Steppe Lemming Environment
Steppe Lemmings need a large tank for their environment with a meshed lid for ventilation. They are unable to jump and are a poor judge of height so should not have any steep inclines or ledges. Providing you are confident that they cannot pile their substrate high enough to climb out, you may not need a lid for your tank.
Since they are avid burrowers in the wild, in captivity it is advisable to give a thick layer of a carefully chosen substrate. Steppe Lemmings are prone to respiratory ailments so it is important to not use anything sawdust, pine or cedar based and ensure that their bedding or substrate does not become damp. Water bottles should be monitored carefully for leaks.
A layer of hay makes both good concealment and also provides an essential part of their diet since in the wild they would feed on dried grasses. Like all rodents, Steppe Lemming have teeth that are always growing so some branches or twigs should be provided for gnawing material. Willow branches are a good choice for this.
A solid based wheel is ideal to help them burn off their energy, as they seem to have periods of rest followed by heavy activity. You can also provide plenty of cardboard for chewing and various tubes, wooden ledges and nests.
Nests
An important thing for Steppe Lemmings, especially if using only one nest is that it must have more than one entrance hole. This is due to the attack style of the lemmings and allows a bullied lemming to escape its aggressor more readily.
Steppe Lemming Diet
Steppe Lemmings are sugar intolerant which means that their diet must be low in sugar as they are prone to diabetes. This means the majority of commercial mouse/hamster mixes will be unsuitable.
In the wild their diet would consist of green vegetation, roots, grasses, sedges, plant tubers, bulbs and a small selection of seeds. They would occasionally eat insects.
Water
Steppe Lemmings drink a high volume of water relative to their size. This can be provided in bottle or bowl, although the latter will tend to get bedding thrown in.
Main food
Since Degu are also sugar intolerant, the mixes available for them are also suitable for inclusion in a Steppe Lemmings diet.
A good base parakeet, budgie or foreign finch seed mix can be suitable. Care must be taken to check sugar levels and the mix should not contain any dried fruit.If not available in the seed mix, sprays of millet can be given.
Grass types
Dried grass such as redigrass, alfalfa and a layer of hay.
Fresh
Items such as broccoli, cabbage, carrot, kale, and spinach.
Overview of Steppe Lemmings
There are currently two main types of lemming in the pet trade, the Steppe Lemming, Lagurus lagurus or the Mediterranean Lemmings (Microtus Guentheri) also known as Gunthers Vole. The information on these pages refers to the more commonly available Steppe Lemming which is the most common domestic vole.
The Steppe Lemming measure around 12cm with a tail of 2cm and an average adult would weigh around 30g. It has small eyes and ears and the coat colour is brownish grey with a prominent black dorsal stripe. The underside is an off-white colour.
The natural habitat of the Steppe Lemming is semi-arid, steppe, and forest-steppe in parts of Western Mongolia, Northwest China and sections of the Ukraine and Russia.
In the wild, Steppe Lemmings live in colonies, partially underground in their lengthy burrows. They are active throughout the day and become more active at night, they are considered diurnal.
Pet lemmings need a large predominately flat environment since they cannot jump well. Cages are not suitable for Steppe Lemmings, since they can easily escape them. They require frequent cage cleans.
They live around 2 years and best kept in same-sex pairs or groups. However they can fight quite viciously so do require careful monitoring, as the occasional individual may be better off kept alone. Pairings are best done from unrelated pairs or trios since it is not recommended to introduce Lemmings to each other once adult. They are highly territorial and fights between adults can be quite brutal.
Steppe lemmings are sugar intolerant meaning that they require a diet so they are not a pet for a beginner to rodents. A normal hamster or gerbil mix would make them very ill, and could even lead to an early death.
They are however quite easy to socialise, have little odour and are quite friendly and inquisitive so make an interesting species to own.