Akomis (spiny mouse) is a representative of the mouse family, belonging to the subfamily of rodents. Occupies the territory of Asia, Africa, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Crete. This animal relatively recently began to take the place of a pet among some exotic lovers and is not as popular as or. However, quite quickly the spiny mouse began to be treated as a familiar household inhabitant.
Description of the spiny mouse
The spiny mouse has the same appearance as a regular rodent. It reaches a length of 7 to 12 cm, has a small, narrow muzzle with round ears and large black eyes. The animal has fairly coarse fur, the shade of which can vary from reddish-fawn to golden sand. The spiny mouse got its name because of the needles located on its back, which are the same color as the fur, making them almost invisible. However, if they have a shade darker than the main one, they stand out noticeably and look quite beautiful.
Many zoologists still do not explain why the spiny mouse needs needles, since it does not use them as protection.
Spiny mouse or not?
If, when purchasing an animal, you are given a mouse that does not have spines, it means that they are trying to sell you a completely different representative of the mouse family. Regardless of the sellers' arguments regarding the further appearance of needles, this animal is not a spiny mouse. Most likely, they are trying to sell you a Cairo mouse, which previously occupied a place of honor among exotic pets.
Such representatives live in Egypt and occupy the same niche there as the familiar domestic mice. In some advertisements on the Internet, sellers write in the description that the Cairo mouse and the spiny mouse are the same species. However, this is not at all true, since they are completely different species of the mouse family.
Akomis in the natural environment
Akomis spiny mice occupy territories of dry savannas and semi-deserts, which are located in Africa, as well as in Pakistan and Iran. It is common for animals to dig holes for themselves, or hide in crevices in rocky areas. However, they may well occupy a termite mound or someone else's hole. Akomis are active in the dark, so you should take this factor into account before getting such a pet.
Housing Features
A spiny mouse, the maintenance of which requires certain conditions, will feel best in a cage with a hard bottom and cells of 1 x 1 cm, or even smaller. The dimensions of an akomis’s home should be at least 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.6 m, but for several individuals it is best to get a cage with a size of 0.9 x 0.3 x 0.4 m.
For flooring, you can use pieces of white paper, sawdust or dry leaves. To provide comfortable conditions for your pet, you need to place branches of deciduous trees in the cage, on which the mice will grind their constantly growing teeth. You also need to place a stable feeder, a convenient drinking bowl and a mineral stone intended for rodents.
The following should be placed inside the cage:
- pipes,
- ladders,
- shelves,
- stones,
as well as various toys that must be washed at least once every seven days.
It is necessary to provide the pet with a house, in the form of a jar with an exit from both sides, in which it will sleep and also produce offspring. Material for building a nest can be toilet paper, hay or straw. Vata should be excluded; there is a high probability of deterioration in the pet’s health due to intestinal blockage.
Acomis care
Every day you need to get rid of food debris and debris accumulated in the cage, and you also need to wash the feeder and drinking bowl. The flooring is changed several times over 7 days. The spiny mouse is a very clean animal, which tends to go to the toilet in the same place, and, therefore, there is practically no unpleasant odor from it. You can also use an aquarium as a home, but it is worth considering that cleaning will be more difficult than in a cage, and there may also be problems with proper ventilation and humidity in the pet’s home.
Since akomis are very active in the dark, they can disturb their owners with extraneous sounds and rustling.
If breeding spiny mice is not planned, it is best to keep several individuals, preferably males, since they are much calmer than the female representatives.
If babies are born, they should be transplanted into an aquarium, since akomis begin to move from the first days of life, and accordingly they can escape from the cage. Spine mice are most active in the early morning and late evening. During the daytime, these representatives of rodents prefer to relax in the house. Another distinctive feature of Akomis is their ability to sleep without closing their eyes.
The tail of a spiny mouse can break off when a dangerous situation or impact occurs, just like a lizard. However, a new one does not grow back, therefore, you should not try to grab the pet by the tail, or put a rodent wheel in its cage.
Feeding the spiny mouse
The diet of the spiny mouse is quite varied, since it prefers almost any food. At home, you should feed your pet:
- watermelon and pumpkin seeds,
- cereal seeds, such as oats or wheat,
- fruits,
- vegetables,
- pieces of bread.
