Bat as a pet: maintenance and care

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Not everyone keeps familiar pets at home: dogs, cats, ornamental birds, hamsters. Lovers of unusual pets inevitably have to become real experts in their care, otherwise the animal will fall ill and die. But many are not afraid of new knowledge, and the homes of such enthusiasts are filled with creatures that you would not expect to see outside of nature. For example, a house bat.

• 2 Is it possible to keep a bat at home?
• 3 What do bats eat at home: drawing up a diet and diet
• 4 Other nuances of content

  4.1 Video: how a mouse can behave in an apartment

Main characteristics

What is a house bat? This is a typical representative of the order Chiroptera. You can recognize it among other individuals by several distinctive features:

• Large, black eyes, which at first glance may seem quite cute.
• Small size.
• Fast and sudden movements while moving.
• Soft fur, the shade of which on the tummy is usually somewhat lighter than in other places.
• Very long limbs, and the bones look like a hook in appearance.

Another feature is the habitat in which the mouse is accustomed to living. They feel most comfortable in small, dark places. Usually these are caves.

What kind of animal is that

Bats are a suborder of bats. The name is due to the anatomical structure: from the toes of the front paws through the sides to the hind limbs, an elastic membrane runs, connecting them (“hands” literally turn into wings). In nature, they prefer to settle in caves and rock crevices. In villages and cities they can be found in secluded dark places: in attics and abandoned buildings. They are characterized by a nocturnal lifestyle. Contrary to popular belief, they are not blind at all - they see (their vision is black and white), but they perfectly navigate in the dark thanks to their remarkably developed hearing.

On average, bats are small in size (comparable to small birds - tits, sparrows). At the same time, they are very nimble, and in flight they can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h. The body and head are covered with short fur that is soft to the touch, the muzzle, depending on the species, can be more or less similar to the muzzle of an ordinary mouse, but the ears of flyers are larger.

In the wild, these mice live for about 30 years. They will live a long time in captivity if the right conditions are provided.

About the content

Many people wonder whether it is possible to keep a bat at home? Zoologists answer this question unequivocally – not recommended! It is worth noting that this is a rather exotic individual that is not adapted to domestic conditions. If, after all, a person decides to have a furry pet at home, then it is necessary to create appropriate conditions for it. A pet bat can only be kept in a spacious enclosure, in which it can fully move and hide from prying eyes.

1. It is recommended to lay clean paper on the floor and change it promptly.
2. You should definitely hang a thermometer near your habitat. This individual can exist under various conditions. For example, during meals the temperature should reach up to 30 degrees - this temperature is the most optimal for complete digestion. It should be a little cooler before bed.
3. The ends of the wire near the mesh must be carefully secured to avoid sharp corners that could cause injury to your pet.
4. Another important indicator is humid air. It is recommended to install a special device – a humidifier – near the mouse’s house.

Pay special attention to the issue of keeping a domestic bat: only in conditions as close as possible to natural conditions will it feel comfortable, you will avoid its whims and various kinds of diseases.

Appearance

The smallest representative is the pig-nosed bat, whose weight does not exceed 2.0 g, body length - 3.3 cm, wingspan reaches 16 cm. This is one of the smallest animals on the planet.

A giant false vampire with a wingspan of 70 to 75 cm, a weight of 150-200 g and a body length of no more than 14 cm is considered a large representative of this family.

The hind limbs of chiropterans, unlike other mammals, are turned back at the knee joints and equipped with strong claws. The body is covered with short or long shaggy fur. The color is dominated by black, gray and brown shades.

The lifespan of representatives from the order Chiroptera is about five, in some cases up to 30 years. In captivity they live less time because they do not have the opportunity to fully move.

These are the only mammals on the planet that can fly. Their hind and front legs are connected to each other by a thin membrane. Due to it, they develop speeds from 11 to 50 km/h.

Visually impaired bats have unique hearing that helps them fly.

