Jerboa Environment
Jerboas will jump when startled so their vivarium should take this into consideration. A minimum size for a pair is 6 x 3 x 3 feet with allowance made for at least 6 inches of substrate due to protect their legs whilst jumping and also to allow them to make deep tunnels. Pet Jerboa benefit from the addition of a sand bath to help keep their fur clean although it is also possible to use this as their base substrate. A temperature of around 22-26 degrees should be maintained.
A good quality hay makes excellent bedding, and alfalfa and timothy hay make good additions to their diet. Hay is essential to aid digestion with uneaten portions used as nesting material. They benefit from routine dust baths to prevent buildup of oil in their fur.
Large cork tubes and carboard tunnels make good hiding and nesting areas and you can also add rocks and other items. Although they do not climb, as their legs suggest, they are very good at jumping.
Jerboas can also have a solid based wheel. This must be the larger sizes. A heat lamp should be used and although not essential, it can be helpful to add UV.
The very low success rate of captive breeding for Jerboas mean that only experienced keepers should attempt this. Some experiences suggest that a certain level of salt and minerals and environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and air flow must be met. In the wild breeding season would also herald the addition of fresh shoots and greens which can be difficult to replicate in a captive environment. Seeds can be planted and the vivarium misted to allow growth although some wire netting may be needed to allow the seeds to mature.
Breeding Jerboa
Jerboa species do not breed readily in captivity. The ethical implications of this do mean that the majority that are available will be wild caught. This means that only experienced keepers should be attempting to breed them. No captive animal should be had at the expense of wild populations. This also means the following is comprised of research only, and not direct observation although they do come from people who have had successful jerboa litters.
The following refers predominately to the Lesser Egyptian Jerboa (Jaculus Jaculus) although some aspects may be held in common with the Greater Jerboa.
Jerboas are likely to have their first litter between 6 months to 1 year, although it is possible for a 10-12 week male to impregnate his mother if left together. Serious injuries can occur during mating so animals should be observed closely.
A nestbox is a vital addition to create a burrow-like environment for breeding. A successful design by Harvard Medical School includes a two chambered solid nestbox. The initial entrance has a small low entrance, whereas the internal hole to the second chamber is higher off the ground, to allow adult jerboas to exit but preventing the young from crawling out. A hinged lid allows the keepers to check, although this should not be done during the first two weeks.
Jerboas diet would naturally change during breeding season, where fresh shoots and greens would form a greater part of their diet. In captivity this can be replicated by spreading seeds across the enclosure and misting them a few times a day. This environmental trigger may help prompt mating behaviour.
If the male is found sleeping outside the nestbox he is best moved to another cage as the mother may attack him after giving birth. Gestation is approximately 25 days and litter size is quite small at between 1-5 pups. Pregnancy is not easily to determine due to their small litter size.
Mum should not be disturbed during the first few weeks and additional protein should be offered. Rehydrated lentils can be offered daily as well as ensuring mum has enough fresh produce to get the water she needs. Jerboa pups begin developing fur in their second week, with eyes open at week 4 and leaving the nest around week 5-6. By week 10 they should be weaned and separated into new cages.
Overview of Jerboa
Jerboas form the majority of rodents within the family Dipodidae although it also includes birch mice and jumping mice. Jerboas are desert rodents found throughout Asia and Northern Africa. In the wild they sleep in burrows ranging from simple ones used primarily to escape predators and elaborate ones with multiple entrances, food storage and nesting areas.
They have powerful, long back legs for jumping and are nocturnal. They can leap upto three feet and some variants can survive with little or no water. It is vital therefore to ensure their diet includes sufficient fresh produce such as alfalfaa sprouts, carrots, cucumber, kale, parsley, red and green ball peppers. Must be leaves and roots though, never fruit. A basic mix of a high quality canary mix plus millet should also be offered. Hay should also be given to aid digestion. Additional protein can be offered in the form of rehydrated lentils. The health of a Jerboa can be determined by the thickness of their tail, an ill or malnourished individual would have a thin tail with protruding vertebrae.
Jerboas are currently very rare in the pet trade and this is due to the difficulty of getting them to breed in captivity. It is therefore vital that only experienced keepers attempt to breed them and that people rehome older animals already in captivity. Otherwise these animals may have been wild-caught which could lead to depleteing the wild populations.
The most common pet Jerboas are the Lesser Egyptian Jerboa (Jaculus jaculus) which as of 2011 were selling for just under £200 a pair and the Greater Egyptian Jerboa (Jaculus orientalis). The Pygmy Jerboa and four-toed Jerboa were available around 2000-2003 but have since became extremely scarce. Political situations in their home environment mean imports are unlikely to happen for some time.
Jerboa need a great deal of space, due to their speed and ability to jump quite high when startled. If attempting to breed jerboas, it is even more important to provide a sizeable environment and provide some enviornmental triggers such as temperature and live vegetation. It has been reported that Greater Jerboa and Lesser Jerboa can co-habit successfully, however this should only be done if a large enough environment can be supplied.
Jerboas are not yet at the state where they could be considered good pets, remaining very wary and secretive. Although they are reported to rarely bite they are capable of delivering a very powerful kick if scared or angry.