Duprasi, the missing link between hamsters and gerbils.

[Redheaddegu]

So, I was planning on another dwarf hamster. I started building the cage. Then I got offered a Duprasi.

So please meet Moth……



This a picture of her, just before I set off home.

 

[Redheaddegu]

Duprasi are actually more closely related to gerbils (they are also known as the fat-tailed gerbil), but in general care is closer to that of a hamster. They are about the size of a dwarf hamster, and just as clumsy, so consideration has to be given to making sure they can’t fall of things. So the cage I planned for a dwarf only needed a couple of tweaks.

They are insectivores, so diet is again hamster or gerbil food supplemented with lots of insects. They also like a bit of fresh food, but as desert animals, not to much.

One big difference is the level of destruction! When I had gerbils, lots of people collected loo rolls for me, as they got through so many. With a dwarf hamster, I was throwing them out. Apparently, these little furballs can beat a gerbil in a loo roll threading competition!

 

[Redheaddegu]

This is an early picture of my cage. It is also my coffee table! There is a burrowing area on the right, which now I’ve made it,I think is likely too small. My dwarf hamsters made a burrow, and stuck to it. They only used half the cage really, so I made myself a magazine shelf. I’m going to make a bigger 120cm cage, with an 80cm burrowing area (this one is 100cm). The burrowing area in the new one will have removable lids on it. I’ve found both hamsters and gerbils seemed to prefer to walk on solid ground, rather than bedding.

 

[Redheaddegu]

Inside to the left on the shelf is ‘the beach’ with sand bath. Under it is the woodland area with bark substrate, leaf and veg forage. There is also a hide filled with moss that can be taken to a burrow for nesting. Next to that is the coco soil forage box filled with dried mealworms and crickets.
Moth can do a complete circuit round the outside of the cage - apparently that’s important for Duprasi

 

[Redheaddegu]

The other side of the cage has the wheel, access to the burrow area behind the wheel, and the garden shelf with a house, grass hide, seeds in the lotus head, readigrass substrate and flower forage.

I’m pleased with the cage, but will be starting on the bigger one soon, as I know I can do better!

 

[Redheaddegu]

I promise I’ll add more info to the Degu thread soon, for anyone who is interested in the other furries out there

 

[Socks' Mum]

Moth is a sweet little creature. She's luckily found a great home

 

[Maz]

That looks amazing! You are very creative and Moth looks very sweet. So Moth will like destroying things then?! Will the set up look rampaged soon then?

 

[Lovelyness]

Duprasi are actually more closely related to gerbils (they are also known as the fat-tailed gerbil), but in general care is closer to that of a hamster. They are about the size of a dwarf hamster, and just as clumsy, so consideration has to be given to making sure they can’t fall of things. So the cage I planned for a dwarf only needed a couple of tweaks.

They are insectivores, so diet is again hamster or gerbil food supplemented with lots of insects. They also like a bit of fresh food, but as desert animals, not to much.

One big difference is the level of destruction! When I had gerbils, lots of people collected loo rolls for me, as they got through so many. With a dwarf hamster, I was throwing them out. Apparently, these little furballs can beat a gerbil in a loo roll threading competition!

She can give Blossom a run for her money then who has a love of shredding egg boxes lol

 

[Redheaddegu]

She can give Blossom a run for her money then who has a love of shredding egg boxes lol
View attachment 10646

Oh wow. I was amazed at the total lack of of any destruction by Louet and Titch, my previous dwarf. Looks like Blossom really gets stuck in!

 

[Redheaddegu]

Moth is a sweet little creature. She's luckily found a great home

Thank you

 

[Redheaddegu]

That looks amazing! You are very creative and Moth looks very sweet. So Moth will like destroying things then?! Will the set up look rampaged soon then?

Thank you. Sometimes being creative can feel like a bit of a curse, you can’t just keep things simple! It took me ages to stick all the moss on. But I think it was worth it. I’m intrigued to see how the destruction affects things. I’m planning out the new cage, but depending on the damage done here, I may have to scale back my plans

 

[Socks' Mum]

I've heard of gerbils trying to move their wheels down into their nests and also degus forming chain gangs to dig tunnels. There are some pretty determined rodent demolition crews

 

[Lovelyness]

Oh wow. I was amazed at the total lack of of any destruction by Louet and Titch, my previous dwarf. Looks like Blossom really gets stuck in!

She certainly does lol

 

[Maz]

Could you tell us some of the specific features about Duprasi that are gerbil-like or hamster-like please? Do they pouch food, dig tunnels and build nests? Do they have tails? Do they climb? (Edit sorry you mentioned earlier they have tails!)

They seem to have a bit of a look of the "Pacific pocket mouse" - there's a thread about them here - I watched a few videos about them reintroducing them to certain areas and it was fascinating.

Pacific Pocket Mice - reintroduction

I came across the virtually extinct Pacific Pocket Mouse and this video about how they bred more of them in captivity and are reintroducing them to the wild. They seem a bit like hamsters as they hoard food in their "pockets". But very tiny and cute! There are some really interesting bits in...

www.thehamsterforum.com

 

[Doodleham]

What a cute little one. Looking forward to learning more about her. Are they solitary like hamsters?

One of my dwarf hamsters likes chewing egg boxes too. She's chewed a hole in the bottom of it.

 

[Redheaddegu]

Could you tell us some of the specific features about Duprasi that are gerbil-like or hamster-like please? Do they pouch food, dig tunnels and build nests? Do they have tails? Do they climb? (Edit sorry you mentioned earlier they have tails!)

They seem to have a bit of a look of the "Pacific pocket mouse" - there's a thread about them here - I watched a few videos about them reintroducing them to certain areas and it was fascinating.

Pacific Pocket Mice - reintroduction

I came across the virtually extinct Pacific Pocket Mouse and this video about how they bred more of them in captivity and are reintroducing them to the wild. They seem a bit like hamsters as they hoard food in their "pockets". But very tiny and cute! There are some really interesting bits in...

www.thehamsterforum.com

Will add more info, but may need to wait until after the weekend. Have been preparing for the royal visit aka my mum. I take the opportunity to deep clean the house, as she only comes once a year for the quilt show. Then I’m working the weekend……..