Degu Housing

Degu Housing

Your degus cage is where its going to spend most of its time so it needs to be appropriate.

The minimum cage dimensions are 70l X 70h x 45w. This is the absolute minimum. A cage like this would also need multiple levels and not jut tiny ledges, whole levels. You can find many cage calculators online but remember the calculators assume that you will have multiple levels in your cage.
The structure of your cage will have to be completely made of metal unless you decide to make your your own cage out of wood. When adding levels to a cage remember to use kiln dried pine for this as this is a safe wood for degus. A degus cage will need a maximum of 2cm bar spacing to prevent your degus from escaping.
If your cage comes with shelving made of mesh then you should wither cover it up or remove it as walking around on it could cause bumble foot.

Bedding 

Being keeps your degus home dry and provides a digging space for your degus. A popular substrate is kiln-dried pine shavings, this substrate is relatively cheap but is easily kicked out of the cage. Yes, degus enjoy flicking bedding and poo out of there cage onto the floor. Another bedding option is paper based bedding like carefresh, this can be more expensive however it is heavier and less likely to be kicked out of the cage. Beddings like megazorb are supposed to be good however i have not tried it myself because it is sold in bulk, apparently this bedding is also light and easily ,picked out of the cage. I don't recommend shredded paper or chopped straw as these are not very absorbent  which is not ideal for bedding. However if you plan on making a digging box for your degus enclosure paper (not with ink) and straw or hay can be used to dig in. 

Nesting Materials 

For nesting materials you could use hay or shredded toilet/kitchen paper, this is what I use for my degus. Never use cotton based bedding from pet shops, even the ones that claim to be safe can cause degus feet to become stuck.

House

In their cage degus need a house or a hideaway to provide a place to sleep and hide. many different things can be used for this like tunnels or terracotta pots on their sides. You can make a destructible house out of cardboard by cutting holes for the doors. Also houses usually sold in pet hops are suitable. 

Toys

Toys are essential to your degus well being and will keep them occupied and prevent unwanted behaviour. This is a list of toy ideas that you can use for your degus.

 Water

Water can be provided in a bowl or in a bottle, I personally prefer a bottle as I feel this offers better hygiene and therefore keeps the water fresher for longer. I use the living worlds glass water bottle which is amazing.

Food bowls

You can provide food bowls for your degus but you might need a bowl for each debug to prevent fighting. I use half a coconut shell as one bowl, and a ceramic dish as another.