Data sheet chipmunk
Latin name:
Tamias sibiricus
Origin:
North America
Size:
20cm – 25cm
age expectation:
3 – 7 years
Behavior / stocking:
lively behavior
Groups vs. individual housing:
group husbandry
Lining:
seeds, grasses
Difficulty level:
Intermediate Alpsdake, Tamias sibiricus (Mount Oike), CC BY-SA 3.0
General introduction
They are known from various Disney film adaptations, where they wowed audiences as Chip and Dale. The cute appearance and behavior of chipmunks has long enticed many animal lovers to keep them as pets.
Before doing so, however, there are a few important things to keep in mind. In general, chipmunks are more demanding than common rodents that have found their way into our homes.
acquisition and maintenance
If you allow your chipmunks to roam around the house outside of their cage on a daily basis, they will quickly become accustomed to your presence, and many owners report that their pets love nothing more than to sit on their owner’s shoulder while they read or watch TV.
However, they don’t like being picked up and prefer to hide in the litter if they aren’t tame. However, if they are given the opportunity to spend a lot of time with their owners from an early age, they can be trained to respond to names as well as foods.
Requirements for the attitude (equipment)
aviary
As it is very active small animals, you should give them as much space as you can afford. A normal gerbil or hamster cage is not suitable for a chipmunk. You should be in one big aviary be housed with lots of branches and leaves to allow them to climb and hide.
The minimum size for a chipmunk enclosure should be 2m in height and each 1 m width and depth and the cage should have two or three solid sides with a lattice front. The floor of indoor or outdoor cages should be solid and covered with a suitable substrate that can absorb moisture and mask odors.
Double doors are also a good idea to prevent escape attempts. A heater is not required, but one is good ventilation is important and the cage should be completely mouse proof to avoid infection.
Furnishing
In addition to twigs and foliage Climb and Hide Pipes, rocks and shelves can also provide some much-needed entertainment. If you house your animals outdoors, they must have access to a covered area so they can escape the worst of the weather.
A nest box is a necessity whether your chipmunks are housed indoors or outdoors and there should be a 20cm x 20cm nest box for each adult chipmunk. Bedding of hay or shredded paper should also be provided. Chipmunks can be housed together if the enclosure size is sufficient, but care should be taken not to mix males and females if you don’t want unexpected newcomers.
The cages must be cleaned frequently as the animals use a corner as a toilet – soiled substrate should be removed daily and replaced with fresh material. The nest boxes should be cleaned twice a year, leaving them completely alone between September and March as the chipmunks are likely to store seeds there to prepare for hibernation.
gender differences
Locate the genitals and anus. In the genital area, males have two bumps about an inch apart. In the females, the bumps touch each other.
feed and nutrition
As natural foragers, chipmunks in the wild will eat a variety of:
- nuts
- Berry
- insects
- larvae
- Grain
There are many pet foods available that mimic this naturally mixed diet. A basic diet consists of grains with regular addition of vegetables and some nuts and a little fruit. Chipmunks will also thrive on a basic hamster diet, provided it is supplemented with some of the ingredients mentioned above.
Dry dog or cat food can also provide additional protein. Certain foods, such as peanuts and seeds, and green leafy vegetables should be limited. To keep your pet’s teeth in optimal condition, dry whole wheat pasta can be offered as it’s perfect for nibbling.
Fresh, clean drinking water should always be available and offered in a gravity bottle or heavy bowl to avoid spills.
acclimatization and handling
The first day
When you bring your new chipmunk home, you should place the box or container it came in in the aviary and wait for the chipmunk to venture out on its own.
Give it a few days to settle in and during that time provide it with everything it needs to live a species-appropriate life without demanding too much closeness from it.
taming
It’s a good idea to start taming chipmunks when they’re young, even though they have very strong personalities and can seem a little grumpy at times. It’s important to remember that a chipmunk will not show the same affection and loyalty as a dog.
However, if you get your animals from a reputable breeder, at least you know that they are used to dealing with people. As very active prey, chipmunks can also appear typically hectic and nervous. Fast movements or loud noises should be avoided when trying to tame your pet.
Chipmunks are not cuddly animals, although as mentioned earlier, they will come up to you for feeding and will happily perch on your shoulder. Remember that chipmunks are social animals and should never be kept alone.
Other questions
Are chipmunks suitable as pets for children?
Chipmunks have not been around as pets for very long, so they are still considered “semi-wild”. If you buy your chipmunk at a young age, it can learn to act on its name and be handled.
Therefore, they are only very limited as pets for children. If there are children living in the household, they must be supervised when handling the small rodents.
Are chipmunks nocturnal?
Chipmunks are definitely diurnal, which is why they can fit in well with the human daily routine.
Which chipmunks can you keep?
For a long time, chipmunks were well represented in pet shops or in animal shelters. Unfortunately, the Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus), the most commonly kept chipmunk, has been placed on the EU list of invasive species.
As a result, chipmunks can no longer be kept as pets in the EU. However, existing holdings may be held until their natural death.