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

Revision as of 07:47, 4 June 2007

The Polish Rabbit is a breed of rabbit. It is a compact breed with the reputation for being high-strung. The breed was developed in Belgium as food; however as time progressed, it became more popular as a pet.

History and Origin

Despite the name, the Polish rabbit is thought to have originated in Belgium and has been exhibited in England since 1884. Many believe that they were developed from Dutch and Himalayan rabbits in the 1860s. The Polish rabbit was originally developed as a meat breed and was larger than the contemporary Polish. In the 1900s, the Polish rabbit was one of the most popular meat breeds in Europe, especially Belgium.

Appearance

Today, the Polish rabbit is a popular fancy (exhibition) breed and makes great pets! They are small rabbits with short ears that touch each other all the way to the tips. Due to their small size, the Polish rabbit is often confused with the Netherland dwarf, although the Polish is a little larger and the head is not rounded. (There are many other differences between the two breeds, such as coat structure and colors.) The accepted weights of the polish are two to three and 1/2 pounds. The ideal weight is 2.5.

Until the 1950s, most Polish rabbits were white with either red eyes or blue eyes. The red-eyed white is a true albino. The blue-eyed white has the Vienna white gene and is not a true albino. Since the 1950s, colored Polish breeds have been recognized by rabbit clubs. In 1957, the American Rabbit Breeder’s Association approved the black and chocolate Polish. In 1982, the blue variety was approved and in 1998 the broken variety was allowed.

Housing and Care

Because of their small size, Polish rabbits need less space in cage and barn facilities, and take up less space in apartments than some of the larger bunnies. As with other small breed rabbits, they tend to be higher strung than their larger counterparts. They are also not ideal pets for small children as they are easily dropped, injured and stepped on. Their high-strung nature makes them more suited for a mature, rabbit-loving, adult home.

Feeding

Commercial rabbit pellets are recommended. Feed 1/4 cup of pellets per 5 pounds of body weight every day. For rabbits under 8 months of age, feed unlimited plain alfalfa pellets. Fresh rinsed greens, vegetables, and fruit, as well as grains and hay, can then be given as supplements. Free choice hay, such as timothy, should always be available and changed daily. Alfalfa hay, which is too rich in calcium, should not be offered free choice to rabbits over 8 months of age.

Health Concerns

As with other rabbits, Polish rabbits do not do well in high or low temperatures. They are prone to hairball obstructions and matted coats if not cared for properly. Rabbits need daily grooming to remove loose hair. Other health concerns include earmites, Pasteurella, respiratory disease, dental problems, urinary bladder stones and fractured backs. Be quick to notice any changes in diet or litter box habits and contact a rabbit veterinarian immediately.

The average life span of a breeding Polish rabbit is 5 to 6 years. By spaying or neutering your Polish early in life, you can increase their life expectancy to around 10 years.

