With the exception of some
hamsters, rodents are social and need to live among their own kind. Siberian hamsters prefer to be solitary.
They must always have something
to chew to keep their continually growing teeth gnawed down. Wooden objects must be untreated.
Rodents have poor eyesight
and rely heavily on their other senses.
Never pick them up by the
tail.
Do not use cedar or pine
bedding or litter for any rodent. The oils in these woods are harmful to them.
Habitats should be kept out
of direct sunlight, drafts, and high humidity areas. Cages should allow for plenty of ventilation because of the
ammonia fumes build up from their urine. Bottoms should be solid because wire bottoms injure the animal’s
feet. They should be large enough to accommodate the animal's natural behaviors. Their environments should be
enriched with interesting objects and toys. Running wheels should be constructed of solid materials to prevent injuries
to the animals’ feet. Habitats should be cleaned and litter changed about
once per week and a good scrubbing should be done once per month.
Many rodents can be free
roaming but their areas outside of their cage must be rodent proofed. Rodent sized holes (size of a quarter
or smaller) must be plugged, cords covered with PVC tubing, paper and wood items removed, no cats or dogs.
Rodents are predominantly
a prey species so they are naturally cautious. Their living quarters needs to provide places for them to hide.
Allergy prone individuals
can develop specific sensitivity to rodent urine and dander.
Do not feed your companion
animal anything through the bars of his/her cage so that fingers are never mistaken for food.
Instruct children not to stick their fingers into the animal’s cage.
