Lesser Desert Jerboa

Scientific name: Jaculus jaculus
Size: 16-20cm long including tail
Lifespan: 5-6 years
Natural range: northern Africa

Housing

• an aquarium with a wire mesh lid is best
• allow at least 50gal per pair
• generally solitary, there has been some success keeping same sex pairs when introduced at a young age
• Bedding: aspen or reptile sand
• Accessories: nest box, tubes, hideaways, small dish for chinchilla dust, external heat source directed on nest box

Food

• mixture of a high quality rodent seed mix and finch seed
• offer a slice of carrot, sweet potato or other fresh veggie once to twice weekly
• small millet weekly
• do not offer a standing water source as they retain all the moisture they need from fresh veggies

Breeding

• Maturity: 8 months old
• Gestation: 25-30 days
• Litter size: 2-4
• breeding is best achieved in pairs
• both parents help raise the young
• eyes open at 37-40 days old
• should be fully weaned by 9-10 weeks old