what should i feed my degu?

[2bornot2b]

I'm getting my 1st degus and I need to know what to feed them. The owner of the rescue center I am getting them from said that I should only feed them degu food because all guinea pig and chinchilla food has molasses in it. What does everyone feed they're degus?

[Sasami]

Not all guinea pig and chinchilla foods have molasses...just check the ingredients .

I do, however, feed a degu food by Sun Seed. It's definitely one of the best (if not the best) degu diets in the US.

[Amethystbelle]

I totally agree not all guinea pig and chinchilla food contains mollasses i feed guinea pig pellets and guinea pig mix both of which don't contain any mollasses or sugar. You have to be careful with just feeding degu only food as many of the brands despite saying they have, haven't devised a balanced diet and often bulk it out with seeds which are fattening to degus. I've heard good things about sunseed although it isn't available if in the UK so i can't comment any further. We however have a lot of degu foods in the UK that you don't get in the US. Whereabouts in the world are you?

I feed a mixture of guinea pig pellets and mix like i mentioned before i also mix in some degu food (Vitakraft degu menu or Xtravital degu), dried flowers and leaves. Alongside that they have plenty of fresh hay and grasses and fresh or dried veggies every couple of days

[leplake]

Yeah, not EVERY guinea pig food has molasses. My advise is, read the labels. In my area, ALL the chinchilla diets have molassess, and most guinea pig foods have it (but not all) In fact I did find one, onlything is, it didnt have added vitamin C... so watch for that.(I have a guinea pig as well, so they eat the same food, I just have to give him extra C)
I feed them a variety of fresh veggies every few days (their favorite is sweet potato) and they get a couple treats. Also when looking for treats, read the labels ALL the way down... I've found that most treats for guineas and chins have molasses, so I like looking at gerbil/hamster treats. good luck with your new goos!

[mulder]

i used to feed my girls gp and chin food. as long as you read the label you're fine. not all food has molasses in it. with good you should also watch for alfalfa base as well, it's a sweeter hay they should have a lot of. timothy hay is great, give them lots, let them have a constant supply. my girls also liked sunflower seeds as treats.

[MañasMom]

I also do a 50/50 mix of guinea pig and chinchilla pellets. As everyone has said, not all food has molasses in it. Just check the label, and you'll be fine.

It's important, if you do use guinea pig food, not to get one with all the "extras" in it (like little cereal flakes, bits of corn, little puffs, etc.). Stick to a basic, pellet only guinea pig food, as all the little extras are extra bad for Goos.

Mine have free access all day to all the pellets, hay, and water they want. Once a day I also give veggies - the fancy lettuces, peas, green beans, a carrot, sweet potato, dandelion greens, etc.

Each time I clean cages, they all get a peanut for a treat, and every now and then I'll give a few sunflower seeds, or something else like that, for an extra special treat.

I know you are going to LOVE having Degus in your life. Congratulations!!!

[Rhapsody]

WOW! (or) Eeeek!!! - not for sure which one yet?

... but I never knew about the molasses thing.