Fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi)

Short answers

Fat-tailed gerbil: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 100×50×50 cm (for 1–2 animals; no species-specific official standard – based on the gerbil figures of TVT and the Swiss animal welfare ordinance of 0.5 m²; more floor space is better, height is secondary because the species climbs poorly and hardly jumps). Well-ventilated tank with mesh cover, several caves of clay, cork or wood, a sand bath and a large solid wheel (from 28 cm).

Fat-tailed gerbil: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–26 °C room temperature; as desert animals they like warmth, avoid cool and damp rooms., at night Not below about 18 °C at night.

Fat-tailed gerbil: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not needed – daylight in the room is enough.

Fat-tailed gerbil: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: Usually 2–4 years; individual animals have lived over 5 years.

Fat-tailed gerbil: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C room temperature; as desert animals they like warmth, avoid cool and damp rooms.

Night temperature

Not below about 18 °C at night.

Humidity

30–50 % (dry room air; too much moisture – also in food – causes diarrhoea)

UVB

Not needed – daylight in the room is enough.

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 100×50×50 cm (for 1–2 animals; no species-specific official standard – based on the gerbil figures of TVT and the Swiss animal welfare ordinance of 0.5 m²; more floor space is better, height is secondary because the species climbs poorly and hardly jumps). Well-ventilated tank with mesh cover, several caves of clay, cork or wood, a sand bath and a large solid wheel (from 28 cm).

Substrate

15–25 cm of diggable bedding of small-animal litter and hay, ideally partly with a firm sand-loam mix in which tunnels hold; always add a sand bath with chinchilla sand (prevents a greasy coat).

Feeding

Food

Gerbil or hamster food as a base, plus regular insects (crickets, mealworms) as an important protein source – in the wild the species feeds mainly on insects. Some hay, herbs and greens, but little watery vegetables and fruit. Water in a bowl.

Feeding interval

Once a day in the evening; insects several times a week.

Key facts

Adult size

Head-body 9–12 cm, short club-shaped thickened tail of about 5–6 cm; 40–80 g in human care.

Life expectancy

Usually 2–4 years; individual animals have lived over 5 years.

Origin

Northern Sahara from Morocco and Algeria via Tunisia and Libya to Egypt; sparsely vegetated semi-desert with firm sand or gravel ground.

Protection status

Not protected: not on the EU invasive species list, not in the German BArtSchV, the EU wildlife trade regulation or CITES. Keeping is allowed without papers.

Brumation

None – keep warm all year.

Cohabitation

Solitary. Mostly solitary in the wild; pairs or siblings can get along, but fights often break out suddenly (bites to the tail). Anyone trying it needs plenty of space, several caves and a spare enclosure for immediate separation.

Notes

The thick tail stores fat and water and is a good health indicator: if it becomes thin, something is wrong. The species has only been in the pet trade for a few decades; find a vet with exotic experience beforehand. Breeding pairs often stay without young, and disturbed females occasionally eat their young.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) – Beginner
• African pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides) – Intermediate
• Four-toed hedgehog (African pygmy hedgehog) (Atelerix albiventris) – Intermediate
• Chinchilla (long-tailed chinchilla) (Chinchilla lanigera) – Intermediate
• Common degu (Octodon degus) – Intermediate
• Gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) – Intermediate
• Cairo spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) – Intermediate
• Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Fat-tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 100×50×50 cm (for 1–2 animals; no species-specific official standard – based on the gerbil figures of TVT and the Swiss animal welfare ordinance of 0.5 m²; more floor space is better, height is secondary because the species climbs poorly and hardly jumps). Well-ventilated tank with mesh cover, several caves of clay, cork or wood, a sand bath and a large solid wheel (from 28 cm).), substrate (15–25 cm of diggable bedding of small-animal litter and hay, ideally partly with a firm sand-loam mix in which tunnels hold; always add a sand bath with chinchilla sand (prevents a greasy coat).), a heat source with a thermostat, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.