THE JIRD

Origin

·          The most common type of jird kept as a pet is the Shaws jird.

·          It originates from the arid areas of North Africa and the Middle East.

·          It is about the same size as a rat and looks very much like a giant gerbil. The gerbil is actually a type of jird.

Life expectancy

·      3 - 4 years

Temperament / Behaviour

·          They are very inquisitive, they rarely bite and normally enjoy being handled. Because of their size they are easier to handle than some of the smaller rodents.

·          Jirds will often stamp their hind foot when excited or to warn others when they sense danger.

·          They are reported to be quite intelligent and apparently it is possible to house train them.

Company

·            Females are very territorial and must be housed by themselves. In the wild they would only ever meet with another jird to mate or defend their territory.

·          Male jirds enjoy company and are best kept in pairs or small groups.

Mixing / Introducing

·            Females must not be mixed. They will even fight male jirds unless they are in season.

·          Males can be mixed easily at a young age. After sexual maturity it can be very difficult to mix them and it is not always possible. See sheet on introducing.

Diet

• What we feed: Gerbil mix e.g. Gerri Gerbil

          Cat meat - a small amount twice weekly

            Small amounts of fruit and vegetables

• Treats: Most fruit and vegetables.

Accommodation

·          Female jirds are much more like gerbils, and spend a lot of their time underground. They like to dig and hoard their food and bedding. Therefore we house ours in a tank with a deep litter, we use a mixture of hay and shavings, so they can dig their own home as they would naturally do and seem to enjoy doing. Minimum tank size 90cm x 30cm x 30cm.

·          Male jirds naturally spend most of their time above ground and can be housed in a cage or tank. A cage is better as it will normally have several levels giving the jird more floor space and the chance to climb. It should have tubes to run through and hide in. Minimum size 90cm x 40cm x 60cm. The larger the better.

·          As jirds are rodents their teeth are continually growing this means that they should have something to gnaw on. We give ours applewood but any softwood will do.

Maintenance

·          Food and water must be changed daily.

·          Female tanks with a deep litter may only need cleaning monthly as long as any soiled food is removed.

·          Male cages will need cleaning twice weekly.

·          They are intelligent animals and ideally they should be handled on a daily basis, and have daily exercise out of their accommodation.

·          They require a weekly health check by an adult.

IN CASES OF CRUELTY, NEGLECT OR IN AN EMERGENCY TEL: 0300 1234 999 (24 HOUR)