Insectivores (other)

Hypoglycemia / starvation collapse

SignsStaggering, not moving, cold body, seizures. Occurs after only a few hours without food

PreventionAlways keep food in several spots. Check the amount left before going out and before bed. Weigh weekly

Hypothermia

SignsSluggish, curled up and shivering, cold to the touch. Worsens rapidly below 20°C

PreventionKeep 22–28°C year-round; in winter combine a panel heater with a heat lamp. Check the thermometer at eye level

Tooth wear / periodontal disease

SignsLeaves hard food, drooling, bad breath, chewing on one side, facial swelling. Common in older animals

PreventionDo not rely too heavily on very hard dry food. Check the mouth monthly. See the vet if eating habits change

Diarrhea / enteritis

SignsSoft or watery stool, soiled anal area, reduced appetite. Triggered by sudden diet changes or raw meat

PreventionSwitch foods gradually over several days. Avoid raw meat; cook it. Remove leftovers within a few hours

Tumors

SignsLumps on the body, swollen mammary glands, bloody urine, sudden weight loss. More common after 18 months

PreventionNo prevention. Feel the whole body for lumps monthly. Get a checkup as the animal nears 2 years

Dermatitis / external parasites

SignsHair loss, dandruff, scabs, itching, sores around the scent glands

PreventionKeep bedding clean and dry. Have new animals checked for parasites. Buy feeder insects from a reliable shop

Bite wounds (cagemates)

PreventionAlways house adults alone. Never house two males together. For breeding, allow only brief supervised introductions

First aidSeparate at once and press the bleeding area gently with clean gauze. Deep wounds: vet the same day. If bleeding will not stop: vet immediately

Fractures / dislocations

PreventionNever drop from 30 cm or higher. Do not use wire-mesh floors or wheels with gaps

First aidIf it drags a leg or squeaks when touched, do not handle; put it in a small box to rest. Keep warm and fed, and see a vet the same day

Tail / leg lacerations

PreventionEliminate wire mesh and cracked plastic. Avoid fabric items that catch claws

First aidPress with gauze to stop bleeding. If the tail skin has come off, keep it moist and see a vet. Heavy bleeding: vet immediately

Contact burns from heaters

PreventionPlace heaters out of direct reach. Install heat lamps with a wire guard

First aidCool the area gently with wet gauze and check the cage temperature. Red or peeling skin: vet the same day

Salmonellosis

RouteHands that touched feces, the cage or feeder insects

PreventionWash hands with soap after care. Do not do cage care at the table or in the kitchen. Handle raw meat carefully

Ringworm (dermatophytosis)

RouteContact with skin or hairless patches

PreventionHandle animals with hair loss or dandruff with gloves. If a person develops a ring-shaped rash, see a dermatologist

Bacterial infection from bites

RouteBacteria entering through a bite wound

PreventionDo not grab suddenly with bare hands. If bitten, wash under running water; see a doctor if swelling or fever develops

Tick-borne diseases

RouteTicks on wild-caught animals or on bedding

PreventionDo not bring in wild animals. Use only clean commercial bedding. If you find a tick, see a vet

Food

• Keep insectivore or high-protein dry food available at all times
• A few crickets or mealworms daily, plus boiled egg or chicken breast
• Refill 3–4 times a day in portions; put out more at night

Water

• Provide both a shallow dish and a water bottle
• Change daily. When hungry, water alone will not keep it alive

Toys & play

• A solid-surface wheel at least 20 cm in diameter
• Foraging play: hide insects in leaf litter or chips
• Narrow tunnels such as toilet-paper tubes

Nest, bed & hideout

• Two dark, snug wooden or plastic hides
• Stuff with tissue or hay and let it build its own nest

Bedding & litter

• A thick layer of hardwood chips or paper chips
• Strong odor, so replace soiled areas daily
• Hard to litter-train; at most put a sand dish in a corner

Cage / housing material

An escape-proof glass tank or plastic case. Wire mesh injures claws and snout

Size & space

At least 45 cm wide. Prioritize floor area; width over height

Layout

• Spread food dishes across 2–3 spots
• Heat half the floor so it can move away from the heat
• Place hide, wheel and feeding area apart from each other

Placement notes

• Away from direct sunlight and air-conditioner drafts
• A quiet spot free of vibration and loud noise

Exercise, free-roam & walks

• Free-roaming is unnecessary and carries a high escape risk
• A wheel and foraging inside the cage provide enough exercise
• It is fast and slips into gaps, so never put it on the floor

Temperature & humidity

Temperature22–28°C. Below 20°C and above 30°C are dangerous

Humidity40–60%. Dampness causes dermatitis

Summer & winter

• Summer: keep below 28°C with air conditioning; never let water run out
• Winter: use two types of heater and prepare for power outages

Nail trimming

Only if overgrown and catching. Restraint is difficult, so have the vet trim them

Brushing, skin & coat care

Not needed. Provide a sand-bath dish and it grooms itself. Scent-gland odor does not wash off

Other care

Wipe scent-gland rub marks with a mild detergent. Teeth stay healthy naturally on firm food

Protection from predators

• Do not keep in the same room as cats, dogs or ferrets
• Beware of snakes and crows getting in through gaps in screens
• Screens and clean bedding to keep out mosquitoes and ticks

Foreign-body ingestion

Easily swallows bedding or tissue. Do not use cotton or thin-thread bedding. If no stool and a bloated belly, see a vet the same day

Being stepped on

Fast-moving and may dart underfoot. Never put it on the floor. If stepped on, keep warm; if it cannot move or is bleeding, see a vet immediately

Getting pinched

Easily caught in cage lids or sliding doors. Check its position when opening and closing. If pinched, free it at once; if it drags a leg, see a vet the same day

Falls

Jumps off hands and breaks bones easily. Hold it low, close to the floor. After a fall, rest it in a box and see a vet the same day

Escape

Escapes through gaps of a few millimeters. Always lock the lid. If it gets out, close off the room, put a food dish on the floor and wait quietly at night

Safe release procedure

1. Keep your hand still and lower it close to the cage floor
2. Bring a favorite food to its nose with the other hand
3. Once it lets go, withdraw your hand quickly
4. If it will not let go, blow gently on its face

After the release

Wash with running water and soap, then disinfect. Even tiny fangs bite deep; see a doctor if swelling or pain persists

What to tell the vet & what to bring

Time and amount last eaten, body weight, thermometer reading. Bring the actual stool, vomit and food

Checking consciousness, breathing & heartbeat

• Touch lightly with a finger and watch for whisker or leg response
• Breathing is fast, over 100 per minute; check by belly movement
• Heart rate is several hundred per minute and hard to count by hand

Stopping bleeding

• Press gently with clean gauze for 2–3 minutes
• On legs or tail, use only pinching pressure with the fingers
• Do not use antiseptic or styptic; go to the vet as is

Transport

• Put a cloth and a hot-water bottle in a small plastic case
• Always include a food dish, keep it dark and do not jostle