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Yes, degus can eat cucumber. It is low in sugar, and Degutopia lists it among the vegetables degus can have weekly. Give a few thumbnail-sized bits, skin on, once or twice a week as part of a mixed veg portion. Cucumber is mostly water, so a big helping can loosen droppings. Keep it small and keep hay topped up.
| Safe? | Yes |
| How much | 2 or 3 thumbnail-sized bits per degu |
| How often | Once or twice a week |
| Best served | Raw, washed, skin on |
| Watch out for | Soft droppings, pickles and gherkins |
Is cucumber safe for degus?
Yes. Degus are strict plant-eaters that should live mostly on hay, with a small measured portion of vegetables on top, as the RSPCA puts it. Cucumber suits that well: it is very low in sugar, which matters for a species the RSPCA says is prone to type 2 diabetes. Degutopia's vegetable guide lists cucumber as a weekly vegetable.
The catch is water. Cucumber has little fibre and lots of water, so it adds little nutrition and, in large amounts, can upset a degu's gut. Treat it as a crunchy extra, not the main veg.
How much cucumber can a degu eat?
Two or three bits about the size of your thumbnail, roughly 1.5 cm (half an inch) across, per degu, in a single veg session. That is about one thin slice. PDSA advises a small portion of vegetables once or twice a week and no more. Mix cucumber with a leafy veg such as romaine or a broccoli floret, and rotate what you offer each week, as Degutopia recommends.
How to prepare cucumber
- Wash it. Rinse shop-bought cucumber well; Degutopia advises this for all veg.
- Slice thinly. Cut one thin slice and quarter it into thumbnail-sized bits.
- Leave the skin on. The skin and soft seeds are fine.
- Split it between bowls. Give each degu its own share so you can see who ate what.
- Clear leftovers. Cucumber goes soft and slimy quickly, so remove uneaten bits within a few hours.
Plain, pickled and other forms
- Fresh cucumber, skin and seeds: yes.
- Pickles, gherkins and cornichons: no, because of the vinegar, salt and spices.
- Cucumber from a salad with dressing: no. PDSA says no human food scraps.
- Cucumber leaves and vine: not covered by our sources, so skip them.
Cucumber is one of the safer fresh foods for a degu watching its sugar, so it is a handy choice if your vet has asked you to cut back on sweeter veg like carrot.
Other veg to rotate with cucumber
Good partners are romaine lettuce, a broccoli floret or a rare piece of cherry tomato. Burgess also suggests occasional small cubes of celery, pumpkin or squash. Our degu safe food list, the degu diet guide and our complete degu care guide have the full picture.
Cucumber questions
Can degus eat cucumber skin and seeds?
Yes. The skin is fine once the cucumber is washed, and it holds a little more fibre than the watery middle. The soft seeds are part of the flesh and don't need removing. Just keep the overall portion small.
Is cucumber good for degus in hot weather?
A slice won't cool a degu down. Degus overheat easily, and the RSPCA says their enclosure should be no higher than 20°C (68°F). Move the cage somewhere cooler and keep the water bottle full; don't rely on watery veg.
Can degus eat pickled cucumber or gherkins?
No. Pickles are soaked in vinegar and salt, often with sugar and spices, and PDSA says degus shouldn't have human food. Only plain, fresh cucumber is suitable.
Why does my degu have soft droppings after cucumber?
Cucumber is very watery, and too much fresh veg can loosen droppings in degus. Cut back to one or two small bits, mix it with drier veg, and make sure hay is always available. If soft droppings last more than a day, or your degu stops eating, ring your vet.
