Exotics husbandry Flashcards
What do rodents and mice typically feed on?
Seeds Nuts Fruit Veg Insects
Are rodents and mice social?
Social in family groups
Highly territorial
What woods are toxic to mice and rats, so should be avoided?
Cedar wood
Pine wood
What are the advantages/disadvantages of rodent cages/tanks?
Wire cages - good ventilation, don’t put in draft
Tank - need mesh lid for ventilation
What are some dwarf hamsters prone to?
Diabetes
What are types of voles/lemmings?
Bank vole
Field vole
Steppe lemming
What stereotypie may gerbils show in an inappropiate cage?
Digging
Where are chinchillas from? How long do they live for?
South American - originally for fur
Up to 15 years
What are chinchillas susceptible to?
Heat stroke
Are chinchillas nocturnal or diurnal? What do they require in their cage (essential?)
Nocturnal
Dust bath - clean fur, allow hair shedding
What do chinnchillas eat?
Dried grass, seeds, moss
Hay
Cuttlebone/whitewood to gnaw
At what age are chinchilla kits weaned? What does insufficient milk or mastitis cause?
40-60 days
Aggression - bites on kit noses
Chinchillas often get malocclusion. What are the early and late signs of this?
Early signs - elongated molars, lumps on lower jaw
Late sings - growth of teeth through eye sockets (untreatable), eye discharge, starvation and death
What causes chinchilla malocclusion?
Environment - inability to gnaw
Genes
What animal has similar husbandry to chinchillas (requires sand baths etc)?
Degu
Tail can shed
How long is the gestation of a debu? Do females raise them alone? At what age are they weaned?
90 days
No male parenteral care
4-6 wks (precocial)
Which rodents are non-burrowing?
Guinea pigs
What are guinea pigs intolerant to?
Heat
Cold
Wind
Damp
What housing do chipmunks require?
Aviary or somewhere with large space and height
Sugar gliders are strongly arboreal. What does this mean? How are they adapted to glide?
Live in trees
Patagium - excess skin for gliding
What type of animals are sugar gliders? What is a key feature of these animal?
Marsupials (sugar gliders, possums)
Keep young in pouches
Sugar gliders are highly sociable, with males dominating the colony. Where is the scent gland that distinguishes males?
Forehead
What diet do sugar gliders require?
Fruits, vegetables, insects, protein supplements
What problems are sugar gliders prone to?
Elongated claws (usually worn down by climbing)
Obesity
Nutritional problems - need calcium supplementation!!
How long is the gestation of sugar gliders? At what age are they fully grown?
16 days
1 year
Do African pygmy hedgehogs hibernate? Are they social?
No
Non-social = solitary housing
What do African pygmy hedgehogs need in a cage? Why can’t they be given milk?
Running wheel
Lactose intolerant
What type of ovulation is an African pygmy hedgehog? How long is their gestation?
Induced ovulation
Gestation 5 weeks
When do ferrets sexual mature? How much of the day is spent sleeping?
1 year
75%
What shelter do otters need?
Warm, dry
How long is meerkat gestation?
10-11 wks
What do captive meerkats require in the UK?
Heating
Indoor and outdoor enclosure
What do meerkats eat?
Mainly insects
Meat, mice, chicksm eggs
Fruits
What is a common problem with breeding meerkats in captivity?
Abandonment - lack of parenting skills, dietary problems with lactation, litter too large
Why is hand-rearing meerkats problematic?
Strong imprint on humans
Aggression towards unfamiliar people and other meerkats
What is the law that covers wild animals?
Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 - require inspection by environmental health officer and vet