Females bearing offspring should be fed with cottage cheese and eggs. The spiny mouse also prefers insects, but you need to exclude domestic ones, since akomis can get poisoned. If the diet contains a large amount of juicy food, water may not be given.
It is very convenient to feed akomis, like many small rodents, with canned crickets. Whole canned house crickets have recently become available for sale. When harvesting, they are treated with steam, without the use of chemicals or other preservatives. The contents of the jar do not contain any jelly or liquid, only a natural product. House crickets contain a lot of protein, iron, calcium, 9 amino acids, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin B12, chitin, and oligosaccharides. They contain little fat, which means you can offer this food to your pet with virtually no restrictions. Mice eat exactly as much as they need. You can familiarize yourself with the product in more detail and place an order without leaving your home.
Reproduction process
Once they reach the age of seven weeks, spiny mice are capable of producing offspring. Once every one and a half months, babies will be born, in the amount of 2 pieces. The female will feed the cubs for 2 weeks. Juveniles are born covered with gray fur and with open eyes. The babies grow up to 6 months, but if there are enough of them in the aquarium, they can fight, so the female can eat the baby. To prevent this outcome, babies should be separated from adults 2-3 weeks after birth.
In their natural environment, akomis live for 3 years, but at home they can live up to 8 years.
Taming Features
The Akomis spiny mouse is excellent for taming. However, you should not immediately try to pick her up; you should first feed her by hand. After your pet gets used to your presence, you can try putting it on your hand and letting it walk around there. You should not pick up a spiny mouse by the tail, as it may break. After a certain period of time, your pet will completely get used to you, and you can easily take it into your hands.
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Titles: spiny mouse, akomis, Cairo spiny mouse, Egyptian spiny mouse.
Area: Western Asia, Saudi Arabia, the islands of Cyprus and Crete, Africa; east to the Sinai Peninsula and Palestine.
Description: narrow muzzle with large dark eyes. Large round ears, set vertically, very mobile. The whiskers are long, the hind legs are short, the foot is wide. The last wart of the hind foot is round, like in mice. Nipple 8.
Quills grow on the back, similar to the needles of a hedgehog; on the lower part, white or gray fur grows, similar in structure to that of a rat. The tail is hairless, scaly, and very brittle. The foot is wide. Her fingers are not reduced.
Rostrum relatively shortened and narrowed. Wide and rounded skull with large interparietal bone. The incisive foramina are long, continuing between the rows of teeth. On the sides of the interorbital space and on the sides of the brain capsule there are well-defined, convex comb-like edges. The lower edge of the angular process oss. dentale strongly bent inward. The teeth are generally similar to those of rats, without a significant decrease in M3.
In mature males, the fur is longer and forms a kind of mane on the neck. Spiny mice have virtually no smell.
Color: needles are pale yellow, reddish or gray-brown. Young animals are paler in color than adults.
Size: body length 7-17 cm, tail - 5-12 cm.
Weight: 40-90 g.
Lifespan: up to 3 years.
Habitat: rocky landscapes, barren deserts, savannas and rocky outcrops.
Behavior: During the day, spiny mice hide in holes where they wait out the heat of the day. They dig holes themselves or use the holes of other rodents (sometimes termite mounds). Active at dusk and dawn. They are very clean, always brush their fur, and go to the toilet in a strictly defined place. They climb trees well.
When the spiny mouse is threatened, it raises its spines to appear larger, hoping to scare away the enemy.
They are very mobile and active - they can run up to 15 kilometers per day.
In established groups, mice never conflict (even over food), they look after each other (clean their fur), sleep together, and the females jointly care for the cubs and help during childbirth.
Feed: They eat plant foods (grasses, grains, plants) and arthropods (snails, insects). Eating succulent food, spiny mice do not depend on the availability of water sources.
Social structure: Spiny mice are social animals that live in small groups. The leader of the group is the alpha female. Males also have their own hierarchy. Males are more susceptible to being bitten (59% of cases) than females (41%). Most often, mice bite each other's tail (63%), back (11%) and neck (12%).
