Jerboatron of love 3000

August 22, 2005 9:05 PM

Help me obtain a breeding pair of pygmy jerboa.

Or lesser Egyptian jerboa, but I'd prefer the Kazakh pygmies. They're so cute! (Jerboa are small bipedal rodents that live in arid climates.)

I'm aware that it's illegal in California to possess any rodents but Syrian hamsters and white laboratory mice or rats as pets. I don't really care about that, except as an obstacle to overcome. I could probably obtain some kind of medical research license that says I'm studying the electrophysiologic correlates of their jumping behavior if it was necessary to do so. I'm also aware that 'jerboa' is not just a sloppy Japanglish transliteration of 'gerbil'. I'd prefer that you be aware of this too before answering my question.

I could spend some money and time to do this. For instance, if a company would ship to my friend's house in Reno, NV, I could travel there to pick them up.

Except that I haven't found anywhere closer than Japan that even sells them, and the Japanese pet store can't/won't ship to the U.S. Help!

posted by ikkyu2 to Pets & Animals (15 answers total)

awwwww...
posted by 517 at 10:39 PM on August 22, 2005

Help me obtain a breeding pair of pygmy jerboa.


Er, no.

Exotic animal laws are there to protect the animals and the environment, not just to put petty obstacles in your way.
posted by sennoma at 8:28 AM on August 23, 2005

If you just want them as pets, because "they're so cute!", and you're aware of the laws against exotic animals in your state, why would you want a breeding pair? Do you plan on developing a jerboa army in your apartment?
posted by me3dia at 9:37 AM on August 23, 2005

Response by poster: It's more a thought-experiment; I am so frightened of the Law and the terrible weight of public opprobrium, as evidenced above, that I probably wouldn't actually go through with it.

But I'd like to know whether it's possible, or if there are even any pygmy jerboa now living in North America, just to satisfy my own sort of obsessive curiosity about these wee little beasties. (There is apparently a small colony of lesser Egyptian jerboa serving in the cause of science at UC Santa Cruz.)

They're not endangered nor classified as exotic animals, by the way; California simply prohibits all but 3 rodents, to the dismay of ferretkeepers statewide.
posted by ikkyu2 at 10:34 AM on August 23, 2005

If you guys aren't going to answer the question, keep your judgements to yourself. And if you're really concerned, why don't you drop ikkyu2 an email?
posted by Specklet at 10:54 AM on August 23, 2005

Even if jerboa aren't "exotic", there is still an intent behind laws that effectively prohibit them. Say you get yourself a breeding pair, and then part of your jerboa army escapes your apartment and starts a new, outdoor jerboa army, messing up up your local ecosystem. It happens. "But they are soo cuuute!" is not really a good defense.
No, specklet, I suppose I'm not answering the original question. I am answering anyone who has the answer and is considering posting it.
posted by clh at 11:20 AM on August 23, 2005

Specklet, we're answering the question by explaining why it's probably a bad idea. I think that's pretty on-topic.
posted by me3dia at 11:48 AM on August 23, 2005

me3dia, his question was "how can a breeding pair of pygmy jerboa be obtained?" Not, "hey guys, do you think getting a pair of jerboa is a good idea?"

We've had this discussion time and time again. If you have nothing in the way of answering the question, keep it to yourself. If you're concerned, drop him an email, instead of cluttering up the thread. Which now, I am guilty of as well.
posted by Specklet at 12:10 PM on August 23, 2005

Response by poster: Well, I guess the secret can be let out now. There's no way they could ever escape, because I'm going to shave them hairless, dust them with cocaine powder, and put them up my ass for sexual pleasure.

Would any of you care to join me?
posted by ikkyu2 at 12:47 PM on August 23, 2005

Response by poster: I would still be happy to receive a serious answer to the original question, by the way.
posted by ikkyu2 at 12:49 PM on August 23, 2005

We've had this discussion time and time again.

Yes, I believe we've had the "is it okay to ask for advice on how to do illegal things on Ask" discussion as well. Tha answer was no. The FPP states quite clearly that what's being asked for is advice on how to commit a crime.
posted by dobbs at 12:49 PM on August 23, 2005

Response by poster: Nah, you can take delivery of jerboa in Nevada legally. They don't care. From there, I can commit the crime on my own time.
posted by ikkyu2 at 1:02 PM on August 23, 2005

No chance of contacting UC SC and asking for stock? If you've got a university affiliation and can fill out the animal care paperwork, that might be a (high effort) way to go.
posted by bonehead at 2:38 PM on August 23, 2005

Best answer: The closest thing I came across was this page - there's a link to a canadian email address/site with a female jerboa for sale.

Also, the monkeybird forum (and especially this thread) seems like a place you might find some assistance from current owners.

If this helps at all, does that mean my safety is assured when the Jerboa army takes over?
posted by sluggo at 4:32 PM on August 23, 2005

Response by poster: Only if you (for one) welcome your new jerboa overlords, Sluggo.

On further reflection, I have realized that what I really want to do is visit a zoo or some other appropriate place and observe these creatures for an hour or two, marveling at their behaviors and small stature and their many other strange and wondrous properties. Apparently some jerboa never drink any water in their life; they get all their water from the seeds they eat!

Thanks for the replies.
posted by ikkyu2 at 7:56 PM on August 26, 2005