Degus SAB Plant Mixture Balanced

The SAB Balanced plant mix for degus offers a good variety of herbs, foliage and flowers. When putting together a complete and healthy diet for degus, you should be guided by the diet of degus in the wild. Unlike other popular herbivorous pets, degus are not natural grazers; in the wild they prefer leafy plants, herbs and shrubs. These plants, if available, make up a good two-thirds of the diet of wild degus, whereas wild grasses form only a small proportion. The rest of the diet, about 25 % averaged over the year, consists of seeds.

A species-appropriate and balanced diet for domestic degus therefore also consists mainly of plants other than grass (herbs, shrubs, wild flowers and garden flowers, foliage). As degus eat relatively little hay, these plants are the main source of valuable fibre (neutral detergent fibre; NDF), which plays an important role in the health of the stomach, intestines and teeth. They are also the main source of calcium, which has been shown in studies to play a crucial role in degus' dental health.

Whenever possible, it is recommended to collect plants and feed them fresh. These can also be dried and stored. Likewise, plant mixtures or individual ingredients can be ordered and offered as the main part of the deuces' diet. Collected and purchased plants can also be mixed freely depending on availability.

A good variety of plants ensures that the nutrients in the main part of the diet are balanced. In addition, natural foraging is encouraged and the degus can develop their preferences and select accordingly. For this reason it is important to feed plants ad libitum, i.e. to provide an unlimited supply.

The Balanced plant mix provides a good variety of different plants, the ingredients are well balanced with 40% herbs, 35% leaves and 25% flowers. The mix is an excellent source of calcium and valuable fibre (NDF). It is recommended by Degus International Community as part of a species-appropriate and nutritionally balanced diet.


IN ENGLISH
When putting together a diet for degus, which is both species-appropriate and nutritionally balanced, guidance must come from their diet in the wild. This has been the subject of several year-long research studies. In their natural habitat, degus prefer leafy plants, herbs and shrubs. Depending on availability, these leafy greens make up about two thirds of the diet in the wild while grasses will make up only a small contribution. The remainder, about 25% of the diet averaged over the year, is made up by seeds.

In a species appropriate and nutrionally balanced diet for domestic degus, leafy greens must likewise make up the bulk of the diet. Because of the limited amount of hay typically eaten, they are the main source of the good fibre (neutral detergent fibre; NDF) which is so important for gastrointestinal and dental health. They are also the major source of calcium, which studies have shown to be crucial for dental health in degus. Diets based on processed hard foods cannot meet either requirement.

There are different sources of suitable and safe greens for degus. Where and when possible, fresh self-coloured plants are the most recommended and natural source. These greens can also be dried and stored. Both plant mixes and individual ingredients can be bought in and these dried plants are suited to make up the bulk of the degu diet. Greens from these different sources can be freely mixed as availability allows.

A good variety of greens is key as it assures that the nutritional values of this part of the diet are well balanced. It also encourages the natural foraging behaviour of degus who can develop their preferences and select their greens accordingly. For this reason it is important that greens are fed ad libitum, offering unrestricted access.

The Degu Mixture Balanced provides a good variety of different plants with the ingredients well balanced with herbs (40%), tree leaves (35%) and flowers (25%). It is an excellent source of calcium and good dietary fibre (NDF).