General

Rats are tame, intelligent, rarely bite, and are social beings.
Mice are timid and territorial. Also can be little “Houdinis”. Be gentle.
Gerbils are territorial and are usually friendly. Some are nocturnal. Do not place adult gerbils together.
Hamsters are nocturnal, and are escape artists. Hamsters need to be housed singly.

Husbandry/Environment

Diet

Rats - commercial pellets, with protein 20 - 27 %. Special formulas exist for growing, breeding, and nursing. No seed mixes or treats.

Mice - commercial pellets/chows with protein 20 - 24 %. No seed mixes, treats, salt blocks, etc. if on good diet.

Gerbils - commercial pellets with protein 18 - 22%. No seed or seed-based mixes.

Hamsters - commercial pellets with protein of 16% minimum. May have treats in small amounts: salad, sprouts, walnuts, raisins, apples, greens. Remove and replace these daily.

Housing/Environment

Rats - solid flooring, escape-proof wire mesh. Furniture to include an exercise wheel, burrowing area, and a food area. Minimum size 15 - 20 " x 15 - 20 " x 7 - 10 ". Breeders have special requirements. Bedding to consist of hardwood chips or recycled newspaper.

Mice - as for rats, with a minimum cage size of 12 - 15" x 12 - 15 " x 6".

Gerbils - wire and steel construction, aluminum, or plastic. Bedding to be 3 inches deep; avoid sand, corncob, cat litter and the like. Environmental/ambient temperature of 60 - 70 F, with humidity 30 - 50%.

Hamsters - no plastic, wood, soft metals. Minimum cage dimensions of 20" x 20" x 6 - 10". Bedding as for gerbils. Ambient temperature of 65 - 70 F, humidity 30 - 70%.

Change and clean all cages daily.

Health care

Annual physical exam with a review of diet and environment.

Links

www.aemv.org (association of exotic mammal veterinarians)