Reproduction: The female is in estrus for 4-5 days.
Before giving birth, the female does not leave the group, but gives birth in it. The remaining sexually mature females help her during childbirth and feed the cubs. If the cubs are in danger, the female spiny mouse carries them on herself to another nest. The female has six point-like nipples; the males have no nipples. The sexes can be distinguished at an early age.
The more cubs in the litter, the less developed they are. A female can give birth several times a year.
Breeding season: February-September.
Pregnancy: lasts 38-42 days.
Puberty: 2-4 months (in males, maturation occurs at the age of seven weeks).
Offspring: Most babies are born between 4-8am. Typically, a female gives birth to 2-5 cubs (weight about 7 grams), which are very well developed: with open eyes and ears, overgrown with fur, developed thermoregulation, capable of moving and feeding independently. The babies are born with soft quills. At about two months of age, the cubs molt and acquire adult colors, but they continue to grow until they are 6 months old.
Benefit/harm for people: People often keep spiny mice as pets.
Population: spiny mice are widespread throughout their range.
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Acomis spiny mice- mammals of the rodent order. “Spiny” owes its generic name to the needles that cover the back of the animal.
Akomis live in the wild, but due to their exotic appearance and convenience in content, akomis have become favorite domestic rodents, along with, and.
Distribution and habitat of akomis
Habitat spiny akomis extensive - these are the countries of the Middle East (mainly Saudi Arabia), the hot lands of Africa, the islands of Crete and Cyprus.
Favorite habitats are deserts, rocky areas of savannas and canyons. Akomis are social animals; they prefer to live in groups, helping and protecting each member of the settlement. Burrows, usually left behind by other rodents, are used as housing and shelter. But they are quite capable of digging their own housing.
They are active at night or early in the morning. In search of food, they often approach people’s homes and even settle in burrows under houses. One such settlement can cause significant harm to the crops that people grow.
Features of akomis
On photo of akomis They look like ordinary mice - an elongated muzzle with a mustache, black beady eyes, large round ears and a long hairless tail. The color of the fur is also not surprising with the brightness of its colors: from sand to brown or red.
But there is one detail in the appearance of akomis that amazes at first sight - there are many needles on the back of the rodent! An amazing animal that combines the unique characteristics of several species of animals:
Akomis have very dense fur on their backs, reminiscent of hedgehog spines.
Back Akomis mice covered with needles, like . The only difference is that the rodent’s needles are false. They are tufts of stiff bristles. This is a kind of protection from predators. Having eaten such a “hedgehog”, the toothy animal will suffer for a long time from an irritated throat and intestines;
Similarly, Akomis “shed” their tail. But amphibians are in a more advantageous situation here - their tail grows back. The mouse, once parted with it, will no longer be able to return it;
Just like cats of the breed, Akomis are animals that do not cause allergies. This feature has become one of the main reasons for breeding spiny mice at home. Unlike other rodents, akomis have no smell;
The only mammal, along with With human, capable of tissue regeneration and restoration of hair follicles. There are no scars left on the animal’s skin - the epithelial cells move to the site of the wound and completely restore the functionality of the damaged area.
Care and maintenance of akomis at home
Spiny mice are not whimsical in their conditions of detention. If you follow a few simple tips, the animal will feel great away from the wild, and you will be touched by watching the vigorous activity of the little fidget.
In their natural environment, spiny mice live in groups. In order not to disturb the natural way of life, buy akomis It’s better not one, but at least two.
It is better to have two or more akomis
If you plan to breed rodents, then you need to choose pets in different stores to prevent mating of relatives. The offspring of such “blood ties” are characterized by reduced immunity and a tendency to diseases.
Before you go shopping, you need to prepare your future home. An ideal option would be an aquarium with a fine mesh lid. Do not skimp on its volume, as Akomis like to run a lot and climb various stairs, slides, and hollow logs.
Spinning the wheel is one of the animal’s favorite pastimes. It must be solid, without joints or cracks. This choice is due to the special fragility of the akomis tail. It breaks easily or comes off completely. Be very careful when handling your pet. Try not to touch his tail, and under no circumstances pull on it.
