wide.
Are plastic hides safe for degus?
No. Degus chew through plastic quickly, and the RSPCA and PDSA both say to avoid plastic toys and accessories. Swallowed pieces can cause harm, and chewed edges get sharp. Choose untreated wood, willow, thick card, terracotta or ceramic instead, and save plastic for a supervised sand bath outside the cage.
Can degus have fabric hides and hammocks?
Yes, with care. Degutopia shows fleece hammocks hung on wire, not string, so they don't twist. Check fabric hides every day for chewed holes and loose threads that could catch toes, and remove any that are being eaten rather than slept in. Wash them weekly.
What do degus line their nest box with?
Hay, which the RSPCA says the nest box should be filled with, plus soft shredded paper. Degutopia also suggests long strips of kitchen roll or shredded cleaning cloths. Avoid cotton wool and fluffy hamster bedding, which can wrap round legs and be swallowed.
Where should hides go in a degu cage?
Put the main nest box on the floor or a low, wide shelf in a quiet corner, away from the door you use most. Spread the other hides across different levels so a degu can always get away from the others, and so no hide sits at the top of a big drop.
