Versele-Laga Complete Chinchilla & Degu, 1.75 kg is a complete, balanced pellet food for chinchillas and degus from the Belgian maker Versele-Laga. The all-in-one pellets don't crumble, are eaten without waste and help wear down the teeth. Each pellet contains minerals, amino acids and vitamins for a healthy coat and active life, plus antioxidants for immunity. It has no added sugar, and the bag is filled with inert gas to keep the taste, smell and vitamins fresh.
Why all-in-one pellets
With seed mixes, rodents pick out the tastiest bits — seeds, nuts, sweet pieces — and leave the healthy parts. The diet quickly becomes unbalanced. A single-component pellet food completely prevents selective feeding, as every pellet has the same nutrients. This is especially important for chinchillas and degus, whose digestion is designed for coarse plant food. More in chinchillas: care and feeding.
What's in it
The pellets are made from timothy hay, which is rich in phytoliths, and other herbs the animals might find in the wild — at least 23%. Crude fibre is at least 20%, and a special production method includes long, silica-rich fibres for proper tooth wear. Linseed (4%) is a source of plant omega-3 for skin and a thick coat. Fructooligosaccharides support gut flora, yucca schidigera extract reduces droppings odour, and the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is balanced for urinary health.
Key specs
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| For | chinchillas and degus |
| Form | extruded all-in-one pellets |
| Fibre | at least 20% |
| Herbs and timothy | at least 23% |
| Linseed | 4% |
| Sugar | none added |
| Pack | 1.75 kg |
Pros
- No added sugar. Important for diabetes-prone degus.
- High in fibre. At least 20% for herbivore digestion.
- For teeth. Long, silica-rich fibres aid tooth wear.
- No selective feeding. Every pellet is the same.
- Low in calories. Helps maintain a healthy weight.
- Freshness. Packed with inert gas.
Cons
- No analysis or feeding amount. Protein, fat and the daily portion aren't on the product page.
- It doesn't replace hay. Good hay is still the basis of the diet.
- Adjustment period. Animals used to mixes don't take to pellets straight away.
- Not for other rodents. The recipe is designed specifically for chinchillas and degus.
How to feed
Give the pellets as the main concentrated food, with hay in the cage at all times and in unlimited amounts — hay matters more than pellets. Check the daily amount on the bag and adjust it to the animal's weight and activity. Switch from a mix gradually over 1–2 weeks by adding pellets to the old food. Fresh water should always be in the bottle. Give treats sparingly, and none that are sweet or dried fruit for degus. How to choose hay is covered in hay for rabbits and guinea pigs.
Chinchillas and degus: what else they need
Chinchillas need dust baths — bathing in water is bad for them. Degus are active by day and very social, so they're best kept in pairs. Both need a mineral stone and branches for tooth wear, a roomy cage with shelves and a wheel of the right size — see the cages and carriers for rodents section. For comparison, see Beaphar Care+ Chinchilla and another recipe from the range, Complete Cavia for guinea pigs.
Who it suits
Chinchillas and degus of any age, especially animals that pick only the tasty bits from mixes and degus that must avoid sugar. More foods are in the food for ferrets and rodents section.
Verdict
Versele-Laga Complete Chinchilla & Degu is a well-designed sugar-free pellet food, high in fibre, with timothy and long fibres for the teeth. It's a good dietary base together with unlimited hay. The downsides are the lack of analysis and feeding amounts on the product page, and switching from mixes takes patience.
FAQ
Does it contain sugar?
No, there's no added sugar.
How much fibre is there?
At least 20%.
Should I give hay as well?
Yes, hay should be available at all times without limits.
Is it suitable for degus?
Yes, it's designed for chinchillas and degus.
Why pellets rather than a mix?
Pellets prevent selective feeding, so the animal gets all the nutrients.
Can rabbits eat it?
No, rabbits are better off with a food made for them.
How do I keep the food fresh?
Close the bag tightly and store it somewhere dry.
