Curious guinea pigs - guide to species-appropriate husbandry

Guinea pigs - How to make them feel good all roundBlurbEverything beginners and real guinea pig fans need to know about keeping and the special needs of these lively rodents.needs of these lively rodents - so that animals and humans feel at home together under one roof.SummaryAll the basics and practical tips from the experts - for happy rodents Guinea pigs are mainly cute, but boring? Not at all! These little South Americans like to go on voyages of discovery and are also really clever. They love company and prove to be real chatterboxes, squeaking and cooing to keep in constant contact with their conspecifics. In the new, completely revised GU Animal Guide to Guinea Pigs, renowned behavioral scientist Dr. Immanuel Birmelin explains what these cute rodents need to feel completely at ease. Whether it's cage equipment, nutrition, care or health: you will learn everything you need to know about keeping guinea pigs in a species-appropriate way in a quick, clear and entertaining way. There are also numerous tips on how to keep the animals moving in an outdoor enclosure in the home, on the balcony or in the garden and provide plenty of variety in your guinea pigs' everyday lives.Sound expert knowledge:Renowned behaviorist Dr. Immanuel Birmelin explains everything you need to know about guinea pigs, their adorable quirks and how to keep and care for them appropriately. Varied activities: With lots of tips for an exciting and healthy guinea pig life - indoors and outdoors. Practical instructions: With easy-to-understand instructions and practical tips, the book helps you to better understand the needs of guinea pigs and provide them with a home in which they feel completely at ease.

Hamsters - How to make them feel good all roundBlurbEverything beginners and hamster fans need to know about keeping these small rodents and their special needs - so that animals and humans feel at home together under one roof Summary So your hamster feels completely at ease. Hamsters are real night owls: they only really come to life when it gets dark. Then they climb, burrow and of course "hamster" for all they're worth. In the new, completely revised GU hamster pet guide, you will learn what your hamster needs to feel completely at ease - how to acclimatize it step by step, what it likes and what keeps it healthy and how to satisfy its strong urge to move. You will find lots of ideas for exciting activities and find out how the hamster house and enclosure should look and be equipped to meet the needs of these small rodents. The guide is rounded off with tried and tested tips on selection and purchase, offspring, illnesses and veterinary emergencies. Behavioral scientist Peter Fritzsche also explains typical animal behavior. You can then test your hamster knowledge in the large online hamster quiz and be well prepared for the arrival of your new pet.Comprehensive hamster care: Find out how to keep your hamster happy and healthy from settling in to species-appropriate keeping.Creative activity ideas: Discover numerous ideas on how to encourage your nocturnal hamster's strong urge to move in a sensible and exciting way.Expert knowledge and practical tips: The guide offers practical tips on selection, care and emergencies as well as an online quiz to test and expand your hamster knowledge.

The Djungarian dwarf hamsterPhodopus sungorus from Zachrau AndreaBlurbThe Djungarian dwarf hamster is one of the smallest pets in the world and takes hearts by storm with its beady eyes, loyal gaze and soft fur. In this guide, you will learn all about the dwarf hamster's distribution and habitat, as well as everything you need to know about enclosure size, furnishings and food. Read everything you need to know to better understand the behaviour of these small rodents and how to prevent diseases. Summary The Djungarian dwarf hamster is one of the smallest pets in the world and takes hearts by storm with its beady eyes, loyal gaze and soft fur. In this guide by Andrea Zachrau, you will learn about the dwarf hamster's distribution and habitat as well as everything you need to know about enclosure size, furnishings and food. Read everything you need to know to better understand the behaviour of these small rodents and how to prevent diseases. Each volume offers you detailed, practical care instructions and you will find all the information you need to successfully breed your animals. All the important questions, from housing to furnishings, technical equipment, species-appropriate nutrition and disease prevention, are answered with numerous tricks and tips. Experienced, long-standing breeders reveal how you can encourage the animals to reproduce and raise the young in good health, all in full colour, generously illustrated and attractively designed - species by species.

Guinea pigs keeping, caring for and keeping activefrom Beck AngelaBlurbA life in pairs or in a small group, a nice enclosure and daily free run make guinea pigs happy. Optimum husbandry, a healthy diet and an understanding of their nature provide security in their daily life together. A wealth of play ideas provides variety and strengthens the relationship between humans and animals. Everything that is important for species-appropriate keeping: from the selection and housing of guinea pigs to feeding, care and activity. The plus to the book: the free KOSMOS PLUS app with additional information and films.

Dwarf rabbitkeeping, caring for and keeping active from Beck AngelaBlurbPlenty of space to hop around, dig and make hooks, a life in pairs or in a group - that's what makes dwarf rabbits happy. Optimum husbandry, a healthy diet and an understanding of their nature provide security in their daily life together. Many play ideas provide variety and strengthen the relationship between humans and animals. Everything that is important for species-appropriate keeping: from the selection and housing of dwarf rabbits to feeding, care and activity. The plus to the book: the free KOSMOS PLUS app with additional information and films.

