Rules for keeping, breeding, selling and transporting degus differ between countries and sometimes between regions within one country. The activity, species and number of animals matter. The following overview distinguishes legal minimum requirements from this website’s husbandry recommendations. Check the current rules with the competent authority before starting an activity or moving animals across a border.
France
Octodon degus is a non-domestic species under French law: it is not included in the domestic-species list established by the order of 11 August 2006. Being kept as a companion does not change this legal classification.
The order of 8 October 2018 requires appropriate facilities, equipment and competence for the species and numbers kept. Keepers must meet the animals’ physiological and behavioural needs, protect human and animal health and safety, prevent escapes and avoid release into the natural environment.
Private keeping and breeding
The “other Rodentia” category in Annex 2 places 1–40 animals in the non-declaration column and 41 or more in the capacity-certificate/authorisation column, excluding species with a different protected status. These species thresholds are not the only test: cumulative numbers and the nature of the activity also matter. An establishment operating for profit or habitually producing animals for sale may fall under professional rules even below a numerical threshold.
It is therefore inaccurate to say that every occasional litter requires a certificate of capacity, or that keeping fewer than 41 degus exempts every activity from all formalities. The DDPP or DDETSPP can confirm the regime for a particular establishment. The person responsible for care in an establishment subject to authorisation must hold the relevant certificate of capacity, and the establishment needs the appropriate opening authorisation. Experience and training requirements are governed by the order of 12 December 2000 as amended.
Current official guidance states that a private individual’s sale of a non-domestic animal can only be limited in number and income before professional/commercial rules apply. Transfers are therefore not universally required to be free. Nor does permission for limited transfer authorise an undeclared commercial activity. Degus are not generally subject to compulsory individual marking solely because they are degus; check any additional requirement arising from the activity or documents.
Associations, refuges and sanctuaries
Captive-wildlife refuges and sanctuaries have their own capacity-certificate and opening-authorisation requirements. Public display may require a different authorised activity. A rescue association’s status under domestic-animal provisions does not itself authorise facilities for non-domestic animals. Conversely, this should not be simplified into a statement that no association or foster arrangement can ever assist a degu: the actual arrangement and applicable authorisations must be assessed by the competent authority.
Records
An entry-and-exit register is required when the keeping regime is subject to declaration or to authorisation with a capacity certificate; it is not a blanket duty for every small private degu group. The register identifies the keeper or establishment and location, the common and scientific species names, arrival date and origin, departure date and destination, any death and the supporting documents. Complete it when events occur and retain the supporting evidence. The official register form is Cerfa 15970; a compliant electronic register is also possible. Follow the applicable validation, retention and transmission rules with the DDPP, including quarterly transmission for computerised registers when events have been recorded.
Transfers and sales
A transfer attestation must record the common and scientific names, both parties’ names or business names and contact details, and the date, place and financial conditions. Keep signed copies for the transferor and recipient. Cerfa 16198*02 can be used; the law does not make this the only possible document, and an invoice containing the required particulars may also serve as an attestation.
When selling an animal, supply the required French-language information document: species names, protection status, lifespan, adult size, social and other behaviour, possible danger, reproduction, diet and ration, housing and any other information needed for its welfare. Current guidance also includes an annual maintenance-cost estimate excluding health costs. It must explain that the animal must not be released into the wild. This is separate from the certificate of commitment required for certain other companion species.
French animal welfare legislation and degus
Switzerland
Under the Animal Protection Ordinance (OPAn), degus are wild animals in the legal classification but may also be companion animals when kept for companionship or interest in the animal. Ordinary private keeping is distinct from commercial activities, boarding, shelters and trade. Cantonal rules and the keeper’s ability to meet the animals’ needs must also be considered.
Annex 2, Table 1, item 45 sets a minimum enclosure area of 0.5 m² and volume of 0.35 m³ for a group of up to five degus, with 0.2 m² for each additional animal. An enclosure 100 × 50 × 70 cm illustrates those area and volume figures; it does not make every enclosure of those dimensions adequate in practice. Group keeping, suitable hiding places, gnawing material, rough forage, a sand bath and digging substrate at least 30 cm deep are required. Raised levels do not replace the required base area.
These legal minima differ from the larger community recommendations discussed in the CARA charter. The charter’s 26000 cm² for five animals concerns combined usable horizontal area and should not be called a statutory base-area requirement.
Breeding must aim for healthy animals and avoid hereditary characteristics causing pain, suffering, injury or other significant impairment. Prospective breeders must investigate relevant hereditary problems and seek assessment where burdensome traits are suspected. Commercial trade, certain breeding activities and shelters or professional boarding can require cantonal permission and recognised training. Professional sellers must provide written information on care and legal obligations.
