Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
What size wheel does a degu need?
At least 30 cm (12 in) across. Degutopia, the long-running UK degu care site, sets 12 inches as the minimum so a degu does not curve its spine as it runs, and PDSA asks for a wheel big enough for a degu to run with a flat back. PetMD gives a range of 10 to 12 in (25 to 30 cm).
We'd follow the 30 cm figure and go bigger if the cage allows. An adult degu has a body of about 15 cm (6 in) plus a tail just as long, and it stretches out further when it runs at full speed. A 25 cm (10 in) wheel may suit a young degu, but it will be outgrown. A wheel can be too heavy, but it is very hard to buy one that is too big across for a degu.
| Diameter | Verdict for degus |
|---|---|
| 20 to 21 cm (8 in) | Too small: a dwarf hamster or mouse size |
| 25 to 28 cm (10 to 11 in) | Too small for most adults; young degus only |
| 30 cm (12 in) | Minimum for an adult |
| 33 cm (13 in) | Good for most adults |
| 38 cm (15 in) | Roomy, sold for chinchillas and degus; needs a tall cage |
How do I know if my degu's wheel is too small?
Watch from the side while your degu runs. Its back should be flat or only gently curved, with its head roughly in line with its spine. If the back humps up, the wheel is too small, even if your degu uses it every day.
- The back arches upwards into a hump while running
- The head tilts up and back to fit the curve of the wheel
- The tail is pressed hard against the track or hangs out of the front
- Your degu can only run slowly, or stops and starts
- Two degus cannot fit on the wheel together without one being pushed off
PDSA warns that running with an arched back can lead to spine problems. Swap a too-small wheel for a bigger one rather than waiting to see if it causes trouble.
Which type of degu wheel is safest?
A solid, open-fronted wheel with no spokes, held from the back. Degutopia reports that open-rung wire wheels have caused serious injuries, mostly broken legs, feet and toes. Chewy says to buy solid wheels only.
Avoid any wheel with spokes or cross-bars on the open side. Degutopia says the points where they cross can catch a degu, especially when more than one shares the cage, and the most common injury is a severed tail. A degu's tail can also slip off if grabbed, so never let a wheel trap it.
Look for a wheel where the track joins a solid back plate, with nothing across the front. If your degus share one wheel, a wide track lets two run side by side or pass each other safely.
Metal, plastic or wooden degu wheels?
Metal is the one to buy for inside the cage. Degutopia says plastic "silent spinner" wheels are common but are readily chewed, and that an all-metal wheel is cheaper in the long run and quieter. PetMD and Wood Green both say degus chew through plastic, and PetMD advises against plastic accessories in general.
| Type | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| All metal, solid track | Lasts years, can't be chewed through, quiet when the bearing is clean | Harder to find; heavier; sharp edges on cheap ones |
| Plastic, solid track | Light, easy to wash, widely sold | Chewed quickly inside the cage; swallowed plastic is a risk |
| Wood with a cork track | Quiet, good grip | Gets gnawed and soaks up urine; check it often |
| Wire or rung | Nothing | Trapped and broken legs, feet and toes |
| Saucer (flat disc) | An occasional extra in the play area | Tilted running posture; not covered by degu care sources |
Degutopia suggests using a big plastic wheel only in the play area, outside the cage. Degus are busy exploring when they're out, so it rarely gets chewed, and it doesn't have to fit through the cage door.
How to choose and fit a degu wheel
- Measure the inside of the track. The size on the box can be the outside diameter. You want at least 30 cm (12 in) on the inside.
- Check the track is solid. No rungs, mesh or wide slats. A lightly textured surface gives grip; Chewy also warns against wide gaps in wheels and ramps.
- Look at the front. It should be fully open, with no spokes or cross-bar, so there is nothing to catch a tail.
- Pick metal for the cage. Keep plastic and wooden wheels for supervised play time, where they're less likely to be chewed.
- Check it fits your cage. A 30 cm (12 in) wheel needs roughly 35 cm (14 in) of clear height once it is mounted, and a 38 cm (15 in) wheel needs more. Our guide to degu cage size covers how tall a cage should be.
- Fix it firmly. Bolt a cage-mounted wheel to the bars on a solid level, or stand a freestanding one on the solid base, not on deep bedding where it can tip.
- Test it before your degus do. Spin it by hand: it should turn freely, run quietly and not wobble or rub against the bars.
Where should the wheel go in a degu cage?
On a solid level with clear space in front, away from the water bottle and food bowl. Degus jump on and off at speed, so leave a landing spot by the opening and keep ramps and platforms from overhanging the wheel. If the wheel is mounted high, put a solid shelf below it so a degu that jumps off does not fall the full height of the cage. Our guide to degu cage setup has full layouts.
Keep the cage somewhere cool. Degutopia advises a room at 18 to 22°C (64 to 72°F), never in direct sunlight, because degus cannot sweat and overheat easily. A degu running hard in a warm room is at more risk, so see our degu temperature guide if your room gets hot in summer.
Why does my degu run on its wheel at night?
