What are facts about pygmy mouse?

Answer 1

The African Pygmy Mouse, (Mus minutoides) is possibly the smallest of all rodents and one of the smallest mammals. It is widespread within sub-Saharan Africa, and is kept as a pet in other parts of the world. Like the common House Mouse, it is a member of the enormous superfamily Muroidea, which includes about 1000 different species.

Grey to brick-red overall, it is pale on the underside and has small but prominent triangular ears. Adults are between 30 and 80 mm (1.2 and 3.1 in) long, with a 20 to 40 mm (0.79 to 1.6 in) tail, and weigh from 3 to 12 g (0.11 to 0.42 oz).

African Pygmy Mice reach breeding age at about 6 to 8 weeks. Pregnancy lasts for around 20 days and the litter of about 3 young is born blind and hairless. Their eyes open after 2 weeks, and weaning is complete after 4 weeks. The lifespan is about 2 years, although individual specimens have been reported to live over 4 years in captivity.

The African Pygmy Mouse has a number of unique traits. It stacks pebbles in front of its burrow. Overnight the pebbles gather dew and in the morning the pygmy mouse drinks the dew on the pebbles. After that it retires back to its den. Its method of sex determination has also been found to differ from most mammals[1] in that rearrangements of the X chromosome have led to many XY individuals actually being female.

They live in colonies or in pairs in grass close to water. They prefer social interaction, and when kept as a pet they can not be left alone.

Pygmy mouse lemur (Microcebus myoxinus), also known as Peters' mouse lemur or dormouse lemur, is a primate weighing only 43-55 g (1.5-1.9 oz); it is the second smallest of the mouse lemurs.[3] Its dorsal side is a rufous-brown colour, and creamy-white ventrally. It lives in dry deciduous forests.

The pygmy mouse lemur measures around 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 in) (head-body length).[3] Its small size and nocturnal nature made it difficult to locate for over a century, and was rediscovered in the Kirindy forest in western Madagascar in 1993. They are believed to inhabit other parts of the island, but so far have only been discovered in a localized area.

The lemur rests during the day, and it has a tendency to sleep in the open, which increases the risk of predation; although this danger is somewhat mitigated by sleeping alone. It can also use the abandoned nests of the Coquerel's giant mouse lemur (Mirza coquereli).

Description:

Imagine a mouse so small that it can perch on a quarter with room to spare; so small that it takes around 8 of them just to make an ounce. Weighing in at just a few grams with a body (including tail) of less than four inches, the Pygmy Mouse is the smallest member of the MUS family. Originating from Africa south of the Sahara, it has a brownish coat and a white belly.

Choosing Your New Pet:

When choosing your new Pygmy Mouse there are a few things that every responsible new owner should know. Unless you plan to breed them, it's very important to get same sex pairs. If you don't, there is no question that you will get babies. Sexing the mice is easy because the males' distinct reproductive organs protrude downward at the base of the tail; whereas, the female doesn't have exposed reproductive organs. If you want the smallest Pygmy Mice, then buy males because they don't get as big as females. There really isn't a difference in temperament between the males and females. Both sexes are really skittish and shy by nature, and since they are too small to handle, it's very hard to change that. The fun comes when you turn the lights down and watch these fascinating animals. They are surprisingly acrobatic, able to jump more than 9 inches straight up.

Housing:

Pygmy Mice are colony animals and should never be housed alone. Being the promiscuous breeders that they are, it is important to keep same sex pairs unless you want babies. When properly introduced, Pygmy Mice will get along in a colony regardless of sex. The minimum cage size for a pair of Pygmy Mice is a 2.5 gallon aquarium; however, a 5 gallon aquarium is suggested. Figure that for aquariums 5 gallons and larger, you can keep a colony of mice equaling the number of gallons the cage is. When setting up their cage it's important to choose the correct bedding. Aspen is the only type of wood shavings that should be used. The natural oils that occur on cedar shavings can prove harmful or even fatal. Pine shavings are really dusty and can cause respiratory problems. Another more expensive option would be a recycled paper product like Carefresh bedding. It's also important to monitor the temperature. Pygmy mice require that the temperature always be above 60 degrees. Accessories like toilet paper tubes, very small wheels, hamster houses, and anything else that the mice can hide under or climb over are great additions to the cage. Another good idea is a home-built nest box. Commercial nest boxes are just too big. The mice prefer a box 2 inches square by 1.5 inches high. If you plan to breed, you need more than one box. The entrance hole should be no larger than 5/8" in diameter and placed low on the side of the box.

Food:

Pygmy Mice make up for their size with their huge appetite. They eat a lot so it is vital to keep food in the aquarium at all times. Because the mice are so small, they should be fed a staple diet of canary or finch feed. They also like sunflower seeds. Additional protein can be supplemented with the occasional small meal worm or piece of high-grade cat food such as IAMS.

Water:

The best way to water Pygmy Mice is with a dish because they just aren't strong enough to drink out of water bottles. Make sure that if the water is more than 1cm deep that rocks are placed in the bottom of it to prevent the mice from drowning. A good idea is to place the dish on top of a small block of wood so as to keep the bedding out of it.