The bottom of the aquarium is covered with torn newspapers or sawdust. Spiny mice will be glad to have a cardboard house in which they can relax and raise their offspring. To maintain calcium balance, hang a rodent mineral rock in your aquarium.
By reviews, akomis very clean. They immediately choose a corner where they will relieve their needs, and do not dirty the rest of the territory. General cleaning of the aquarium should be carried out two to three times a month.
To temporarily remove the mouse, it is better to use a plastic glass, drive the animal into it, and then cover it with your palm on top. This way you will avoid injury to the tail and will not scare the animal.
Nutrition
Akomis love plant foods, but sometimes they are not averse to eating protein-rich insects: or bloodworms.
You can replace this food with any kind of nuts. Leave a few in the shell, this will help the mouse wear down its ever-growing incisors. You can also replenish protein with boiled eggs or cottage cheese.
The cereal mixture also fits perfectly into the diet. It can be diluted with dried fruits and dandelion greens. Mice love to chew on tree branches. It is easy to find balanced dry food for rodents on sale. It is rich in micro and macroelements important for the healthy development of the animal.
Do not feed Akomis fatty, smoked or salty foods. This also includes cheese. Make sure that the container with clean water is always full and that any remaining organic food does not rot in the aquarium.
Reproduction and lifespan
It is quite simple to distinguish a female akomis from a male - you need to turn the animal belly up. If you see nipples, it's a female. If the belly is smooth, this is a male. Do not put a female and two males in the same aquarium. A stronger individual can bite an opponent.
The female bears offspring several times a year. Pregnancy lasts six weeks. During one birth, a new mother gives birth to from one to three cubs. Babies are born with their eyes open and are able to move around on their own.
Akomis are very caring towards each other. If there are many animals in the aquarium, more experienced females will help in childbirth and take part in caring for the young. For a month, the mother feeds the mice with her milk. After four months, akomis reach sexual maturity.
How long do Akomis live?, depends on the conditions of existence. In the wild, this is 3–4 years; if kept at home, the animal can live up to 7 years.
The content of the article:
If you are looking for a pet and have an interest in the world of rodents, turn your attention to such a miracle of nature as the spiny mouse. This small living creature is very easy to keep; moreover, unlike many of its relatives, it does not emit any foreign odors, and is also easily tamed. By giving the mouse some time to adapt, you will end up with a cute pet that will wait for you to return from work and cheer you up with just its appearance.
Native territories and origin of the spiny mouse
If we talk about the large animal kingdom, then in no case can one refute the fact that the entire world fauna is so diverse that on the entire large planet Earth, it will not be possible to find a person who would know all its representatives by sight, or at least by name . Maybe if all the animals were created on one specific day, then maybe someone would have succeeded, but it’s no secret that every day and year in our world, on the pages of books and encyclopedias, more and more new and new representatives of this fascinating world. Studying a wide variety of animals, sometimes you get the impression that they all live on their own separate planet, which was created especially for them. The world of animals is an integral part of our life and the life of the Earth as a whole, because if they weren’t next to humans, something would be wrong, someone would be missing, and this lack would be very noticeable. Perhaps for some of us our smaller friends are not of such great value, but everyone would say with complete confidence that if we did not have them, our daily life would not be so perfect.
One such piece of the world's fauna is the spiny mouse, the discovery of which dates back to 1838. People of science who persistently studied this little animal classified it into the class Mammals, the infraclass Placentals, the order Rodents, the family Mouse and the subfamily Deomiinidae.
As for the native areas of these cute rodents, it is probably most often possible to meet them on the territory of the African continent. In addition, spiny mice quite widely inhabit Saudi Arabia, Asia, namely its western part, and the islands near Greece. Not so large, but still populations of this species of mammals also inhabit the southern part of Europe.
As their permanent place of residence, these funny little animals have chosen those corners of nature that many representatives of the world’s fauna prefer to avoid, namely, they prefer dry climatic conditions. Therefore, most often these rodents choose small areas of savannas, deserts and semi-deserts as their domains, feeling quite cozy and comfortable among dry rocky embankments and in the depths of thick sand. In African terrain, these tailed eccentrics do not bypass abandoned termite mounds.
