Spinifex Hopping Mouse

These sweet little critters are good-natured when tamed as youngsters as anything else, but are not a good beginner pet. As their name suggests they can jump 2 feet straight into the air and are very active. These mice need a lot of space to roam. They are more of a pet to watch than to cuddle, but they can be handled and their antics are sure to amuse.

Scientific name: Notomys Alexis
Size: 24cm long including tail
Lifespan: 3-4 years
Natural range: Central Australia

Housing

• aquarium with mesh lid
• must be at least 90cm long, 30cm wide and 40cm tall for a pair
• very social animals, should be kept in same-sex pairs or groups, but overcrowding will result in fighting
• Bedding: aspen or reptile sand
• Accessories: wheel, branches, hideaway, tubes

Food

• mixture of quality rodent blocks, some kitten kibble and commercial rodent seed mix
• feed fruits (low citrus) and veggies weekly
• timothy hay

Breeding

• Maturity: 2 months old
• Gestation: 32 days
• Litter size: 3-4
• keep an eye on pairs put together for breeding as matings can be aggressive
• young are weaned by 5 weeks old