Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Small Mammal Pets/Answer Key"

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[[Image:54986main_mouse_med.jpg|thumb|270px|right|White fancy mouse]]
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{{Taxobox
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| color = pink
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| name = Roborovski Hamster
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| image = My dwarf roborovski.JPG
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| image_width = 220px
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
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| phylum = [[Chordata]]
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| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
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| ordo = [[Rodent]]ia
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| familia = [[Cricetidae]]
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| subfamilia = [[Cricetinae]]
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| genus = ''[[Phodopus]]''
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| species = '''''P. roborovski'''''
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| binomial = ''Phodopus roborovski''
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| binomial_authority = ([[K. A Satunin|Satunin]], 1903)
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}}
  
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'''Fancy mice''' ("fancy", in this context, means "hobby") are domesticated versions of the common or house mouse (''[[Mus musculus]]'').
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'''Roborovskis''' ('''''Phodopus roborovski''''') are the smallest and fastest of all [[hamster]]s and are commonly kept as [[pet]]s. Distinguishing characteristics of the Roborovskis are the white spots where their eyebrows would be, and the lack of a dorsal stripe commonly seen in dwarf hamsters. They live, on average, to three and a half years of age - the longest of any domestic hamster.
  
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==Physical description==
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They are very curious, however easily startled and generally quite shy. They are social and when socialised from an early age, sleep together in one place. They are not usually recommended for families with children, due to their flighty and sensitive temperament. Children might tend to hold the animal too tighly chrushing their fragile bone structure.  Also, they are not as affectionate as other, more robust breed of hamster. Roborovski hamsters do not like to be held or cuddled, and do not form trusting relationships with humans easily. As they grow to be roughly the size of an adult's thumb, they can easily squeeze through the bars of a standard hamster cage, and so careful consideration needs to be given to housing. Always ask pet shop owners or breeders what is the best ideal cage to use. Because of their size and speed, Roborovskis are best for people who prefer to observe rather than to play with their pet.
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Fancy mice is a term to describe mice that have been selectively bred for pet or show. They can vary greatly in size, from small pet mice that are approximately 16-18 cm (6 inches or so) long from nose to the tip of the tail, to show mice that measure 30cm (12 inches) nose to tail. Pet mice weigh about 25-40 g but large show mice can weigh up to 100g. As fancy mice have a different process of [[natural selection]] than their wild cousins, they come in a variety of colours and patterns. These include black, chocolate, blue, white, cream, lilac, red, fawn, champagne, cinnamon, golden agouti, silver agouti, silver and dove. Female mice are called does and males are called bucks. If well cared for, a mouse lives for around 2 years on average, with some reaching 3 years old.
 
  
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==Mice as pets==
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Because of their size and features, they can be comical pets when observed in social groups. If kept together in mixed sex pairs or groups Roborovski Hamsters usually start to breed in the spring following the year in which the female was born. Females often become sterile at around 24 months of age but males usually remain fertile for most of their life.
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[[Image:Fancy Mouse.jpg|thumb|left|A tame black fancy mouse]]
 
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Mice are kept as pets in many countries for a number of reasons. Fancy mice are small, inexpensive, clean, and generally have a good [[temperament]]. Female mice are popular with many owners since they tend to cohabitate with other mice better than males. Additionally, the urine of female fancy mice does not contain as strong of an odor as that of the male mice. Bucks can fight with each other, unless they are introduced at a very young age, and they produce urine with a strong, musky smell. Some people, however, prefer the personality and curiosity of male mice. It is a good idea to keep fancy mice in groups of at least two if possible, as mice are sociable animals. However, if a buck and a doe of breeding age are put in the same cage they will produce a new litter every three weeks until separated.
 
  
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==Caging==
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Roborovski hamsters gestate for around 23-30  days. When the young are born they resemble pink beans. At around 5-6 days the skin may start to pigment and at 6-8 days hair begins to emerge. By 10-12 days the babies are covered in short fur and the eyelids are beginning to mature. At this time the babies may also start wandering around the cage, even though still blind. The female will usually collect the wandering babies and return them to the nest - this may be accompanied by squealing from the babies but is not usually anything to worry about. At 14-16 days of age the eyes open and the babies are fully covered in fur. The babies are fully weaned and can be removed from the mother at 4 weeks of age.
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Mice should be kept in well-ventilated areas. Fish tanks or cages with bars and plastic flooring make good housing. Give attention that the distance between the bars is under 9mm. It is a problem for young mice to force themselves through a cage with wider bars, and it's dangerous when they get stuck there.  
 
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The best products for in-cage bedding are aspen wood shavings or a commercial paper-based material. Despite popular belief, mice can be be given newspaper for nesting, as the ink is soy based and nontoxic. They should not be given [[cedar shavings]], as the oils in the wood are unhealthy. Small hide-aways and toys (such as a [[cardboard]] tube) are good to have in the cage. Commercial toys are also available.
 
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[[Cat]] owners must also take special precautions to ensure that the mouse's housing is secure, as even the friendliest of domestic cats have been known to torment, kill and eat fancy mice if given the chance.
 
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==Feeding==
 
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Food for fancy mice is relatively inexpensive. [[veterinarian|Veterinarians]] generally recommend a product called [[lab block]], a scientifically-formulated blend originally designed for mice in laboratories. Dry [[dog food]] is another good option when lab block is unavailable, as it offers balanced nutrition for a mouse and helps keep their teeth conditioned. Special mouse food found in pet stores also makes a good diet. In order to keep variety in their diets, mice can also eat oats, oily seeds, clean [[egg shell]], breakfast cereal, and stale [[bread]]. Fruit and vegetables can be offered occasionally. They should also have clean water at all times and some sort of chewing wood in order to keep their teeth from growing too long.
 
