Care guide · Degus

Where to get a degu: rescue, breeder or pet shop

Checked against Raystede: Adopt small animals, RSPCA: Find a pet, RSPCA: The appropriate company for degus and 13 more on

Start with a rescue. Degus need homes too, and UK charities such as Raystede rehome them for about £20 each, often as bonded pairs. If no rescue has degus near you, go to a careful hobby breeder who breeds for health first. Big pet chains in the UK don't sell them.

Why get a degu from a rescue?

Because degus need homes, and a rescue degu comes with honest information. Degus live 6 to 8 years, according to PDSA, which is longer than many owners plan for. Crittery, a small animal rescue in Oxfordshire, points out that rescue centres are overcrowded.

Rescues also do things a seller won't. Crittery quarantines new arrivals for at least two weeks to assess behaviour, check for pregnancy and treat anything the vet finds. PDSA says reputable rehoming centres health-check their animals and train staff to match you with the right pet. And you can often take home a pair that already lives together, which saves the slow, territorial job of introductions. Chewy's vet-reviewed guide agrees: adopt from a shelter or rescue first.

If you already have one degu whose friend has died, ask rescues about bonding. Raystede offers an on-site bonding service for single small animals that need a companion, which is far safer than introducing a stranger at home.

Where to find degus for adoption

In the UK

  • Raystede lists degus among its small animals, with a £20 adoption fee as of November 2026
  • RSPCA Find a Pet lets you search rehoming centres near you; small pets such as degus are filed under "small furries"
  • Crittery in Oxfordshire prioritises exotic small pets; ask whether degus are in
  • Local small animal rescues: many of the best are small and run by volunteers
  • Exotic vets near you often know which local rescues have degus

Woodgreen's adoption page lists rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters and mice, but not degus, as of November 2026, so check before you travel. PDSA's general advice is to start with well-known centres such as Blue Cross, the RSPCA and Woodgreen, then look wider.

In the US

Check the law first. Chewy notes degus are illegal in some states, where they are treated as a potentially invasive species, and advises checking both state and local rules. Then ask local shelters, small animal rescues and exotic vets.

How to spot a good rescue

Most rescues are wonderful, but a few aren't. Crittery's guide to what makes a good rescue is the clearest we've seen. It offers it as one experienced rescuer's view, and we agree with it.

Good signs Warning signs
Animals stay long enough for quarantine and assessment Animals arrive and leave within days
Honest descriptions, including nervous or difficult animals Every animal described as sweet
Asks you questions and checks your set-up No questions asked
Takes animals back if your life changes No support after adoption
Covers vet bills and basics without appeals Crowdfunding for routine care
Has intake limits and works with other rescues Pays for animals or keeps having "accidental" litters

How to find a good degu breeder

If no rescue has degus, a hobby breeder is the next best choice. Degutopia says breeding is best left to experienced keepers because captive degus have a history of inherited problems, and Crittery says breeding should aim to improve health and temperament, with looks second. A good breeder will be happy to answer all of these.

  1. Ask about the parents. Can you see them? Are they related? Degutopia's breed standard asks that degus aren't bred from direct relatives or from parents with a history of cataracts, diabetes, sinus problems, cancer or teeth problems.
  2. Ask the mother's age. Degutopia says females shouldn't be bred once they're over 5 years old.
  3. Ask how the pups are housed. Degutopia advises separating the father and splitting pups into same-sex groups by 6 weeks. Females can breed from about 7 weeks, so mixed groups past that age risk a surprise litter.
  4. Ask how they're homed. A good breeder homes degus in same-sex pairs or groups, never one on its own, and gives you written care information.
  5. Ask about colour. If they breed rare colours, ask how. Degutopia warns many colours are recessive and have often been produced by inbreeding, which harms health. Our guide to degu colours explains more.
  6. Look at the set-up. Clean, spacious metal cages with bedding, hides and a sand bath. PDSA's checklist for any small pet starts with a clean, suitable home.
Be wary of anyone selling single degus, mixed-sex groups of older pups, or lots of rare colours cheaply. These are signs of breeding for numbers or looks rather than health, and you may bring home a pregnant female or a degu with inherited problems.

Can you buy a degu from a pet shop?

