Rodent Husbandry

Question 1

Myomorph dentition

Answer 1

1/1 0/0 0/0 3/3

Question 2

Hystricomorph dentition

Answer 2

1/1 0/0 1/1 3/3

Question 3

What do guinea pigs need supplemented in their diet?

Answer 3

Vitamin C

Question 4

Which rodents are social? (Mice/rats, gerbil, guinea pig, chinchilla, hamster, degu)

Answer 4

Social: mice/rats, gerbil, guinea pig, degus

Singly house: chinchilla (unless breeding pair)

Hamsters can be kept as pairs, but they can become aggressive to each other, so need to keep watch

Question 5

Which hamsters hibernate?

Answer 5

Syrians do, russian/chinese don’t

Question 6

Around what age should you breed guinea pigs?

Answer 6

12 wks (later=dystocia)

Question 7

Sexing rodents

Answer 7

Females: nipples
Males: testicular bulges (rats, mice, gerbils)
Guinea pigs: shape of opening (male=round, female=v or y)
Chinchilla: males have greater anogenital distance and no scrotum; females have short anogenital distance, large urethral process
degus: use anogenital distance

Question 8

What is the bio data for mice?

Answer 8

Life:1-2.5y
Maturity: 3-4 wks 
Estrus: q 4-5 days
Gestation: 21d
Weaned:21days

Question 9

Rat Bio data

Answer 9

Life:3y
Maturity: 6 weeks
Estrus: q 4-5d
Gestation: 21d
Weaned: 21d

Question 10

Gerbil bio data

Answer 10

Life:1.5-2.5y
Maturity: 10-12 wks
Estrus: q 4-6d
Gestation: 24-26d
Weaned: 21-28d

Question 11

Syrian hamster bio data

Answer 11

Life:1.5-2y
Maturity: 6-10 wks
Estrus: q 4d
Gestation: 15-18d
Weaned: 21-28d

Question 12

Russian/Chinese hamster bio data

Answer 12

Life: 1.5-2yr
Maturity:6-10wks
Estrus: q 4d
Gestation: 19-22d
Weaned:21-28d

Question 13

Guinea pig bio data

Answer 13

Life: 4-7y
Maturity: 4-5 wks or 8-10wks
Estrus: q 15d
Gestation: 65d
Weaned: 21d

Question 14

Chinchilla bio data

Answer 14

Life: 10-15y
Maturity: 8 mo
Estrus: q 30d Nov-May
Gestation: 111d
Weaned: 6-8wks

Question 15

Degu bio data

Answer 15

Life: 7y
Maturity: 3-6mo
Estrus: q 21d
Gestation: 87d
Weaned:4-6wks

Question 16

What teeth are open rooted and constantly growing in chinchillas, guinea pigs and degus?

Answer 16

Premolars and molar

Question 17

Mice/rat housing

Answer 17

Metal or glass cage
Small mesh
Enrichment 
Wood shavings and paper nesting 
Social house (not male pairs)

Question 18

Mice/rat feeding

Answer 18

Omnivore
Rodent pellet
Veg
High fiber supps

Question 19

Hamster housing

Answer 19

Simple wire and plastic
Tunnels
Exercise
Burrowers

Question 20

Hamster feeding

Answer 20

Omnivore
Rodent pellet
Leafy veg
Sprouting seeds 
Hoarders

Question 21

Gerbil housing

Answer 21

Social
Glass or plastic tank 
No sand 
Nesting and wood
No direct sun
Burrowers

Question 22

Gerbil feeding

Answer 22

Rodent pellet

Limited sunflower seeds

Question 23

Guinea pig housing

Answer 23

Social
Control temp as not hardy
Wooden hutch 
Daily exercise outside if possible 
Bolt hole
No rabbits!

Question 24

Guinea pig feeding

Answer 24

NEED VIT C
Hay ad lib
Limited pellet feed
Green veg

Question 25

Chinchilla housing

Answer 25

Indoors
All wire cage large as possible
Nest box 
Dust bath 
No female pairs 
Single or breeding pair

Question 26

Chinchilla feeding

Answer 26

Hay
Chinchilla pellets
Avoid sugar rich treats

Question 27

Degu housing

Answer 27

Social
Burrowers
Chinchilla sand can be used

Question 28

Degus feeding

Answer 28

Grass/hay
Leafy veg
Rodent block