A Degu Checklist

There are many things that you need for a degu and unfortunately you cannot get everything in a little "Degu Starter Kit" like a hamster or fish. There is a lot more work involved in the searching process and this page is designed to help you cut that time in half. Because degus are rare, they are more expensive than your ordinary pet. Be prepared to spend more money.

THE UNOFFICIAL DEGU PET STORE CHECKLIST

A cage- It should be large enough to give your degus room to run around and I recommend having more than one level.   They can cost anywhere from C$75+ for a completely metal one. Plastic bottom ones are okay, but will need replacing every six months or so depending on the thickness of plastic. It costs about $20 to replace. I paid $79.95 for my wire rat cage at SuperPet, a Canadian chain. Brand unknown. Look also for chinchilla cages.

A wheel- A simple rat or ferret wheel will do nicely. Should be at least 9 in.
They can cost around C$12.99-C$19.99 I paid $14.99 for a 9in rat wheel at a private pet shop. The brand is Hagan. (Savannah Pet Shop)

Bedding- Bedding consists of wood shavings that are usually pine, but there are other varieties such as cedar, chlorophyl pine and pine/cedar mix. It can cost around C$1.99-$6.99 I paid $1.99 for a 1000 cubic inch bag. It was Pestal Brand (may only be available in Canada).

Timothy Hay- It can be placed in nest boxes, given as food, and can be mixed with the bedding.
It can cost around C$5.99-$8.99 I paid $6.49 for a 1 lb 4 oz bag by Hagan at a private pet shop. (Savannah Pet Shop)

Alfalfa Hay- It can be placed in nest boxes, given as food, and can be mixed with the bedding. It can cost around C$1.99-$8.99 I paid $1.49 for a 5 oz bag by Hagan at a private pet shop. (Savannah Pet Shop)

Guinea Pig Pellets- It is the standard guinea pig food, nothing fancy- just the pellets.  It can cost around C$1.79-$5.99 I paid $1.79 for a Pet Valu brand bag, sized 1 kg or 2.2 lb.

Chinchilla Pellets- The other half of the degu's basic diet. They can cost around C$3.79-$12.99 I paid $3.79 for a .9 kg or 2 lb bag of LM Classic Blend Chinchilla Food.

Chinchilla Dust- A product that is used to give your degus baths in. They can cost around C$5.99-$8.99
I paid $5.99 for a 32 oz jar by LM.

Food Dish- A very important item. It should be made of a sturdy material such as ceramic to prevend being tipped over and if possible placed on an upper level to prevent being filled with wood chips. You may need one for each degu. They can cost around C$1.99-$3.49 I paid $2.49 for a ceramic dish at Pet Valu.

Water Bottle- Usefull and a bit more practical than a dish. That is because the water stays fresher and cannot be tipped over or pooped in. They can cost around C$5.99-$8.99? I paid $4.57 for mine at Pet Valu (on sale). It was an 8 oz one and it's brand is Gimborn.

Finally the Degus- They can cost around C$9.99-$14.99, each. I paid $9.99 for mine, at a private pet store. (Love's Pet Shop)

THE UNOFFICIAL DEGU SUPERMARKET CHECKLIST

Greens- Can include lettuce, or any other green leafy veggie, preferable not from the cabbage family.

Orange Veggies- Can include sweat potato, yams, or carrots.

Sunflower Seeds-Get some that are unseasoned and unsalted- not as tasty but better for them, and they still love them.

NOTE: These prices are suggestions only. They are only what I have seen in my area. Prices may differ from place to place drastically. Be prepared to bargain shop around town- check classified adds for cages if you wish. If you see that something is more expensive than what is listed notify me and I will make the nessisary changes to this page. Thank you for your co-operation.