For lovers of exotic interest, an unusual animal from the Rodent detachment, the needle mouse, is of great interest. Due to the fact that this animal is unpretentious in food, has no unpleasant odor, is easily tamed, it is often kept in the role of a pet.
Description
This small animal from the Mouse family (from 7 to 17 cm in size) has other names - akomis, a needle-shaped Egyptian mouse. The weight of even adults does not exceed 50 g. The peculiarity of these animals lies in the hairline, which on the back is the real needles. The rest of the body surface is covered with soft hairs of sand or brown color, only the abdomen and breast are lighter, sometimes completely white. In adult males, the fur on the head is longer, which creates the likeness of mane.
On a narrow muzzle there are black beads of eyes and rather long vibrissa, with the help of which the animal is easily oriented in space. Rounded, very mobile ears set high. A wide foot stands out on short legs. The tail is almost the same length as the body, and resembles a rat. It is very fragile, often breaks and in the wild helps to save the life of the animal, which dumps it at the moment of danger.
The sparkling mouse (photo can be viewed on the page) lives from 3 to 8 years, depending on the conditions of detention.
Places of distribution
The homeland of these animals is Saudi Arabia, Africa, the islands of Crete and Cyprus, Western Asia. Savannah and semi-desert, dominated by rocky and sandy areas, are their favorite area. Akomis (needle mouse) arranges nests in rock crevices, among stones, sometimes occupying burrows of other rodents.
As pets, animals are very common today around the world.
Life in nature
These animals hide from enemies mainly in shelters, but in the absence of those they flee. Despite its short legs, the mouse can run up to 15 km per day. If the situation is hopeless, and there is no way to escape, the animal tries to scare off the enemy by spreading its needles, making it seem bigger than it really is.
Akomis live in groups, at the head of each of them is a female. There are practically no conflicts between members of one community. Mice show amazing concern for relatives, bringing up cubs together and caring for each other. Mothers are able to feed strangers who are left orphans. Such instincts help animals survive in the harsh conditions of semi-deserts. The sparkling mouse does not like heat, therefore it leads an active life mainly at night.
Home Content
Constant communication with these amazing animals makes them completely tame. Recently, mice are very often kept in the role of pets. Considering that they live in families, it is recommended that you always have several animals, where at least 2 females per male. Otherwise, the annoying boyfriend will not give rest to his only chosen one. You can’t keep several males together with the females, because fights will arise between them, as a result of which the animals can cripple or even kill the weaker.
For the rest, the needlepoint mice feel great at home, and there are no special difficulties with them. But to ensure the safety and comfort of your pet you will need a specially equipped house.
Home improvement
Contain akomis both in glass aquariums, tightly closed on top with a metal mesh, and in cages. These animals are active, like to frolic, so housing for them should be spacious. For five mice, its minimum size is 90 x 30 x 40 cm.
Choosing a metal cage as a dwelling for rodents, it is necessary that the size of its cells be no more than 1 x 1 cm. An important condition for the comfortable living of akomis is the surface area. For this, all kinds of shelves, ladders, driftwood, etc. are placed in their home. In order to satisfy the need of these animals in movement, it is necessary to install a wheel. It must be firmly attached, have solid solid walls to prevent injuries of the fragile tail. Wheel diameter - at least 13 cm.
Several jars with two exits are also placed in the cage for arranging the nest and removing the offspring. One of the most important conditions is the absence of plastic items. Mice can easily nibble them by swallowing pieces, which will lead to injury. To grind the incisors put small wooden blocks or tree branches.
Various materials are used as litter - sawdust, sand, straw, dry leaves, moss. The sparkling mouse is a very neat animal, equipping its toilet in one particular place. Therefore, litter is usually changed no more than three times a week.
A cage and a drinking bowl with water should be constantly present in the cage. For this purpose, thick ceramic dishes are suitable that animals can not overturn. Once a week, all objects in the cage are washed with warm water and soap. The place for the home of the mice is chosen away from heating appliances and sunlight. Drafts should also be avoided. The most comfortable temperature for animals is 25–27 ⁰, humidity is 30–35%.
Feeding
Omnivorous and completely unpretentious in eating needlefish mice. Their maintenance therefore does not cause trouble, although it is better to diversify the diet. It is based on cereals - millet, oats, barley, and wheat. Occasionally, you can pamper your pet with seeds, nuts, treat with berries, pieces of fruit or vegetables.