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==Breeding mice==
 
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It is important to consider [[breeding]] carefully and thoughtfully due to the rapid reproduction rate of mice. Adequate housing for the young should be available.
 
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Female mice should not be bred before 12 weeks or after 8 months; doing so can be very dangerous, and some mice can die while giving birth. Bucks and does should be housed in separate enclosures until breeding is desired, at which point they can be placed together. The doe should be placed in the buck's enclosure, otherwise the doe will fight with the buck to defend her territory. Does come into [[estrus|heat]] around every five days, so the pair can be kept together for up to ten days.
 
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[[Image:Mice 24 Nov 2004.jpg|thumb|Baby Mice.]]
 
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When a mouse is pregnant, they grow very round near to the time of birth. The [[gestation]] period is approximately 18 to 21 days. Typical [[litter (animal)|litter]] size is 8 to 12 young, though it can be more. It is best to remove the buck otherwise he will mate with the female as soon as the first litter is born, putting a huge strain on the mother, the unborn litter, and the new babies.
 
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Baby mice, also called [[pup]]s, are born [[Blindness|blind]], naked, and [[deaf]]. Their eyes are closed and their ears are stuck to the sides of their heads. After giving birth the mother should be left alone for a while, otherwise she might panic and eat the pups. She might also eat any [[dead]] or sickly offspring.
 
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Pups begin to grow hair at two to four days. Ears open at three to five days, and the pups will start [[vocalization|vocalizing]]. Eyes open at 14 days, and the babies will start exploring the world around them. At three weeks old they look like miniature versions of adult mice. At four to five weeks the pups should be separated from each other, otherwise they will breed with their siblings.
 
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==Mice clubs==
 
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Many fancy mice clubs have been set up around the globe. Shows are also held so owners can display their mice. ''See External links below.''
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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*[http://www.fancymice.info Fancy Mice]
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*[http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/roborovski_hamsters.htm Pet Web Site (formerly The Complete Hamster Site) section on Roborovski Hamsters]
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*[http://www.rmca.org Rat & Mouse Club of America]
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*[http://www.hamster-heaven.com Hamster Heaven]
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*[http://www.miceandrats.com/miceas.htm Mice as Pets]
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*[http://roborovski.tk/ R&R Hamsters (a.k.a. Roborovski Hideout)]
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*Varieties of [http://www.miceandrats.com/standmic.htm Fancy Mice]
 
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*[http://www.nationalmouseclub.co.uk National Mouse Club]
 
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*[http://www.dmrm.de Mouse Club of Germany]
 
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*[http://www.svemus.org Swedish Mouse Club]
 
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*[http://mus.ifokus.se Swedish Mouse Community]
 
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*[http://midwestmouseclub.org Midwest Mouse Club (US)]
 
  
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[[Category:Mouse breeds]]
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[[Category:Hamsters]]
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[[Category:Mammals of Asia]]
  
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[[de:Farbmaus]]
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[[de:Roborowski-Zwerghamster]]
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[[fr:Hamster de Roborovski]]
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[[it:Phodopus roborovskii]]
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[[ja:ロボロフスキーハムスター]]
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[[pl:Chomik Roborowskiego]]
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[[fi:Roborovskinkääpiöhamsteri]]
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[[zh:沙漠侏儒倉鼠]]

Revision as of 16:31, 8 January 2007

Template:Taxobox

Roborovskis (Phodopus roborovski) are the smallest and fastest of all hamsters and are commonly kept as pets. Distinguishing characteristics of the Roborovskis are the white spots where their eyebrows would be, and the lack of a dorsal stripe commonly seen in dwarf hamsters. They live, on average, to three and a half years of age - the longest of any domestic hamster.

They are very curious, however easily startled and generally quite shy. They are social and when socialised from an early age, sleep together in one place. They are not usually recommended for families with children, due to their flighty and sensitive temperament. Children might tend to hold the animal too tighly chrushing their fragile bone structure. Also, they are not as affectionate as other, more robust breed of hamster. Roborovski hamsters do not like to be held or cuddled, and do not form trusting relationships with humans easily. As they grow to be roughly the size of an adult's thumb, they can easily squeeze through the bars of a standard hamster cage, and so careful consideration needs to be given to housing. Always ask pet shop owners or breeders what is the best ideal cage to use. Because of their size and speed, Roborovskis are best for people who prefer to observe rather than to play with their pet.

Because of their size and features, they can be comical pets when observed in social groups. If kept together in mixed sex pairs or groups Roborovski Hamsters usually start to breed in the spring following the year in which the female was born. Females often become sterile at around 24 months of age but males usually remain fertile for most of their life.

Roborovski hamsters gestate for around 23-30 days. When the young are born they resemble pink beans. At around 5-6 days the skin may start to pigment and at 6-8 days hair begins to emerge. By 10-12 days the babies are covered in short fur and the eyelids are beginning to mature. At this time the babies may also start wandering around the cage, even though still blind. The female will usually collect the wandering babies and return them to the nest - this may be accompanied by squealing from the babies but is not usually anything to worry about. At 14-16 days of age the eyes open and the babies are fully covered in fur. The babies are fully weaned and can be removed from the mother at 4 weeks of age.

External links

de:Roborowski-Zwerghamster fr:Hamster de Roborovski it:Phodopus roborovskii ja:ロボロフスキーハムスター pl:Chomik Roborowskiego fi:Roborovskinkääpiöhamsteri zh:沙漠侏儒倉鼠

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