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
What size wheel does a degu need?
At least 30 cm (12 in) across, with a solid running surface. Degutopia sets 12 inches as the minimum so a degu's spine doesn't bend while it runs, and the PDSA says the wheel must let degus run with a flat back, because running arched can cause spinal problems. PetMD gives 10 to 12 inches; we'd take the larger figure, and many owners go to 33 cm (13 in) for large adults.
A wheel is the single most used toy in a degu cage. Degutopia reports degus running an average of 4.5 km (about 2.8 miles) a day on a wheel. That's a lot of wear, so build quality matters.
| Wheel type | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solid metal, 30 cm (12 in) or more | Best | Can't be chewed; the type Degutopia recommends |
| Solid wood or cork-lined, 30 cm (12 in) or more | Good | Safe surface, but gets chewed and needs replacing |
| Solid plastic "silent" wheel | Play area only | Degutopia says they are readily chewed |
| Wire or rung wheel | Never | Can break legs, feet and toes |
| Any wheel with open spokes | Never | Spokes can cut or catch tails |
| Under 30 cm (12 in) | Too small | Bends the spine |
Our degu wheel guide covers fitting and safety in more detail.
What toys do degus like?
Anything they can chew, climb, dig, shred or forage in. Degutopia calls a plain cardboard tube "the best toy of all time", and the charities agree on the basics: wood, rope and cardboard toys, branches to climb and gnaw, tunnels, platforms and a box of soil to dig in.
- Cardboard tubes, egg boxes and boxes with holes cut in them.
- Branches of apple, pear or willow tied to the cage side for climbing and gnawing.
- Wooden bridges, ledges and platforms between levels.
- Untreated cotton or sisal rope, and hanging ropes to scramble on.
- A deep dig box of organic soil and sand, or a box of hay to burrow in.
- Willow balls, seagrass and loofah toys to roll and chew.
- Treat balls and paper bags stuffed with hay and the daily nuggets.
- Pumice stones and kiln-dried pine blocks for gnawing.
- Hard acrylic bird toys with mirrors and bells, which Degutopia lists as safe.
What wood is safe for degus?
Apple, pear and willow are the safest bets: the PDSA names all three, and the RSPCA names pear and apple along with beech. Degutopia adds hazel, hawthorn, kiln-dried pine and lime (linden), and Burgess also lists ash and oak. Every branch must be untreated and free of pesticide, paint or varnish, so avoid wood from busy roadsides or sprayed orchards.
How to make a degu dig box
A dig box gives degus the burrowing they'd do in the wild. Burgess and Degutopia both use organic soil mixed with sand, and the PDSA suggests a deep box of potting soil. Use peat-free, additive-free soil with no fertiliser.
- Pick a deep, solid box. Use a sturdy box with high sides. Degutopia uses a small glass tank with tape over the edges, kept in the play area.
- Fill it deep. Add a thick layer of plain organic soil mixed with play sand, slightly damp so tunnels hold their shape.
- Hide food in it. Bury a few of the day's nuggets or a pinch of dried herbs to start the digging.
- Add a way in and out. A ramp or ladder makes it easy to climb in and out.
- Refresh it. Remove droppings daily and replace the soil when it gets dirty.
Cage accessories every degu needs
Beyond toys, a few accessories do the daily work. Hay racks keep hay clean, a heavy ceramic bowl won't tip, and a water bottle should be checked every day. A sand bath keeps their coat in shape and is a favourite activity, offered a few times a week; our degu dust bath guide explains how. Hides and nest boxes are in our guide to degu hides, and the cage itself is in best degu cages.
Our picks: degu toys and accessories we'd look at
We don't make pieces for degus yet, so these are from other shops we'd look at. Check sizes and materials on each listing before you buy.
