We've personally written proper-care guides to ensure your animals are able to live life to the fullest. Our husbandry standards allow all animals to live enriched, healthy lives, ensuring they're able to carry out natural behaviours.
In Alphabetical Order:
African Pouched Rats:
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There are four species of African pouched rats: Cricetomys emini (Emin's pouched rat), Cricetomys kivuensis (Kivu giant pouched rat), Cricetomys ansorgei (Southern pouched rat), Cricetomys gambianus (Gambian pouched rats). We are mainly discussing the Emin's pouched rat and the Gambian pouched rats most commonly found in the exotic pet trade...
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African pygmy hedgehogs:
African pygmy mice:
Asiatic garden dormice:
Campbell, winter whites, and hybrid Russian dwarf hamsters:
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Despite Campbells and Winter Whites being separate species, we've decided to write about them together because our residents have always been hybrids of the two species.
Winter whites can also be referred to as Siberian, or Djungarian dwarf hamsters as they originate in Kazakhstan and Siberia. They often live in colonies in the wild. They can cohabit in captivity, but its possible fighting may occur... |
Chinchillas:
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The long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) belong to the family Chinchillidae and are part of the New World infraorder Caviamorphs (including chinchillas, degus, and Guinea pigs) which are histricognath rodents. Histricognath rodents are classified by the shape of their skulls. Chinchillas are crepuscular rodents native to South America. They're found high up in the mountains - sometimes as high as 4270m! They typically live in amongst other chinchillas in small colonies called ‘herds’....
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Chinese hamsters:
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Though they’re certainly small, Chinese hamsters are not considered true dwarf hamsters. As their name suggests, Chinese hamsters originate from China and Mongolia. They have an average lifespan of 2 – 2 ½ years, but ages of up to 4 years have been reported.
Chinese hamsters are nocturnal omnivores and make wonderful pets. Their care doesn't differ too much from that of other, more common domesticated species of hamster... |
Degus:
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Domesticated degus are scientifically known as Octodon degus, but they're informally referred to as the common degu or bush-tailed rats. They're semi fossorial Caviomorphs native to Northern and Central Chile and can be found in the Andes slopes up to 1200m. They usually live between 6-8 years in captivity, although ages up to 10-13 years have been reported. Degus usually live in groups referred to as ‘herds’. As a small but vocal rodent, you'll frequently hear degus ‘chatting’ to their companions – sometimes even their owners too...
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Duprasi gerbils:
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Duprasi gerbils are also known as the fat-tailed gerbil. They're notoriously known for their club-shaped fat tail - where they get their name from. It's believed their tail is similar to a camels hump and is used for fat-storage. A healthy Duprasi will have a plump tail. They live in desert environments in the northern Sahara, Egypt, and other Middle-Eastern countries.
They're an omnivorous species that exhibit both crepuscular and diurnal behaviour... |
Eurasian harvest mice:
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Harvest mice are a Eurasian species that can be found arable or grasslands. They can weigh as little as a 2p piece.
Fun fact: Harvest mice are the only mammals in Britain to have a prehensile tail; they're able to grasp or hold objects with their tails. Harvest mice are also considered some of the smallest rodents in Europe. They're a nocturnal omnivorous rodent whose average lifespan is approximately 18 months in the wild, but they can live up to 4 years in captivity... |
EU polecat and hybrids:
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European polecats - previously referred to as a 'foul mart' due to their unpleasant scent - are considered to be the ancestor to the domestic ferret but this is still up for debate to some. They're from the same family (mustelids) and also have a very similar appearance to some ferret coat varieties. Appearence may vary slightly depending on the subspecies...
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Ferrets:
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Ferrets belong to the family Mustelidae and are in the same genus as weasels; Mustela. They're an inquisitive, intelligent, and mischievous carnivore who can form incredibly strong bonds with their humans. Previously, they've been used for hunting animals such as rabbits, but they're becoming increasingly popular pets.
They're a crepuscular mustelid who can sleep up to 20 hours a day! They do make up for it when they're awake, ferrets are notoriously cheeky and require lots of space and free-roam time.... |
Flying squirrels:
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The name 'flying squirrel' actually describes over 50 species within the family Sciuridae. Their name is somewhat of a misnomer as flying squirrels are not capable of powered flight like that of a bird, but they do glide. Flying squirrels have wing-like folds of skin that are referred to as patagia. The patagium membrane can be found on flying squirrels, bats, and other gliding mammals....
