African Pygmy Dormouse are a tropical animal and being so need a warm enviroment in which to live. It is
stated a minimum of 70 degrees farenheit is required.
They are also a ncturnal animal but ours do come out at dusk and stay out early morning.
African Dormice unlike normal mice do not smell. This does not mean you can neglect your duties for keeping
the enclosure clean.
We now have two pairs of African Pygmy Dormice and a third pair on the way.
Housing
We house our pair in a very large clear plastic container with lockable lid. The container
is 36 in long x 24 in high x 18 in wide. The container has numerous holes in for air exchange. The plastic container
is easy to keep clean and easy to disinfect.
Easy-bed is used as a substrate and is approximately 3 inches deep. In the substrate we have placed
a number of clear plastic tubes for tunneling / burrowing.
We have placed two houses in the enclosure. We have done this so if there are any squabbles they can
be separate from each other. The houses are plastic so they can be washed and disinfected easily. We fill these houses
with hay and shredded paper bedding.
Water bottles are placed on ouside with a hole just big enough for the nozzle to go through.
Branches from apple and pear trees are placed in. The African Pygmy Dormouse is an arboreal animal and being
so, like to climb.
Feeding.
We feed our APD's a variety of small seeds, budgie seed, millet, hemp etc, hamster food, guinea pig food,
and a little parrot food. These are mixed.
Added to this we give insectivore food for birds, live and freeze dried mealworms, medium crickets, small
pieces of apple, pear, carrot, fresh corn, mini corn. We have also have started to feed some types of baby food. we normally
feed chicken, turkey, veg and pure fruit types. We normally give this 3 - 4 times a week and just give it as a supplement
to the normal diet. About a teaspoon or 1 1/2 teaspoons is sufficient for a pair of Dormice, to this we normally add a bird
type insectivore food.
Water is via a drip bottle and is fresh daily. We also give Red Nectar 3 or 4 times a week, this can be
purchased on our for sale page.
Handling / Socialisation.
Our African Pygmy Dormice are quite friendly animals. They do not mind being handled. As of yet none of
them have attempted to bite.
One word of warning African Pygmy Dormice can be lightening fast. When first socialising be very careful.
Once tame they seem to want snuggle in. Favourite spots include pockets, back of neck and down tops.
Unlike normal mice where it is the practice to lift them by the tail, African Pygmy should not be picked
up like this.
