list commonly kept captive rodents (7)
- hamsters ((Dwarf Russian, Chinese, Syrian)
- mice
- rats
- guinea pigs
- gerbils
- chinchillas
- degus
DO ANKI FLASHCARDS ON THESE??? RECOG BREEDS
species of hamster and whether they prefer solitary or group housing:
Russian Dwarf = groups (pairs at least)
Chinese AND Syrian (golden) = solitary
reasons for keeping captive rodents (3)
pets
laboratories
conservation
behaviour of rodents (8)
- gnawing
- burrowing/nest building
- foraging
- sandbathing
- exercise
- jumping/climbing
- soc interaction
- thigmotaxis (new envs)
behaviour - thigmotaxis
define
new environments (typical behaviour of rodents)
captive rodents - teeth
single pair continuously growing incisors each jaw
dental issues = overlong incisors
(guinea pigs/degus/chinchillas = cheek teeth overgrown aswell (???)) check/ask
rodent species that sandbathe (3/4)
degus
chinchillas
gerbils
(hamsters??)
hamster behaviours (in addition to rodent behaviours)
torpor/hibernation
food carrying (cheek pouches)
name for when hamsters hibernate
torpor
hamster behaviour - torpor: what temps
Deep sleep at <4 degC
out of torpor when room temp >15 degC
(??????? idk)
husbandry - key points for enclosures
- gnaw proof
- multi levels
- enrichment
- solid floor w non dusty/irritant substrate
- ventilation
- lighting
enrichment - what to offer
- hides
- substrate for burrowing
- wheels (SOLID)
- scattering/hiding food = forage
- nest building materials
ideal diet should be ______ based
pellet
diet should not be __a__ or ___b___ based
these diets can cause (3)
a) seed
b) muesli
- selective eating
- nutritional deficiencies
- obesity
5 CATEGORIES of rodent health problems due to captivity
- trauma
- bumblefoot
- resp disease
- dental disease
- GI disease
what may cause trauma in rodents in captivity (3)
- fighting
- poor handling tech.
- enclosure maintenance/design
what may cause resp disease in rodents in captivity
- vent. and cleanliness
- dusty bedding (dust free better)
- new arrivals (should be quarantined)
what may cause GI disease in rodents in captivity?
name an example of one
stress/overcrowding/poor husbandry
e.g. Tyzzer’s disease (Clostridium piliforme)
sexing rats
M = further anogenital distance, descended testicles
