Food bowls for degus: heavy, sturdy and chew-proof

A degu prefers to eat in peace, in a fixed spot, from a bowl that stays put. That sounds simple, but degus are strong and curious. They push with their snout, climb on the rim and gnaw on anything made of wood or plastic. A light bowl is upside down within a few minutes and the food disappears into the bedding. A heavy ceramic food bowl prevents that.

That is why in this category you will find ceramic food bowls in various sizes and shapes. Ceramic is heavy, doesn't tip over easily and can't be gnawed to pieces by degus. The bowl holds the daily portion of Zooply Degu Food, the sugar-free food we give the degus in our shop and at our breeding facility ourselves.

In short

• ✓ Choose a heavy ceramic bowl; degus chew wood and plastic to pieces and push light bowls over.
• ✓ For a group, provide more than one feeding spot, so the lower-ranking degus can also eat in peace.
• ✓ Give a fixed daily portion of degu food and don't top up before the bowl has been properly emptied.
• ✓ Hay doesn't go in the food bowl but should be available without limit, in a rack or on the floor.
• ✓ Rinse the bowl every day and clean it thoroughly at least once a week.

What will you find in the Food bowls category for degus?

Round and oval ceramic food bowls

The Trixie ceramic food bowl with a diameter of 7 cm is a compact bowl for one or two degus, or as a second feeding spot in a larger enclosure. The green 100 ml Flamingo ceramic food bowl is of a similar size. The ø 9 cm Two-tone food bowl has rounded rims, so the food stays in the bowl. For a small group of degus, the oval 600 ml Trixie food bowl is roomy enough for several animals to eat from at the same time. The blue 'Rabbit' food bowl has a diameter of 12 cm and is also suitable as a heavy water bowl.

Food bowls in a fun shape

If you want something other than a round bowl, there are ceramic food bowls in the shape of a vegetable or fruit. Trixie has a carrot food bowl and an apple food bowl, both 12 × 11 cm. From Happy Pet there is a smaller carrot food bowl of 13.5 × 6.5 × 3 cm and the Lettuce leaf food bowl in the shape of a green lettuce leaf. The shape is purely decoration: the bowl of course simply holds sugar-free degu food, not carrot or apple.

Food bowl with a rainforest look

The Trixie ceramic food bowl with a rainforest look (10 × 2.5 × 7.5 cm) has the appearance of stone or wood. It hardly stands out in a naturally furnished enclosure and fits well into a degu scape with cork, branches and moss. Because the bowl is low, you can set it halfway into the bedding.

Why ceramic is the best choice for degus

Degus chew wood and plastic to pieces. A plastic food bowl is therefore a poor choice for degus: it gets damaged, develops sharp edges and your degu can swallow bits of plastic. Wooden bowls get gnawed and absorb moisture and odour. Ceramic doesn't have those drawbacks. It is too hard to gnaw on, smooth and therefore easy to clean, and heavy enough to stay put when a degu jumps onto the rim.

A second advantage of a heavy bowl: you can see better what is being eaten. If the food doesn't end up in the bedding, you can see at a glance whether the portion is finished or whether something is being left. With degus, that is important. A degu that eats less may be ill.

How many feeding spots does a group of degus need?

Degus live at least in pairs, ideally in a small same-sex group. Every group has a pecking order. The dominant degu often eats first and can chase others away from the bowl. With one small bowl, the lower-ranking animals then get less. So give each group at least two feeding spots, some distance apart, or one roomy oval bowl that several degus can eat from at the same time. Watch closely for the first few days to make sure everyone can eat.

How to feed degus from a food bowl

The foundation of the degu menu is unlimited hay. On top of that, degus get a fixed daily portion of degu food without sugar. That food goes in the food bowl. Don't keep topping up when the bowl looks empty. Otherwise degus eat their favourite bits first and leave the rest. Wait until the bowl has been properly emptied before you give the next portion.

If you want to make feeding more interesting, scatter part of the daily portion through the bedding or hide it in a foraging game. Your degu then searches for its food and gets nothing extra. Degus are prone to diabetes. So fruit, dried fruit, carrot or sweet snacks don't belong in the food bowl.

Where do you put the food bowl?

Place the food bowl on a dry, level spot. Not under the water bottle, because then the food gets wet and can go mouldy. Not by the spot where your degus prefer to wee either. On the floor, you can press the bowl firmly into the bedding, so it doesn't slide away. On a platform, don't put it too close to the edge. A fixed feeding spot gives peace: your degus know where the food is and you can quickly see if anything changes in their eating behaviour.

Cleaning

Rinse the food bowl daily, or wipe it out dry if it has only held dry food. If there is saliva, urine or damp food on the rim, wash it straight away. Clean the bowl thoroughly at least once a week with warm water and a mild washing-up liquid, rinse well and let it dry completely. Replace a bowl with a crack or a chipped rim, because dirt builds up there.

Useful combinations

A food bowl is part of a complete feeding spot:

• Food for Degus: Zooply Degu Food, sugar-free and the fixed daily portion in the bowl.
• Hay: unlimited Zooply hay, the foundation of the menu next to the food bowl.
• Hay racks: keep the hay clean and dry next to the feeding spot.
• Water bottles: anyone eating dry food must always have access to fresh water.
• Dried herbs: sugar-free Zooply herbs to mix through the food now and then.

Frequently asked questions about food bowls for degus

Why do my degus keep knocking the food bowl over?

Usually the bowl is too light or it is in a busy spot. Degus are strong and jump onto the rim. Choose a heavy ceramic bowl and press it firmly into the bedding or put it on a level surface. Also provide plenty of other activities in the enclosure, such as digging, climbing and gnawing, so the food bowl doesn't become the toy of the day.

Is one food bowl enough for three degus?

Sometimes, but a second feeding spot often gives more peace. In a group, a dominant degu can block the bowl. With two bowls or one roomy oval bowl, everyone can eat at the same time. Watch your group: if you see pushing and chasing at the bowl, add a second one.

Can degus eat from a plastic food bowl?

Preferably not. Degus chew plastic to pieces, which gives the bowl sharp edges and means your degu can swallow bits of plastic. Ceramic is heavy, chew-proof and easy to clean. That is why this category consists of ceramic bowls.

My degus only eat the tasty bits from the bowl. What can I do?

Only fill the bowl again once it has been properly emptied. That way your degus also eat the bits they like less and get all the nutrients they need. Don't give extras while there is still food in the bowl. If a lot is left every day, the portion may be too big.

Can I give vegetables or herbs in the food bowl?

You can mix sugar-free dried herbs through the food now and then or give them loose in a bowl. Be careful with fresh food and vegetables for degus: only give small amounts of low-sugar vegetables and no carrot or fruit. Remove leftovers in time, because degus hide food and fresh food spoils.

Which size food bowl suits my degus?

For a pair, a bowl of about 7 to 9 cm in diameter or 100 ml is often enough, possibly with a second bowl next to it. For a group of three or more, the 600 ml oval bowl or a 12 cm bowl is more comfortable, because several degus can then eat at the same time without pushing each other away. A bowl that is too big sometimes invites them to sit or dig in it; in that case, put it in a fixed spot where that is less likely to happen.

When should I worry about eating behaviour?

If a degu suddenly eats noticeably less, leaves food it normally eats, is lethargic or is losing weight, contact a vet with rodent expertise. With degus, it is important to act quickly when they eat less.

Buying food bowls for degus at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you will find heavy ceramic food bowls that can withstand the enthusiasm of degus. Fill them with Zooply Degu Food and put unlimited Zooply hay next to them. Zooply is our own premium brand and we feed it every day to our own degus in the shop and at our breeding facility.