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Rarely, if at all. Peanuts are very high in fat, and Burgess says degus should avoid them. Degutopia allows one peanut per degu once a week at most. If you give one, make it a plain, unsalted peanut in its shell, as a hand-fed reward. Never give salted, roasted, honey-roasted or coated peanuts, or peanut butter.
| Safe? | Only as a rare reward |
| How much | 1 peanut per degu |
| How often | Once a week at most; we'd go rarer |
| Best served | Plain, unsalted, in the shell |
| Watch out for | Salt, coatings, peanut butter, overweight degus |
Are peanuts safe for degus?
A single plain peanut won't poison a degu, but it is a poor fit for their diet. Degus are strict plant-eaters that live mainly on hay, and the RSPCA says they need a diet low in sugar and fat because they are prone to type 2 diabetes. Burgess names peanuts and sunflower seeds as high-fat foods to avoid and links too much fat to diabetes and liver disease. PetMD lists seeds and high-fat foods among things to avoid.
Degutopia, the UK degu care site, is less strict: it allows "larger nuts such as peanuts being given one per degu once a week at the most", but also warns that nuts and seeds can cause liver and kidney damage. We take the careful line: if you give peanuts, give fewer than that limit.
How many peanuts can a degu have?
One per degu, once a week at the very most. We'd make it every couple of weeks, and skip it on any week your degus have had other seeds. A peanut is much bigger than a sunflower seed, so it carries several times the fat.
Which peanuts are safe?
| Form | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Plain monkey nut in the shell | Best form, one rarely |
| Plain shelled peanut | One rarely |
| Salted or dry-roasted peanuts | No |
| Honey-roasted, chocolate or yoghurt-coated | No: sugar on top of fat |
| Peanut butter | No |
Peanut butter is sticky and fatty and can cling to a degu's mouth. Don't use it to stick treats inside toys.
Who should not have peanuts?
Overweight or diabetic degus, degus with liver or kidney trouble and young degus should have none. Our guide to degus and sugar explains why a lean diet matters for life.
Better rewards than peanuts
A single sunflower seed or pumpkin seed gives the same thrill with far less fat. A pinch of oats or a dried herb is better still for everyday rewards. See our degu safe food list, the degu diet guide and the complete degu care guide.
Peanut questions
Can degus eat peanut butter?
No. Peanut butter is very fatty and often has added salt, sugar or palm oil, and it is sticky enough to cling to a degu's teeth and mouth. Burgess says degus should avoid high-fat foods such as peanuts, and the RSPCA wants a diet low in sugar and fat.
Can degus eat peanuts in the shell?
If you give a peanut at all, a plain one in its shell is the best form, because cracking it gives the degu a job. Choose unsalted, unroasted monkey nuts sold for pets, and stick to one per degu, once a week at most, as Degutopia advises.
Can degus eat other nuts, like almonds or hazelnuts?
Degutopia allows a hazelnut in its shell no more than once a month per degu, because nuts are so fatty. It doesn't cover almonds. With degus prone to diabetes and liver disease, we'd keep all nuts rare and never use salted, sugared or flavoured ones.
My degu ate lots of peanuts. What should I do?
Take the rest away and keep hay and water available. A one-off feast is unlikely to poison a degu, but it can upset the gut. Watch for soft droppings, a poor appetite or sitting hunched, and ring your vet if these last more than a day, or at once if your degu is diabetic.