Behavior of the spiny mouse in open nature
Despite the fact that these little mice choose hot, dry climatic conditions for their residence, they absolutely cannot tolerate the scorching sun and heat, for this reason their period of activity falls at night, and sometimes the animals are active early in the morning. During the daytime, these nocturnal inhabitants prefer to hide from the hot external environment in cozy shelters, which can be crevices of rocks, stones or old trees. The most favorite resting place for akomis (another name for the spiny mouse) are burrows previously built by other animals, since they do not take on such complex and dusty work with their paws.
By nature they are very active and agile, they climb trees with pleasure and enviable dexterity; as some sources say, these mammals can run over 13–15 km during the day. If a spiny mouse senses approaching danger, it does not get lost and proceeds to the most reliable method of self-defense, namely, escape. Where to run is another question, their directions are often wherever their eyes look, they rarely have the ingenuity to climb high into a tree, usually they try to hide in the nearest hole. But if these rodents are nevertheless overtaken by some kind of misfortune from which they can no longer escape, then they are transformed at that very moment. The animal greatly spreads its fur, the more it begins to resemble a small hedgehog, but it still seems to Akomis that in this guise, he looks quite dangerous and formidable, like the most predatory animal.
By nature, these cute rodents are very friendly and do not tolerate loneliness, therefore, in the territories they choose, they usually live in fairly large social groups. In such mouse colonies, the female is the president. Relations between members of such a society are very peaceful, they are used to doing everything together, they happily share food and no problems arise, they take care of each other’s appearance, thoroughly washing and combing the fur of their relative. In addition to such ordinary activities, the female sex of spiny mice helps other females in every possible way in the process of giving birth to babies, and even if in their society there are cubs who have lost their mothers, other females, without any questions, take upon themselves the upbringing of “orphans” and responsibility for their little lives .
Typically, these furry mammals live in one area for their entire life period, but if suddenly there is no opportunity to fully feed in the territory occupied by the akomis or there is a danger to life hanging over their heads, then the females may decide to urgently move. When the spiny mice leave their native land, they all help each other, including carrying their babies. It is precisely such warm and friendly relationships that help these rodents survive in the wild; they believe that together they are a great force, and to some extent this is true.
The cleanliness of these cute animals can only be learned and envied; they will never go in search of food or just for a walk without cleaning themselves and their cubs up. These rodents always have a place to perform their natural needs in one part, so they not only carefully take care of themselves, but also keep their home clean and tidy.
There are quite a lot of people who want to feast on the spiny mouse in the wild, but the greatest danger to them comes from birds, reptiles and predatory animals, while their competitors in terms of getting food and living on the best lands are gerbils.
As for the diet of these representatives of deomiinaceae, we can say that they are completely unpretentious in food. They are used to eating whatever they can get their hands on. Akomis' favorite foods are grains and cereals, but they also really like shoots of young plants, insects, snails, fruits and green grass. Water is an integral part of the life of mice, but if the rodents’ diet includes a sufficient amount of succulent foods, then they can do just fine without water. The place for spiny mice to eat is a special corner in which the animals feel calm and safe, where no one can get in and destroy not only their dinner, but also them.
Description of the external appearance of the spiny mouse - akomis
At first glance, it may seem that the spiny mouse is a rather large animal, but if you look closely, you will notice that its body does not exceed 11–13 cm in length, and its caudal process, which grows to about the same size as the whole body. On the face of this mammal one can see beautiful, very large eyes, black in color, and large ears, which are placed vertically and have a regular, slightly rounded shape. The ears have the ability to move. The muzzle itself is quite narrow, probably for this reason this rodent was called the spiny mouse. Near the oral cavity you can see long vibrissae; these elements greatly help the animals navigate in their natural habitat.
