African dormouse

Torpor (hypothermia)

SignsCold, curled up and motionless; breathing extremely shallow and slow; dull response to touch

PreventionKeep the room at 20°C or above at all times. Never switch off the heater at night or while away; check a thermometer daily

Diarrhea / enteritis

SignsSoft or watery stool soiling the tail base; reduced appetite; weight loss. The tiny body dehydrates fast

PreventionAvoid overfeeding fruit. Remove leftovers daily; keep bedding and water bottle clean

Respiratory infection

SignsRunny nose, sneezing, crackling sounds when breathing, squinting, reduced activity

PreventionPrevent sudden winter chills and drafts. Use dry bedding and place the cage in a well-ventilated spot

Calcium deficiency

SignsWobbly hind legs, fractures easily, seizures, hunched back. Caused by an insect-heavy diet

PreventionDust insects with calcium supplement. Make pellets the staple; do not feed only insects or fruit

Obesity / fatty liver

SignsWeight far above normal, sagging belly, sluggish movement, sudden loss of appetite

PreventionMealworms and nuts only as small treats. Weigh monthly and provide a wheel for exercise

Tumors

SignsLump under the skin or on the belly that grows gradually; one-sided swelling. More common with age

PreventionHard to prevent. Check the body weekly; if you find a lump, see a vet while it is still small

Tail slip (degloving)

PreventionNever hold or grab the tail. To catch, cup with both hands or guide into a cup

First aidThe skin will not go back. Press gently with clean gauze to stop bleeding and see a vet the same day. Dead tissue must be surgically removed

Fracture from a fall

PreventionDo not let it climb high during free-roam time. Put thick bedding under anything 30 cm or higher in the cage

First aidIf it drags a leg or will not move, do not touch; place in a small box, keep warm and see a vet the same day. Never splint it yourself

Bite from a cage mate

PreventionIntroduce new animals carefully. Separate immediately after a fight. Fights increase in breeding season or when food is short

First aidSeparate into another cage at once; press bleeding with clean gauze. Deep or swollen wound: see a vet the same day

Claw caught in fabric

PreventionNo terry cloth or frayed fabric. Avoid wide-mesh hammocks and wire floors

First aidDo not let it struggle; cut the fabric away. A swollen or discolored toe means blocked blood flow: see a vet the same day

Salmonellosis

RouteHand-to-mouth after touching feces or cage items

PreventionWash hands with soap after cleaning. Do not wash cage items in the kitchen. Extra care for children and the elderly

Ringworm (dermatophytosis)

RouteDirect contact with an animal that has hair loss or dandruff

PreventionSee a vet for round bald patches. Handle with gloves; if a person develops a red ring-shaped rash, see a dermatologist

Bite wound infection

RoutePasteurella and other bacteria enter through a bite

PreventionWash a bite under running water for 5 minutes and disinfect. See a doctor if it swells or feels hot. Immunocompromised people take extra care

External parasites (mites)

RouteMites from bedding or the animal transfer to human skin

PreventionStore new bedding sealed. If itching or bite marks appear, have both the animal and the person examined

Food

• Small-animal pellets as the staple, once in the evening, about 10% of body weight
• Insects such as crickets and mealworms 3–4 times a week, dusted with calcium
• Fruit, vegetables and boiled egg in very small amounts; remove leftovers the next morning

Water

• Change the water bottle daily and check the spout for clogs with your finger
• For animals not used to a bottle, also provide a shallow heavy dish and wash it daily

Toys & play

• A seamless wheel at least 15 cm in diameter (no gaps that can trap feet)
• Build climbing routes with branches of different thicknesses, rope and cork bark
• Hide food in paper tunnels or the nest box for foraging

Nest, bed & hideout

• Mount a small wooden or paper nest box high up, filled with paper nesting material
• Provide several nest boxes; with multiple animals, more boxes than animals

Bedding & litter

• Paper bedding or non-softwood chips, at least 3 cm deep
• No cotton or terry cloth; it tangles claws and feet
• Replace all bedding weekly; remove soiled spots daily

