African Pygmy Dormouse
Graphiurus murinus
African Pygmy Dormouse Care Guide
A tiny little exotic rodent, the African Pygmy Dormouse is also known as the African Dormouse, African Dwarf Dormouse, Woodland Dormouse, or colloquially as Micro Squirrel. They are infrequently encountered in the pet trade, due to the fact that they have complicated care requirements compared to other pet rodents. They are only semi-sociable and, due to their speed and agility, handling must be performed with great care.
Graphiurus murinus - Scientific Classification
Normal agouti colouration
Distribution Map
Species Information
1. Origin & Species Classification
A part of the 'Gliridae' family, African Pygmy Dormice are found in the wild solely in Sub-Saharan Africa. Their native habitats can include a wide range of types, including woodland, grassland, savannah and rocky areas, in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. As a species who enjoys climbing, they are often found in forest habitats at altitudes between 1,000m and 4,000m.
G. murinus is a common species in its native habitat, with no particular threats identified. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed the conservation status of the African Dormouse as being of "least concern".
The African Pygmy Dormouse has been shown to develop an infection with monkeypox virus, leading the CDC to prohibit the importation of all African rodents into the United States and the FDA to ban the sale, distribution, transport, or release into the environment of these rodents, including this species. Although the FDA have since rescinded the part of the order that restricted the capture, sale, and interstate movement of domestically-bred African rodents, this still remains a species which is rarely commercially available to the pet trade. Wild caught members of this species may also be potential plague vectors, as a 2007 study in northern Tanzania found Woodland Dormice that were positive for Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague.
2. Colours & Physical Characteristics
The large eyes of the Micro Squirrel leave no doubt that this is a nocturnal species, mostly active at dawn and dusk. With a total length of approximately 15cm, most animals have a body length of around 9cm with the rest of the length being attributed to their bushy, squirrel-like tail. The upper parts of the body are covered in soft, wooly hair in a shade of golden or greyish-brown, sometimes with a coppery or reddish tinge. The underside is a pale grey flushed with white or cream. The hind feet are usually white with a dark streak. The cheeks are a similar colour to the belly, and the ears are rounded and large. The average weight of an adult Woodland Dormouse is approximately 25 grams.
African Pygmy Dormice are omnivorous, and typically feed on berries, flowers, fruits, insects, and nuts. Dormice are unique among rodents in that they lack a cecum, a part of the gut used in other species to ferment vegetable matter.
3. Life in the Wild
Like many other Dormice, animals of this species are arboreal, meaning that they spend most of their lives in trees. However, in some environments, the African Pygmy Dormouse has adapted to occur in degraded and secondary habitats and some wild specimens have even been known to enter buildings, sometimes causing a nuisance. This species uses a globular shaped nest with a side entrance, often built in a crevice or a hole in a tree. They have also been known to use abandoned swallows' nests, humans' homes and mossy areas as their nesting sites.
To prevent heat loss, they curl themselves into a ball and wrap their tails around their bodies. Males, females, and juveniles may occupy an individual nest, and as many as 11 adults, consisting of both genders, have been found to occupy a single nest. African Dormice use nests year round; however, nest type changes in relation to season. During the winter, they use nests that are better insulated and closer to the ground, than those used during the summer.
Most breeding occurs during the summer (October through February), although it is not uncommon for Woodland Dormice to exhibit seasonal polyestry and reproduce all year round. Females have 1 to 2 litters per year. Gestation lasts for approximately 24 days, usually resulting in 3 to 4 altricial pups per litter.
Temperament
1. Social Preferences
As colony animals, African Dormice should be kept with others of their own species. Although, as with many other rodents, territorial disputes can cause issues and lead to injuries. African Pygmy Dormice kept alone, or only in pairs, may be shyer and less interactive than a larger colony, tending to spend more time hiding in their enclosure.
Correctly sexing this species is very difficult before they reach sexual maturity at approximately 5 months of age. Many breeders sell their young as unsexed due to this, which can lead to problems with unwanted pregnancies and fighting between males in mixed groups. Thankfully, this species can be safely castrated by savvy exotic vets and the healing time is quick and the process non-intrusive. However, this is an expense which any potential owner will need to budget for. An educated guess can be made when sexing pups, with the knowledge that the space between the genital and anal openings is larger in males than in females, and that females have a 'dot' in the middle of the genital vent whereas males have more of a button shape. Once sexually mature, males have large testicular bulges under their tails making them very easy to identify.