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Guinea pigs:
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Unlike their name suggests, Guinea pigs are not from Guinea, nor are they biologically related to pigs, quite the contrary, in fact. Guinea pigs are native to the lower slopes of the Andes mountains and local grasslands in South America. They’re social, chatty, active rodents who live in herds. Interestingly, Guinea pigs aren't diurnal or nocturnal. Guinea pigs can be awake for approximately 20 hours a day, they scatter their resting periods somewhat intermittently throughout their activities...
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House mice:
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The most commonly kept pet mouse is the domesticated house mouse; informally referred to as fancy mice. They have an lifespan ranging from 1 ½ - 2 ½ years. Despite what is commonly portrayed in cartoons, a mouse doesn’t typically eat cheese, they're intelligent and can make challenging but good pets.
We've found the care of fancy mice to be one of the most controversial subjects in keeping pet rodents or "pocket pets" (a term we don't appreciate); socialisation, diet, and housing are all hot topics and you'll find the information you receive varies massively among individuals... |
Jirds
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Mongolian gerbils are by far the most commonly kept pet jird. For that reason, we wrote a Mongolian gerbil care guide dedicated to only them. We wanted to further expand on jird care, as there are other jirds in the exotic pet trade; Persian jirds, Shaws jirds, Tristrams jirds, , Libyan jirds, and Sundevals jirds. All of the listed jirds belong to the genus Meriones - this is the classification we're discussing in this care guide. Meriones jirds are found in localities ranging from Africa to Mongolia. They're burrowing rat-like rodents and live in often complex burrows...
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Lesser hedgehog tenrecs:
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Originally from Madagascar, the domestic lesser hedgehog tenrec is a phenomenal example of convergent evolution. Believe it or not, hedgehogs and tenrecs aren't even remotely related to each other, despite their similarities. Convergent evolution describes two species that have similar structures or features, usually with the same function, but are not closely related. Hedgehogs and Tenrecs have both evolved to have spines/quills on their body that can be used as a defence mechanism. There are slight differences in their spines, but their function is the same...
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Mongolian gerbils:
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The most commonly kept pet gerbils are Mongolian gerbils. As their name suggests, they’re found in Mongolia. Gerbils are a social burrowing rodent and live in groups known as ‘clans’. They have an average lifespan of 2-3 years but ages over 4 years have been reported - we’ve only known 5 years. Mongolian gerbils are largely diurnal, meaning most active during the day, however, they can exhibit crepuscular behaviour, meaning most active around dusk and dawn. They're an omnivorous rodent, meaning their diet consists of both plant-based and meat-based materials...
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Multimammates:
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Multimammates are also referred to as African Soft Furred mouse. They're typically used as reptile feeders as they're prolific breeders; they’re referred to as Multimammate mice/rats due to their multiple mammary glands; they generally have 8-12 pairs of mammary glands, but there have been documented numbers as high as 18 pairs! That is a drastic difference compared to female house mice which only have 5 pairs. They have a reputation for having large litters. In more recent years, they've been more commonly seen throughout the pet trade...
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North American raccoon:
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Scientifically referred to as Procyon Loctor: The North American Raccoon is probably the most well-known and commonly thought of species of that comes to mind when thinking about raccoons. Their infamous bandit-mask and ringed-tails makes them instantly recognisable to most individuals, however, in captivity their appearance can change dramatically depending on the colour variations.
They're ubiquitous throughout North America, but can also be found in Canada and South America... |
Norway rats:
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Despite having a generally negative reputation, domesticated rats make incredible pets and seem to be one of the few animals that rarely display stereotypical behaviours in captivity. The most commonly kept pet rat is the Norwegian/Norway brown rat. Despite what their name suggests, the Norwegian rat didn’t originate in Norway, they're believed to have originated in China. Norwegian rats are also referred to as the common rat, Parisian rat, sewer rat, street rat, Hanover rat – the list goes on. Pet owners commonly call their domesticated rats ‘fancy rats’...
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Rabbits:
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Contrary to popular belief, rabbits are not rodents, they’re lagomorphs. Rodents have two sets of continuously growing incisors, whereas lagomorphs have four pairs. Rabbits are well known for their distinctive characteristics such as their long ears, short tail, and strong hind limbs.