The entire surface of the mouse’s body is covered with thick and fluffy fur, soft in texture; in addition, this representative of mice has one more feature - in addition to fur, on the dorsal side of its body there are also small needles, which are slightly softer and shorter than those of a hedgehog . The tail process is devoid of any vegetation, it is bald and covered with so-called scales. This is a very vulnerable part of the body that breaks often. Nature has painted this rodent in a variety of shades; the color scheme on the animal’s body varies from light yellow to smoky gray. Whatever the color of this animal, with age the color gradually darkens and becomes more pronounced and saturated. In addition, an adult male can be easily distinguished from a young animal by the presence of a thick layer of fur around the neck, which resembles a lion’s mane. The limbs of the akomis are very small and short, ending in small claws.
These amazing animals have one special feature - the ability to regenerate; like lizards, they can shed their tail and even some areas of their skin in case of danger; no scars or wounds remain in this place, and after some time the skin is completely restored.
Continuation of the genus of spiny mice Akomis
These little animals reach sexual maturity quite quickly; already at 2–3 months they can fully reproduce. The mating season for these rodents usually begins in February and lasts until the first days of autumn. The gestation period for a female mouse lasts about 1.5 months; at the end of this time, approximately 2–3 babies are born. Little “babies” are immediately born with open eyes, exploring the world around them, and with a body covered with fur. The body weight of a newborn is approximately 5–7 grams; the appearance of babies is slightly different from adult mice, not only in weight, but also in body structure. In relation to their tiny body, these newly born rodents have a huge head and very long limbs. They immediately try to find a use for their paws and from the first hours after birth they begin to walk. Without their mother, mice can fully exist from the age of one week, and some even at the age of three days are able to independently maintain the required body temperature. But usually, for 2-3 weeks, the cubs do not leave their mother’s nest, since they can warm themselves, but they are unlikely to be able to feed themselves, so they feed on their mother’s milk. When the breastfeeding period has come to an end, the mice begin their adult and independent lives.
Having such a miracle of nature in your home is a pleasure, because many people are scared by the fact that rodents in the house create a very unpleasant odor, but in the case of a pet like Akomis, you should not expect such problems.
- Your pet's personal home. As a home for your new friend, purchase a glass aquarium, the top wall of which is made of a mesh with small cells; this is necessary both for ventilation and to ensure that your pet does not inadvertently sneak into your apartment for a walk, especially during your absence. If it is not possible to arrange a glass home for your spiny mouse, then you can provide it with a metal cage, but always with very small cells.
- Floor covering. Bedding in a house with a rodent is required; it is good to use sawdust, sand, and dry leaves as the latter. If you prefer sand, then you do not need to change it completely; it is enough to collect the top layer twice a week and add new sand. Don't forget that your furry friend needs somewhere to sleep, so make sure you have a cozy nest in his own apartment. Construction materials for a sleeping place can be different, straw, hay are perfect, the main thing is that there is no dust and mold on it, previously shredded toilet paper and even dry moss. In no case should you use cotton wool, as this inquisitive mouse can taste it and simply suffocate; in addition, it is very easy for small paws or a tail to get tangled in the threads of cotton wool, and this is fraught with injury.
- Optimal microclimate. Due to the fact that these animals are accustomed to living in warm environmental conditions, the temperature in their home should be at least 25–28 degrees, therefore, it would be a good idea to install some kind of heating device, for example, a thermal cord. But if your apartment is always warm, then in principle you can do without it. They prefer drier air, so the spiny mouse will not need daily spraying.
- Decoration your pet's personal apartment. This is not to say that for such a pet it is absolutely necessary to have various decorations in its aquarium, but you do not want your new friend to get bored when you are not at home, or when you do not have time to entertain him. By their nature, cute akomis are very active and mobile animals, so running, walking and climbing are not just their hobbies, but an absolute necessity. For this reason, it would be good to give him a running wheel for rodents, where he will race like mad, in addition, it would be a good idea to install several shelves and branches along which the animal will conquer heights. You can give him several toys, your pet will also be happy. But entertainment is, perhaps, not the most important thing in the life of any home child. For a completely happy and comfortable life at home, your friend needs to have a container with clean drinking water; for this it is good to use some small but heavy ceramic saucer that the animal will not be able to knock over. A soft place for sleeping will not be enough for them; it would be good for him to design a small closed room, like a shelter. Also a restroom, these rodents are accustomed to relieve themselves in one corner designated for this, but you need to arrange it, for this you can use a small container lying on the side, even a flower pot.
