What In The World Is A Dormouse?
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.
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!
bri_rose@hotmail.com
KY
United States