Barbary Striped Grass Mouse

Did you know?
that Barbary striped grass mice may reach an age of 3 to 4.5 years in human care, while in the wild their life expectancy hardly exceeds 6 months?

Photo Copyright by
Richard Bartz

Why do zoos keep this animal

The Barbary striped grass mouse – also called “zebra mouse” is the most frequently kept of the about 11 Lemniscomys species. Zoos keep zebra mice primarily for educational reasons, as a particularly attractive representative of the mouse family. Being small,diurnal, social and very active animals, zebra mice appeal particularly to children, and are an ideal species for awakening a positive attitude towards animals and nature.

How this animal should be kept

Barbary striped grass mice are social animals and must be kept in pairs or, preferably, groups containing males and females.

The biggest concern in any grouping of Barbary striped grass mice is overcrowding. If there are too many mice in too small an enclosure, dominance fights can quickly become fatal. If fights, or bite marks or pulled out hair on the smaller members of the group are observed, the entire group should be moved to a larger enclosure, or some of the animals should be removed. After having given birth females may be very intolerant against males, and it is an absolute requirement that there are enough hides for individual animals to withdraw.

Spiny mice are usually kept indoors in terrariums. Minimum size of a terrarium for a pair or a smaller groupis 80x40x50cm. Exhibits, however, should have a minimum surface of about 1 m². The enclosure should be well structured with rocks and branches and must contain sleeping dens and hiding opportunities. Hay and straw should be provided as nesting material. The floor should be covered with sand, in off-exhibit enclosures other suitable substrates, e.g. straw pellets or wood chips, may be used. There should be several feeding bowls. Water should be provided in a drinking bottle positioned in a way that it cannot be chewed by the mice. A minimum temperature of 20ºC should be maintained, during daytime preferably 25 ºC, and in places higher (radiators). The day phase should be around 12 hours.

The diet consists of cereals and other seeds supplemented with fruit and vegetables (tomatoes should not be offered because they contain oxalic acid which may damage the mice’s kidneys). In addition, spiny mice need animal protein, e.g. shrimp pellets, live meal worms, snails etc. Also commercial mouse pellets can be fed.