Rarely in the UK, and we wouldn't start there. Pets at Home's small animals for sale section lists rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and mice, but not degus, as of November 2026, though it sells degu food and kit. If you do find degus in a shop, ask the same questions you'd ask a breeder, make sure the degus have been sexed and kept apart by sex, and don't buy the cage they suggest without checking it: PDSA notes enclosures sold in pet shops are often too small. Our degu cage size guide gives the real minimums.

What does a healthy degu look like?

Bright, busy and curious. The RSPCA and PDSA describe the signs.

  • Alert and active when awake (degus are up in the daytime)
  • Bright, clear eyes with no cloudiness or discharge
  • Clean nose and dry mouth, with no wetness around the chin
  • Clean, upright ears
  • Yellow-orange teeth; white teeth can be a sign of poor health
  • Glossy fur with no bald patches
  • A whole tail with its brush tip, and a clean bottom
  • No wheezing or repeated sneezing
  • Living with other degus in a clean cage

Book a check with an exotic vet in the first week or two, and see our degu health guide for what to watch afterwards.

Before you bring degus home

  • A tall metal cage set up and in a cool room, at or below 20°C (68°F)
  • Hay, the same pellets they've been eating, and a water bottle
  • Deep paper bedding, a nest box for all and a hide each
  • A solid wheel and a sand bath
  • An exotic vet found and their number saved
  • A budget: our degu cost guide has the numbers

Once they're home, give them a few quiet days before you start taming, then follow our guide to taming and bonding with a degu. If you're still deciding, degus as pets covers the honest pros and cons, and the complete degu care guide has everything else.

Getting a degu: questions

Can I buy a degu at Pets at Home?

Not as of November 2026. Pets at Home's small animals for sale section lists rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and mice, but not degus, though it does sell degu food and accessories. Look for a rescue first, then a careful hobby breeder.

How much does a degu cost to adopt?

Around £20 each in the UK. Raystede, an animal welfare charity, lists a degu adoption fee of £20 as of November 2026. Fees vary between rescues and usually include health checks. The bigger cost is the cage and kit, which our degu cost guide breaks down.

Should I get one degu or two?

Always two or more. The RSPCA says degus can become depressed if kept alone and should never be housed alone unless a vet or clinical animal behaviourist advises it. Same-sex pairs are simplest. A bonded pair from a rescue saves you introducing strangers, which takes days of short, careful sessions because degus are territorial.

What age should a degu be when you get it?

If you get young degus, they should be fully weaned and living in same-sex groups. Degutopia advises weaning at 4 to 6 weeks and separating the sexes by 6 weeks, because females can breed from about 7 weeks. Adults are a good choice too: their personality and health are already clear.

Are degus legal everywhere?

No. Chewy's vet-reviewed guide says degus are illegal in some US states, where they are treated as a potentially invasive species, and advises checking local and state laws before adopting. In the UK, degus can be kept as pets. If you're outside the UK, check with your local authority first.

How can I tell if a degu is healthy?

Look for an alert degu with bright, clear eyes, clean ears, a clean nose and mouth, glossy fur, a whole tail and a clean bottom, as the RSPCA describes. The teeth should be yellow-orange: white teeth can be a sign of poor health. Avoid any degu with discharge, wheezing, bald patches or cloudy eyes.

Do rescue degus make good pets?

Yes. Chewy's vet-reviewed guide says rescued degus make good companions, and a good rescue will tell you honestly what each one is like. Some are nervous at first, but degus are curious and food-driven, so most settle with patient hand-feeding.

Sources

Read next

Degu care: the complete guide

Degus need a same-sex friend, a tall metal cage, mostly hay with almost no sugar, a solid wheel, sand baths, daily time out and a cool room.

Degus as pets: what to know before you get one

Degus are lively, chatty day-active pets for patient owners, but need a same-sex friend, a big metal cage, a low-sugar diet and 6 to 8 years of care.

How much does a degu cost to buy and keep?

A rescue degu costs about £20, but the tall cage and kit for a pair run £300 to £450, then about £25 to £45 a month, plus vet bills.

Degu breeds, types and colours

There are no separate degu breeds: every pet degu is the same species, in colour varieties such as agouti, blue, sand, cream and white patched.

Degu health: signs of illness to watch for

Watch for white teeth, dropped food, fewer droppings, heavy drinking, cloudy eyes, a runny nose or lying flat in the heat. Any of these needs an exotic vet.

How to tame, handle and bond with a degu

Let a new degu settle for a week, then sit by the cage daily, talk quietly and hand-feed tiny treats until it steps onto you. Expect two weeks to two months.