With its friendly and sociable look and its lively and rapid way of moving, the Degu of Chile, or Ottodonte , conquers everyone and has become a beloved pet. The appearance of this rodent native to Latin America is reminiscent of the gerbil , in nature it forms large groups but can also be raised at home: it is easy and does not lose its magical vitality but it is necessary to take care of it with attention.
Chilean Degu: Characteristics
We are faced with a small animal with a strong communicative nature but its extroverted nature is not the only characteristic that distinguishes it. The octodon in fact has a rather small body but equipped with a very particular tail because it can detach itself from the rest of the rodent without it suffering at all. This happens because this part of the body is formed by a very thin layer of epidermis and when it comes off it does not grow back but leaves the exposed vertebrae visible.
But when does it come off? In situations of danger or when our Chilean Degu feels threatened in some way. Even the little legs have a certain importance within the physical structure of the rodent because they are small but essential. Thanks to the claws they are equipped with, they allow the Degu both to climb and also to dig its underground shelters, very spacious burrows in which there is space for even a hundred specimens.
Chilean Degu: Behavior
Most of the Chilean Degus that are currently in circulation in the world spend their days in the Andes at an altitude of between 500 and 1000 meters. In these rather sparsely populated areas these rodents live free or can also be raised at home by the resident populations, because they have proven to be an excellent pet.
Their vivacity makes them irresistible and those who believe them to be common rodents are wrong because they have an exemplary communication ability. In fact, they are able to emit very characteristic sounds with which they express their state of mind, so it is very easy and almost natural to interact with them and build a relationship that could be similar to that which one has with a dog or a cat.
Their easy sociability should not make us forget that they are animals that must be looked after very rigorously, respecting their times and behaviors. And not only that. It is better to be careful if you leave them free in the house because they can have the tendency to bite and gnaw everything they find around without having many scruples. Also be careful when cuddling or abusing them, because if they feel threatened they can defend themselves by biting.
Chilean Degu: Breeding
Since they are pets, you can also raise octodons and it is necessary to do so respecting their needs in terms of food, space and habits. Cleaning is very important, as is the diet that we will see shortly, and the water supply that must be changed every day, cleaning the drip drinker often to avoid hygiene problems.
When preparing the cage to house these rodents, we must be sure that the dimensions are the right ones, that is, those that allow the Chilean Degu to move and relate to other specimens if there are any. It is better that this happens, it is recommended to raise this animal at least in pairs to be sure that it does not have to settle for us to spend its day without getting bored.
If you have difficulty arranging the cage, you can also opt for a terrarium but be careful not to use wood that would be regularly gnawed with gusto by the Degu.
Immediately after purchasing a specimen, it is best to have it examined by a veterinarian to ensure that it is in good health, which should be monitored with annual check-ups. Unless our little friend shows suspicious symptoms such as refusal of food, diarrhea and depression , which may be signs of a possible disease in progress in the animal. To purchase a Chilean Degu, you do not need to shell out large sums of money, a few dozen euros could be enough, but it is essential to take into account that it is an important choice, a responsibility, that of taking care of it for its entire life, as it is a pet that is very fond of its owner.
Chilean Degu: What Does It Eat?
In addition to our attention, these rodents also want food, so let’s see what their diet includes. They are herbivorous animals so they feed on vegetables and roots of different types, you can range but not take too many liberties because there are foods to avoid such as eggplants, potatoes and the green parts of tomatoes because they can even be poisonous. Let’s also leave out sweets because they can cause damage and instead feed them with large quantities of fresh grass and even hay which are both very welcome.
Chilean Degu: Reproduction
As for the productive cycle, the Degu one foresees a gestation of about 3 months after which the females give birth to 2-4, on average, but can reach up to 10. If you are hosting a pair of octodonts in your home it is better to sterilize them to avoid them from proliferating in an unmanageable way. At most after a first litter where the young will be born almost already able to take solid food and will be weaned in the space of 4-6 weeks. If kept at home an animal like these can live for even ten years while in its natural environment its life expectancy is about three.