- Spring-cleaning. Despite the fact that spiny mice are very neat and clean animals, this fact does not mean that they will clean up after themselves. The substrate needs to be changed as it becomes dirty, but it is best to do this approximately every three to four days, so you will definitely not expose your home to unpleasant odors. It is good to periodically disinfect all interior items of your furry friend's home; to do this, it is enough to wash everything in hot water from time to time.
- Feeding. These pets are, in principle, omnivores; they happily eat grain, oats, berries, fresh and dried vegetables, fruits, nuts, crackers and herbs. As well as animal food, such as crickets, mealworms, caterpillars, dragonflies, butterflies, flies and even lean sea fish, eggs, cottage cheese and beef bones, pre-boiled.
See what a spiny mouse looks like in the following video:
Spiny mice, also often called akomys (Acomys cahirinus), are representatives of the subfamily Deomiinidae, the mouse family of the rodent order. These amazing animals weigh 40-48 g in adulthood, and their body length, together with the tail, which is almost half of their total size, does not exceed 14 cm. A characteristic feature of these animals is that they have spines growing on their backs. Their color is usually pale yellow, but sometimes reddish brown and dark gray can be found. The color of spiny mice is light sandy or brown, it depends on the age of the animal, since young individuals are paler in color than adults. The underside of the Akomis body (belly and chest) is covered with soft white hair. In mature males, the fur on the neck is longer than in females and immature ones, and forms a so-called mane on it. The tail of these animals is scaly and very brittle. Spiny mice have a narrow muzzle with large dark eyes resembling beads, their large round and very mobile ears are set vertically on the head. The animals' whiskers are very long, which helps them in life in the wild. The hind legs of Akomis are short and have wide feet.
Physiology
Spiny mice are rodents and therefore their body is structured practically the same as that of other representatives of this order.
A characteristic feature of this species, as well as some others, is that they can, like lizards, if their life is in danger, part with their tail. This is due to the fact that it is very brittle. In this regard, many animals living in nature have acquired short tails.
Sexual maturity in Akomis occurs at the age of 3 months, but sometimes mice are capable of reproduction as early as 2 months. For them, the mating period begins at the end of February and ends in September.
Pregnancy lasts 42 days, after which the female brings, as a rule, from 1 to 3 cubs, but sometimes 5, the weight of each of which averages 5 - 6 grams. Babies born into the world are completely independent, their eyes are already open and their body is covered with fur and needles, which are still soft in the first days of life. Newborn mice have a large head, a small body and long legs. Immediately after birth, they get to their feet, and, making clumsy movements and falling many times in a row, they begin to walk slowly.
Starting from the age of three days, small akomis already independently maintain their body temperature, at a time when their peers of other species of mice still need maternal warmth for a long time.
The female takes care of the offspring for 2 weeks, carefully licking and feeding her pups milk. During this period of time, the family spends time in the shelter, and only as they grow older will the cubs leave the shelter and begin to develop the surrounding territory. From about the same time, young animals will begin to eat the same food as adults. Small spiny mice, if necessary, can do without their mother starting from the 6th day of life, but if she is nearby, they are ready to suck her milk within 3 weeks from the moment of birth.
Spreading
The homeland of spiny mice is Western Asia, Saudi Arabia, the islands of Cyprus and Crete and most of Africa.
Akomis live in dry areas such as savannas and semi-deserts, preferring to settle in their rocky and sandy areas. They take refuge in burrows that they make among rocks and in rock cracks. In Africa, you can often observe a situation where these animals occupy empty termite mounds.
Now these rodents can be found free-living in the ecosystems of Africa, Asia and the southern parts of Europe, and as pets, they are distributed almost all over the world.
Life in nature
Spiny mice are active at dusk and dawn. During the day they hide in shelters where they wait out the heat. They dig small holes in the ground or occupy empty holes of other rodents. They themselves do not build passages and deep holes as such. Often, cracks in rocks and the space between stones serve as a refuge for akomis.