The numerical threshold of 300 animals in the published Article 101 list names mice, rats, hamsters and gerbils; it should not automatically be extended to degus. Likewise, the more-than-five-animals-per 24 hours rule must be read in the context of the regulated shelter or professional care activity. Ask the cantonal veterinary service how the provisions apply to the proposed degu activity.
We thank the Swiss veterinary services for their assistance with the original research.
Belgium
Animal-welfare rules are regional. The Walloon positive list includes Octodon degus as “Dègue du Chili”; this permits keeping within that list’s framework, subject to welfare and other applicable rules. The species also appears on the Flemish and Brussels official mammal lists. Check the rules for the region and activity concerned rather than citing a Walloon order as if it alone governed all Belgium.
Luxembourg
The official permitted-mammal list includes Octodon degus. Keeping remains subject to animal-protection law: provide appropriate food, water, care, housing, movement and environmental conditions, including lighting, temperature, humidity and ventilation. Ill or injured animals must receive appropriate treatment. Unjustified pain, harm, neglect, active or passive cruelty and cruel killing are prohibited.
Canada: provincial and local rules
There is no single Canadian ownership rule described by the Québec regulations. Check federal import requirements as well as the destination province’s and municipality’s rules.
Québec
The captive-animal regulation governs keeping and welfare, including secure facilities, food, water and necessary care. Degus are not named among the restricted species in its Annexes 1 and 2, but that does not remove other duties.
Article 13 generally requires written advance notice for importing rodents into Québec, with listed exceptions. Where notice is required, submit it 45 to 10 working days before import. There is also an exemption where the animal is not in Annex 1, is imported by a private individual for personal purposes and was already being kept in Canada. This is a Québec provision, not a blanket national requirement or an exemption from every federal import rule.
Saskatchewan
The government’s Division 1 restricted-species list includes the degu. Division 1 and Division 2 have different rules: the transitional permission for certain Division 2 pets notified by 30 November 2021 must not be applied to degus simply because they are restricted. Contact the provincial wildlife authority before acquiring, importing or transferring one.
The Netherlands
Since 1 July 2024, ordinary keeping and breeding of mammals is governed by the house-and-hobby-animal positive list. Degus are not on that list. This is a species-list rule, not a blanket prohibition of every animal legally described as wild.
Animals demonstrably already kept before 1 July 2024 can remain under the transitional arrangement and may change owners with the necessary evidence passed on. Appropriate evidence may include purchase or transfer documents, identification records or veterinary invoices. Prevent reproduction, for example through reliable separation of the sexes or neutering. Specific rules also cover young from females already pregnant at the transition date and authorised institutional exceptions; confirm eligibility with RVO before relying on an exception. Do not assume a new import or a newly bred animal qualifies.
Thank you to S. for legal assistance with the original article.
Sources
French Republic (2018). Arrêté du 8 octobre 2018 fixant les règles générales de détention d’animaux d’espèces non domestiques. Légifrance, consolidated text. https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000037491137/
Service Public / DILA (2026). Avoir un nouvel animal de compagnie (Nac) : quelles sont les règles ? Official guidance, verified 16 October 2026. https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F34922
Swiss Federal Council (2008). Ordonnance sur la protection des animaux (OPAn), RS 455.1. Articles 2, 10, 101–103 and Annex 2. https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/2008/416/fr
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (n.d.). Obligation d’autorisation pour l’élevage professionnel d’animaux de compagnie. Official information sheet. https://www.blv.admin.ch/dam/blv/fr/dokumente/tiere/heim-und-wildtierhaltung/fi-bewilligunspflicht-gewerbsm-zucht-ht.pdf.download.pdf/1_Bewilligungspflicht_gewerbsm_Zuechten_HT_FR.pdf
Walloon Government (2018). Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon fixant la liste des mammifères qui peuvent être détenus. WALLEX, consolidated list. https://wallex.wallonie.be/de/contents/acts/20/20215/3.html
Luxembourg Ministry of Agriculture (n.d.). Liste des animaux d’espèces mammifères autorisées à être détenues au Grand-Duché. Official species list. https://agriculture.public.lu/dam-assets/veroeffentlichungen/dokumentationen/tiere/tierschutz/liste-des-animaux-autorises-luxembourg.pdf
Québec (2018). Règlement sur les animaux en captivité, C-61.1, r. 5.1. Légis Québec, notably article 13. https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fr/document/rc/C-61.1,%20r.%205.1
Government of Saskatchewan (2021). Captive Wildlife Division 1 Restricted List. Official restricted-species list, June 2021. https://pubsaskdev.blob.core.windows.net/pubsask-prod/127132/Captive%252BWildlife%252BDivision%252B1%252BRestricted%252BList%252BJune%252B2021.pdf
Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) (2026). Huis- en hobbydierenlijst. Official guidance, updated 5 October 2026. https://www.rvo.nl/onderwerpen/huis-en-hobbydierenlijst