Rodents

Question 1

What is the main characteristic that all rodents share?

Answer 1

Single pair of upper and lower incisors

Question 2

What is the consequence of enamel on the back of the tooth being softer than the front?

Answer 2

They all sharpen themselves whilst chewing

Question 3

What are rabbits?

Answer 3

lagomorphs

Question 4

Give 4 reasons why rodents are so popular as pets?

Answer 4

» Fit in well with owner’s lifestyles and living habits
» Less commitment in terms of time and money
» Relatively inexpensive (downside – cost of vet bills sometimes
not warranted by owners)
» Good starter pets for children

Question 5

What should a rodent herbivore diet look like?

Answer 5

Diet should consist of:
* Hay and grass (70%)
* A small amount of species-specific pelleted food
(20%)
* Fresh fruits/vegetables (10%, type and amount
specific on the species)

High in Fibre and Low in energy

Question 6

What should a rodent omnivore diet look like?

Answer 6

Diet consists of:
* Species-specific pelleted food (75%)
* Some fresh veg and fruits (20% offered
daily)
* Small amount of protein (e.g., boiled egg,
chicken– once per week) Reduce amount in
senior animals

16% protein and 5% fat

Question 7

What is coprophagy?

Answer 7

• normal behaviour of rodents
• rats will eat around 10% of their faeces off the cage floor

Question 8

What is thigmotaxis and what animal exhibits it?

Answer 8

• tendency to stay close to the wall
• exhibited by guinea pigs

Question 9

What rodent eats 10% of their faeces off the cage floor?

Answer 9

Rats

Question 10

Where is the scent gland found in gerbils?

Answer 10

Ventral abdomen

Question 11

Where is the scent gland found in hamsters?

Answer 11

Bilateral Flanks

Question 12

Where is the scent gland found in guinea pigs?

Answer 12

by the tail base

Question 13

Why should you not house mice and rats together?

Answer 13

Can cause disease transmission

Question 14

What can cause fatal septicaemia in mice?

Answer 14

Streptobacillus moniliformis

Question 15

What is gerbil tail slip?

Answer 15

• Escape mechanism, essentially a ‘de-gloving’
• The skin on the tail is more loosly attached than the skin in other rodents
• if its left the exposed part dries up and drops off, but it can be painful if left

Question 16

Which rodent has a long gestation period and can spray urine when frightened?

Answer 16

Chinchillas

Question 17

How many mammals does the order rodentia comprise of?

Answer 17

Half of all mammalian species on earth

Question 18

Name two herbivorous rodents

Answer 18

Guinea-Pigs and Chinchillas

Question 19

Name 4 omnivorous rodents

Answer 19

1. Hamsters
2. Gerbils
3. Rats
4. Mice

Question 20

Give the average gestation period of guinea-pigs, chinchillas, hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils

Answer 20

1. Chinchillas- 105-113 days
2. Guinea-pigs- 59-72
3. Gerbils- 24-26
4. Rats- 21-23
5. Mice- 19-21
6. Hamsters- 16-18

Question 21

What are guinea-pigs taxonomically related to?

Answer 21

• The porcupine and chinchilla

Question 22

What is the adult weight of a guinea-pig?

Answer 22

1kg

Question 23

What material should you avoid for guinea-pig bedding?

Answer 23

Cotton wool

hay is best as it needs to be safe if accidently ingested

Question 24

What is the ‘rumba’ ?

Answer 24

Purring or chirping whilst swaying bottom, excitement/ stimulation

Question 25

What is 'popcorning' ?

Answer 25

leaping around in the air for no apparant reason- most common in young

Question 26

What may guinea-pig food need to be supplemented with?

Answer 26

Vitamin C

Question 27

Why cant guinea-pigs be placed with rabbits?

Answer 27

possibility of Bordatella Brochiseptica

Question 28

What kind of water is best for guinea-pigs

Answer 28

Ad-lib water (nipple drinker)

Question 29

What do you need to do if keeping your guinea pigs outside?

Answer 29

Provide adequate bedding and insulation

Question 30

Why are wire mesh floors best avoided?

Answer 30

can cause injury

Question 31

Why are aquariums not the best housing?

Answer 31

Can cause a build up of ammonia

Question 32

What mice should you house together?

Answer 32

* Male mice will fight unless they are litter mates without any females * Best if they are raised together

Question 33

What is the normal diet of mice/rats?

Answer 33

* they are omnivorous so they eat food of both plant and animal origin * seeds, grains, small invertebrates

Question 34

What should you supplement a mouse/ rat diet with?

Answer 34

fruit, veg ocassionally cooked chicken, egg

Question 35

What is the background of gerbils

Answer 35

* they originated in the deserts of north africa and central asia * bred and kept as pets since the 1960's * good tempermant, gentle * have almost no odour

Question 36

Who shoud gerbils be kept with?

Answer 36

Gerbils should always be kept with other gerbils as they are very sociable * males and females often 'pair bond'

Question 37

What is the most ideal tank to keep gerbils in?

Answer 37

Fish tank with a breathable mesh lid | sand baths are also good to help keep their fur clean

Question 38

What is the best food for gerbils?

Answer 38

* Feed pellets that have been formulated for gerbils * pumpkin/ sunflower seeds are a good treat ocasionally

Question 39

What sort of enrichment items should you provide to gerbils?

Answer 39

anything that is safe if swallowed as they will chew anything

Question 40

Where do hamsters usually live in the wild?

Answer 40

they live on dry flat grasslands or brushy slopes and are naturally solitary

Question 41

Why do you need to provide deep bedding for hamsters?

Answer 41

In the wild they construct burrows and hibernate when the temperature is below 5 degrees

Question 42

What can be an issue with hamsters and their babies?

Answer 42

Potential for cannibalism, have to make sure you do not disturb nesting females/ touch the babies

Question 43

What is the main diet of hamsters?

Answer 43

Vegetation, Seeds, Fruit and Meat

Question 44

Which rodent is now endangered in the wild?

Answer 44

Chinchillas, due to fur demand

Question 45

How long do chinchillas live for?

Answer 45

Up to 20 years

Question 46

Which rodent can spray urine if frightened and need places to hide during captivity?

Answer 46

chinchillas

Question 47

What is 'fur slip'

Answer 47

Protective reaction in chinchillas, large patch of fur is released- revealing smooth skin underneath | occurs when handled incorrectly or due to excitement/ fighting

Question 48

How long can it take for chinchilla fur to grow back?

Answer 48

can take several months to regrow and is frequently a different colour shade

Question 49

What rodent cannot synthesise their own Vitamin C

Answer 49

Guinea-Pigs