How to Determine the Sex of a Degu

The ability to tell the sex of a degu is essential before bringing one home as a pet. Males and females are not easily distinguished, and pet stores often make mistakes. Avoid bringing home a pregnant degu, or accidentally adding a male to an all-female cage. Learn to verify degu gender on your own.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Pick up the degu by sliding a hand underneath its body. Degus in pet stores are skittish, and can bite very hard when frightened. It is a good idea to wear leather gloves for this procedure.
2. Grasp the degu firmly but gently with one hand under its body and the other lightly resting on its back. Be prepared, scared degus can jump.
3. Turn the degu onto its back. Hold the degu just firmly enough to keep it safely in your hands, but do NOT squeeze! You can inadvertently dislocate a rib.
4. Move your fingers away from the genital area and examine it closely. Males have recessed genitalia, so you must look very carefully to determine degu gender.
   Both sexes have an urethral cone, a small appendage. Beneath it is the anus.
5. Note the distance between the urethral cone and anal opening. In male degus, the distance is roughly 1cm. In females, it is only about 3mm. Take a side-by-side comparison of several degus, and you can begin to see the difference.
6. Examine the genital area closely, and the degu's gender can become more apparent. Males have a fold of skin between the cone and anus that females do not possess. It is difficult to see, particularly in young males. Also, look for a tiny vaginal opening just beneath the urethral cone. You can find the opening only in females and it is difficult.
7. Ask for a second opinion if you still have doubts about sexing degus. Be certain of gender before taking them home!

Tips & Warnings

• Degus make excellent pets for an adult, but are too fragile for children.
• Degus have 'floating' ribs, which dislocate very easily. Dislocated ribs are extremely painful. Always handle degus with great care.
• Wear leather gloves until your new pets are comfortable with you. Degus bite hard enough to draw blood.