Some pictures of my degus and their sand level - this level is a half level at the top of the enclosure with a balcony area.
Check it out if you want some inspiration for your own sand level!
My degus have constant access to their sand level - some owners like to provide sand at set times and set lengths to prevent the substrate from becoming soiled (and being kicked out everywhere!). I personally like to provide sand at all times of the day. I have a reptile poop scoop for fishing droppings out of sand (like a small sieve) and I replace the sand roughly every 12 days or so.
Sand is not an absorbent material so it is possible to collect up the bulk of the sand and wash it for re-use. I use regular reptile sand from Pets at Home. You may chose to still offer occasional chinchilla dust if you are concerned that regular reptile sand is not fine enough.
Having a dedicated sand level is great enrichment opportunity for degus. My boys spend a long time digging through the sand. I hide treats such as sunflower seeds for them to find. Another great idea is hiding treats under coconut shells and inside amongst tightly packed hay.
In these pictures, I have hidden some nuts under the coconut which the degus will find later as they dig. They love to dig under the shell and flip it to get to the treats inside!
I have also reused an old carrot log; I have wedged it tight with hay and hidden sunflower seeds inside. The degus will find the seeds as they pick out the hay and go into a frenzy pulling it apart.
Furnish your level with some dried up old branches or bog wood, some bark and a few larger rocks for a great looking set up. I also like to add some fresh tree branches with the leaves still on or sometimes I will scatter some fresh leaves about to add a bit of extra interest as a viewer as well as enrichment for the degus.
The degus will love to dig and roll in the sand and enjoy perching on the bigger rocks.
Issues with using sand
If using sand you will need to make sure its kept clean so that the degus are not bathing in soiled substrate.
Keep it dry. I keep my sand level at the top of the enclosure because its the driest part of the enclosure. A large amount of sand can be quite heavy and wet sand heavier so.
Proper support - An advantage to having a half level is that the level is a much smaller space that is better supported. This means the level will not bow in the middle. If using a large amount of sand on a full level be sure to reinforce it!
Finally, if your sand level is below a level that contains regular bedding, expect lots of bedding and hay to be dragged through. This may incur extra maintenance.
Thanks for reading!
*Glass that separates enclosure from balcony space has been temporarily removed for photographic purposes.*
Providing detailed guides on how to construct and build degu enclosure, vivariums and cages. This blog has a focus on stimulating and creating more natural habitats for degus...