External links

American Rabbit Breeder's Association

de:Hermelinkaninchen nl:Pool Roodoog sv:Hermelinkanin

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-{{Taxobox
+The '''Polish Rabbit''' is a breed of [[rabbit]]. It is a compact breed with the reputation for being high-strung. The breed was developed in [[Belgium]] as food; however as time progressed, it became more popular as a pet.
-| color = pink
-| name = Roborovski Hamster
-| image = Roborovski - Normalised.jpg
-| image_width = 220px
-| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
-| phylum = [[Chordata]]
-| classis = [[Mammal]]ia
-| ordo = [[Rodent]]ia
-| familia = [[Cricetidae]]
-| subfamilia = [[Cricetinae]]
-| genus = ''[[Phodopus]]''
-| species = '''''P. roborovskii'''''
-| binomial = ''Phodopus roborovskii''
-| binomial_authority = ([[K. A Satunin|Satunin]], 1903)
-}}
-'''Roborovskis''' ('''''Phodopus roborovskii''''') are the smallest and fastest of all [[hamster]]s which are commonly kept as [[pet]]s.  Distinguishing characteristics of the Roborovskis are the white spots where the eyebrows would be, and the lack of the dorsal stripe seen in all other dwarf hamsters.  They live, on average, to three and a half years of age - the longest of any domestic hamster.  Recently, a mutation has arisen producing a "husky", also known as "white-faced", phase.  Breeding these lines with agouti Roborovskis produces a diluted appearance of their natural brown colour.
+== History and Origin ==
-==Habitat==
+Despite the name, the Polish rabbit is thought to have originated in Belgium and has been exhibited in England since 1884. Many believe that they were developed from Dutch and Himalayan rabbits in the 1860s. The Polish rabbit was originally developed as a meat breed and was larger than the contemporary Polish. In the 1900s, the Polish rabbit was one of the most popular meat breeds in Europe, especially [[Belgium]].
-Roborovski hamsters live in the wild around the [[Gobi Desert]], throughout [[Mongolia]]'s desert steppe and parts of northern [[China]].  They are particularly suited to the steppe, as they are highly efficient in their use of water (as evidenced by how they may pass particularly concentrated urine), so little vegetation is required.  Here, they dig burrows to inhabit.  These are usually steep tunnels and they live between 60 and 200cm. below ground.<ref>[http://roborovski.tk Website specifically about Roborovski hamsters]</ref>
+== Appearance ==
+Today, the Polish rabbit is a popular fancy (exhibition) breed and makes great pets!  They are small rabbits with short ears that touch each other all the way to the tips. Due to their small size, the Polish rabbit is often confused with the Netherland dwarf, although the Polish is a little larger and the head is not rounded.  (There are many other differences between the two breeds, such as coat structure and colors.)  The accepted weights of the polish are two to three and 1/2 pounds.  The ideal weight is 2.5.
-==History of Human Contact==
+Until the 1950s, most Polish rabbits were white with either red eyes or blue eyes. The red-eyed white is a true albino. The blue-eyed white has the Vienna white gene and is not a true albino. Since the 1950s, colored Polish breeds have been recognized by rabbit clubs. In 1957, the [[American Rabbit Breeder’s Association]] approved the black and chocolate Polish. In 1982, the blue variety was approved and in 1998 the broken variety was allowed.
-Unsurprisingly, it was Lt. Roborovski who first made note of these hamsters.  He discovered them on an expedition in July of [[1894]], though they were not studied scientifically for the best part of another decade, till Satunin made observations in [[1903]].  [[London Zoo]] imported them into the [[U.K.]] in the [[1960s]]<ref>[http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/roborovski_hamsters.htm www.petwebsite.com] is about Roborovskis generally.</ref>, but the first studied in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] were imported in the [[1970s]] from [[Moscow Zoo]]. (None of these hamsters, however, bore offspring.)<ref>[http://roborovski.tk Website specifically about Roborovski hamsters]</ref>  Continental European countries had more success in breeding Roborovskis, however, and the Roborovskis currently in the [[U.K.]] are descendants of a batch imported from [[the Netherlands]] in [[1990]].  They were imported in the [[U.S.A.]] in [[1998]]<ref>[http://roborovski.tk Website specifically about Roborovski hamsters]</ref>, where they remain uncommon, though they are now commonly found in pet shops in several countries.  In [[South Korea]], they are almost as common as [[Winter_White_Russian_Hamsters|Winter White Russian Dwarf Hamsters]] in pet shops.
