Degu temperature guide: too hot, too cold and just right

What temperature do degus need?

A steady, cool room temperature of 18 to 22°C (64 to 72°F). That is Degutopia's ideal range, and it sits close to the 20°C (68°F) that both the RSPCA and Burgess give as the figure to stay at or under. Degutopia's wider safe range is 15 to 25°C (59 to 77°F), but it warns that degus shouldn't spend long at either end of it.

Degus come from the dry hills of Chile, but that doesn't make them heat lovers. Wild degus live in burrows they can retreat into. A pet degu in a cage can't dig its way to cooler air, and because degus can't sweat, they have very few ways to shed heat once they are too warm.

Where should a degu cage go?

In a light, dry, cool room indoors, out of direct sunlight and away from radiators, draughts and anything that gives off heat. The RSPCA also asks for the enclosure to sit at waist height on a sturdy table or shelf, which helps degus feel secure, and for the room to have daylight in the day and darkness at night, with lights going on and off at about the same time each day. The PDSA adds that TVs and speakers should be kept away, because the vibration stresses degus.

• No direct sun on the cage at any time of day, including late afternoon sun through a west window.
• At least a metre (3 ft) from radiators, fires, ovens, tumble dryers and fish tank heaters.
• Not in a conservatory, loft room or room with a big south-facing window, which can overheat fast.
• Not by an outside door, a draughty window or an air vent.
• Not in a damp room, a garage, a shed or an outbuilding.
• A room thermometer beside the cage.
• A sturdy surface at about waist height.

The cage itself matters too. The RSPCA warns that glass tanks and vivariums don't let enough air move through, so a metal cage with good airflow is safer in warm weather. Our degu cage setup guide shows how to lay one out, and best degu cages compares cages that suit them.

How hot is too hot for a degu?

Over 25°C (77°F) is too hot for anything more than a short spell, and the RSPCA would have you act well before that, at 20°C (68°F). Heat builds up quickly in a closed room in summer, so the trick is to cool the room before it warms, not after.

1. Move early. On a hot day, move the cage to the coolest room in the house in the morning, before the heat builds. Degutopia gives this as the first thing to do.
2. Block the sun. Close curtains or blinds on sunny windows and keep the cage well back from them.
3. Move air, not degus. A fan pointing across the room, not straight at the cage, keeps air moving without a draught. Keep cables out of reach, because degus chew them.
4. Add a cool spot. A ceramic floor tile or flat slab of granite on one level gives them somewhere cool to lie. Never use ice packs or frozen bottles they could chew.
5. Check the water twice a day. Degus drink more in hot weather, Degutopia notes, and a blocked bottle in a heatwave is dangerous. Make sure the nozzle flows.
6. Take the wheel out in the heat of the day. Degutopia says unlimited wheel time can make degus run at night; in a heatwave, running hard in the warmest hours adds to the heat they need to lose.
7. Skip handling and play. Keep out-of-cage time for the cool morning or evening, and keep it short.

Signs of heatstroke in degus

The RSPCA's warning sign is a degu lying still and flat on its stomach. Degutopia lists extreme tiredness, a degu that seems lifeless, fur that looks ruffled and a body that feels very hot to the touch. It rates the outlook as poor to fatal, so speed matters more than anything.

• Lying flat and stretched out on the tummy, not moving away when you come close.
• Very slow or floppy, or seems not to be breathing much.
• Ruffled, untidy fur.
• Ears and body feel hot to your hand.
• Not interested in food or water.

Heatstroke is one of the conditions the RSPCA names among common degu illnesses. Our degu health guide covers the other signs to watch for.

Can degus get too cold?

Yes, but it is much less of a risk than heat. Burgess says degus cope with cold well but dislike damp, and Degutopia sets 15°C (59°F) as the low end of the safe range. The real cold-weather danger is damp air and draughts, which Degutopia and Burgess both link to pneumonia and other chest infections, to which degus are prone.

In winter, keep the cage in a heated part of the house, away from outside doors and single-glazed windows, and give them deep bedding and a nest box filled with hay so they can snuggle together. Degus sleep in a heap, which is one of many reasons they should live in pairs or groups. You don't need a heat mat or lamp, and adding one makes overheating more likely. Our guide to degu bedding lists the best materials for a warm, deep layer.

Can degus live outside or in a shed?

No. Burgess and the PDSA both say degus belong indoors. An outdoor hutch, shed or garage swings too far between hot and cold, picks up damp, and a few hours of summer sun on a roof can push the inside far past 25°C (77°F). In a UK or northern US winter, an unheated outbuilding is often well below 15°C (59°F) for weeks. Neither is safe.

Does temperature affect dust baths, food and water?

Yes, a little. Degus drink more in hot weather, so check the bottle more often. Degutopia says a healthy pair drinks about a litre (34 fl oz) a month in total, so a sudden big rise in cool weather is worth noting, because it can be a sign of diabetes. A damp room also makes it harder for their coat to stay clean, which is what the sand bath is for. Our degu dust bath guide covers how often and how long.

Everything else your degus need, from diet to company, is in our complete degu care guide.

For handling and trust, see how to tame and bond with a degu, and for life stages, how long degus live.