Because running makes heat, and night is cooler. Degutopia notes that degus with unlimited wheel access can become more active at night for this reason. Degus are naturally awake in the daytime, so this is a sign the room is warm or the wheel is their only outlet.
If the noise is a problem, take the wheel out at night, keep the room cooler during the day, or give more daytime play outside the cage. Clean the bearing too, since a gritty one is much louder.
Is a wheel enough exercise for degus?
No. PDSA says degus need at least half an hour of exercise a day outside the cage, ideally in a large pen or a secure, degu-proofed room. Degutopia recommends the same and advises against exercise balls: degus get stressed shut in small spaces, and some have died inside balls on hot days.
Degus also need to climb, dig and chew. Burgess suggests a digging box of soil and sand, and the RSPCA recommends platforms at different heights, safe branches such as apple, pear and beech, and tunnels. Our pages on degu enrichment and the best degu toys and accessories have more ideas.
Degu wheels we'd look at
We don't make pieces for degus yet, so these are from other shops we'd look at. Stock changes, so check the size and that it is in stock before you order.
Exotic Nutrition Chin-Sprint Wheel, 15 in
An all-metal 38 cm (15 in) wheel with a 15 cm (6 in) wide track, made for chinchillas and listed for degus too. It mounts to wire cages and suits pairs that run together. It needs a tall cage, and the shop advises cleaning the bearing monthly. It showed as sold out when we checked, so ask about restocks.
Trixie Wooden Exercise Wheel, 33 cm
A 33 cm (13 in) wooden wheel with a cork track, a closed back and its own stand. The shop lists the 33 cm and 28 cm sizes for degus, but we'd only buy the 33 cm. Expect gnawing, so use it in the play area or check it often in the cage.
Exotic Nutrition Silent Runner, 12 in Wide
A 30 cm (12 in) wheel with a 10 cm (4 in) wide textured track, which leaves more room for two degus. It can be cage-mounted or bought with a stand. Degutopia says plastic-type spinners like this get chewed in the cage, so it is best for play time. It showed as sold out when we checked.
Kaytee Silent Spinner, 12 in
A widely sold wheel with a solid plastic track, available in a 12 in (30 cm) size; only that size is big enough. Kaytee markets the range for smaller pets, and degus will chew it, so keep it for supervised play outside the cage.
Oxbow Enriched Life 2 in 1 Quiet Runner, 12 in
A freestanding wheel whose stand comes off so it can mount to the cage, sold in 8, 10 and 12 in. Choose only the 12 in (30 cm) for degus. Oxbow doesn't say what it is made of, so treat it as chewable and use it for play time.
Chinchilla wheels are often a good fit for degus because they are big and usually metal; our guide to chinchilla wheels explains what those are built for. For everything else about keeping degus, see our complete degu care guide.
Degu wheel questions
Is a 28 cm (11 in) wheel big enough for a degu?
It is borderline. PetMD accepts 10 to 12 in (25 to 30 cm), but Degutopia, the UK degu specialist site, sets 12 in (30 cm) as the minimum so the back stays flat. A 28 cm wheel might suit a young or small degu, but most adults need 30 cm or more. We'd buy 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15 in) and skip the smaller size.
Can degus use a hamster wheel?
Only a big one. Most hamster wheels are 20 to 28 cm (8 to 11 in) across, which is too small for an adult degu, and many are thin plastic that degus chew quickly. A Syrian hamster wheel of 30 cm (12 in) is big enough across, but check it is solid, has no spokes and will stand up to gnawing.
Why does my degu only run on its wheel at night?
Running makes a lot of body heat, and degus overheat easily, so many prefer to run when the room is cooler. Degutopia notes that a wheel left in all the time can make degus more active at night. If the noise keeps you awake, take the wheel out overnight or keep the room cooler during the day.
Can two degus share one wheel?
Yes, and many take turns or run together. This is exactly when wheel design matters most. Degutopia warns that spokes are most dangerous with more than one degu in the cage, because one degu can be on the wheel while another climbs in and gets a tail or foot caught. A wide, open-fronted wheel with no spokes is safest.
Are flying saucer wheels or exercise balls safe for degus?
Exercise balls are not. Degutopia says they are not recommended, because degus get stressed when shut in a small space and some have died in balls on hot days. Saucers are not covered by the main degu sources, and they make the body run tilted, so we'd use an upright wheel as the main one and treat a saucer as an extra in the play area.
Should a degu have a wheel all the time?
Most owners leave one in the cage, and PDSA lists a large, solid wheel as part of a good degu home. The exception is night running: if your degus keep you awake, you can take the wheel out at night. Either way, give at least half an hour of exercise outside the cage every day, as PDSA advises.
How do I stop a degu wheel squeaking?
Most squeaks come from the bearing or the mount. Take the wheel apart and clear out bedding, dust and hair from the centre, then refit it so the wheel does not rub the stand or the cage. Exotic Nutrition advises cleaning the bearing monthly, never soaking it, and replacing bearings every four to six months on heavily used wheels.
