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ADVICE FOR OWNERS
OF RODENTS AND RABBITS

10 COMMANDMENTS FOR RODENT AND RABBIT OWNERS

Since rodents and rabbits are gregarious animals, for most of them loneliness is difficult to bear. Therefore, the best solution is to have minimum two of them. A lot of timeshould be devoted to the ones kept as single pets so that they could consider a new human family as theirs. Some of them endure such a situation better than others. Nevertheless, the best companion for a rodent is always another rodent, of the same species and, of course, the same sex if we want to avoid unwanted babies. In some species female rodents get along better, in others – male ones.
A pet is not a toy, like a teddy bear for a child. Similarly to people, it is capable of feeling pain, fear, hunger and thirst, it loves and hates. Kept in the cage at home, it is completely dependent on us. Be responsible and don’t forget that buying a pet is a decision for at least a few, if not several, years.
The more space we will give our pet, the better. There is no such thing as too big of a cage, there may be only too small cages. Choosing a new family member, we should take into account how much space we can devote to our pet. Extra walking space should be carefully prepared: protect wires, plug up holes, hide medicines, etc.
Pets mustn’t be exposed to either too high or too low temperatures. Under no circumstances place the cage in direct sunlight, in a draughty area and near sources of noise, such as a television. At least one side of a cage should be placed against a wall to provide a sense of security.
A cage should be equipped with a food and water bowl, a hide house and, depending on the given species, various “sports” equipment and toys. Rabbits and some rodents should have hay racks, a bowl for sand bath or a toilet bowl. The cage floor should be covered with bedding.
Various types of rodents, let alone rabbits, have different food requirements. What is good for some pets, may not necessarily be good for other ones. Apart from basic cereal grains, some rodents need to have a constant access to hay, while it is worth adding some animal protein into the diet of others. Remember to always introduce a new type of food gradually.
Complement deficiencies by giving your pets vitamins, nutrients, salt tablets and calcium and mineral stones that also help wear down their incisors. From time to time make them happy by giving them some delicacies, such as e.g. drops for rodents and rabbits.
A cage should also have materials for wearing down their constantly growing incisors and claws. Regularly check that incisors and claws have not grown too long. If they are ever too long, take your pet to the vet.
If your pet behaves differently than usual, e.g. it does not want to eat or drink, breathes heavily, moves in a different way, suddenly does not want to play or if there is anything else that worries you, go to the vet immediately. In the case of small animals, diseases progress very quickly.
Provide your pet with grain sticks. Not only is it wonderful full-value food, but also great fun referring to life in natural habitat. A pet looks for and picks delicacies, such as biscuits, carob, honey, oranges, popcorn, wild rose, sesame, etc. Providing entertainment, sticks help release energy of pets that spend every day of their lives in limited space. What is more, thanks to a wooden strip, sticks contribute to wear down their incisors and claws.

NESTOR’S STICKS ARE CREATED IN TRADITIONAL BAKING PROCESS WITHOUT ANY ARTIFICIAL BINDING AGENTS

OUR ADVICE:

NESTOR ® for HAMSTERS i.e. EATING STICKS IS A GREAT FUN

Hamsters live in all parts of the world, except for Australia and Antarctica. The most common types kept as pets are Syrian hamsters and dwarf hamsters: Djungarian and Roborovski, originating from the distant parts of Asia. Hamsters are very active, love running, climbing and digging. They are extremely nosy and although they easily adapt to cage life, they try to get out of it to see something new. Syrian hamsters, unusually for rodents, prefer loneliness, whereas Djungarian and Roborovski ones prefer to live in groups. They do not require grooming and they cannot be washed. They live on average 2-3 years. These rodents love gathering food and they do it even when they have enough food. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly check the state of “hidden” supplies and throw high products away. Rodents should always have access to cereal grains, which are their basic menu. Hamsters’ diet should be constantly complemented with fresh or dried vegetables and fruits, herbs and sometimes animal products – some meat, cheese or boiled eggs.