Always make sure you have a spare vivarium so you are prepared for dormouse territory disputes, especially if you choose to try to introduce new animals to the group. Keep a close eye on your colony so you will be aware if your animals are fighting. The danger signs are quite obvious, especially with males where you will see excessive chasing, fighting and one dormouse may be pinned with the other holding it down.
2. Behaviour
Fast and agile in their movements, most African Pygmy Dormice prefer the company of their own kind rather than interaction with humans. They are quite shy and prefer to interact with humans on their own terms, with some being braver than others in regard to how close to their carers they will advance. Dormice are very sensitive to light, being a noctural animal, and are best viewed and interacted with in the evening and with the help of a red light rather than a white light.
Some colonies will be quite vocal, while others are practically silent. Their sounds include an insect-like twitter, an enquiring 'thrumming' sound, and a sharp bark when distressed, with the sounds they are capable of producing being surprisingly loud for such small creatures.
3. Handling
While some Micro Squirrels are agreeable to regular handling from their owners, they should more be considered a fun pet to watch interact with its surroundings rather than one that will want out of its enclosure regularly to interact with its owner. Regular handling as pups certainly seems to contribute to their level of trust and interest in humans as adults, so seeking a reputable breeder who has a focus on temperament should help in this regard.
It is important to spend time to develop a bond with African Pygmy Dormice to the point that they can be safely handled for weekly health checks, during which it is important to check for weight loss, lethargy and injury.
If provoked or cornered, these little creatures have a sharp bite, so it's best to get them used to handling in a manner that does not lead them to panic. Equally, picking a dormouse up by its tail is not recommended - their tail can easily become detached from their body which will lead to extreme pain, possible serious infection, and will not grow back.
General Care
1. Housing
As arboreal animals, the enclosure must be of sufficient height to allow for climbing and nesting at a variety of levels. The environment for such active little creatures must include plenty of climbing material such as branches, ropes and ladders.
A pair of African Pygmy Dormouse could happily live in a 60cm (H) x 45cm (W) x 45cm (L) vivarium, although the enclosure may look a little cramped when it contains sufficient branches and hides. An upgrade to a larger vivarium of 90cm (H) x 90cm (W) x 45cm (L) will allow for plenty of space to view your pets interacting with their enrichment items, and could happily house a colony of up to 6.
As an African species, a temperature of at least 21°C must be maintained in the vivarium to prevent the dormice from entering a state of torpor (a dangerous state of physical and mental inactivity). Their enclosure should be kept in a room that tends to be warm and is not draughty.
This species can easily escape through very small spaces, so can absolutely not be kept in standard hamster or gerbil cages. Either a full glass terrarium with a tight fitting mesh lid, or a wooden vivarium, is suitable to house the African Pygmy Dormouse.
2. Diet
Naturally omnivorous, Micro Squirrels require a wide variety of foods to maintain a natural diet and ensure they receive all the nutrition necessary to maintain such a busy life. They should constantly have at least one food from each of the following groups available to eat - protein, fruit, insect food and seed. Foods should be rotated so that no two meals or the same, and multiple foods from each group are offered within each week.
Suitable protein sources include boiled chicken, boiled egg, small amounts of cheddar cheese, salmon, tuna (in spring water only), prawns, and high quality dry cat food.
This species thoroughly enjoys a selection of fruit, including mango, apple, banana, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, physalis, melon, sharon fruit, persimmon, tomato and pear. Fruit should be removed after 12 hours if uneaten and not left to spoil in the enclosure.
Insects are particularly appreciated, with many African Dormice enjoying the chance to hunt and catch their own locusts, crickets, waxworms and mealworms, providing a great source of natural enrichment. Although most owners are unable to offer live food on a daily basis, it should be given at least once per week. Dried mealworms are relished when live food is unavailable.
A basic seed mix should be made available at all times. A finch seed tends to make a good base, with a selection of additions such as hemp, millet, linseed, macademias, maize, nygerseed, pinhead oatmeal, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, rolled oats, safflower and sunflower seeds.
As this species lacks a cecum, they are unable to digest plant cellulose, so the majority of commercial hamster, gerbil and mouse feeds are completely unsuitable and will be largely ignored.
In the wild, African Dormice will feast on tree saps and gums. The closest readily available substitute for the essential nutrients they get from sap is maple syrup, which should be constantly available. Some keepers choose to dilute this in a 50:50 mix with water, whereas others offer the syrup neat. Parrot treat bars soaked in honey can also be enjoyed as a treat.