Can my cat eat daisies? Is it safe if my Wellensitticham Ficus nibbles? Broken down by wild plants, house and garden plants, fodder plants, herbs, poisonous and medicinal plants are described with which pet animals may come into contact. With advice for individual species.

The Persian gerbil book Among the many gerbil species, Persian gerbils are something very special. Their graceful appearance and highly interesting behaviour make the "Persians", as they are affectionately called by many owners, fascinating pets. Due to their curiosity and open-mindedness towards humans, they are also real "heartbreakers" Unfortunately, there is hardly any literature on keeping and breeding these beady-eyed rodents. Author Anne Weber is editor-in-chief of the small mammal specialist magazine RODENTIA and summarises her many years of experience with the care and breeding of "Persians" here. Benefit from her practical tips and detailed husbandry descriptions so that you can enjoy your Persian gerbils right from the start! Contents:Biology,Acquisition,Husbandry,Food and water,Keeping healthy,Fun and games,Offspring

Rodentia 01 - Chinchillas Guinea pigs in the gardenDegus and their relativesSee the most beautiful rats Contents: 2 INTERN 3 EDITORIAL AND ADVISORY BOARD 5 INTERESTING FACTS 11 legal 12 Dates & TIPS 15 MY STORY: Refined guinea pig, by Marion Zeddies 16 PHOTOstory: Chinchillas, by Christian Brüggemann 23 KEEPING AND BREEDING: The keeping of chinchillas, by Anke Suchy 28 REISE: Amy and the chinchillas, by Dr Martina Raffel 34 KEEPING AND BREEDING: Chinchilla colour breeding, by Rebecca Schmidt 38 BIOLOGY: Chinchilla genetics, by Christian Brüggemann 39 POSTER: The Campbell dwarf hamster, by Christian Brüggemann 43 HEIMISCHE TIERWELT: The brown hare gives up the spoons, by Christian Brüggemann 46 REPORTAGE: Guinea pigs in the garden, by Iris Küster 51 KEEPING AND BREEDING: The breeding of Virginia opossums, by Dirk Fußbahn 54 REPORTAGE: See the most beautiful: Rat exhibitions in Germany, by Simone Grigat 58 KEEPING AND BREEDING: Together they are strong: spiny mice, by Frank Böhme & Peter Kneisel 61 KEEPING AND BREEDING: Degus and their relatives, by Sabine Gehrsitz 64 KEEPING AND BREEDING: Persian gerbil, by Michael Herting 66 ZOOLOGISCHE GÄRTEN: The Zoo of Small Mammals: Tierpark Berlin, by Christian Kern 70 SPRECHSTUNDE: Anaesthesia in small rodents and rabbits, by Andreas Küster 73 SCIENCE: What kind of house does the mouse want?, by Lars Lewejohann 76 MAUSKLICK 77 RAT & TAT 78 BOOK REVIEW 80 snickers' wild life: Wild Westphalia, by Christian Brüggemann

Rodentia 71 - Jumping Mice White-eared opossumHibernation of prairie dogs Contents: Cover story: Jumping miceJaculus jaculus, the Small Desert Jerboa, is THE jumping mouse par excellence – and the only representative of the Dipodidae family to have established itself for some time now in the terrariums of European small mammal enthusiasts. While successful breeding of J. jaculus is now regularly achieved, rearing Greater Desert Jerboas (Jaculus orientalis) remains tricky, whereas it has not yet been successful in other highly interesting species such as the Four-toed Jerboa (Allactagatetradactyla) or the Baluchistan Dwarf Jumping Mouse (Salpingotus michaelis). The title animals of the next issue of RODENTIA Exoten have therefore still kept many secrets to themselves – one reason why we are putting the Dipodidae family, which by the way also includes the lesser-known birch mice and jumping mice, at the centre of our next issue. ContentsInternalMagazineDates & Tips Photo storyJumping mice – Quirky hoppersBjörn Jordan Breeding  Successful breeding of the Small Desert Jerboa (Jaculus jaculus)Björn Jordan BiologyThe Long-eared Jerboa, Euchoreutes naso – an insectivorous rodent of Central AsiaDr. Annegret Stubbe, Prof. Dr. Michael Stubbe, Nyamsuren Batsajchan, Prof. Dr. Ravchig Samjaa, Ellen Driechciarz & René Driechciarz Keeping          Tricky Jewels – Jumping mice at the Berlin Zoo     Klaus Rudloff Keeping    A legend without a happy end. Keeping the Baluchistan Dwarf Jumping MouseRalf Sistermann Keeping & Breeding         Big leaps. Keeping and breeding of the Greater Desert JerboaRalf Sistermann Reportage  The Natural History Museum of London. A mecca for nature loversSandra Honigs PortraitThe arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)Kathrin Aretz Keeping and breeding  From the lives of “Gurt” and “Schnalle”. Successful breeding of Southern Three-banded Armadillos (Tolypeutes matacus) in the “Prof. Brandes House” of Dresden ZooAnne Weber KeepingRest in peace. Various methods of hibernation of black-tailed prairie dogsRalf Sistermann Subscription & Service BreedingGenets – Pure breeding with difficultiesRalf Sistermann BiologyLoss of habitat and isolation. The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) in its fight for survivalBirgit Braun BiologyThe true prehensile-tailed porcupine – Quirky rodent from South AmericaKathrin Aretz Keeping and breeding“Heidi’s” little cousin – the white-bellied opossumRalf Sistermann Expedition RodentiaThe call of the indri. A journey through the national parks of MadagascarPeter Stange Classified ads/Internet forums for small mammal keepers Preview Animal & HonestAn armadillo, an armadillo!Christian Ehrlich

