Rodent - Jirds - Things You Should Know

Recently a number of less familiar rodents have been offered for sale as pets. Among these are Jirds. Little is written about their care in captivity and here the most important feature of keeping exotic species in captivity comes into play. These animals are still, in many respects, wild.

The best way to keep them in captivity is to mirror, as much as possible, the wild environment. In this Handout we will review the natural behaviour and habitat requirements of Jirds and try and relate how best to maintain them in captivity.

Which rodent group do jirds belong to?

Jirds actually comprise two different rodent groups, the genus Sekeetamys the bushy tailed jird and the genus Meriones, containing 14 species of true jird.

Sekeetamys

The bushy tailed jird is around 10-12.5 cm (4-5 ins) in body length with a tail of 10-16 cm (4-6 ins). The body is reddish with yellow and the tail is brown with a white tuft on its tip. This species inhabits Near Eastern deserts and rocky slopes in which it burrows under rocks and ledges. It has considerable climbing ability. These animals live up to five and a half years and are quite prolific with the record being 47 litters of 2-3 young born in a captive female's lifetime! This species should be kept in a dry rocky environment with plenty of opportunity for burrowing and climbing. The diet is predominantly composed of seed but green vegetation and insects may also be taken in the wild.

Meriones

Other true jirds of the genus Meriones range from Merionis crassus weighing between 30-40 gms while Shaw's jird is considerably bigger. Jirds live in clay and sandy desert environments but also in cultivated fields and grasslands, so are not all adapted to arid regions. They inhabit areas from the Middle East, through Northern Africa to Siberia and China. Some are nocturnal while other species, such as Meriones unguiculatus are diurnal, living a lifestyle very similar to the gerbil. All jirds are great burrowers and should be given the opportunity to construct burrows in captivity or at least kept in artificial environments which mirror the burrow systems with complex galleries with storerooms and living quarters which these animals construct in the wild.

What should I feed my jirds?

As with the bushy tailed jird the true jirds like gerbils are seed eaters and this diet should be supplemented with fresh green vegetable matter and occasional insects.

What temperature should I keep my jirds?

Many species can happily exist in a wide range of temperatures and humidities since their wild environs may vary from sub-zero temperatures in winter to 38^oC (100^oF) and more on a hot summer day. They neither hibernate nor aestivate ('summer hibernation'), although can remain in a state or torpor for some time in exceptionally cold conditions.

What problems am I likely to encounter with my jirds?

Veterinary problems in these species can include heat stress if kept in persistently high temperatures. Although as noted they can survive high temperatures in the wild, they do so only if they can retreat to the cooler microclimate of a deep burrow - such opportunities may not be available in a captive environment. As with all rodents respiratory infection can be a problem, especially if the animals are kept at too high a population density.