Water should constantly be available in the enclosure, best placed in a shallow ceramic or glass dish to avoid any risk of drowning. Few African Pygmy Dormice will drink from a bottle, although some breeders are starting to report success when a drinking bottle is introduced from a young age.
3. Exercise & Creating a Natural Environment
The average home range for a male African Dormouse is around 139,000 square metres, meaning that these tiny creatures are capable of covering a huge amount of ground in their search for feeding material and nesting sites. For this reason, it is incredibly important that lots of climbing enrichment items, including branches and logs, are included in the enclosure to create as much crambling space as possible.
Deep substrate (at least 2 inches) such as Tumblefresh, a recycled paper product or Aspen allows for digging and nesting, and can be placed throughout the base of the tank or in a digging tower for your pet's enjoyment. Wood shavings made from cedar or pine are not generally recommended for this very sensitive species.
At least one nesting box per animal should be provided, with canary nesting boxes and wooden small animal hides both proving popular. Plenty of nesting material should be provided, with a mixture of paper flakes and bird nesting fibres appreciated.
African Pygmy Dormice do tend to appreciate a running wheel, however owners should be very careful to only used completely enclosed wheels to prevent the sensitive tail from becoming stuck in the wires, and ensure that the wheel is at least 8" in diameter to prevent spinal injuries from running in compromised positions. A flying saucer style runner offers a good alternative to a traditional running wheel, with a lower injury risk and an extremely quiet operation so that nighttime escapades from your Micro Squirrels don't result in a lack of sleep for you!
Health & Hygiene
1. Habitat Maintenance
Soiled areas should be cleaned every few days, with any dirty bedding and excrement removed. When using a substrate deep enough for burrowing, the entire substrate need only be removed and replaced every 6-8 weeks. A small pet-safe disinfectant should be used to clean the enclosure and all enrichment items on these occasions. Areas which are likely to need regular removal of dirt are those in which the animals nest and eat most often. If a strong smell is developing within the enclosure in less than one month, it is likely that the substrate being used is of inappropriate type or depth.
African Pygmy Dormice should be kept in a suitable plastic travel container (those designed for reptiles tend to be ideal) to prevent escapes during the cleaning process. Ensure that all components of the vivarium and the objects contained are completely dry before returning pets to the enclosure.
2. General Health
Typically, African Dormice are healthy little animals with their bright eyes and bushy tails being good indicators of their overall condition. This is a species for which you should take particular care to ensure you have an exotic specialist vet who is willing to treat them, before you take the animals home - many vets will never have heard of them nevermind seen or treated an individual.
As a prey animal, they often will not show obvious signs of illness or injury until they are in very poor condition. Therefore, it is the owner's responsibility to know their pet's routine and keep a very close eye for changes in behaviour or coat condition, and for injuries.
It can be usual for some individuals to seem quite lethargic during the day, particularly for stressed animals, but if your Micro Squirrel does not perk up and become more active in the evening then lethargic behaviour can indicate a health issue.
Torpor is likely the greatest risk to this species when kept as pets. Defined as a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate, torpor is usually used to enable wild animals to survive periods of reduced food availability. However, in a captive African Pygmy Dormouse, torpor is often indicative of an enclosure being too cold, the animal being overly stressed, or of incorrect or inadequate food being supplied.
Symptoms such as weight loss, abnormal hair loss, distress when breathing, skin lesions, lethargy, nasal or eye discharge or diarrhea indicate serious health issues and require immediate veterinary attention.
3. Grooming
A healthy African Dormouse will not require any grooming from their owner, they take care of all of their coat maintenance by themselves. You should never attempt to bathe or brush an African Pygmy Dormouse as they could easily drown or become too stressed.
Species Summary
Overall, the African Pygmy Dormouse is a species that should only be considered by experienced keepers of rodents. They are an expensive pet to purchase, needing specialist equipment including large, arboreal vivaria and suitable heating instruments to maintain an ideal temperature in their enclosure. Feeding requirements can be complicated in terms of striking a balance and ensuring that all nutritional needs are catered for, with a large variety of foods needing to be offered on a weekly basis and no complete food available to reassure owners that they are eating a balanced diet. As a fairly new species to the pet trade, there is little information online about the African Dormouse, and few vets are happy to treat the species as they are classed as an exotic pet which requires specialist knowledge and equipment.