Today, jerboas are a fairly common animal that not only lives in the wild, but is also kept at home. When you look at these animals, natural questions may arise, for example, about what jerboas eat and where these crumbs live, what their lifestyle is like and how to keep them in an apartment.
Short description
This animal has a small stature, depending on the species, its body can be from 5 cm to 25 cm. Compared to the body, the head of the animal looks large, and the muzzle has a blunt shape. The eyes of the jerboa are attracted by their large size. Also surprising is his tail, which is longer than the body and often ends with a brush. The hind limbs of these babies are very developed, they are designed for powerful jumps. The front legs, on the contrary, are very short and adapted only for digging minks and holding food near the mouth. Its round, often large ears indicate good hearing, which allows the jerboa to survive in the wild. This mammalian species belongs to the ordercalled "rodents". Jerboas have sharp incisors, which serve them not only to gnaw hard cereals, but also to build minks. Their external characteristics are somewhat reminiscent of kangaroos. They also move on their hind limbs, but it is curious that these babies are able to reach speeds of up to 50 km / h, and they can jump up to three meters up. According to modern data, there are 26 species of jerboas.
Where they live
Usually these animals are common in deserts and semi-deserts. Only certain subspecies live in the steppe zone. Others prefer to live in high mountains. Depending on the territory in which the animal is distributed, each species has adapted to special soil and conditions. Also, the habitat is reflected in what the jerboa eats. These animals live in homemade minks. They spend the whole day in their shelters and only with the onset of twilight get out of the shelter. Returning to their homes at early dawn, they close the “door” behind them, which is made from the earth. It is interesting that minks have spare moves. If someone finds a dwelling on a fresh cork and starts digging it, the jerboa pops up in an unexpected place, breaking through the roof of the cave with its head. A residential mink is located in the far part of the main passage, it is usually covered with small grass, on which the animal rests after night travel.
Food
It has already been noted that this rodent is a night traveler. At this time hegoes out in search of food. But what does a jerboa living in a flat area eat? Usually, to obtain the necessary trace elements, the animal eats insects, larvae, it is also in search of bulbs and tubers of plants and is not averse to feasting on their seeds. In deserts, the rodent searches for shrubs and other possible plants in order to use the stems found as food. It is worth mentioning the pygmy fat-tailed jerboas. If they are planted in one terrarium, they quarrel strongly, and it happens that the strongest eats the affected one. Therefore, before planting several individuals in a cage, you should find out what species your jerboa belongs to. What the animal, common on the plain, eats, we found out. But how do those who prefer to live in mountainous areas survive? These animals are also on the lookout for any vegetation that may be on the peaks. Roots and green parts are used. Usually this food is enough for them to live a full life.
The life of an animal
If in the summer this rodent tries to find food, then in the winter it usually does not have to worry about it. At this time, he is in his prepared mink and sleeps soundly. In the spring, weddings begin at jerboas, and offspring appear by summer. An average of four babies are born into the world, but in general this number varies from 1 to 8. And what does a jerboa eat until it can find food on its own? At first, the mother takes care of the baby, providing him with milk, but after a few days the baby can switch to herbal nutrition and even insects (of course, if this species consumes protein in this form).
Keeping a pet at home
Jerboa simply cannot but attract with its appearance, so some decide to have such a pet in their apartment. But it is worth remembering that this animal requires special conditions of detention. You also need to remember that some wild animals need a lot of space, and the jerboa belongs to this species. What the baby eats and what kind of soil he needs can be determined if you know how he lives in the wild. Since this rodent has very bouncy hind legs, it needs a place to “roam around”, otherwise it will begin to suffer pain and may die. But it is worth remembering that it is undesirable to let the animal walk around the apartment on its own, because it will hide in a hard-to-reach place and can not only ruin the furniture, but also gnaw the wall. If the baby nevertheless “ran away”, you need to catch it carefully so as not to grab it by the tail, otherwise it may lose it forever. Ideally, if you place a pet in a large aquarium covered with a grate (1.2 by 0.25 meters). If the baby is accustomed to the sandy terrain, the bottom is covered with sand by one third, a layer of turf is suitable for other species. It is worth finding out what the jerboa eats in its range, and try to feed it the same. It is impossible to accustom a rodent to human food. He can be given mixtures of cereals, non-exotic fruits and vegetables. Be sure to feed it with pumpkin seeds, sunflower, melon, dandelion leaves. You can put your pet thin twigs of maple or willow. Also, there should always be water in the terrarium.