Nutritional Features

A very important question: what to feed a bat at home? The most important thing is that they need liquid in large quantities. Several drinking bowls, at least three, should be installed around the perimeter of the enclosure. It is recommended to change the water in them daily. Bats get their own food: worms, beetles, caterpillars, pupae, etc. Naturally, she will not be able to do this at home, so the owner himself will have to hunt for insects. Some pet stores sell special ready-made mixtures. Zoologists strongly recommend not to overfeed this individual. This is due to the fact that overeating will negatively affect the digestive system, an upset stomach will provoke the appearance of excess weight. You should not take this issue lightly; remember that at home, an animal can die from any illness. Note that the bat will go into a long hibernation each winter, so there is no need to feed it until about three days before this period.

Keeping at home

The animal is not adapted to life in captivity. Therefore, zoologists believe that bats should not be kept indoors. And if someone decides to have an exotic animal in their apartment, they need to create appropriate conditions for it.

Bats can be carriers of dangerous diseases, including rabies.

Peculiarities

The animal very quickly gets used to humans, it loves affection and attention. However, those who want to get a pet bat need to know that:

• These mammals are nocturnal animals that are awake from 11 pm to 7 am. Requires active communication. Without this, they often become depressed and stop taking care of themselves. And at night they fly, preventing their owner from sleeping.
• Chiropterans usually relieve themselves while flying, so if a mouse lives in an apartment, feces are found on furniture and curtains.
• They need a large number of insects, which need to be caught somewhere.
• The mouse should be able to freely fly from one room to another in order to independently choose the optimal temperature and suitable conditions.
• He winters in his enclosure. When hibernating, she covers herself with her voluminous wings, thereby creating a kind of cocoon around herself, inside of which she is warm and comfortable even with a strong drop in temperature.

The decision to have such a pet should be deliberate and should be approached with all responsibility.

Home improvement

A bat kept in captivity needs a spacious enclosure, so for comfortable breeding, a large cage (at least a meter long, depending on the size of the pet) with a fine mesh is used.

It is necessary to check the availability of:

• wood rods for shelter;
• clean paper;
• thermometer;
• humidifier.

A birdcage is absolutely not suitable for living in; it limits the freedom of movement of the animal.

Small containers with water are placed in different parts of the enclosure, thanks to this, optimal humidity is maintained, which is especially important for the bat. She can quench her thirst at any time. During hibernation, to prevent dehydration of the body, it is necessary to spray water around the animal with a spray bottle, but there is no need to wet the mouse.

Temperature

In domestic mice, just like their wild relatives, their body temperature changes and depends on the activity of the pet. Therefore, the temperature in the room must be controlled.

The enclosure is divided into compartments, each of which is maintained at a certain temperature; the animal itself chooses the conditions suitable for it.

Good digestion requires warmth, so a heat lamp or a bottle filled with hot water (never boiling water) is attached to one of the walls of the cage. Too cold a temperature is unacceptable: due to hypothermia, the mouse may fall into a state of suspended animation or die.

Living in captivity is extremely stressful for her; in order to avoid an unpleasant outcome, it is worth considering the adaptation period. Before planting, live insects are added to the enclosure, so it retains its hunting qualities. In the first days, you should not go into the room where the mouse lives, so that the animal gets used to the new place and calms down.

Feeding

In natural conditions, bats feed on insects, but in captivity they cannot feed themselves, so the diet must be as close to natural as possible.

• mealworms;
• raw egg yolk;
• honey;
• cockroaches;
• insect pupae;
• adult beetles and their larvae;
• pieces of lean boiled meat.

Raw yolk, a little honey and vitamin E are added to the milk mixture. The pet is picked up by hand and fed through a pipette or a medical syringe without a needle. It is better to prepare a portion for one feeding; leftovers are not stored in the refrigerator.

Mice hibernate in winter, so they are not fed three days before this period.

The pet should not be overfed. The owner should take into account that an adult eats a portion equal to 1/2 of its weight. The tame animal takes food from your hands with caution.

