Common Mole-rat

Scientific name: Cryptomys hottentotus
Size: 12-18cm long
Lifespan: 5-8 years
Natural range: throughout west, central and south Africa

Housing

• a large plexiglass or glass enclosure which should be at least 3m deep and 6m long with a screen lid
• entire enclosure should be filled with soil with a 30cm space from the lid
• they live in small colonies made up of an extended family
• should start colony with 2-5 individuals which are familiar with each other

Food

• mixture of sweet potatoes, tubers, roots, veggies and some fruit
• food should be placed near tunnel entrances or planted just under the surface of the soil
• can occassionally have baby cereal or earthworms

Breeding

• Maturity: 10 months old
• Gestation: 78-90 days
• Litter size: 2-5
• there is only one dominant breeding pair per colony
• should be fully weaned by 3 weeks old