rodents

Question 1

list commonly kept captive rodents (7)

Answer 1

• hamsters ((Dwarf Russian, Chinese, Syrian)
• mice
• rats
• guinea pigs
• gerbils
• chinchillas
• degus
  DO ANKI FLASHCARDS ON THESE??? RECOG BREEDS

Question 2

species of hamster and whether they prefer solitary or group housing:

Answer 2

Russian Dwarf = groups (pairs at least)

Chinese AND Syrian (golden) = solitary

Question 3

reasons for keeping captive rodents (3)

Answer 3

pets

laboratories

conservation

Question 4

behaviour of rodents (8)

Answer 4

• gnawing
• burrowing/nest building
• foraging
• sandbathing
• exercise
• jumping/climbing
• soc interaction
• thigmotaxis (new envs)

Question 5

behaviour - thigmotaxis

define

Answer 5

new environments (typical behaviour of rodents)

Question 6

captive rodents - teeth

Answer 6

single pair continuously growing incisors each jaw

dental issues = overlong incisors

(guinea pigs/degus/chinchillas = cheek teeth overgrown aswell (???)) check/ask

Question 7

rodent species that sandbathe (3/4)

Answer 7

degus
chinchillas
gerbils
(hamsters??)

Question 8

hamster behaviours (in addition to rodent behaviours)

Answer 8

torpor/hibernation

food carrying (cheek pouches)

Question 9

name for when hamsters hibernate

Answer 9

torpor

Question 10

hamster behaviour - torpor: what temps

Answer 10

Deep sleep at <4 degC
out of torpor when room temp >15 degC

(??????? idk)

Question 11

husbandry - key points for enclosures

Answer 11

• gnaw proof
• multi levels
• enrichment
• solid floor w non dusty/irritant substrate
• ventilation
• lighting

Question 12

enrichment - what to offer

Answer 12

• hides
• substrate for burrowing
• wheels (SOLID)
• scattering/hiding food = forage
• nest building materials

Question 13

ideal diet should be ______ based

Answer 13

pellet

Question 14

diet should not be __a__ or ___b___ based

these diets can cause (3)

Answer 14

a) seed
b) muesli

• selective eating
• nutritional deficiencies
• obesity

Question 15

5 CATEGORIES of rodent health problems due to captivity

Answer 15

• trauma
• bumblefoot
• resp disease
• dental disease
• GI disease

Question 16

what may cause trauma in rodents in captivity (3)

Answer 16

• fighting
• poor handling tech.
• enclosure maintenance/design

Question 17

what may cause resp disease in rodents in captivity

Answer 17

• vent. and cleanliness
• dusty bedding (dust free better)
• new arrivals (should be quarantined)

Question 18

what may cause GI disease in rodents in captivity?

name an example of one

Answer 18

stress/overcrowding/poor husbandry

e.g. Tyzzer’s disease (Clostridium piliforme)

Question 19

sexing rats

Answer 19

M = further anogenital distance, descended testicles