Calculation of servings for one feeding:

After eating, the pet is placed in a room with a temperature of at least +30 degrees Celsius. The optimal time to eat is 11 pm.

Behavior

A person who decides to become the owner of such an animal will undoubtedly be surprised by its behavior. The mouse will sleep almost all day, choosing a secluded place for this; it is unlikely that the livestock breeder will be able to see it. In the evening, the animal, on the contrary, will behave excessively active and will constantly move around the enclosure. Naturally, installing an aviary in the bedroom is rather unwise.

This is not at all an animal that can be picked up, stroked and caressed - you can only watch it.

The mouse sleeps interestingly - upside down, these are the most comfortable conditions for it, so it is worth providing all the conditions for its proper rest.

In the summer, she will begin to catch mosquitoes - this is the most interesting entertainment for her.

If you wish, you can feed the animal with homemade food: meat, milk or grain, but do not overdo it.

Is it possible to tame?

Dreaming of having a bat at home, some imagine that it will wait for their return in the evenings, cuddle up, and with it on your shoulder you can walk through city parks. This opinion is wrong. These animals do not get used to humans, they do not get bored, but they need communication.

The animal can take food from your hands, allow itself to be stroked, and even react positively to this. But in order to tame him, he must get into the house when he is very tiny. The best option would be to buy from a nursery. An adult bat caught in the wild will have difficulty adjusting to the constant presence of humans nearby.

Young

Another obstacle to full communication with such a pet is its nocturnal lifestyle. Only closer to midnight does the animal begin to show attention to the outside world and is ready for games and affection.

Where can I get it?

Many people see an animal with incredibly cute eyes in the picture and wonder where they can get the same animal. The easiest way is to go out into the forest and catch it. In some settlements, mice themselves fly into the house, and its owner carefully receives the guest and allows him to live there. Another option is to buy it from an exotic pet store.

Look at the sex of the mammal

You should definitely pay attention to this, because males do not get along with each other in the same cage. They are larger than their female relatives, with a pear-shaped body.

We suggest you read: Why coniferous trees should never be planted near the house

The house mouse leads a collective lifestyle, so you should buy not just one individual, but several. If you plan to breed rodents, then keep the female and male sexes separate until mating.

Adaptation conditions

It is worth keeping in mind that the bat is very freedom-loving. Living at home is very stressful for her. In order to avoid an unfavorable outcome, it is first worth considering the adaptation period for this living creature. First of all, you need to install an enclosure, the larger it is, the better. It is recommended to place it in a separate room for the first few days and limit the pet from constant observers. Think carefully about what to feed your pet bat. It is best to add live insects to it so that the mouse can hunt them itself and not lose its hunting skills.

As mentioned earlier, zoologists categorically do not recommend having such an individual in your home. This is due to several reasons:

• They are not used to living in a confined space; they need complete freedom of movement.
• Its activity is noticeably different from that of humans; naturally, it will cause discomfort at night.
• They make a lot of dirt, since representatives of this class are used to relieving themselves during the flight.

The domestic bat is a very capricious animal. If the created conditions seem unfavorable to her, she will fall into deep depression, which will lead to the inevitable death of the animal.

What to feed a bat?

Different species of bats eat different types of food. The age of the bat also affects what they eat.

Here are some foods that bats like to eat:

Milk: All bats feed on milk for the first six months of life.

Fruit: Some species of bats eat fruit. They are usually attracted to the smell of ripe fruit.

Insects: Most bats (about 70%) eat insects. Some of the insects include mosquitoes, cockroaches, flies and beetles.

Blood: Only a few species of bats from Mexico and South America are known to feed on the blood of mammals and birds.

Nectar: ​​Bats that eat nectar have a long snout and tongue for feeding. They resemble hummingbirds.

Fish and other animals: Some species of bats are known to eat fish, frogs, birds, lizards and some rodents. Other bats may even feed on other bats.