The Rodent Guru

21/06/2022

13/01/2022

After a quiet few months the winner of the first birth of 2022 goes to our group of yellow-toothed cavy (Galea monasteriensis). One of four wild cavy species in the collection, the yellow-toothed breed relatively regularly, this time welcoming a single female infant.

18/05/2021

The Coruro (Spalacopus cyanus) youngsters born back in March are now fully independent and growing rapidly, already half the size of the adults. Our adult female is now visibly pregnant and another litter is expected any day.

Here the group are in a holding tank whilst their main enclosure was being cleaned.

21/04/2021

Acacia rats (Thallomys paedulcus) give birth to 2-4 young after a gestation of around 26 days. For the first few weeks of their life the young will attach to the females ni***es, being dragged behind her wherever she goes.

21/03/2021

The Coruro (Spalacopus cyanus) is a small subterranean rodent found in the alpine grasslands of Chile. Living in complex burrow systems in colonies of up to 15 individuals this species breeds seasonally producing 2-5 young per litter.

We’ve kept this species for almost three years and last week welcomed our first litter of two infants.

20/12/2020

The recently arrived mouse-like hamsters (Calomyscus mystax) have settled quickly and the first infants have emerged from the nest and started to explore over the last few days.

12/12/2020

The latest litter of white-tailed antsangy (Brachytarsomys albicauda) now 6 weeks old and having their first weigh in.

29/11/2020

The Great Balkhan mouse-like hamster (Calomyscus mystax) has been in the collection for a number of years. Last week we welcomed some fresh blood from the Czech Republic to ensure our groups remain genetically strong and sustainable for years to come.

Here a new female is out collecting seeds to cache in her food store.

21/11/2020

One of my favourite species in the collection is the Spotted grass mouse (Lemniscomys striatus).

A rare sight in UK collections I have been keeping and breeding them on and off since 2008.

18/10/2020

Over the last few days our young Brandt’s Voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) have begun to emerge from the nest.

Born around two weeks ago they are around 2cm in length and already miniature versions of their parents.

16/10/2020

Our most recent additions are two new born Cactus Mice (Peromyscus eremicus). Here the young can be seen firmly attached to their dam as she moves around the enclosure.

Part of the deermouse family this species inhabits the arid desert scrublands of North and Central America. They are well adapted to these arid areas, not only do they have the ability to obtain all their water from their food they will also enter a torpid state in order to survive extreme heat, resuming their normal activity when temperatures become more favourable.

09/10/2020

The Reed Vole (Alexandromys fortis) is a relatively large species of vole found in a range of habitats throughout East Asia.

We first kept this species in 2005 and after a break of several years we have recently welcomed a group of 2020 bred animals to the collection.

09/10/2020

Rare rodent only recorded once, 93 years ago, found to be member of a group of specially water-adapted rodents

04/10/2020

We regularly work with other rodent keepers and zoos throughout Europe in order to maintain sustainable populations of a variety of rodent species.

Our most recent arrivals from Germany are a group of Sundevall's Jirds (Meriones crassus perpallidus). Native to North Africa and the Middle East this attractive species of jird remains a fairly rare sight in captive collections.