Jerboa

Shaped somewhat like a tiny kangaroo, the nocturnal mouse-like Long-eared Jerboa uses its elongated tail and hind legs for jumping. The endangered rodent, found in the Gobi desert of Mongolia, has ears that are about a third larger than its head and eats mostly insects. It's so extraordinary that it's the only species of its genus

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omgaga how cute, i love it, would love some of these! so so so cute! xx

There are several different types if I remember rightly - funny little devils

can you get these as pets Helen? xx

Yes you can - tend to be specialist suppliers - we did look into these at one point but didn't go any further with it x

ahhh might look into these in the future then, they look beautiful! thanks Helen xx

I was told you can get them as pets to Jake thats why i put them in the small pets section .x

oh yes i didnt realise that Lou haha, might do a bit of research on them xx

You can get them - slightly more expensive than hamsters etc

i wouldnt imagine them being cheap, will have too look into it xx

Would say from £ 25.00 up at a guess

oh i thought it would be more, thats not too bad i guess xx

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.

awwww they are soooo cute...i would of thought they were more than £25...

Depends on which one Tayer - will have to have a dig around x

i like them a lot, would consider having one sometime! i fell in love with them xx

I think they are awesome too Jake if you get some i want to meet them .x

for sure, will bring them to a meet! will start doing some research then maybe change my mind from a budgie to a jerboa i have fell in love xx

FOR SALE
lesser jerboa
Hamble, Southampton, UK

£60 each

kangaroo rats for sale nothing like ordinary rats males and females and breeding pairs available call for more details or viewing many thanks

greater egyptian Jerboas pairs




Details

Type: Private Advert
Price: £250
Updated: Yesterday
Description

lovley greater egytian jaboas much bigger than the lesser. really lolvey pets really good fun to watch them jumping and running around must keep in mind they can run up to 40 mph they are not your normal daliy pets and do need extra care will sell to people with expearance or some one who has all info on them .
all that said they are really good pets and very unusal lil fellers and do make awsome pets .


Bit more expensive than I thought!!

yeah that does sound like the price id thought...but i can understand why...you dont want them people, who just want something no-one has on the spur of the moment...then regret it., and dump them.

i saw the top ad yesterday and thought that price was okay, but wow £250! i did read that breeding is very rare and hard to do so harder to come around as pets and this made me think they would be a little more than £60 after seeing the above advert but £250!!!!!! xx

i suppose you can charge what you like, when they are rare pets...

yeah i guess, am determined to get one at some point!!!!! haha xx

Awwwww, I want a skunk, and as much as iv looked into it, I don't think I'd cope well with the musky smell, they will probably hold...I want an old English lop instead.

a skunk would be a cool pet! i want a jerboa!!!!! xx