Rodentia 72 - Animals Hoarding Fun and games for rabbitsNutrition for coloured rats Contents: Cover story: Animals HoardingRecently, there have been more and more reports of what is known as "Animals Hoarding", where animals of various species are collected and then kept in catastrophic conditions due to the excessive demands on the animal hoarder. More and more often, animal welfare organisations have to intervene in such cases and take on hamsters, guinea pigs, rats and other small mammals. But what are the causes of this pathological passion for collecting on the part of individuals? In the cover story of the next issue of RODENTIA – Nager & Co., we will get to the bottom of this question and at the same time try to point out possible solutions. EditorialWorth knowingTips and dates My StoryOld hare and young hopperKerstin Han TitleA path without a way out? Why people become animal hoarders – and how they can be helpedKerstin Han TitleHamsters in distress. Two examples of Animals HoardingGudrun Cappeller  TitleAnimals Hoarding  "scientifically" illuminated. Figures, data, facts?Ralf Sistermann BehaviourBilateral relationships. Socialisation of gerbilsRalf Sistermann   CareWhat ferrets need. Small predators with big demands  Sabine Humburg HomemadeFunny Bunny. Fun and games for rabbitsKarina Niemeczyk  Animal portraitThe dwarf fox rabbit. (Oryctolagus cuniculusf. dom.)#Kathrin Aretz     NutritionIndoor fresh food: new indoor food plants for chinchillas and degus. Part 1David Küpfer CareThe Asian chipmunk (Eutamias sibiricus) in outdoor husbandryVirginia Lauterbach     Active reader NutritionSet the table! Feeding coloured rats in an animal-friendly wayStefanie Hotze    Service CareFree range for guinea pigs. More variety in the free runDr. Marion Reich BehaviourClicker training for everyone! Part 2: Handling trainingBina Lunzer MedicineDiseases of the female rabbitDr. med. vet. Jennifer Nehls Consultation with Prof. Dr. Michael Fehr Internet forums Preview Last but not leastPaula at full throttle. Episode 9: Child in the houseKathrin Aretz

