Dormouse care information

What In The World Is A Dormouse?

Most people are familiar with the dormouse only through stories, such as "Alice In Wonderland." (By the way, Disney drew it all wrong!) They are a lot different from what the name implies.
They are definetly NOT a mouse! Thay look more like a squirrel, and even have a cute bushy tail.
Dormice are relatively new in the pet industry. The type that are commonly bought & sold in the pet industry are native to Africa. They are adorable little creatures 4-5 inches long, with a tail that adds another 4 inches or so to their length. They have huge eyes, like a sugar glider, & big ears that move independently of each other, giving them a rather comic appearance when they are listening to something. They are brown with black markings & their bellies are white. They are absolutely beautiful creatures, and are great for someone who can't have a large pet, but wants something that will bond with them.
Dormice are climbers, & love to climb around on their favorite human(s). They also love to climb on (non-toxic) tree branches when they are in their cages. (For more information on housing, see below.)
On this page, I will try to give as much information on dormouse care as I can find, & will add to it whenever I have something new. Information on them as pets is scarce, so some information will be from my own experience as a dormouse owner. I will do my best to only put verifiable information on this page! (My own experience, or research from a reliable source is the sort of verification I am looking for. I also want the experiences of others!)
I would also like to start a network of dormouse owners, to exchange information and tips. If this is something you would be interested in, please e-mail me.

Basic Dormouse Care

Housing

Dormice are very active, and therefore, need a reasonable amount of space. A good set-up to start with is a ten gallon (or larger) aquarium with a wire screen top. (They enjoy running upside down on the top, so make sure the screen mesh is no more than about 1/4 inch and that the lid attaches securely to the tank.)
Put a layer of bedding on the bottom of the tank, at least 1 1/2 to two inches deep. Aspen shavings or recycled paper litter work best. Avoid cedar shavings, because cedar oil can be toxic to burrowing animals. The same has been said of pine, and I have had problems in my pets from both, so I use only recycled paper now. Sawdust is another bad choice, as it is known to cause respiratory problems. Change the bedding once a week, or more if needed. Dormice will usually use one area of their cage to do their business, so you might want to clean that area out every other day & put in some fresh bedding.
Dormice are nocturnal animals, meaning they are most active at night. Therefore, they need a place to sleep during the day. A finch nest or any other type bird nest that is enclosed will do well. Or, for those on a budget, a box with a hole cut in it or a peice of PVC pipe will do just as well. My dormouse likes his nesting are higher in the cage, so I use a finch nest. (My dormouse is in a 30 gallon tall tank.) If there is no nesting box in the cage, the dormouse will burrow into the bedding to sleep, but this doesn't offer any real security, & may cause the animal undue stress.

A hanging water bottle works well with dormice. You also need food dishes (one or two). I will speak more on feeding further down on the page.
Dormice are very playful, and will entertain anyone who watches them. You should be sure to include toys in their cage, for when they aren't out playing with their human(s). Suggested toys include:
Excercise wheel
Pieces of rope (fastened to the lid so they hang down into the cage)
Bird toys that hang down, have bells, etc.
Use your imagination! They love to run & climb, so give them lots of places to pursue these activities.

What Do They Eat?

Dormice have a varied diet in the wild. To try to keep up this balance in your pet, there are many choices. Among the suggested items are:
Commercial hamster food
Raw peanuts
Sunflower seeds
Fresh fruits & vegetables (experiment to see what your dormouse likes)
Boiled eggs
Crickets & mealworms (Wild caught is not recommended due to the chance of pesticides)
The hamster mix, with the peanuts & sunflower seed is a daily diet staple. Vegetables & fruits should be given two to three times a week. Eggs, crickets, & mealworms should also be given two to three times a week. Simply alternate the fruit/vegetables & the protien sources.
Make sure to remove any uneaten fruit, vegetables, or egg in the morning.
As I mentioned, they are nocturnal animals, so you should set their food out in the evening.
Dormice also like to chew, so chew sticks are a wonderful treat. I also give mine the seed sticks that are made for birds. (Parrot ones mostly.) He loves to climb on them & pick the seed off. When the seed are all gone, he has a wooden stick to chew into oblivion!

Briar Rose

bri_rose@hotmail.com
KY
United States