SAB Degu Mix—Species-Appropriate and Balanced—is a feeding approach developed by experienced members of the Degus International Community with reference to veterinary research. It aims to provide a varied diet while addressing nutritional factors associated with dental disease, obesity and diabetes. These aims should be distinguished from proof that the complete regimen prevents those conditions in every animal. The approach divides foods into three groups: plants, seeds and treats.5
Understanding the diet first
Before assembling a SAB diet, read how to feed degus and the degu’s diet in Chile. Understanding the overall balance is more useful than following individual ingredient quantities in isolation.
Components of SAB Degu Mix
Plants
Plant material is a foundation of the approach, providing fibre, variety and minerals. Fresh food is not inherently unsuitable for degus, but new foods should be introduced gradually.1 Research on fibre and plant secondary compounds confirms that their feeding and digestive strategies respond to diet composition; it does not establish that every fresh plant is safe.2
- Calcium-rich plants: offer a range of identified, suitable plants while considering the calcium-to-phosphorus balance of the complete ration. The plants selected and the amounts eaten may vary with season and individual preference.
- Wild and garden flowers: many species can contribute variety, but identification and species-specific safety checks are essential. Familiar appearance alone is insufficient.
- Tree and shrub leaves: suitable deciduous leaves, twigs and small branches can provide variety during the growing season and may be dried for later use. Published nutrient data are limited for many species.
- Leafy vegetables, salad leaves and culinary herbs: these can supplement the diet throughout the year, particularly when foraging is limited. Some contain relatively little calcium. The original SAB guidance suggests keeping this group to no more than about one-third of the calcium-rich plant portion.
Seeds
Seed intake in wild degus varies substantially with season and site; the original article reports values reaching approximately 60% during some dry periods.3 Seeds come principally from annual herbs and grasses, with some from shrubs. Such wild observations do not directly establish an appropriate captive seed allowance.
In the SAB example described here, seeds account for approximately 20% of the planned ration, with a suggested daily amount of about 3.5–4 g per animal. The mix favours seeds selected for their mineral composition. The original recipe gives these proportions:
- 1.5 parts large seeds: coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, fenugreek and spinach.
- 1 part small seeds: alfalfa, basil, celery, chicory, clover, lettuce, nigella, poppy and radish.
These are the relative proportions of the two groups, rather than a statement that every listed seed must be present in equal amounts.
Treats
Foods offered outside the planned plant and seed portions are counted as treats. They may include small quantities of suitable roots, vegetables, fruit, seeds, nuts, flowers or other plants. Many are relatively low in calcium and high in sugar, starch or fat, so they should not displace the fibrous base of the diet.
The original guidance limits treats to around 1–2 g dry weight per day and suggests keeping the combined seed-and-treat allowance to approximately 5 g. These are practical limits within that example, rather than a requirement to give treats daily.
- Root vegetables and fruit: these are not suitable staple foods. If offered at all, portions should be small and selected with the animal’s health in mind. A degu that refuses an optional treat does not need to be persuaded to eat it.
- Seeds and nuts: only suitable species and plant parts should be used. Some legumes are unsuitable or harmful. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are relatively low in calcium and should be limited. Nuts, including walnuts and hazelnuts, are energy-dense; reduce other concentrated foods accordingly rather than simply adding them to the ration.
Putting the approach into practice
Seeds
The practical example uses approximately 3–4 g per degu per day. This supplies concentrated energy while leaving room for fibrous plants. Adjust the complete diet to body condition and individual needs.
Plants
The example provides at least approximately 15 g of plants measured as dry matter, with additional suitable plant material available according to the feeding plan. Fresh weight is not equivalent to dry weight. The original goal is around ten plant species a day, introduced gradually and selected for safety, fibre and mineral balance.
Begin with a planned mixture of calcium-rich plants and assess the calcium and phosphorus supplied by the complete ration, aiming around a 2:1 ratio where appropriate. This requires comparing the actual mineral contributions, rather than simply averaging the individual Ca:P ratios. Other suitable seasonal plants can then add variety. See the edible food and plant lists.
Hay
The original SAB account describes hay intake around 20% of the overall diet, with some degus preferring fresh plants. This is a description of that feeding example, not a reason to restrict hay. Keep suitable hay freely available and include its fibre and minerals when evaluating the ration.
Treats
Keep optional treats within the overall plan, usually no more than the example’s 1–2 g dry weight per day. Suitable dried calcium-rich plants may also serve as rewards. Sick and older animals may need a more closely controlled diet.
Vitamin D
Review total vitamin D intake with a veterinarian, including any already present in fortified foods. A DIC Team protocol published in 2014 aimed for an average additional intake of approximately 25 IU per degu per day, delivered in small portions during the week. It did not recommend a single monthly dose of 750 IU. An arithmetic monthly equivalent does not establish that a monthly bolus is appropriate. This forum protocol should not be presented as a universally established requirement. Any tablet or drop must be assessed using the product’s exact concentration and the veterinary plan.4
Obtaining prepared mixes
The original French article links to a German retailer’s SAB seed mixture and plant mixture formerly sold as SAB Mix. Check the current formulation and availability rather than assuming that a product name guarantees nutritional completeness.
Alternatives discussed in the original comparison
The food comparison considered commercial foods as a simpler alternative to preparing a seed mixture. It ranked Cunipic Naturaliss Chinchilla & Degus Complet highest among the products examined, while noting limited fibre and relatively high carbohydrate, followed by Versele-Laga Crispy Pellets Chinchilla & Degus and Vadigran Terra Degu.
The original examples used around 4 g of commercial food alongside a substantial plant portion, or around 20 g daily when the Cunipic food supplied the main prepared-food portion. These are different feeding examples, not interchangeable quantities to add together. They must be evaluated alongside hay, fresh plants, body condition and the current product formulation; the historical comparison is not a verified ranking of today’s entire market.
Sources
Edwards, M. S. (2009). Nutrition and Behavior of Degus (Octodon degus). Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice, 12(2), 237-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvex.2009.01.003
Bozinovic, F., Novoa, F. F., Sabat, P. (1997). Feeding and digesting fiber and tannins by an herbivorous rodent, Octodon degus (Rodentia:Caviomorpha). Comp Biochem Physiol A Physiol, 118(3), 625-630. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0300-9629(96)00480-x
Meserve, P. L., Martin, R. E. & Jaime, R. M. (1983). Feeding Ecology of Two Chilean Caviomorphs in a Central Mediterranean Savanna. Journal of Mammalogy, 64(2), 322-325. https://doi.org/10.2307/1380568
DIC Team (2014). The importance of vitamin D and its supplementation. Degus International Community. https://forum.degus-international-community.org/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=833
DIC Team (n.d.). The species-appropriate and balanced diet for degus. Degus International Community. https://forum.degus-international-community.org/viewtopic.php?f=34&p=18165