Positives
attributes of Jerboas?
Greater
jerboas are very easy to care for, and since they are social you can keep
more than one without concerns of them fighting. They are rather hardy
and do not seem to become ill easily.
Negatives
attributes of Jerboas?
They
are nocturnal so do not tend to come out when all the lights are on, but
you can put a red light over a portion of the enclosure or dim the lights
in the room if you want to watch them. They also need quite a large set-up
comparatively to their size.
What
is their average lifespan?
Lifespan
is 4-6 years.
How
well do they interact with people?
How
well they interact with humans will depend largely on whether or not they
were captive bred or wild caught. While some wild G jerboas will eventually
settle down around humans, others will likely be extremely shy even to
be viewed. Captive bred jerboas can get very tame when handled as kits,
to the piont where they will allow themselves to be handled and petted
and even crawl up onto your lap or shoulders.
What
size and type of enclosure do they need?
For
2 G jerboas the minimum sized enclosure they would need is 2'w x 3'l x
3'h. They are active and need a lot of space to move around in, so the
bigger the enclosure the better. If breeding is desired you will need
an enclosure around 2'w x 6'l x 3'h. This is because the courtship and
actual mating involves a lot of chasing, and I have not heard of someone
successfully breeding this species in less than a 6' enclosure. The enclosure
should be made of glass or plexiglass with a screen lid. Bedding can be
either sterilized sand, aspen shavings or another soft pet substrate.
Substrate should be about 4-5'' thick. If the enclosure is too small and/or
the substrate not thick enough they can develop series joint problems
in their legs. They also require a chinchilla dust bath, nest box and
large tube to simulate a tunnel. Mine enjoy a hanging rope/wood parrot
toy to chew on.
What
do you feed them?
They
should be given a mixture of a quality rodent seed mix and foriegn finch
seed mix. I usually add in about a teaspoon of a soft pellet insectivore
diet as well once every 2 weeks for my pair. They also love timothy hay
and millet sprays. They should not be given a standing water source as
it causes kidney problems, so you don't have to worry about water bottles
or bowls. Just give them a piece of fresh fruit or vegetable (no citrus
or fruit seed/pits) twice a week and they will get all their moisture
from that. Favorites include carrot, apple, romaine lettuce, sweet potato,
cucumber and seedless grapes.
How
destructive are they for an average household?
They
will chew on things like any other rodent such as wires or even baseboards.
If you want to let your G jerboas run outside of their enclosure, it is
best to have a small room or playpen where they can't get to anything
dangerous. They can fit into small places so block off the crack under
the door if they are in a room. Also cover floor vents, as they have very
delicate legs which could get stuck and injured in a vent.
Are
there any problems associated with their nails?
No
Do they
have scent glands or an offensive smell?
No.
Since they do not drink water they have very little urine and small hard
droppings that do not smell.
How
messy are their dropping and can they be litter trained?
I've
not heard of anyone litter-training a jerboa.
What
vaccinations/vet care should be expected?
No
vaccinations. Only vet care would be in case of illness.
At what
age would it be best to get one?
It
would be best to get one as a juvenile if a lot of interaction is desired,
but older animals can be friendly as well.
Do they
breed easily?
No.
There are very few successful breeders. They require a large space to
breed as stated above. Putting a heat lamp on over the enclosure during
the day and then turning it out at night for the cooling effect seems
to be helpful. A proper nest box large enough for both parents to rest
comfortably in is needed. Captive bred animals are more likely to breed
in captivity than wild caught. They mature at around 8 months old, gestation
is roughly 40 days, litter size averages 2-3 kits and they are weaned
at 7 weeks old. Both parents help raise the kits.
What
kind of person should own these animals?
As
they are rather delicate I would not suggest them for children, but anyone
14 and up who is willing to do the research and maintain them properly
will be greatly rewarded.