Akomis needs animal protein, so once a week they are given
flour worms or grasshoppers. A substitute for such a delicacy is cottage cheese, yogurt, boiled egg protein, boiled chicken or liver. All this is required in small quantities. Everyone knows the love of representatives of this family for cheese, but it is not recommended to give it to small pets, because this product contains components that are harmful to them - salt and various preservatives. They are contraindicated in any spicy or fatty foods.
The source of calcium, which the needle mouse also needs, is crushed eggshells. In pet stores you can buy special mineral stones designed for rodents, activated carbon and vitamin sticks. It is only necessary to consult with a veterinarian in advance.
Food in the feeder should be constantly, because the metabolic processes in animals proceed quite quickly. It is only important to ensure that it does not lie and spoil. Water needs to be changed daily, as well as monitor the cleanliness of the feeder.
Breeding
From three months of age, akomis is already considered sexually mature. 42 days after mating, the female gives birth to cubs whose weight is no more than 6 g. Usually they happen to be from 1 to 3, but sometimes 5 babies also happen in the litter. They differ from newborn decorative mice in that they are completely independent. From the first day, a small needle mouse can do without parents (photo below).
It looks a little different than decorative tribesmen - the body is covered with wool, soft needles on the back, the head is large, and the legs are long. The main difference is that the eyes of newborns are open. Kids immediately try to start walking. They are able to independently maintain body temperature, so they do not feel much need for maternal heat. Nevertheless, for another three weeks the females feed on milk. She, in turn, takes care of the cubs, carefully licks them.
At the age of one month, babies are separated from their mother into a common group of animals. Young animals are not kept completely separately, since this subsequently causes mental disorders and leads to the fact that mice lack the ability to communicate with their own kind.
Behavior features
The sparkling mouse is a nocturnal animal. She behaves most actively in the dark. When acquiring such a pet, you need to be prepared for the fact that at night there will be a rustling, squeak and other sounds. During the day, the animal may not even appear, resting in the mink. An amazing ability to sleep with open eyes has a needle mouse.
Keeping these rodents at home requires training them in their hands, otherwise they may run wild. If breeding of mice is not planned, it is recommended to breed two same-sex animals, preferably males, because they are larger and much calmer than females. These pets are very fond of sleeping in a hammock. It can easily be made from a small piece of sheepskin.
You can’t take the needle mouse by the tail - it is very brittle, and the animal can easily part with it. This also happens in case of danger. It is no coincidence that these animals with acquired short-tailedness are often found in nature.
Character
Needle mice feel best in a group. They are absolutely not aggressive, very sociable. Helping each other in grooming, the females raise offspring together.
With other pets, relations with akomis do not add up - they are always prey for cats, dogs and even birds. You should not take risks, let the animals out for a walk, it is better to provide them with a spacious and safe dwelling. If there is a cat in the house, the pallet must be properly protected, and it is imperative to make a durable carabiner on the cage.
For young children, close communication with mice can result in bites, while the pets themselves risk being injured. Therefore, the cell must be placed in an inaccessible place and securely closed. Only children over 6 years old, who know how to handle animals, can be trusted with pets such as sparkling mice. Care, consisting in feeding, cleaning the cage, at this age the child is already quite capable.
Taming
Lack of communication quickly leads to the fact that the mice run wild. They have an overly excitable nervous system and are capable of dying from fright in some cases - when they are unexpectedly picked up, as well as from loud and sharp sounds. From childhood, it is necessary to accustom animals to humans, only this must be done very carefully, to show maximum care and attention. As a result, mice can even recognize their owner by smell, respond to a name and calmly come to their hands.
Disease
On the whole, acomises (needle-shaped mice) have pretty good health. How many animals live at home depends on the quality of care for them. The maximum age these pets can reach is 8 years old. Unlike other rodents, they are less likely to suffer from problems such as a different type of tumor. Of the non-communicable diseases, obesity, metabolic disorders, otitis media, and vitamin deficiency are most common. Improper feeding can lead to diseases of the digestive system.
Hypothermia of a pet (for example, due to the cell being in a cold place or in a draft) can lead to the development of rhinitis, pneumonia, bronchitis. Akomis sometimes suffers from skin diseases caused by fungus or parasites.
Due to the unusual appearance of needle mice, their amazing cleanliness and the lack of smell characteristic of many rodents, more and more people choose them for the role of pets.