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AHW > Husbandry of diverse small mammals > Flashcards

Husbandry of diverse small mammals Flashcards

1
Q

What are generalist mammals?

A

Adaptable to wide range of environments/conditions
Typically wide ranging, broad diet, usually common, adaptable behaviour & physiology
Humans, Norway rats & house mouse

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2
Q

What are specialist mammals?

A

Precisely adapted to narrow ecological niche
Range limited to highly specific habitats, climates, diets
Specific conditions are essential for animals to thrive

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3
Q

What is domestication?

A

Selective breeding over many generations to alter behaviour, life cycle, physiology for life with humans

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4
Q

Domestication is only possible with some species. What factors make it hard to domesticate certain animals?

A

Temperament
Social hierarchy
Adaptability including diet

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5
Q

What are the purposes of keeping ‘diverse’ mammals?

A

Companion animals (including breeding and showing)
Livestock/laboratory animals
Conservation

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6
Q

What are the key considerations when thinking about animal husbandry?

A

Legal requirements
Suitable enclosure/cage
Appropriate diet
Physical conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity, lighting)
Natural habitat/ecology
Life history characteristics
Social organisation
Breeding system
Common problems in captivity

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7
Q

What are the three main suborders of rodents?

A

Myomorpha (mouse-like)
Sciuromorpha (squirrel-like)
Caviomorpha/Hystricomorpha (cavy-like)

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8
Q

What is the natural habitat of domesticated mice and rats?

A

grassland, woodland, river banks, built environment

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9
Q

Do domesticated mice and rats have specialist or generalist characteristics?

A

Generalist characteristics

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10
Q

What is the natural diet of domesticated mice & rats?

A

Mixed cereal grain, other seeds, nuts, fruit, vegetables, insects (high fat content)

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11
Q

At what age do domesticated mice/rats mature?

A

30-50 days

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12
Q

What is the gestation period of domesticated mice/rats?

A

21 days

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13
Q

What is a key feature when housing domesticated mice/rats?

A

Require protected nest/resting sites and nest material

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14
Q

What are potential problems when caring for domesticated mice and rats?

A

Aggression, particularly between males when living at a high density with families
Continuously growing incisors - require food/substrate to gnaw, resistant cages
Avoid toxins e.g. cedar and pine wood for cage substrate or objects

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15
Q

Are caviomorph/hystricomorph rodents generally specialist or generalist?

A

Specialist

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16
Q

Describe the typical gestation period, litter size and amount of parental care of caviomorph/hystricomorph rodents?

A

Long gestation period
Small litter
Prolonged parental care

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17
Q

Are guinea pig young altricial or precocious?

A

Precocious

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18
Q

What weather conditions are guinea pigs intolerant?

A

Extreme heat or cold
Wind
Damp

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19
Q

Why is it important that guinea pigs are fed a commercial guinea pig diet and not other animals?

A

They require vitamin C in their diet as they are unable to synthesise it.

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20
Q

Are chinchillas specialist or generalist animals?

A

Highly specialist

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21
Q

What environment do chinchillas require?

A

Dry and free from drafts

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22
Q

Why do chinchillas require different levels in their cages/enclosures?

A

Allow for ‘rock jumping’ like in their natural habitat

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23
Q

Why do chinchillas dust bathe?

A

Keep fur clean and dry and allow hair shedding

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24
Q

What is the natural diet of a chinchilla?

A

Dried grass, seeds and moss (little else available)

25
Q

What do chinchillas require in their diet?

A

High level of roughage & fibre
Something to gnaw

26
Q

What is the gestation period of a chinchilla?

A

111 days to produce fully-furred offspring

27
Q

Are chinchillas altricial or precocial?

A

Partly precocial

28
Q

At what age are chinchillas weaned?

A

40-60 days

29
Q

What is a sign of good health in young chinchillas?

A

Curled tail held off the floor
Back legs apart

30
Q

What is a key factor to remember when breeding chinchilla females?

A

Females should not be bred until fully grown

31
Q

What are the causes of chinchillas malocclusion?

A

Environmentally induced due to inability to gnaw e.g. damage to teeth, illness preventing feeding/gnawing (absence of gnawing materials)
Genes x environment interaction - often appears in females bearing second litter

32
Q

What are the early and late signs of chinchilla malocclusion?

A

Early sign - elongated molar teeth and enlarged lumps on lower jaw
Late sign - growth of teeth roots through eye socket (untreatable, likely to be very painful)

33
Q

What other small mammal are degus similar to?

A

Chinchillas
Degus are less specialised

34
Q

Why are degus prone to diabetes?

A

They are sugar intolerant

35
Q

What is the gestation period of a degu?

A

90 days

36
Q

Are degu young precocial or altricial?

A

Precocial

37
Q

What is the diet of chipmunks?

A

Seeds, nuts, fruit, insects

38
Q

What do chipmunks require when housing them?

A

Large space and height

39
Q

What do prairie dogs require in their enclosure?

A

Large outdoor enclosure with ability to burrow

40
Q

What supplement do flying squirrels require?

A

Calcium/D3

41
Q

Are African pygmy hedgehogs social?

A

They are non-social therefore require solitary housing

42
Q

Do African pygmy hedgehogs hibernate?

A

No

43
Q

What is a specific dietary need for adult African pygmy hedgehogs?

A

Lactose-intolerant

44
Q

What is the gestation period of an African pygmy hedgehog and at what age are they weaned?

A

Gestation period = 35 days
Weaned at 6 weeks

45
Q

What is the average life-span of a grey short-tailed opossum?

A

3-5 years

46
Q

Why is a nest so important for grey short-tailed opossum?

A

No pouch so they require a protected nest site + material essential

47
Q

What are the patagium of sugar gliders?

A

The fold of skin between the forelimbs and hindlimbs that allow them to glide between trees.

48
Q

How do you distinguish male from female sugar gliders?

A

Males have a large scent gland on forehead

49
Q

What supplements of sugar gliders require?

A

Calcium/vitamin supplement

50
Q

What are potential problems with sugar gliders?

A

Elongated claws normally worn down by climbing
Obesity in dominant male
Nutritional problems likely

51
Q

What is the gestation period of a sugar glider?

A

16 days

52
Q

What housing needs do golden or Syrian hamsters require?

A

Adults require single housing

53
Q

What are the different breeds of dwarf hamsters?

A

Chinese hamster
Campbell’s Russian Dwarf
Siberian hamster or Winter White
Roborovski hamster

54
Q

What are the differences between the diet of bank voles and field voles?

A

Bank vole - general rodent diet (fruit e.g. apple)
Field vole - need fresh vegetation (grass, carrots, apples)

55
Q

What are the climbing/jumping abilities of a Steppe Lemming?

A

Do not climb/jump well

56
Q

What feature do gerbils and jirds require in their enclosure?

A

Need to dig and burrow, will show stereotypic digging in inappropriate cafe

57
Q

Give examples of gerbils and jirds that are all active burrowers.

A

Mongolian gerbil
Show’s jird
Pallid gerbil
Duprasi
Persian jird

58
Q

Are jerboas good pets?

A

No they are not good pets as they are very wary and secretive

59
Q

What is an unusual feature of the digestive system of dormice?

A

Dormice have no caecum (no fermentation of vegetable matter)

AHW (3 decks)

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