These animals climb trees well, and in times of danger they hide in shelters, and if this is not possible, they flee. Spiny mice can run up to 15 kilometers per day. An animal driven into a hopeless situation raises its quills and “swells up,” thereby trying to appear larger in order to scare off the enemy.
Akomis live in groups, their social structure is matriarchy, in which the female of the highest rank (alpha female) rules. Males occupy their hierarchical levels by participating in battles that they organize.
All members of an established group never conflict, even over food, but look after each other and sleep together. Females, who are not currently caring for their young, help others during childbirth and in raising their offspring. Often other mothers feed orphaned babies. When moving to a new place of residence, older animals carry their cubs, both their own and those of others, and together organize a shelter in another territory. This social behavior is very strongly reinforced by instincts and allows animals to survive in the harsh conditions of semi-deserts and dry areas, but it is only possible if the spiny mice are closely related to each other.
These rodents are very clean animals. They carefully monitor the condition of their coat and those around them. In this regard, their burrows are always clean, the cubs are well-groomed, and the toilet is always in a strictly defined place.
The main enemies of akomis are birds, predatory mammals and reptiles. They also have to compete with gerbils for food.
Spiny mice are not picky eaters; they feed on both plant and animal foods. Despite their omnivorous nature, Akomis prefer grains and cereals. Their diet in nature consists of grasses, grains, shoots of ground plants, arthropods (snails and insects), and in the presence of succulent foods, mice are completely independent of the availability of water sources.
These rodents feed in certain and well-protected places where food remains accumulate or flora grows.
Keeping at home
Unlike hamsters, mice and rats, akomis have virtually no unpleasant odor, which is characteristic of many rodents. For keeping them in apartment conditions, a glass aquarium, tightly closed on top with a fine mesh net, is best suited. For five rodents, its size should be at least 90x30x40 cm.
If a cage is chosen as a place to keep spiny mice, then it is worth remembering that the dimensions of its cells should not be more than 1x1 cm, since akomis can crawl into very narrow holes and cracks. An important condition for the well-being of mice is the absence of any plastic objects in their new home, as they will chew them and can be seriously injured and swallow a piece of plastic.
The aquarium or cage with animals should be in a quiet place, protected from direct sunlight, and there should be no drafts around it.
It is best to use either sand or corn cob litter as litter, as sawdust and hay can cause an allergic reaction in mice. Bedding is changed as needed, since akomis are very clean animals and go to the toilet in a strictly designated place. To build a nest, animals need to be given hay, straw, shredded white paper, moss, and cotton rags. The temperature inside the aquarium should be 25 - 27 degrees, with a humidity of 30 - 50%.
For spiny mice, the surface area on which they live is very important, so it is necessary to place as many floors, ladders, ropes, pipes, twigs, snags, etc., etc. in the place where they are kept.
Akomis definitely need a wheel, since they are very mobile and active rodents. Its diameter must be at least 13 cm, and the bottom must be hard, otherwise the mouse may injure its paw or lose its tail.
Akomis breed well in captivity only if there is enough space in the aquarium. Young mice are separated from their parents at the age of a month to the general group of animals. Young animals cannot be kept completely separately, as they develop various psychological disorders and will never be able to communicate with their own kind.
Spiny mice are nocturnal animals and therefore, when everyone goes to bed, they begin to rustle the bedding, gnaw on various objects and run around the aquarium.
Spiny mice are omnivorous and not picky eaters. They eat both plant and animal food. When kept at home, their diet should include products of plant origin, such as: various grains, mouse food, oatmeal, oats, berries, fresh or dried vegetables and fruits, nuts, bread crumbs, sunflower seeds, canary seed, wheat, millet, dandelion greens. Animals - crickets, mealworms, caterpillars and dragonflies, flies, butterflies.
Mice should not be fed processed, salty, peppery, fatty foods, food prepared for humans or food for other animals. Akomis should be given branches of fruit trees, willow and maple 1-2 times a week.
Clean water must be kept in the cage at all times, although mice get all the moisture they need from succulent plants.
The more varied and nutritious the animal’s diet, the better; you should not be afraid of overfeeding akomis, since they will not eat more than they need.
Only together, if the rules for keeping and feeding are followed, can these animals feel great in captivity.
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