Rodentia 09 - Native hedgehogs Ram rabbitsGambia giant hamster ratGuinea pigs: US teddies Contents: The cover hero of this issue of your small mammal specialist magazine RODENTIA is a real favourite: the hedgehog. The photo story by editor Christian Ehrlich introduces you to these friendly spiny creatures with outstanding photographs and provides an overview, for example, of the relationship between humans and hedgehogs or the closer relationship of this insectivore.Unfortunately, most people are perhaps only familiar with hedgehogs as roadkill on our streets. However, the animals often survive a less serious accident, e.g. with other sources of danger such as lawn trimmers or leaf vacuum cleaners. Who then takes care of these unfortunate animals? For example, the hedgehog centre in Laatzen, which provides ambulance and information. Christian Ehrlich has taken an extremely interesting look behind the scenes of this excellent facility for you.“What can the finder of baby hedgehogs do?”, is a question often asked at hedgehog rescue centres. Who better to explain the hand-rearing of orphaned hedgehog babies than the active hedgehog conservationist Monika Neumeier! From the first steps to take after finding a mini hedgehog, to the right food and feeding regime, to successful reintroduction, you will learn everything you need to know to provide the little foundlings with species-appropriate care.The hibernation of the hedgehog is an amazing adaptation to the winter cold. Ulli Seewald describes its remarkable physiology and the consequences for its care. What happens in the hedgehog organism when temperatures drop outside? What is the difference between torpor and hibernation? And what can I do if I want to help hedgehogs indoors during the harsh season? Here you can find the answers to these and many other questions on the important topic of “hibernation”.Diarrhoea in chinchillas is often caused by an infection with Giardia, a protozoan. Prof. Dr Michael Fehr explains the symptoms that indicate this dangerous condition and describes how to treat it effectively. US teddies... for some breeders the most beautiful thing since guinea pigs!, is the meaningful title of this article by Sigrid Tooson. And indeed, the cute breed is currently enjoying a triumphal march through Germany, which can of course be explained by their attractive appearance, but also by their easy care. The author provides an insight into the genetics of the animals, their history, offers tips on choosing the right breed and explains everything you need to know about successfully caring for teddies.Integrating a “newcomer” into a group of rats is not easy. However, a “new” rat in the pack does not have to be a problem if you follow the practical tricks of Erika Weiss-Geissler, who provides step-by-step instructions for slowly but surely and successfully acclimatising the animals to each other. A must for all rat fans!Currently on the rise as pets are the clever Gambian giant hamster rats, extremely interesting animals. Keeping these large rodents is exciting, but not easy. Anyone seriously interested in caring for these animals should therefore not miss this article by Tanja Wendeling and Silke Holzkamp, because here you can find out everything you need to know about keeping and successfully breeding these fascinating giant hamster rats, from the right cage and suitable food to tips on handling the animals.Ram rabbits are floppy-eared animals with a charm of their own. Their round heads and long ears, as well as their calm and even-tempered nature, make these animals so popular, and rightly so. In this article, Kathrin Aretz reveals how this breed actually came about, what their typical characteristics are and what you need to look out for when caring for and breeding these little fellows, which will captivate all rabbit lovers!The right diet for your animals is, of course, one of the cornerstones of optimal husbandry. Constanze Scherf therefore takes a detailed look at species-appropriate food for gerbils. From basic food and suitable treats to advice on what you should avoid in the interests of your pets, you will find everything you need to know about this topic as a responsible animal lover. Allergies, lack of time, relocation..., all reasons why animals are sent to a home. In this report, editor Christian Ehrlich introduces the small mammals at the animal shelter in Hanover and provides examples of the important work of such facilities. A revealing look behind the scenes!And as always, many more exciting articles await you. For example, you can read a commentary on the new Animal Protection Act, a controversial discussion on the subject of “long-haired ferrets”, make sure you take advantage of the “Advice & Action” from experienced experts and enjoy the teddy hamster that adorns the poster this time. Interesting news about small mammals can be found in the “Things to know” section, in My Story Christian Ehrlich reveals tragicomic facts about “Atze” and “Elli”, the editorial monsters, and of course you can also find out what’s “New on the market”. Dates & tips are of course just as important as zoo news, and what would RODENTIA be without the adventures of Snickers, the editorial prairie dog?!Enjoy the new issue of your small mammal specialist magazine RODENTIA!

Rodentia 17 - Private monkey keeping? The right rat dietTree squirrelRabbits: House-trained in seven stepsSmall mammal of the year: Guinea pig Contents: 2 INTERN 3 EXTERNAL 4 CHOICE FOR SMALL MAMMAL OF THE YEARThe guinea pig is the "Small mammal of the year 2004"By Christian Ehrlich 6 THINGS TO KNOW 11 NEW ON THE MARKET 12 DATES & TIPS 13 MY STORYThe moveBy Heike Kursawe 14 PHOTOSTORYPrivate monkey keeping?By Christian Ehrlich 19 REPORTHumans and other monkeys – Are monkeys even allowed to be kept privately?By Heiko von Glovcewski 24 KEEPING & BREEDINGKeeping and breeding of night monkeysBy Manfred Meyer 26 KEEPING & BREEDINGThe Liszt's monkey (Saguinus oedipus oedipus)By Daniel Bürkle 31 POSTERThe bare-soled gerbilsBy Christian Ehrlich 35 REPORTAGEThe lagomorphs: The family of pikas (Part 2))By Kathrin Aretz 38 NUTRITIONThis is how the rat eats – Recommendations for a balanced diet for pet ratsBy Sonja Schwarz 42 BIOLOGYEichkater & Co. – The tree squirrels of the worldBy Klaus Rudloff 46 TRAININGThe right spot – Seven steps to a house-trained rabbitBy Christian Busch 50 BREEDINGPrimitive yet ultra-modern – Guinea pigs in agouti colourBy Sigrid Tooson 52 KEEPINGChinchillas conquer the flat – The right free roamBy Gaby Neidhart 54 READER RAT 56 SMALL ADS 58 CONSULTATION HOURZoonoses caused by guinea pigs By Andreas Küster 60 ADVICE & HELP 62 REGIONAL GUIDE 64 FRITZY’S WORLDThe tiger and meBy Christian Ehrlich