A sand bath is an important part of degu care. Rolling helps maintain the coat by removing excess oils and dirt; it should not be regarded as a treatment for parasites. Bathing also has a social function. Degus use shared bathing sites and the scents deposited there contribute to communication and recognition.
In the wild, dust-bathing sites can be associated with territorial marking, urine and droppings. Males may bathe more frequently during the breeding season, although one field study recorded dust bathing during only about 1% of above-ground activity. Males also reduced bathing at sites previously used by unfamiliar males. These findings support a role for scent in social communication; studies of urine marking should not, by themselves, be treated as proof that bathing identifies the sex of every previous visitor.
Young degus begin attempting the rolling movements early. Dust bathing has been observed during the first week of life in captivity, as pups become able to move around.
Sand baths in captivity
The bath provides both an opportunity for coat maintenance and a familiar scent-bearing part of the enclosure. It may play a role in introductions, but sharing bathing material does not guarantee acceptance or replace a gradual introduction process.
Choose a stable container large enough for the degu to turn and roll freely. A heavy bowl or a suitable wide-necked glass container can limit scattered sand, provided the entrance is easy to negotiate and the container is secure and well ventilated. A site close to a resting area can resemble the arrangement of bathing patches near wild burrows.
The original article recommended permanent access, or at least 30 minutes every day. This is not an established minimum: excessive bathing or unsuitable dusty material can irritate the eyes and skin. The RSPCA instead suggests sessions of about 20 minutes two or three times a week. Adjust access to the animals and the condition of their coat and eyes, keeping the bath clean and dry; seek veterinary advice if irritation develops.
Choosing suitable bathing material
Products are sold as bathing sand, dust or “bathing soil”, but their composition varies. Some contain clay minerals, such as sepiolite, while others contain quartz sand, sometimes with chalk. The particles absorb some of the oils in the coat. It is therefore inaccurate to say that all bathing products contain neither soil nor sand.
Composition and particle size both matter. Choose a product intended for small-mammal bathing that produces as little airborne dust as possible. Fine particles can irritate the eyes and airways; an attractive label or a particular mineral name alone does not establish that a product is suitable.
If a degu develops irritation or fur loss after a change of product, remove the suspected material and consult a vet. A reaction should not automatically be labelled an allergy: parasites, infection and other skin conditions also require consideration.
Scented products
Avoid perfumed bathing sand and do not add essential oils. Added fragrances are unnecessary and may irritate the animal. They can also alter the scent information on which degus rely. A study of early olfactory experience found that exposure during development affected later responses to artificially scented conspecifics; this does not establish that every unfamiliar fragrance inevitably causes rejection, but it gives no reason to mask an animal’s normal smell during introductions.
Products containing sulphur
Sulphur has uses in dermatology, but this does not demonstrate a benefit from routinely adding it to a healthy degu’s bath. A review concerning human skin cannot establish a safe dose or long-term benefit in degus. Sulphur can also cause irritation, and excessive removal of skin oils may contribute to dryness and coat problems.
For routine care, choose a suitable unscented bathing material without added sulphur. A skin problem should receive a diagnosis and specific treatment rather than an unproven bathing additive. See also the guides to housing and enrichment.
Sources
Fulk, G. W. (1976). Notes on the Activity, Reproduction, and Social Behavior of Octodon degus. Journal of Mammalogy, 57(3), 495-505. https://doi.org/10.2307/1379298
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
EBENSPERGER, L. A. (2000). Dustbathing and intra-sexual communication of social degus, Octodon degus (Rodentia:Octodontidae). Revista chilena de historia natural, 73(2). https://doi.org/10.4067/s0716-078×2000000200011
Kleiman, D. G. (1975). The effects of exposure to conspecific urine on urine-marking in male and female degus (Octodon degus). Behavioral Biology, 14(4), 519-526. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0091-6773(75)90708-7
Wilson, S. C. (1982). Contact‐promoting behavior, social development, and relationship with parents in sibling juvenile degus (Octodon Degus). Developmental Psychobiology, 15(3), 257-268. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.420150309
Leslie, K. S., Millington, G. W. M. & Levell, N. J. (2004). Sulphur and skin: from Satan to Saddam!. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 3(2), 94-98. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1473-2130.2004.00055.x
Ebensperger, L. A., & Hurtado, M. J. (2005). Seasonal changes in the time budget of degus, Octodon degus. Behaviour, 142(1), 91–112. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568539053627703
Márquez, N., Martínez-Harms, J., Vásquez, R. A., & Mpodozis, J. (2015). Early Olfactory Environment Influences Social Behaviour in Adult Octodon degus. PLOS ONE, 10(2), e0118018. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0118018
Benato, L. (2010). Dipping into world of degus. Veterinary Times, 40(14), 32. https://www.vettimes.co.uk/app/uploads/wp-post-to-pdf-enhanced-cache/1/dipping-into-world-of-degus.pdf
RSPCA (n.d.). Creating a good home for degus. Animal welfare guidance. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rodents/degus/environment