Husbandry of diverse small mammals

Question 1

What are generalist mammals?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What are specialist mammals?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What is domestication?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Temperament
Social hierarchy
Adaptability including diet

Question 5

What are the purposes of keeping ‘diverse’ mammals?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What are the key considerations when thinking about animal husbandry?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What are the three main suborders of rodents?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What is the natural habitat of domesticated mice and rats?

Answer 8

grassland, woodland, river banks, built environment

Question 9

Do domesticated mice and rats have specialist or generalist characteristics?

Answer 9

Generalist characteristics

Question 10

What is the natural diet of domesticated mice & rats?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

At what age do domesticated mice/rats mature?

Answer 11

30-50 days

Question 12

What is the gestation period of domesticated mice/rats?

Answer 12

21 days

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Require protected nest/resting sites and nest material

Question 14

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

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Are caviomorph/hystricomorph rodents generally specialist or generalist?

Answer 15

Specialist

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Long gestation period
Small litter
Prolonged parental care

Question 17

Are guinea pig young altricial or precocious?

Answer 17

Precocious

Question 18

What weather conditions are guinea pigs intolerant?

Answer 18

Extreme heat or cold
Wind
Damp

Question 19

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

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Are chinchillas specialist or generalist animals?

Answer 20

Highly specialist

Question 21

What environment do chinchillas require?

Answer 21

Dry and free from drafts

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Allow for ‘rock jumping’ like in their natural habitat

Question 23

Why do chinchillas dust bathe?

Answer 23

Keep fur clean and dry and allow hair shedding

Question 24

What is the natural diet of a chinchilla?

Answer 24

Dried grass, seeds and moss (little else available)

Question 25

What do chinchillas require in their diet?

Answer 25

High level of roughage & fibre Something to gnaw

Question 26

What is the gestation period of a chinchilla?

Answer 26

111 days to produce fully-furred offspring

Question 27

Are chinchillas altricial or precocial?

Answer 27

Partly precocial

Question 28

At what age are chinchillas weaned?

Answer 28

40-60 days

Question 29

What is a sign of good health in young chinchillas?

Answer 29

Curled tail held off the floor Back legs apart

Question 30

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

Answer 30

Females should not be bred until fully grown

Question 31

What are the causes of chinchillas malocclusion?

Answer 31

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

Question 32

What are the early and late signs of chinchilla malocclusion?

Answer 32

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)

Question 33

What other small mammal are degus similar to?

Answer 33

Chinchillas Degus are less specialised

Question 34

Why are degus prone to diabetes?

Answer 34

They are sugar intolerant

Question 35

What is the gestation period of a degu?

Answer 35

90 days

Question 36

Are degu young precocial or altricial?

Answer 36

Precocial

Question 37

What is the diet of chipmunks?

Answer 37

Seeds, nuts, fruit, insects

Question 38

What do chipmunks require when housing them?

Answer 38

Large space and height

Question 39

What do prairie dogs require in their enclosure?

Answer 39

Large outdoor enclosure with ability to burrow

Question 40

What supplement do flying squirrels require?

Answer 40

Calcium/D3

Question 41

Are African pygmy hedgehogs social?

Answer 41

They are non-social therefore require solitary housing

Question 42

Do African pygmy hedgehogs hibernate?

Answer 42

No

Question 43

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

Answer 43

Lactose-intolerant

Question 44

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

Answer 44

Gestation period = 35 days Weaned at 6 weeks

Question 45

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

Answer 45

3-5 years

Question 46

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

Answer 46

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

Question 47

What are the patagium of sugar gliders?

Answer 47

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

Question 48

How do you distinguish male from female sugar gliders?

Answer 48

Males have a large scent gland on forehead

Question 49

What supplements of sugar gliders require?

Answer 49

Calcium/vitamin supplement

Question 50

What are potential problems with sugar gliders?

Answer 50

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

Question 51

What is the gestation period of a sugar glider?

Answer 51

16 days

Question 52

What housing needs do golden or Syrian hamsters require?

Answer 52

Adults require single housing

Question 53

What are the different breeds of dwarf hamsters?

Answer 53

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

Question 54

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

Answer 54

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

Question 55

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

Answer 55

Do not climb/jump well

Question 56

What feature do gerbils and jirds require in their enclosure?

Answer 56

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

Question 57

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

Answer 57

Mongolian gerbil Show's jird Pallid gerbil Duprasi Persian jird

Question 58

Are jerboas good pets?

Answer 58

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

Question 59

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

Answer 59

Dormice have no caecum (no fermentation of vegetable matter)