ANS 150 Companion Animals: Rabbits and Rodents

What is the difference between rabbits and rodents?

Rabbits have 4 upper incisors and rodents only have 2

When were rabbits domesticated?

During the Middle Ages (456 AD to 1500)

What are the classifications of rabbit breeds?

• Dwarf

• Small

• Medium

• Large

• Giant

What is an adult male rabbit called?

Buck

What is an adult female rabbit called

Does

What are young rabbits called?

Kits of bunnies

What is rabbit parturition called?

Kindling

Why is it recommended for female rabbits to be neutered?

They have a high incidence of uterine cancer

What is the average lifespan of rabbits?

5-12 years

When do rabbits reach puberty?

5-8 months

How long is rabbit gestation?

30-34 days

How long is the rabbit estrous cycle?

They are induced ovulators and do not have a consistent estrous cycle

What is grooming in rabbits?

A behavior used to show affection and also prevent external parasites

What are Bunny Bucks?

A behavior that shows happiness when a rabbit jumps in the air and kicks its rear feet out

What is circling?

A behavior that shows happiness when a rabbit hops in circles around the owner

What does a scream signify in rabbits?

Pain

What does biting signify in rabbits?

Anger

What does nipping mean in rabbits?

• Sometimes playful sometimes warning

What does grinding of teeth signify in rabbits?

Contentment

How do rabbit peck orders work?

A fight to death if not broken up

What is refection or coprophagy?

Voluntarily consuming one’s own feces

What type of pellets do rabbits eat?

Soft pellets

Why do rabbits use coprophagy?

To recycle certain nutrients especially vitamins and minerals

What happened in Golden Hamster domestication?

• Native to the desert area of Syria

• Discovered in 1930

What happened during the Gerbil domestication?

• Native to dry desert regions of Asia and Africa

• First bred in captivity in 1935

What is the lifespan of hamsters?

2-3 years

When do hamsters hibernate?

45 degrees Fahrenheit

What is estivation?

A stage of deep sleep hamsters enter at above 80 degrees Fahrenheit

What is the preferred temperature of hamsters?

65-79 degrees Fahrenheit

What is the preferred light cycle of hamsters?

14 hours light. 10 hours dark

When do hamsters reach puberty?

30-40 days

How long i shte estrous cycle of hamsters?

4 days

How long is hamster gestation?

16 days

How big is the litter size of hamsters?

5-11

What happens to male hamsters after 1 year?

They become sterile

What should hamsters have in their habitats?

Sufficient bedding so they are able to burrow

What does granivorous mean?

Eat seeds and grain

What diets do hamsters have?

• Grainivorous

• Coprophagous

What is the prefered temperature of gerbils?

60.8-80.6 degrees Fahrenheit

What is the preferred humidity of gerbils?

30%

What is the lifespan of gerbils?

4-6 years

How long does it take for gerbils to reach puberty?

6-7 weeks

How long is the gerbil estrous cycle?

4-6 days

How long is gestation of gerbils?

24-26 days

How big is the litter size of gerbils?

3-7 pups