Cage / housing material

Glass or acrylic tank with a wire-mesh lid, or a fine-mesh wire cage (gaps 5 mm or less)

Size & space

At least 45 W x 30 D x 45 H cm. Prioritize height; larger for multiple animals

Layout

• Nest box at the top, branches and wheel in the middle, food dish and water bottle at the bottom
• Put thick bedding or branches directly below high points to catch falls
• Secure lids and doors with clips or locks; check for gaps every time

Placement notes

• Away from direct sun, air-conditioner airflow and drafts
• Active at night, so keep it out of the bedroom and away from the TV

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• Free-roam time is not required. If you do it, do it at night in a small room with gaps sealed
• Completely block access behind furniture, to outlets and by other pets
• The wheel and climbing branches in the cage provide enough exercise

Temperature & humidity

Temperature22–28°C. Torpor below 15°C; risk of heatstroke above 30°C

Humidity40–60%. Avoid humidity high enough to cause condensation

Summer & winter

• Summer: keep at 28°C or below with air conditioning. Do not leave it alone in a closed-up room
• Winter: maintain 20°C or above with a panel heater and insulating cover; verify with a thermometer

Nail trimming

Normally worn down naturally on branches and stones. If overgrown and catching on fabric, have the vet trim them

Brushing, skin & coat care

No brushing needed. Hair loss, dandruff or scratching suggests mites or skin disease; see a vet

Other care

Thin tail fur or a black tip signals tail slip or necrosis. Provide hard branches to chew so teeth wear down

Protection from predators

• Keep cats, dogs and ferrets out of the room. Even with the door shut, an escapee can be attacked
• Check window screens against mosquitoes and flies; in summer protect the cage with netting
• Do not place it on a balcony or by a window; keep indoors where crows and snakes cannot get in

Foreign-body ingestion

Chews and swallows cotton, lint, rubber bands and small plastic bits. Suspect a foreign body if stool stops or appetite drops; see a vet the same day

Being stepped on

Easily stepped on when running on the floor. Tell family during free-roam time and shuffle your feet. If stepped on, do not touch even if it cannot move; place in a box and go to the vet immediately

Getting pinched

Squeezes into door and drawer gaps. Fingers and tail are easily pinched when closing the cage lid. If the pinched area swells or cannot move, see a vet the same day

Falls

Jumps from heights, but falls from slippery floors or desk edges cause fractures. Never put it on a desk or your shoulder. If it drags a leg after a fall, see a vet the same day

Escape

Escapes through gaps of a few millimeters. If it gets out, darken and quiet the room, place the nest box and food on the floor and wait. Isolate other pets in another room

Safe release procedure

1. Even if it hurts, stay still and lower your hand toward the floor or a table
2. Cup the body with your free hand so its feet touch the floor
3. If it will not let go, blow gently on its nose or bring a cloth close to distract it
4. Once released, return it gently to the cage and leave it alone for a while

After the release

Wash the wound under running water for 5 minutes and disinfect. Small teeth bite deep. See a doctor for swelling, heat or pus. People with diabetes or similar conditions should go early

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Weight, thermometer records, recent diet (how often insects), when the problem started, photos of stool or the affected area

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Place on your palm and watch the chest rise and fall. Normal is fast, over 100 breaths per minute
• Touch a fingertip to the left side of the chest and feel the heartbeat vibration. Normal is over 300 per minute
• Judge body temperature by touch. If cold and motionless, suspect torpor

Stopping bleeding

• Press the wound with clean gauze for 3–5 minutes without moving it
• On a tail-slip wound the skin will not go back; do not rewrap, just press to stop bleeding
• In a 20–30 g body a few drops is major blood loss. If it does not stop, go to the vet immediately

Transport

• Place in a small box or fabric pouch with nesting material and carry it in the dark
• Stick disposable hand warmers on the outside of the box so they never touch the animal