Degu breeds, types and colours

Are there different breeds of degu?

No. Rabbits, guinea pigs and rats have been bred for centuries into breeds with different shapes, sizes and coats. Degus haven't. Every degu you'll meet as a pet is the same wild species, the common degu, which PetMD notes is also called the trumpet-tailed rat. They are all roughly the same size and shape, with large ears and a long tail ending in a brush tip.

What has happened is that a small number of colour mutations have appeared, mostly in Europe, and breeders have kept them going. So when people say "degu breeds", they almost always mean colours. Degutopia, a long-running UK degu site, has published the first degu breed standard, but it covers the natural agouti colour and judging is still at an early stage, with breeders being given two to three years to produce degus for assessment.

Degu colours explained

This table is based on Degutopia's guide to colour varieties, the most detailed owner-facing source on degu genetics we know of.

Agouti

The wild colour, and the one most people picture. Degutopia explains each hair has dark tips and roots with a paler band between, which gives the soft, flecked brown that works as camouflage in the Chilean scrub. Agouti is dominant over every other colour except white patching, so most pet degus are agouti.

Blue and champagne

Blue degus are grey because the brown band is missing from each hair. It was one of the first colour mutations, appearing in Germany and the Netherlands. Champagne degus carry the same dilution gene but keep a creamy band, so they look paler and warmer than blue. Both are recessive, which means a pup needs the gene from both parents.

Sand and cream

Sand degus are almost ginger. Degutopia says the original US-bred strain had many reported health defects, including unusually large animals, and is thought to have died out, while a healthier line has since been developed in Germany. Cream is sand and blue together, and Degutopia advises great care because getting it often means breeding related animals.

Patched and white

White patching is dominant and can turn up on any colour. Degutopia lists four grades by how much white there is, from under 5% to over 80%. Some agouti degus also develop white patches as they get older, which is a rare genetic quirk and not a sign of injury. Fully white degus are heavily patched, not albino; Degutopia notes no true albino degu has ever been bred.

For more on how degus look, sound and behave, see our degu facts page.

Do coloured degus have health problems?

Sometimes, and it's worth knowing why. Degutopia says many colours are recessive, so producing them has often meant breeding closely related degus, which frequently harms health and shortens life. It also notes coloured degus often have shorter lifespans than agouti ones. That isn't true of every coloured degu: good European breeders have been outcrossing to fix these problems, and newer sand lines are reported as no less healthy than other degus.

Degu lifespan in general is covered in how long degus live.

How to find a good degu breeder

Look at rescues first, because degus of every colour end up there. Crittery, a UK small animal rescue, points out that rescue centres are overcrowded and says breeding should only be done by experienced keepers aiming to improve health and temperament, with looks second. If you do go to a breeder, these are the things that separate a good one from a bad one.

• Breeds for health and temperament first, colour second, as Degutopia insists
• Doesn't pair close relatives, and can tell you each parent's line
• Knows the parents' health history: Degutopia's standard asks for no history of cataracts, diabetes, sinus problems, cancer or teeth problems
• Doesn't breed females over 5 years old, which Degutopia counts as old age
• Separates the father and splits pups into same-sex groups by 6 weeks, as Degutopia advises
• Homes pups in same-sex pairs or groups, never singly
• Gives you written care information and stays in touch
• Lets you see the parents and where the degus live
• Has degus with orange teeth, clean eyes and noses, full tails and glossy coats

Our guide to where to get a degu goes through rescues, breeders and pet shops in more detail, with the questions to ask.

What does the degu breed standard look for?

Degutopia's agouti standard is a useful checklist even if you never show a degu. It describes a healthy, well-bred adult.

Does colour change how you care for a degu?

No. Every degu, whatever its colour, needs the same things: company of its own kind, a tall metal cage, mostly hay with almost no sugar, sand baths and a cool room. PDSA's checklist for any small pet applies too: bright and alert, no discharge around the eyes, nose, ears or bottom. The full routine is in our degu care guide, and degus as pets will help if you're still deciding.