A passion for degus
I first encountered degus in 2008. These lively, curious and sociable little rodents immediately fascinated me. I have always loved animals, but I had no idea how important degus would become in my life.
In 2009, Brindille became my first degu. She gave birth to eight pups, including Parabolle, who lived for two years. Those early experiences taught me to observe degus, discover their individual personalities and better understand their needs.
Tipi arrived in 2019. Other degus subsequently became part of my everyday life, each with their own character, habits and story. Tipi passed away in August 2026 and holds a special place in my memories.
Raising awareness of a little-known rodent
Over the years, my passion grew into a desire to raise awareness of this distinctive animal, whose needs are often poorly understood or underestimated.
In 2022, this commitment took on a new dimension with the creation of the Oktodon association, dedicated to promoting recognition and protection of degus.
Through World of Degus and its French-language counterpart, Octodons.fr, I aim to share accessible, well-documented information to help people better understand degus and provide living conditions suited to their needs.
Connecting experience with scientific knowledge
Personal experience is an important part of this approach, but it cannot answer every question. I complement it by reading scientific publications and veterinary references, distinguishing established knowledge from personal observations and areas of uncertainty.
Over the course of the project, several biologists working in South America have contacted me to share their studies on degus. Among them, Guillermo D’ElÃa, a researcher at the Universidad Austral de Chile, sent me a paper on the taxonomy of Octodon degus, co-authored with Richard Cadenillas, in 2021.
These exchanges enrich my research and help me keep up with scientific developments. They are separate from article review and do not imply that the researchers concerned endorse the website as a whole.
Our review process
The research and writing process benefits from review contributions by:
- T. D. Colin, biologist, for scientific review;
- G. Thyne, a veterinarian working with exotic pets, for veterinary review of the relevant articles;
- S., legal professional, for legal review of the relevant articles.
Health articles provide general information and do not replace a veterinary consultation.
Through these websites, I hope to share what degus have inspired me to learn since 2008: to take the time to observe them, respect their distinctive needs and give them the care and attention they deserve.