The purchase
What do you need to think about before purchasing a dormouse? First of all you should never buy just one dormouse. You must consider if you are going to buy a pair or a group. If you buy a group of females or a group of males makes no bigger difference. If you are thinking of getting a breeding pair I would like you to think twice about that. The female can give birth to approximately one litter per month if the male lives in the same enclosure. This will be very stressful for her. And keeping them apart, away from each other won't make them happy either. I guess you've had other pets before if you consider buying dormice, since this isn't a beginner's pet, so I won't go into everything you have to think about before purshasing a new pet. But you must of course have enough space for the enclosure and enough time to be able to take good care of your new pets. Since dormice sleep all day there is no problem if you work a lot and don't come home until late at night. Buying a dormouse costs more than a hamster for example, but they are very cheap to care for. In captivety the african pygmy dormouse can become 4-6 years old. Read as much as you can find about these little creatures before you make your final decision.
So far it can be difficult to find dormice in the petstores in Sweden, even though it is legal to sell them. The law says that if they are to be kept in a petshop the cage must be at least as big as those for chinchillas (minimum 60x40x70 cm) and this is if the dormouse weighs less than 100g, which includes the african pygmy dormouse. It's often easier to get in touch with a breeder if you're interested in exotic pets. If you want an animal that enjoys being handled it's important that the breeder has handled the pet from the beginning. Take a close look at the animals before you buy them to make sure that they are in a good condition. Ask the breeder if you can visit him or her in the evening, when the animals are more alert and not so sleepy. Their eyes should be clear and shouldn't be running. Always check the animal's teeth when you buy a rodent, they shouldn't be too long and the set of teeth must be correct. The fur should be soft and it shouldn't have any scars. If possible, check their anal region. Make sure it's clean from fecal matter in the fur, as this is a sign of present or recent problem with diarrhea. The animals should be no younger than 5-6 weeks old and then it's up to you if you want to buy an older animal. It's easier to tame a youngster and a younger animal is to be preferd if you are going to introduce him to some new roommates. The tank should be furnished and in place before you bring your new pets home.
Sudden food changes are never good for any animal, this will upset their stomach. When you buy your dormice, ask the breeder or the petstore for some food that they are used to. Then you can mix a little bit of it with the seedmix you have at home. Then your animals will get used to the new food slowly. Increase the amount of new food over time, and decrease the amount of old food at the same time. Bringing some of their old food will also contribute to your dormice feeling more at home.
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