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Animal Name
Syrian Hamster

Scientific Name: Mesocricetus auratus

Class: Mammalia

Order:

Body Temp: 98.6 degrees F (37-38 degrees C)

Respiration Rate: 35 - 120 BPM

Weight:

• Adult Male 80 - 100 gm
• Adult Female 80 - 100 gm
• Newborn 2 gm

Avg. Litter size: 5 -10

Age at weaning: 21 days

Recommended Temperature: 64.4-78.8 degrees F (18-26 degrees C)

Relative Humidity: 40-70%

Photo Period (light/dark): 14/10

Water Consumption: > 20 ml/100 gm/day

Food Consumption: > 15 gm/100 gm/day

Sexual Maturity:

• Male 7 weeks
• Female 7 weeks

Life Span: 2 years

Breeding Life:

• Male 1 year
• Female 1 year

Bleeding Methods: cardiac puncture (anesthetized) (terminal), orbital plexus (anesthetized), small sample: cephalic vein

Identification Methods: ear notch, tattoo, ear tag

Anesthesia Methods: ketamine, methoxyflurane, pentobarbital

Euthansia Methods: OD sodium pentobarbital, C02

Problem areas & diseases: Salmonella, LCM, enteritis, pneumonia demodex-skin mite, abscesses from fight wounds

Other: hibernation; cheek pouches

*(See NIH Guide, Page 14).Housing requirements may change pending new legislation.

Animal Name
Mongolian Gerbil

Scientific Name: Meriones unguiculatus

Class: Mammalia

Order: Rodentia

Body Temp: 99.4 degrees F (37.0-38.5 degrees C)

Respiration Rate: 90 BPM

Weight:

• Adult Male 80 - 100 gm
• Adult Female 80 - 100 gm
• Newborn 2 gm

Food Consumption: 5-8 gm/100 gm/day

Sexual Maturity:

• Male 13 weeks
• Female 13 weeks

Gestation period: 25 - 26 days

Life Span: 3 years

Avg.Litter size: 4 - 5

Breading Life:

• Male 2 years
• Female 2 years

Recommended Temperature: 64.4-78.8 degrees F(18-26 degrees C)

Relative Humidity: 30 - 50%

Photo Period (light/dark): 12/12

*Housing Requirements: floor area/animal = 20 sq. in., solid bottom, solid sides

Identification Methods: ear punch, metal ear tags, dye marking

Bleeding Methods: retroorbital (anesthetized), heart puncture (anesthetized)(terminal), (small quantities): tail vein

Anesthesia Methods: ketamine, pentobarbital, methoxyflurane

Euthanasia Methods: carbon dioxide, pentobarbital IP

Problam areas & diseases: cataleptic seizures, "sorenose", Tyzzer's disease, rough hair coat

Other : streptomycin is toxic; large adrenals

* Recommended guidelines.

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