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Yes, degus can eat broccoli. It is low in sugar and a source of vitamin C, and Degutopia lists it as a weekly vegetable for degus. Give one small raw floret or a broccoli leaf per degu, once or twice a week, alongside other veg. Like most green veg, too much at once can give a degu wind or bloating.
| Safe? | Yes, in small amounts |
| How much | 1 small floret, about the size of your thumbnail |
| How often | Once or twice a week |
| Best served | Raw, washed, floret, stalk or leaf |
| Watch out for | Wind and bloating, cooked broccoli |
Is broccoli safe for degus?
Yes. Degutopia's vegetable guide lists broccoli among the weekly vegetables, and its diet page names broccoli, red peppers, parsley and rosehips as sources of vitamin C. Burgess's degu guide suggests a small handful of greens such as dandelion leaves, broccoli, basil or parsley.
One Burgess page disagrees: its seasonal food guide, which lumps degus in with chinchillas, puts broccoli on the avoid list. Chinchillas have especially touchy guts, and degu-specific sources don't share that view, so we follow Degutopia and Burgess's own degu guide. The real risk is portion size: Degutopia warns that green veg in particular can cause bloating, so keep it small and alternate.
How much broccoli can a degu have?
One small floret about the size of your thumbnail, roughly 1.5 cm (half an inch) across, per degu, in a veg session. PDSA advises a small portion of greens and vegetables once or twice a week and no more. Don't give broccoli at every session: Degutopia suggests a different mix of veg each time.
Florets, stalks, leaves and cooked broccoli
| Part or form | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Raw florets | Yes, one small piece |
| Raw stalk | Yes, a thumbnail-sized piece, tough skin peeled |
| Broccoli leaves | Yes, a small leaf |
| Cooked, steamed or roasted | No |
| Frozen | Not ideal: soggy once thawed |
How to prepare broccoli
- Wash it well. Degutopia says to wash shop-bought veg thoroughly to remove chemicals.
- Cut one floret per degu. Snap or cut it to thumbnail size.
- Mix it with other veg. Pair it with something less gassy, such as cucumber.
- Introduce it slowly. First time, give half a floret and check droppings the next day, as PDSA advises for any new food.
A degu with a tight, swollen belly that is hunched, not eating or passing few droppings may have bloat. Ring your vet the same day.
Other veg to rotate with broccoli
Swap broccoli week to week with romaine lettuce, cucumber or carrot tops (see our carrot page). Our degu safe food list, the degu diet guide and our complete degu care guide cover the rest.
Broccoli questions
Can degus eat broccoli stalks?
Yes, in a small piece. The stalk is firmer and more fibrous than the floret, which gives degus a good chew. Peel off any tough or dirty outer skin, cut a thumbnail-sized piece and count it as that degu's broccoli for the session.
Can degus eat cooked or frozen broccoli?
Only raw, fresh broccoli. Cooked broccoli is soft, often salted or buttered, and PDSA says degus shouldn't have human food scraps. Frozen broccoli is usually blanched and goes soggy as it thaws, so fresh is the better choice.
Can degus eat purple sprouting or tenderstem broccoli?
Our sources don't name these varieties, but they are the same plant family with similar leaves and florets. We'd treat them exactly like ordinary broccoli: one small piece, raw, once or twice a week.
Why is my degu bloated after broccoli?
Green veg can cause bloating in degus, which is why Degutopia says to alternate vegetables. A tight, swollen belly with hunching, not eating or few droppings needs a vet the same day. Once your degu is well, cut the portion down or drop broccoli for that degu.
