Now the content has become very popularexotic animals in the home. One of these is the Asian chipmunk, which has become domesticated quite recently, but has already earned the love and warmth of others. In addition to the fact that these amazing animals have a charming appearance, it is still very interesting to observe their behavior and life activity. However, chipmunks are tamed rather difficult, so if you decide to get yourself such a pet, you should know all the subtleties of its content, and, believe me, they are many.
Habitat and features of existence
Chipmunks are rodents that relate tothe family of Squirrels. They dwell mainly in North America, except there are only Siberian or Asian, which inhabit China and Europe. Most of them live in light forests, in earthen burrows or under trees, but when they feel danger, they can climb a tree. Chipmunk likes solitude, so in captivity every animal must be provided with its own cage. There is an Asian chipmunk, a photo of which you can see in this article, in the wild about 3 years, and in captivity - 5-6 years, but there have been cases when with proper care and proper nutrition the animal lived to 10 years. In winter, they usually go into hibernation, but differ from other animals in that they can wake up, replenish supplies, and then again plunge into sleep.
Description of Asian chipmunk
This is a small animal, which looks very similaron a small squirrel. He has a pretty attractive fur coat and a long fluffy tail. The woolen cover is usually of a rusty or gray color, with five characteristic black stripes. The length of the body of the Asian chipmunk is 13-19 cm, the length of the tail is 8-12 cm with a body weight of about 70-110 g. The tail is covered with a long and thick coat. Zverek has a harsh woolen cover. A characteristic feature of the Asian chipmunk are very nice cheek pouches.
Representatives of this species lead mainlydaytime lifestyle. These are very graceful, energetic, curious and trusting rodents, which even in the wild nature show interest to people. Chipmunk is a very clean and tidy animal, which, although it brings some troubles, however, gives a lot of joy. Also, do not forget that the chipmunk at home is very curious, so it is not recommended to let the rodent out of the cage unattended.
Chipmunk Content
These exotic pets are unpretentious to care andcontent. They differ from other domestic rodents in that there is practically no unpleasant smell from them, as, for example, from tame rats or hamsters. This, of course, greatly facilitates the care of them. They get used to captivity rather quickly and painlessly. If you nevertheless decided to get such a pet for yourself, then you should create all the necessary conditions for it so that it feels comfortable and safe.
First you need to buy a suitablethe cage. Chipmunks (domestic) love to run, so they need a cage of considerable size - approximately 100 × 50 × 60 cm. It must be metal and have many sections. It is also recommended to put a running wheel and a house where the chipmunk will sleep. Be sure to put in a cage branches and snags. It is recommended to make litter from sawdust, but it can also be made from hay or peat. Periodically, the house must be removed from the stock, just do not throw everything at once, as a chipmunk can be very upset.
The subtleties of the content of the animal
Immediately release the chipmunk out of the cageit is recommended, at first the animal should get used to it, and after a couple of weeks you can already teach him to walk around the apartment. However, as mentioned above, only under close supervision. Since the animal is active only during the day, at night it will not disturb you. Chipmunks do not hibernate, they just become lethargic and less active for the winter period. At this time, the pet in any case can not be disturbed or frightened, because as a result he can become aggressive. We have already mentioned that the Asian Chipmunk quite quickly gets used to the person, he eventually begins to take food from his hands, so if you want to quickly tame a pet, use food for this.
The diet of the Asian Chipmunk
By eating this rodent unpretentious.Chipmunk at home consumes almost all known cereals. Of course, most of all they love nuts (no almond should be given!), Cereals, sunflower and apple seeds. You can also give him dairy products: cottage cheese and milk. You also need to remember that the Asian Chipmunk is not completely vegetarian, it also needs to offer animal food, such as insects or larvae, but you can replace them with a small amount of raw meat. He is happy to eat fresh grass, fruits, berries and vegetables, only citrus fruits should not be often fed. You can not give a chipmunk plum, as their bones contain such a substance that is dangerous for the animal.
Fresh water should always be in the cage.Bowl pet can throw, so it is recommended to install a drinker, but rather a few. Chipmunk needs to put a piece of chalk to bite him, grinding off the incisors. By the way, now you can buy special dry food in almost any pet store and alternate it with regular food, which diversifies the pet's diet.
More about the important
We must remember that the animal (chipmunk) is notloves extreme heat, in the wild it is only in the spring, when it is still cool, can soak up the sunshine. Therefore, in the cage you need to create special dark places so that the pet can hide if desired. In the spring, it is desirable, even at home, to provide the rodent with the opportunity to bask in the sun. It is also important to know that it is absolutely impossible to grab a chipmunk by the tail, since the skin is very thin here, so this can lead to injury, as a result of which the tail will have to be amputated. Do not forget that if you do not give your pet solid food, with the help of which he will grind his incisors, then they can later grow to such an extent that the rodent may even die.
Conclusion
Asian (or Siberian) Chipmunk domesticatedrelatively recently, so it's worth fearing its bites. Even when the pet is already used to its owner, it can still bite, which, believe me, is not very pleasant. If you still decide to get yourself such a pet, then carefully follow all the above details. If the animal provides the correct diet and optimal conditions for life, it will live a long time and will delight you and your family.
