This is just something I've been curious about from reading through the site for a while. I've seen enclosures that create an almost perfectly natural environment for snakes, lizards, amphibians, etc. but have yet to see any small mammals in these naturalistic cages. I'm not talking about setting up a dog in a "wooded kennel" - but would there be any reason against setting up an enclosure for something like a hedgehog or short-tailed opossum that had a more naturalistic feel to it? I understand it'd be more difficult to clean/maintain, but would there be any health detrimant to the animal being housed?
Why no naturalistic vivariums for mammals?
- Thread starter rudukai13
- Start date
Its probably due to the fact that its easier to house them in the metal or general market cages that you see for sale in most pet shops and most people who keep these animals (im asuming you mean things like hamsters, gerbils, mice etc?) have no idea of their natural habitat.
And in my opinion they usually seem fine and pretty happy in the acomodation that they are provided aswell. But i try to keep my furry pets in more nhatural conditions but it is difficult to provide and they seem happy in the conditons that they are kept in.
And in my opinion they usually seem fine and pretty happy in the acomodation that they are provided aswell. But i try to keep my furry pets in more nhatural conditions but it is difficult to provide and they seem happy in the conditons that they are kept in.
I guess Bruce has it about right. I'd add that the comparatively high metabolism of small mammals makes it tough to keep a more naturalistic enclosuer sanitary. Also we're generally talking rodents, whose natural tendency is to gnaw/eat cage furnishings. In fact, with my old rat, I'd build different design cage "furniture" out of scrapwood for him to play on, and when he eventually gnawed it to uselessness I'd make something new.
So it's basically just about ease of maintenance? And I understand that they can be happy with a more simplistic enclosure, but as long as the naturalistic enclosure provides all of the same basic factors they would be just as well off. I wouldn't do this for something like a gerbil or mouse, but if I were to ever get a hedgehog or some other slightly more "exotic" small mammal, I'd consider doing a bit more of a show-enclosure.
Hedgehogs are very messy (poop all the time). When I had them I had to clean the cage a couple times a week. I imagine that would be too much work with anything elaborate for the cage. Plus hedgehogs have issues with alot of substrates so that would be more difficult.
There are places that have natural enclosures. They're called zoos! If you wanted to make a natural enclosure like they do, have at it. But I'm sure it's just cheaper to have a wire cage instead. I love natural setups but they are a little harder to maintain then something you can just wipe down.
When I had my STP I really looked into trying a more naturalistic enclosure but it was making it where he didnt have the forms of enrichment I felt were necessary for him and keeping it sanitary is a whole lot more difficult then a more unnatural enclosure there waste smells horrible so I was cleaning his cage 2-3 times a week so this made it very difficult to empty the cage and dissinfect everything. So because of this I opted for a less natural enclosure but imo a healthier habitat both physically and mentally.
With my hedgehog I would have to say the same things apply to her it is much harder to maintain a sanitary enviroment for them when it is more naturalistic. And since they are rooting around in the substrate all the time you dont really want anything that is very dusty due to possible respiratory issues. If anyone ever does find a way to provide a more naturalistic enclosure for mammals on the hobbyist level I would love to know!
With my hedgehog I would have to say the same things apply to her it is much harder to maintain a sanitary enviroment for them when it is more naturalistic. And since they are rooting around in the substrate all the time you dont really want anything that is very dusty due to possible respiratory issues. If anyone ever does find a way to provide a more naturalistic enclosure for mammals on the hobbyist level I would love to know!
I don't want to get focused on any one specific animal though. So what I'm hearing so far is that it would require more maintenance to keep clean, but I'm not hearing anyone say it would cause the animal to be less healthy than it would otherwise be, correct? If someone were willing to put in the extra effort to keep a natural enclosure clean, then there wouldn't be any ill effects to the animal housed?