NESTOR ® for DEGUS i.e. FOOD – A NATURAL WEAPON IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DIABETES

Degus come from Chile. They live in herds and inhabit the slopes of the Andes up to an elevation of 1200 m where they build burrows consisting of a network of tunnels. They were brought to Europe for science purposes, in relation to the studies on diabetes. Degus are extremely sociable and active; they are moving all day. These rodents soon become tame and learn to recognize their owner. Nevertheless, they will not stay on his/her knees for too long. They will probably not cause allergy as their fur is not a significant allergen. It is important never to try to catch a degu by the tail because it will fall off easily and never grow back. The biggest attraction is to observe these rodents in a group: their playing, rows and “conversations”. According to scientists, in every degu community there is a hierarchical structure and they also have some specific speech. Exposed to predators’ attacks, degus live approximately 1-4 years in the wild and 5-9 years at home with special care and appropriate food. Owing to their inborn tendency to diabetes, their diet has to be precisely composed and resemble food they eat in their natural habitat: grass, leaves and seeds. Similarly to diabetics, their food cannot be fat or have a high glycemic index (that increases blood sugar). Degus mustn’t eat food intended for other rodents – it has to be developed individually for them.

NESTOR ® for RABBITS i.e. STRENGTH AND HEALTH IN FIBRE

All types of domestic rabbits come from wild rabbits that originally inhabited the Iberian Peninsula and a part of North Africa. Rabbits were domesticated in the early Middle Ages by the monks and nuns living in French monasteries. They are very sociable animals. They cannot be washed, but you can sometimes brush out their excess fur. In order to protect them against diseases, they should be vaccinated by the vet. These animals live 7-10 years. A rabbit is not a rodent! In their digestive system there are similar processes like in ruminants (e.g. a cow!). Therefore, a rabbit should always have access to full of fibre bulk fodder i.e. hay.

NESTOR ® for MICE AND GERBILS i.e. WEARING DOWN INCISORS THANKS TO STICKS

Wild-type mice, inhabiting all continents, except for Antarctica, were firstly domesticated in ancient China. Domesticated mice were brought to Europe from Japan in the middle of the nineteenth century. Gerbils inhabit steppes, savannahs as well as Asian and African deserts. People keep usually Mongolian gerbils as pets; they were first bred in captivity in Japan and then, through the USA, were brought to Europe. Mice and gerbils become apathetic and sad when kept as single pets. If we do not want babies, the best solution is to buy pets of the same sex. However, we must remember that in case of mice, females get along better and in case of gerbils – males. The biggest pleasure is to observe the animals’ behavior in a group. Their basic diet consisting of cereal grains should be complemented with vegetables, fruits, grass, green fodder and herbs. Mice will also eat animal protein – some cheese, eggs or meat. Some gerbils also willingly try these types of food.

NESTOR ® for RATS i.e. A GREAT MIND NEEDS DIVERSIFIED FOOD

The origins of rat breeding date back to the first half of the nineteenth century. When it turned out they were perfect study animals, the result of crossbreeding a black and brown rat was a type of a laboratory rat that came from science institutes to private houses and became a pupil of many families. Like dolphins, elephants, monkeys and dogs, rats are commonly considered the most intelligent animals. They learn quickly and willingly, soon become tame and get used to their owner. They are very sociable and lively. They make their toilet on their own and you do not have to wash or brush them. They live up to 4 years. They eat little, but often, and they should always have access to water and food. Their basic diet, i.e. mixtures of grains, should be complemented with fresh or dried vegetables, fruits and sometimes eggs, cottage cheese and some lean meat.

NESTOR ® for CHINCHILLAS i.e. FAVOURITE DELICACIES IN SUITABLE AMOUNTS

The homeland of chinchillas are the Andean slopes of Chile, Bolivia and Peru. The first attempts of breeding were undertaken in the middle of the nineteenth century, but it was done to a larger extent at the beginning of the twentieth century by an American M. Chapman. Soon both wonderful furs and character of chinchillas were appreciated and they became lovely domestic pets. These full of energy rodents live from 12 to even 20 years. Chinchillas’ food in their natural habitat includes dry parts of plants, grass, herbs and bush branches. So their diet is based on bulk fodder, such as hay, complemented with fruit tree branches, dried fruits, e.g. of a wild rose or hawthorn. They should also get concentrates, a little green fodder and a few delicacies that chinchillas love – nuts or drops.

NESTOR ® for GUINEA PIGS i.e. REMEMBER ABOUT VITAMIN C

Guinea pigs were domesticated by inhabitants of the Andes in the pre-Inca times. They were probably brought to Europe by sea around 1580. Guinea pigs are very sociable animals, perfect for kids, they easily become tame, do not bite, recognize their owners and respond to their names. They do not need to be washed; only long-haired types need to be regularly brushed. Their diet must be rich in fibre and vitamin C. They live approximately 8-9 years.

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ADVICE FOR OWNERS OF RODENTS AND RABBITS