The lifespan of a wild rabbit is around 1-2 years because of the number of predators and challenges a rabbit can encounter in their daily life. In captivity, a rabbit can live roughly 10 years or older if well-cared for, but as a rescue, we increasingly see shortened lifespan attributed to poor health often subsequent to neglect... |
Roborovski dwarf hamsters:
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Roborovskis are a commonly kept dwarf hamster, often referred to as “robos” for short. They’re known for their small size (smallest in their genus) and fast-handling. They originate in central Asia around Mongolia, northern China and northern Russia. They are highly adapted to their environment and live in burrows up to 6ft deep.
In the wild, they’re an omnivorous and social hamster and exhibit crepuscular behaviour. Their average lifespan is 2-3 years, but ages of up to 4 years have been reported... |
Short-tailed opossums:
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The Brazilian short-tailed opossum is not uncommon within the exotic pet trade; they breed readily in captivity and have been used extensively in research. They're sometimes mistaken for rodents, but they're nocturnal marsupials in the family Didelphidae; like all marsupials, their young develop outside of the uterus. They have some interesting characteristics; despite being a marsupial, they do not have a pouch in which they carry their young. Interestingly, the young latch on to a nipple on their Mother's abdomen until they're more developed...
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Siberian chipmunks:
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The most commonly kept chipmunks are Siberian chipmunks (Eutamias sibiricus) and the Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus). Distingushing between the two can be achieved by looking at their dentition or their stripes; the Eastern chipmunk will have a white stripe between two black stripes,
They can live on average 4-6 years, but ages up to 10 years have been documented. They usually exhibit diurnal behaviour and are omnivorous... |
Spiny mice:
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'Spiny Mice' is an umbrella term that describes any species within the genus Acomys. So, you can have spiny mice such as the Cairo spiny mouse, Crete spiny mouse, and many more. Despite species of spiny mice being found in numerous localities, in the exotic pet trade, you'll usually find species from Arabian countries and Africa....
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Striped skunks:
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Skunks are not common pets, so they're considered exotic mammals. You must do your research before deciding if you want a skunk as a pet. They all have incredibly different personalities and, if unsocialised, they can be quite aggressive.
They belong to the family Mephitidae, which translates to stink. Skunks can be comparable to animals such as polecats and badgers. The domesticated skunk is Mephitis mephitis (which loosely translates to 'bad odour'), commonly known as the striped skunk. They're crepuscular or nocturnal animals and are usually solitary, but do naturally have overlapping home territories... |
Sugar gliders:
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We've noticed that sugar gliders are an exotic animal with so many misconceptions and misinformation surrounding their care. This is partly due to a lack of education as well as a lack of research surrounding proper husbandry. You must be well educated before committing to a pet sugar glider as many of the most common health issues seen in captivity are the result of improper care. Sugar gliders are undeniably an absolutely adorable gliding possum and belong to the marsupial class. Marsupials are not rodents, not even close. In fact, sugar gliders closer to Kangaroos! Most marsupials carry their young within a pouch and are usually found in Australia and in the Americas...
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Syrian hamsters:
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Syrian hamsters are the largest breed of domesticated hamsters. They’re also informally referred to as teddy bear hamsters, golden hamsters, and fancy hamsters.
As their name suggests, they can be found in Syria, but they can be found in southern Turkey and Israel too. In the wild, they’re classed as a vulnerable species due to loss of habitat. They’d previously been thought to be extinct in the wild up until 1997 and 1999 when there were several sightings on expeditions... |
Virginia opossums:
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Typically, the short-tailed opossum and the Virginia opossum are the most commonly kept opossums. Interestingly the Virgina opossum (sometime referred to as simply "possum") is the only member of the family Didelphidae found in Mexico, though they're also found in Northern and Central America, and southern Canada. They occupy an array of habitats but are typically seen near water sources.
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Zebra mice:
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Lemniscomys barbarus is the smallest, and most commonly kept species of Zerba mouse in the exotic pet trade. Zebra mice are a small murine rodent; also referred to as African striped grass mouse, and sometimes Barbarys. They're commonly found in bushlands and grassy areas throughout Northern Africa.
By far their most distinctive feature is their dark and light stripes which extend from head to tail... |