Red-bellied squirrel (also known as red-bellied pine squirrel) is listed in the "List of Beneficial Land Wildlife or Wildlife with Important Economic and Scientific Research Value under National Protection". It mainly inhabits dense forests and is more active in the early morning and evening. It has a similar appearance to the rock squirrel, with no tufted hair on the ears, bright body color, and a large tail. It has a beautiful face, shining eyes, agile body, and quick and alert limbs. There are about 15 subspecies in China, with significant differences in body size and color.
Chinese name: 红腹松鼠
Latin name: Callosciurus erythraeus Pallas
Alias: 赤腹松鼠, 刁铃, 大尾鼠, 红胸松鼠, 乌眼眶
Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Distribution area: Distributed in various provinces in southern China. It reaches as far north as Hebei and Gansu, and as far west as Sichuan.
Natural enemies: Cats, owls, and snakes, etc.
Crop damage: Bark of pine trees and cedar trees
Red-bellied squirrels are mainly distributed in Asia, including China, Myanmar, India, Assam, Bhutan, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia. In China, they are found in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, and Sichuan.
They inhabit tropical and subtropical forests, as well as secondary forests, logging areas, hills, coconut groves, shrublands, bamboo forests, mixed forests of deciduous trees and bamboo, Chinese fir forests, pine forests, and scrublands.
They especially prefer to live in forests of the beech family and are also active in the vicinity of cliffs and bushes. They are active throughout the day, with more frequent activity in the morning or before dusk, and they follow certain routes while moving.
They are social animals and often live on trees. They are skilled climbers and can traverse steep cliffs. They are also good at jumping and often leap from one tree to another, with a distance of up to 5-6 meters, hence their nickname "flying squirrels" or "darting squirrels".
It is recommended to keep red-bellied squirrels for squirrel lovers. Red-bellied squirrels have a good physique and their bodies are sticky, making them very suitable for novice squirrel owners. Hainan is their place of origin and they are resistant to high temperatures. Newly arrived red-bellied squirrel pups must be fed well-preserved food, otherwise diarrhea can be a headache for owners. The above introduces the treatment methods and precautions for red-bellied squirrel diarrhea.
1. Long teeth
Long-term consumption of soft food prevents teeth from normal grinding and causes overgrowth. Overgrown teeth can harm the inside of the mouth and affect food intake. In addition, it can lead to gum decay, sinusitis, and other symptoms. This will result in gradually loosening and falling out of teeth. After one side of the teeth fall out, the other side of the teeth, lacking normal grinding, needs regular trimming surgery. Early diagnosis can lead to early treatment.
2. Injury caused by fighting
Squirrels have a habit of attacking the weaker individuals in the group. Although they may appear healthy, squirrels that have already been seriously ill will be attacked by healthy squirrels. If these attacked squirrels are dissected, it will be found that they had already been seriously ill. In addition, weak squirrels are also easily attacked. If squirrels are found fighting, each squirrel should be separated with a cage. Injured areas should be treated with antibiotics to prevent wound suppuration; larger wounds should be surgically sutured. Due to the possibility of cannibalism, weak squirrels should be isolated as early as possible.
3. Pneumonia
When under excessive pressure, excessive humidity, or poor air circulation, squirrels are prone to pneumonia. Symptoms such as coughing, loss of appetite, and lethargy appear, followed by death. Human colds can also be transmitted to squirrels and should be particularly noted. Treatment with antibiotics is available.
4. Hypocalcemia
Female squirrels before and after childbirth are prone to this disease. Due to the decrease in calcium concentration in the blood, symptoms such as spasms, paralysis, and motor disorders appear. If calcium supplements are not given early, there is a risk of death. Calcium supplements should be added to the diet of pregnant and lactating female squirrels as a preventive measure. In addition, sunbathing is also important.
5. Rickets
Squirrels, like humans, can also suffer from rickets. In addition to regularly supplementing with calcium and active vitamin D, sunbathing is also indispensable. The use of artificial sun lamps is effective, but improper wavelengths of ultraviolet rays can cause serious burns. Therefore, it is best to ask the hospital for detailed information before use.
6. Urinary tract infection
Infections in the urinary tract can cause urinary tract infections. Male squirrels may have difficulty urinating due to swelling of the penis. The pain caused by urination will make them scream in pain. If these symptoms are found, immediate urinalysis should be performed and appropriate antibiotics should be used for treatment.
7. Fractures
When squirrels are playing indoors, fractures can occur due to improper jumping. Simple fractures can heal without surgery by following the instructions of the hospital. Squirrels are not tolerant of anesthesia, so it is best to avoid surgery. However, if the spinal bones are injured, the prognosis may not be good.
1. Environment: Red-bellied squirrels prefer to survive at a temperature of 20-30°C. If the temperature exceeds 30°C, they may suffer from heatstroke or even die. Measures should be taken to cool them down in hot summers. They hibernate in the wild during winter, but hibernation is not necessary in warm homes.
2. Feeding: Red-bellied squirrels are not picky eaters. They can be fed with seeds, fruits, carrots, cabbage, etc. If you don't want to prepare food yourself, you can buy ready-made parrot feed since it contains similar nutrients that squirrels need.
3. Teeth grinding: Red-bellied squirrels are rodents and their incisors continuously grow. Therefore, like hamsters, squirrels need something to grind their teeth on. Otherwise, they may suffer from various dental diseases and even die.
4. Exercise: Red-bellied squirrels are extremely active and like to jump around in trees. It is necessary to provide them with enough space for exercise. It is also recommended to have a hamster wheel or similar equipment for them to vent their abundant energy. Even so, they still need to be let out for a walk regularly.
5. Care: When raising red-bellied squirrels, it is important to keep their cages clean and sanitary. Clean the cage every morning before feeding. The feeding utensils should be disinfected regularly. It is recommended to give them a sand bath at least once a week, lasting for about 20-30 minutes each time.
Red-bellied squirrels often clean their bodies. It is not recommended to interfere with their bathing. If their bodies are too dirty or have an odor, you can prepare a basin of warm water for them to clean themselves. Do not force them because red-bellied squirrels are small in size and timid, bathing them can easily frighten or make them sick.
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