+== Housing and Care ==
-==Pet Ownership==
+Because of their small size, Polish rabbits need less space in cage and barn facilities, and take up less space in apartments than some of the larger bunnies. As with other small breed rabbits, they tend to be higher strung than their larger counterparts. They are also not ideal pets for small children as they are easily dropped, injured and stepped on. Their high-strung nature makes them more suited for a mature, rabbit-loving, adult home.
-Roborovskis are very curious, easily startled, and generally timid with people and afraid of human contact and as such are usually not as appropriate as other varieties of hamster for people, especially children, who wish to play with them.  Their suitability as pets to be handled is further diminished by their size and speed.  Roborovskis are, however, extremely social and affectionate with each other, and when housed together from an early age, sleep in one place and indeed eat, play, etc. things together.  They have a very good temperament and rarely bite either each other or people.  Roborovskis' affection for each other, size, speed and curiosity, and that they are startled easily, though making them unsuitable for tactile pet ownership, make them favourites among owners who prefer observing animals rather than holding them.
+====Feeding====
-==Housing==
+Commercial rabbit pellets are recommended. Feed 1/4 cup of pellets per 5 pounds of body weight every day. For rabbits under 8 months of age, feed unlimited plain alfalfa pellets. Fresh rinsed greens, vegetables, and fruit, as well as grains and hay, can then be given as supplements. Free choice hay, such as timothy, should always be available and changed daily. Alfalfa hay, which is too rich in calcium, should not be offered free choice to rabbits over 8 months of age.
-As they grow to be on average 4.5cm long - roughly the length of an adult's thumb - Roborovskis can easily squeeze through the bars of a standard hamster cage, and so careful consideration needs to be given to housing.  The gaps between bars should be approximately 7mm in width.  First-time owners are advised to enquire of pet shop owners or breeders as to the suitability of cages.
+====Health Concerns====
-==Breeding==
+As with other rabbits, Polish rabbits do not do well in high or low temperatures. They are prone to hairball obstructions and matted coats if not cared for properly. Rabbits need daily grooming to remove loose hair. Other health concerns include earmites, Pasteurella, respiratory disease, dental problems, urinary bladder stones and fractured backs. Be quick to notice any changes in diet or litter box habits and contact a rabbit veterinarian immediately.
-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 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 they are covered in short fur and the eyelids are beginning to mature.  At this time they may also start wandering around the cage, even though still blind.  The mother will usually collect the wandering young and return them to the nest - this may be accompanied by squealing from the young, 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.  They are fully weaned and can be removed from the mother at 4 weeks of age.
+The average life span of a breeding Polish rabbit is 5 to 6 years. By [[spaying or neutering]] your Polish early in life, you can increase their life expectancy to around 10 years.
-<gallery>
+==See also==
-Image:Roborovski Face.jpg|Roborovskis' facial markings and features differ notably from those of other hamsters.
-Image:Roborovskis Sleeping Together.jpg|Roborovskis are extremely social and like to sleep together.
-Image:Roborovski Dwarf Hamster - Colour Corrected.jpg|Roborovskis are the smallest and fastest of all hamsters.
-</gallery>
-==Footnotes==
+*[[Rabbit]]
-{{reflist|2}}
+*[[Domestic rabbit]]
 ==External links==
-*[http://www.petwebsite.com/hamsters/roborovski_hamsters.htm Pet Web Site (formerly The Complete Hamster Site) section on Roborovski Hamsters]
-*[http://www.hamster-heaven.com Hamster Heaven]
-*[http://roborovski.tk/ R&R Hamsters (a.k.a. Roborovski Hideout)]
-*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR0kfuw0ZBw A rare example of a Roborovski being handled with ease.  This is a white-faced Roborovski.]
-{{Hamster}}
+*[http://www.arba.net American Rabbit Breeder's Association]
-[[Category:Hamsters]]
+[[Category:Pet rabbits]]
-[[Category:Mammals of Asia]]
-[[de:Roborowski-Zwerghamster]]
+[[de:Hermelinkaninchen]]
-[[es:Phodopus roborovskii]]
+[[nl:Pool Roodoog]]
-[[fr:Hamster de Roborovski]]
+[[sv:Hermelinkanin]]
-[[ko:로보로브스키 햄스터]]
-[[it:Phodopus roborovskii]]
-[[ja:ロボロフスキーハムスター]]
-[[pl:Chomik Roborowskiego]]
-[[pt:Hamster Roborovski]]
-[[fi:Roborovskinkääpiöhamsteri]]
-[[zh:沙漠侏儒倉鼠]]