Hello and Welcome to RodentZone
We have always loved keeping pets – especially rodents – around us all our lives.
So, we thought RodentZone would be a great place to share our accumulated knowledge and experiences with you as you start out on your own small animal journeys, whether it is with gerbils or jirds, guinea pigs, hamsters, degus, chinchillas, fancy rats or mice, duprasi, fat sand rats, giant pouched rats or anything else.
We am starting this site mainly with Mongolian Gerbils and Fat-Tailed Gerbils as this is what we currently have the most of – and we all have to start somewhere, right?
Other rodents will follow in due course…
A bit more about us
One of our first pets was a lovely dutch rabbit (not a rodent, we know) at the age of 5, but then once we got a feel for this whole pet thing – no-one could stop us acquiring more animals* and learning all about them.
*We must remember to thank our mums for their patience as more and more creatures came through the door in all shapes and sizes – although we are sure the first fancy rats were a little too much at first…
We have also worked and volunteered in a wide variety of animal roles including veterinary practices, rehoming centres, wildlife rescues, company trainer for a large family-run pet company, as well as working with other local rodent keepers and breeders.
Between us we hold a biology degree; a zoology degree, are a qualified teacher and trainer; have studied basic genetics, small animal health and nutrition as well as basic health care. We also grow a lot of our own rodent food in our yard and forage for wild treats in the local countryside.
So, after many years of owning, caring for, breeding and learning about rodents of all forms and fancies (we must have now had more than 400 animals pass through our doors) – we think we now have enough experience to share with you all about the basics about these wonderful companions – as well as a bit about the science…
There will be more pets to come for me – of that we are sure. We don’t think we can stop ourselves (we have already researched and aquired very rare Persian Jirds and are looking at Prairie Dogs or Fat Sand Rats for possible next pets?).
So, with thanks to the help of Poppy & Pumpkin; Frabble & Latte; Fred & Ginger; Morris & Malarkay; Ren & Stumpy; Foreman & 13; Monty & Metro; Jake; Onesie & Thumper; Samson & Amy; Jo & Sam; Tassel & Willow; Junior, Cedric, Doh, Dic & Dow; Pickle & Peanut; Piggy-Wigg; Eeny, Meeny, Mynie & Moe; Repa; and many, many, many more of our little ones – here we go…
Featured image is Richard the Mongolian Gerbil – one of ours who went to live with our own family…