Trixie wooden exercise wheel, 33 cm
A 33 cm (13 in) wheel with a solid wooden running surface lined with cork, so there are no rungs. That beats the 30 cm (12 in) minimum and suits adult degus. Check: wood and cork get chewed, so look it over weekly and replace it when worn; the smaller 21 cm and 28 cm sizes are too small.
Oxbow Enriched Life Apple Stick Bundle
A bundle of untreated apple sticks you can give whole or pull apart into single chews. Apple wood is on every safe list for degus. It suits any degu, and makes a good start for new owners. Check: it's a consumable, so plan to rebuy.
Oxbow Enriched Life Apple Twig Tree
A standing chew toy of untreated pinewood and apple sticks that you can also hang leafy greens on. It's listed for chinchillas, rabbits and guinea pigs and suits degus as a chew and foraging station. Check: make sure it stands firmly on a wide shelf or the cage floor.
Hanging Bridge for Small Pets
An untreated wooden bridge about 55 × 7 cm (22 × 3 in) on a flexible wire with metal hooks, so you can bend it into a ramp or arch between levels. It suits degus as a climbing link. Check: one reviewer found a chewed bridge left sharp splinters, so check it weekly and replace it when chewed.
JR Farm Chinchilla-Sand Special
A fine, quartz-free bathing sand made from meerschaum (sepiolite), the clay-like mineral Degutopia recommends because it soaks up grease from the coat. It suits all degus. Check: use a deep, heavy bowl and take it out after the bath.
Kaytee Chinchilla Bath House
A covered bath, about 22 × 23 × 22 cm (8.6 × 9 × 8.5 in), with a curved base that keeps sand in and mess down. It suits degus for supervised sand baths. Check: it's plastic, so offer it in the play area and take it away afterwards rather than leaving it in the cage.
How often should you change degu toys?
Swap two or three items a week and keep the rest. Chewy suggests rotating hides and toys every so often so the cage stays new. Replace anything chewed thin, frayed or splintered straight away. At the PDSA's fortnightly deep clean, wash toys with a pet-safe disinfectant, rinse well and let them dry. More ideas, including scatter feeding and free-range games, are in degu enrichment, and everything else is in our complete degu care guide.
Degu toy questions
What size wheel does a degu need?
At least 30 cm (12 in) across, solid, with no rungs or spokes. Degutopia sets 12 inches as the minimum so a degu's spine doesn't curve while it runs, and the PDSA says the back must stay flat. PetMD gives 10 to 12 inches, but we'd follow the larger figure, and 33 cm (13 in) is better for big adults.
Are plastic toys safe for degus?
No, not inside the cage. The RSPCA says to avoid plastic toys, and Degutopia notes that plastic wheels and balls get chewed and can be swallowed. Hard acrylic bird toys are the one plastic Degutopia accepts. Otherwise choose untreated wood, willow, cardboard, sisal, cotton rope or metal.
What wood is safe for degus to chew?
Apple, pear and willow are the woods most sources agree on. Degutopia adds hazel, hawthorn, kiln-dried pine and lime (linden), and Burgess and the RSPCA include beech. Use untreated, unsprayed branches only, and avoid cedar. If you aren't sure a wood is safe, Degutopia's rule is leave it out.
Can degus have hamster balls?
No. A hamster ball traps a degu in a small plastic shell with little air, gets hot quickly and doesn't let it stop or escape. Degus are also prone to tail injuries. Give free-range time in a safe, degu-proofed room or play pen instead, with tunnels and boxes to explore.
Do degus need toys every day?
Yes. Degus are busy, clever and awake all day, and without things to do they can get bored and stressed. You don't need new toys daily, though. Swap two or three items each week, scatter their nuggets to forage, and give fresh cardboard to shred. The PDSA also wants at least half an hour of time out every day.
Are hammocks good for degus?
They can be. Degutopia shows fabric and fleece hammocks hung from the cage roof with wire rather than string, so they can't twist and trap a degu. Check hammocks daily for chewed holes and loose threads, and take one out if your degus are eating it.
